COVID-19, Come on Eileen

After only one week, It seems the entirety of my plan for this politically based blog has been derailed for a few weeks (or months) with the joyous global pandemic of COVID-19. Hurrah! It is thus a temporary farewell to the glamorous and sexy world of tax brackets and ideological discussion and an entrance into the deadly politics of pandemic.

In the UK, my country of current habitancy, things are starting to ramp up, with daily cases accelerating and incremental governmental measures being slowly introduced. Therefore, it seems reasonable to assess this response to what is without doubt a very scary situation. The response, of course, cannot be souly limited to that of governmental legislation, but rather individual behaviour as well.

On the latter point, the response has seemed to be typically British in the laissez faire and seemingly happy go lucky approach to it all. Indeed, it seems almost paradoxical how on the one hand many people can be selfishly hoarding mass amounts of toilet paper and essential foods, stripping shop shelves while at the same time happily and seemingly with very little concern gathering in mass hoards on Brighton beach and in public parks. It's often said in politics that you cannot blame the electorate for their actions: it's up to the politicians to change their mind! Bollocks to that, the masses of people entering shops at first dawn have to be called out for what they are: morons.

Not only are they exposing themselves to numerous other people in a dense area and allowing the disease to spread easily, but they are engaging in a totally futile act of panic buying: going into quarantine doesn't mean you won't be able to receive vital supplies, Ted.

Perhaps, however, I'm being to harsh on the public; after all, the government seems to be doing very little, doesn't it? Well, yes and no. Now, I am not, nor ever will be, in the business of praising tories, however this is a situation that transcends all reasonable sense of ideology, at least temporarily: we are all socialists in this climate, nothing else, there is no other way.

In this spirit, let's take a gander at what the tories are inevitably fucking up, ay? This 'advice', of social distancing is currently having arse all effect. The crowds at the weekend pay absolute testament to this. Perhaps rather than using the term 'social distancing' (which seems to be alluding the public) they should simply say 'Excuse me chap, please stay at least two meters away from everyone else and go shopping only once a week, cheers!', at least that's basic English, verbose as it may be. Further to this, the instance on the government for people to self-isolate and quarantine certainly is good advice and the pay packages protecting workers is something to be welcomed. HOWEVER, what of the self employed? What of rough sleepers? What of the vulnerably housed? The renters with no means to pay their parasites in the coming weeks?

Much of this remains to be seen, and with everything happening right up to the minute, it remains for me only to say this: act fast, act now. Legislate staying at home, people aren't listening. Protect renters and ALL workers.

I know earlier said 'let's start with the negatives' implying a list of positives were to come. Well, whoops.

Until the next time, be vigilant and enjoy the toiletroll.