Methusala

Morrison is WRONG. Go hard or go home is the message in this catastrophic situation. Adern is more focused on people's health than the financial economy. The true economy will recover - what may not survive is the extremely leveraged corporate economy dominated by huge corporations with very little empathy for workers or national tax obligations. Good riddance.

With policies such as maintaining that hair cutting is a national imperative it is tempting to believe that the Morrison govt wants to see continued spread of coronavirus among the people. Just Cuts CEO has labelled the policy as "just nuts" arguing that it is impossible for hairdressers to work while maintaining the minimum distance rules that Morrison claims are essential. Can someone please explain how this makes sense. Another stupidity is to allow personal fitness training sessions with up to 10 people. Am I going nuts or is Morrison an Australian Trump clone?

Much of the govt's focus is aimed at rescuing the economy. "The economy" in this context relates to the financial economy. That's why the RB has begun buying govt bonds. This financialised economy is company structures and their capital base. Eg. the govt is pouring $715m into "saving the airlines" while Joyce sacks 20,000 people with no intention of supporting these people's lost income. He is reported as saying that Qantas' reserves of capital will remain untouched. The RB's reductions in interest rates have largely benefited investors by reducing the interest burden on company borrowings. Money can be suppliwed to consumers who will use it to buy essential goods and services benefitting the supply chain. Why can't the government; a)Provide cash directly into personal bank accs, and b) Provide staples of food via modern soup kitchen style? Again, too much corporate welfare and the population being left to catch-up.

"Don't say sorry..." On the way into Sydney last week, a short film from Border Force entitled,"Don't say sorry..." was shown to us. Its message was, you know what is the correct thing to do, so, no excuses. All I seem to hear from our federals is (shrug, smirk) mistakes are going to happen but, ya know, we're all human so give us a break! Centrelink has been operating for years on the principle that no excuse will be tolerated...just pay up. When do these jerks ever take responsibility for anything. Close the schools now, stop treating a haircut as some kind of "essential service". We intend to isolate ourselves for the duration - when we need food, we will go singly, with PPE, to the closest food store and pay with card. Not getting or passing on infection is the only thing that will buy time. Nothing else matters.

Border Force allowed 2,700 people from a cruise ship disperse across our most populous city, having performed no scrutiny, with the vague instruction to "self isolate". These people should have been conveyed to a secure lodging (no shortage of large hotels nearby) and TESTED for god's sake. Who knows how many secondary (and tertiary...and quaternary) infections that "oversight" has caused. This level of bufoonary by those charged with monitoring the bio-security of the place should be treated as a serious crime!

My view, FWIW, is that we must track,test and isolate and be rigorous about very hard self isolation. South Korea has reduced the infection rate from similar to Italy's down to a very low number. We need to avoid swamping the health system because it is required to treat many other life threatening conditions, not just Covid 19. China has managed to reduce re-infection almost entirely...remember that in affected ares they had only one person per dwelling allowed to obtain food once in 3 days. This was rigidly enforced.

The following link is to a very comprehensive report on "our options". You may find it helpful. https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-the-hammer-and-the-dance-be9337092b56 It illustrates how bleak the future may be if we don't handle it with ruthless discipline. On the other hand it gives some bright hope for the future.

"Yep. The bit I don't get is that leaves them with 89,999,839 people vulnerable to the virus once they open the borders again......" IBob IBob, this is not about herd immunity, it's about protecting the population from a wave of cases that will easily swamp the health system. Time is your friend in this pandemic.

Vietnam, a country of over 90m people report a total of 121 cases. They are taking very positive steps to track and isolate every case in isolation hotels fully provided at State expense.

There exist studies on the benefit to society of altruistic behavior. Altruism benefits society as a whole because a benefit conferred to another can be advantageous to individuals. If I prevent transfer of infection to another person, that person will not inadvertently go on to infect others so keeping the overall numbers less.

Mask wearing is important if there is a chance that you are a symptom-less carrier and you must be within reasonably close contact with others. Think of all possibilities.

I am seeking specific information on the requirement to have current BFR given extraordinary circumstances prevailing.

I posted that excellent youtube to facebook yesterday. Yes, it should be broadcast at saturation level on all tv channels. My wife and I returned from Vietnam on Thursday. In Ho Chi Minh all at the terminal wore masks. When we arrived at Mascot we were the only ones to wear them! We are currently in day 3 of serious self isolation. This is not a game.

Same problem for me. I have emailed RAAus today to get some info, will post when reply is received.

Instead of building a reserve against likely contingencies, the management used loans to buy back shares, propping up the share price upon which bonuses are paid. They now demand more largesse to finance huge losses on the mad dog Max. Let them sink and use the public money saved pay for decent public health.

I have heard from a young pilot, working as instructor/dogsbody, who instructed all day then called at 11pm to do some sort of *paper run* to Sydney ASAP. Yep, out of bed right now, no backchat! Just saying.

So, this disease is not communicable, yeah? Or is the PM immaculate. Look up *Leader* in the dictionary.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister refuses test following news that his cabinet colleague Dutton has tested positive for coronavirus. How irresponsible!

Hey Garfly, no pictures of ladies?

Boeing's 737 *Mini* will end up as saucepans. I love Airbus.

I met a few like that at My Beauty couple of years back. Really makes a poor impression on visitors. However, you can't judge a place on a single impression. Visited Porepunkah years ago and was treated well. Mt Beauty was my home town.

All of my jet time is likely to be Airbus or Boeing. Do like the sound of turboprop though. Don

We love open air down here in winter. Character building. I remember flying from Bredbo to Bunyan gliding field and return in the Ptradactyl years ago. Nearly froze on the return flight.

None of the following absolves him from criminal responsibility for the death of nearly 400 people or the enormous cost to the company of this disaster. The chief executive does not take this job in ignorance or accept the enormous financial rewards without knowing the responsibilities involved. He should be tried for willful murder.Fullstop.

"Blind Freddy" can see that Aus is welded on to the US system Lock, Stock & Barrel. Fools who wont see that Morrison is the Trump disaster for Australia need re-educating. Who will perform this task? Not the excoriated ABC. No one else is on the horizon. Hold on to your hats Sheilas and Blokes, it's going to be a wild ride! Sorry, Don