Thought for the day thread

All those gets emptying the shelves would probably be the first on the Titanic's lifeboats !

Shoving women and children out of the way as they go.

If you can do something to help someone else, why wouldn’t you?

This is a long 'thought for the day' post, but I really didn't know where else to put it.

I've been awake since the early hours now, reading articles and watching YouTube through generally not being able to sleep, and this comment on an article regarding Trump's plans to lift restrictions nails it for me:

*"Why is the government response to COVID-19 so inept?

Because (nearly) all of our political and corporate leaders - Trump, McConnell, Murdoch, including Pelosi, Biden etc. and especially the corporate media- are working to protect/promote their own power and wealth.

Doing anything remotely “socialistic” or populist during the pandemic is simply out-of-the-question to all of them, Dems and Repubs. Can’t be done. Won’t be done. Because, you see, it might stick. The American people might like socialism, public health care, and more equal wealth distribution; and demand we keep it even after the virus subsides in 18 months or so!

And that cannot be allowed to happen! So: we get a “bungled” response, with a long known to be severely mentally ill person to be blamed for everything! “It’s all Trump’s fault!”

None of the Power Elite will give up a speck of their power or a penny of their wealth to empower/enrich anyone who isn’t in “their club”. If millions of Americans must die to maintain the status quo of the Billionaire’s Club, well, so be it."*

That's a scary theory, but I can't get away from the possibility that there's some truth in it, but even more scary is that the thought our bunch may just be contemplating the same thing at some point.

I know, mate, I'm really starting to fear for my own safety with this, given my own employer's ambiguity regarding what staff are entitled to if they show symptoms.

Two of my colleagues were sent home last week to self-isolate while I've been on holiday, with one due back in with me on Sunday - neither of whom know whether or not they're getting paid for that time off.

What's scaring me is who else has symptoms that are hiding them for fear of not getting paid if they're sent home? As has already been said, you don't necessarily get bad symptoms, it varies from person to person.

They're not supplying masks or ensuring all surfaces are clean either, it's been left to us to buy our own antibacterial wipes and go around cleaning up surfaces we work on.

However, it's impossible to keep everywhere clean, there are far too many machine panels, control panels, worktops etc - to keep them all clean all of the time would not give us time to get our jobs done. Then you've got those who don't wear gloves, who knows if they've got it or what they've touched throughout the day.

Sounds like your employer couldn't give flying one so pointing their moral responsibility out would seem to be a waste of time but nonetheless still they have a statutory duty of care. That should include ensuring where possible that a 2 metre gap is provided for every employee, that hand sanitizer is provided and gloves as appropriate. Good luck mate and take care.

And Matt Hancock...

New thought for the day:

Don't use a Samsung phone to post on sensitive threads such as these, because it will just embarrass you!