[RedSparrows]

'Take personal responsibility' is perhaps the most pernicious phrase there is.

On the surface, and some of the way down, it's, of course, bang on. It's the much vaunted common sense. That's life. Etc.

Dig underneath it to the ghouls who preach it as a mantra, however, and it's just another hollowed out lie, an excuse to not give a fuck about structure (or to really give a fuck and ensure the structure favours yourself over the dumb proles). If you really cared about personal responsibility that would include RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS.

I know this is obvious to the Rt Hon Ladies and Gentlemen here, but fuck me if it doesn't consistently enrage me. So much of my thinking these days comes back to really basic principles, a virtue-led ethics if you will, and how these simple but near-enough eternal values of humanity are consistently traduced by utter fucking philistines and myopic, limited, dull cunts.

[mattomac]

Thing is we’ve now seen the first suggestion of masks a couple more days will probably see Starmer or Ashworth call for it.

A month from now Johnson will implement it, Starmer will say it’s too late and be called “Captain Hindsight”

This will happen like the last 50 times it’s happened.

I went back to work (hybrid) version yesterday, I feel it won’t last long

[Boiler]

Remember that BBC article I linked to a few posts back?

There's a SYB on it now...

[zuriblue]

Remember that BBC article I linked to a few posts back?

There's a SYB on it now...

Really is a game of spot the braincell isn't it?

[kreuzberger]

According to the DE press, Latvia (7-day 790) is back in lockdown. Russia (151) is halfway there, and Morocco (8) has banned flights to and from the UK (466).

The popular refrain from the half-way sensible is that thing "isn't over". Too right, it isn't. It's ripping through Europe like greased weasel shit.

We'll soon see how the Mekon and Sascha have to say in this context.

[Boiler]

"Learn to live with the virus, we're not implementing Plan B" I suspect.

ETA: it sounds like "get your vaccine but we're not going to do anything to mitigate the spread".

That roughly translates to me as "it's down to you, nothing to do with us" and so this will fuel yet more actions from the pricks terrorising kids and hospital staff which other posters have highlighted. Kreuzy, best get your walking cane ready

Why don't any of the journalists bring these idiots up at the press conferences, or is it as ever trying to deny them publicity - bit difficult when there are plenty of irresponsible and even mischievous outlets to promote it?

[The All New KevS]

Well, that was a complete waste of time. An hour of gaslighting, basically.

Seb Payne of the FT right at the end brought up the fact that Javid was there telling people to wear masks in crowded indoor situations, but that didn't tally with the unmasked hordes on the Government benches, and the response was basically:

"Yes, you're right, there is a contradiction between what we say, and that the Government benches in the Commons are unmasked. But we're going to do bugger all to change that"

May as well have then left the podium giving the middle finger.

[Cyclist]

So, how is everyone intending to spend their Christmas lockdown?

You know it's coming. When the NHS is pleading with the cretinocracy to mandate face masks in all public places and the cretinocracy flatly refuse to do so, you just know the slithey Gove has failed to save Christmas.

[Youngian]

Countries with low Covid deaths are governed by extremists but don’t worry as this government has chosen a middle course because they don’t want to see us all dead.

We’ve plotted a path between those two extremes

[mattomac]

What? I’m amazed they are pushing something they have cherry picked the figures for.

The fact it’s also been the worst hit as well.

[Youngian]

That’s dictation not journalism, Laura

[Rosvanian]

So, how is everyone intending to spend their Christmas lockdown?

You know it's coming. When the NHS is pleading with the cretinocracy to mandate face masks in all public places and the cretinocracy flatly refuse to do so, you just know the slithey Gove has failed to save Christmas.

Last year there was no excruciating Christmas works nights out and no 2 x 300 mile round trips to collect and return the in-laws after being fed and watered for the best part of a week. Christmas lock down 2021? Oh yeah, baby

[Youngian]

Couldn’t give anti-mask populism and English exceptionalist arrogance a rest for the day.

[The All New KevS]

You genuinely wonder if they've had a secret three line whip not to wear them.

[Bones McCoy]

Nicky Campbell's "heated debate" on BBC radio 5 live pitted a doctor against a libertarian.

This man has collapsed, is there a libertarian in the theatre?

Something you never hear

[Boiler]

You genuinely wonder if they've had a secret three line whip not to wear them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58989051

Asked at a Downing Street press conference about many Conservatives not doing so, he said politicians should "set an example".

MPs have not been compelled to use face coverings since Parliament reduced limits on the number of them attending debates over the summer.

But unions representing Commons workers have called for the rules to change.

[kreuzberger]

Nicky Campbell's "heated debate" on BBC radio 5 live pitted a doctor against a libertarian.

This man has collapsed, is there a libertarian in the theatre?

Something you never hear

"Who's to say that wasn't Rangers fans in disguise?"

[Bones McCoy]

Nicky Campbell's "heated debate" on BBC radio 5 live pitted a doctor against a libertarian.

This man has collapsed, is there a libertarian in the theatre?

Something you never hear

"Who's to say that wasn't Rangers fans in disguise?"

The Libertarian knows more songs.

[Nigredo]

I will try to recall where I found it last night but apparently Dame Sarah Gilbert reckons sometime next year we'll be treating COVID the same way we do the common cold, so I'll be amazed if the Tory bRaNeZ didn't interpret that as "great, we can do bugger all and just ride it out for 9 months and it'll fix itself!"

If that pork haystack prick crows about the vaccine rollout success once more, I'm atomising the nearest thing to hand.

[Boiler]

The expression "not a prayer" comes to mind here.

"Three weeks to flatten the curve", anyone?