Saturday, 1st August and Sunday, 2nd August 2020
Posted: Sat 01 Aug, 2020 7:08 am
Good morfternoon.
So much seems unusual about this Conservative government: its constant disruptiveness; its preference for rhetoric over functional policies; its mixture of brazen U-turns and cult-like discipline; its flirtations with the far right alongside leftwing-sounding plans to “level up”; its deadly reluctance to curtail small freedoms in a pandemic. It’s common to attribute some or all of these tendencies to the idiosyncrasies of Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings, or the effects of Brexit, or the rise of rightwing populism. But there is a less noticed and more surprising factor at work, too. Today’s Tory government has adopted some of the style, rhetoric and preoccupations of a defunct radical sect, the Revolutionary Communist party (RCP).
Dan Davies
@dsquareddigest
A quick "ok where are you then?" To all of the assholes who dared to question the peerage of Shami Chakrabarti
There is, at last, a book being written about the "long march" of the RCP/Living Marxism/Spiked through our institutions. Long, long overdue.adam wrote:Good piece by Andy Becket which will resonate here, I know, especially in 'the library' (or 'the other library')
Why Boris Johnson's Tories fell for a tiny sect of libertarian provocateursSo much seems unusual about this Conservative government: its constant disruptiveness; its preference for rhetoric over functional policies; its mixture of brazen U-turns and cult-like discipline; its flirtations with the far right alongside leftwing-sounding plans to “level up”; its deadly reluctance to curtail small freedoms in a pandemic. It’s common to attribute some or all of these tendencies to the idiosyncrasies of Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings, or the effects of Brexit, or the rise of rightwing populism. But there is a less noticed and more surprising factor at work, too. Today’s Tory government has adopted some of the style, rhetoric and preoccupations of a defunct radical sect, the Revolutionary Communist party (RCP).
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/07 ... o-thin-air" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;On July 15, in a video call with journalists, Dr. Shah looked visibly frustrated. The next day, the Rockefeller Foundation would be releasing a follow-up report: It called on the federal government to commit $75 billion more to testing and contact tracing, work to break through the testing bottlenecks that had led to days-long delays in the delivery of test results, and vastly increase more rapid point-of-care tests.
Though speaking in a typically mild-mannered tone, Shah delivered a stark warning: “We fear the fall will be worse than the spring.” He added, putting it bluntly: “America is not near the top of countries who have handled COVID-19 effectively.”
Just three days later, news reports revealed that the Trump administration was trying to block any new funding for testing and contact tracing in the new coronavirus relief package being hammered out in Congress. As one member of the Rockefeller coalition said of the administration’s response, “We’re dealing with a schizophrenic organization. Who the hell knows what’s going on? It’s just insanity.”
Rather like Natalie Elphicke.There are also reports that the Conservative Party's chief whip, Mark Spencer, had been aware of allegations - and previously spoke with the alleged victim.
According to sources, Mr Spencer had not known the "magnitude" of the allegations.
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;Alexander Clarkson
@APHClarkson
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59m
Replying to
@APHClarkson
Assuming Tories have a lasting grip on a voter coalition that involves multiple social groups and distinct regions in England seems to assume English society will remain static in the same way that early 00s claims of lasting Labour hegemony assumed UK society would remain static
Yes.Alexander Clarkson
@APHClarkson
The most annoying thing about this genre of London-based journo safari tours of regions North of Watford is the way they drift into the same reptitive talking points that drift past a much more socially complex and intellectually interesting social environment
I have a bit more sympathy in that case tbh. She clearly believed her husband's denials, as many in that situation do.gilsey wrote:Rather like Natalie Elphicke.There are also reports that the Conservative Party's chief whip, Mark Spencer, had been aware of allegations - and previously spoke with the alleged victim.
According to sources, Mr Spencer had not known the "magnitude" of the allegations.
None so blind as those who will not see.
Schools could have spent the last few months fine-tuning plans for "blended learning" combining part-time face to face teaching in schools, with full social distancing, with quality online home learning. This could have provided a longer-term, covid-safe strategy that provides consistent education, some important face to face and social interaction with minimum disruption.Teachers and scientists sound alarm over plans to reopen schools in England
Meanwhile, Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said it had become clear that there is a link between closing schools and controlling the spread of the virus. “The evidence is clear that schools are important in the spread of Covid-19,” he said. “Our studies show that, across Europe, closing schools was the single factor most strongly associated with drops in infection rates.”
Yep.gilsey wrote:Brilliant thread.
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ ... in-britain" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;Why, I wonder, looking back, was he so stubbornly determined to come here and not elsewhere in Europe? He smiles. “I had studied English literature and I thought of London as the centre of democracy and human rights,” he says. “Having lived in a totalitarian country for two decades of my life, I wanted to live somewhere that I could be free.” He watched the film Braveheart 10 times back in Syria; that William Wallace cry of “Freedom!” stayed with him.
This is a delusional democracy, where people are lied to, and vote for the liars
He might, he admits now, have been careful what he wished for – to the extent that he is no longer certain he even wants to stay here beyond next year. “For someone from Syria, the creeping authoritarianism is quite vivid here now,” he suggests. “Contracts going to government cronies; politicians breaking the rules and not facing consequences; this delusional democracy where people are lied to, and vote for the liars.”
frog222 wrote:
#CNN #News
Report: Kushner's Covid-19 testing plan 'went poof into thin air'
Discontinued , perhaps when Covid "appeared" to be only hitting Blue (Dem) States , or Trump's denial of reality, it's crazy .https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/07 ... o-thin-air" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;On July 15, in a video call with journalists, Dr. Shah looked visibly frustrated. The next day, the Rockefeller Foundation would be releasing a follow-up report: It called on the federal government to commit $75 billion more to testing and contact tracing, work to break through the testing bottlenecks that had led to days-long delays in the delivery of test results, and vastly increase more rapid point-of-care tests.
Though speaking in a typically mild-mannered tone, Shah delivered a stark warning: “We fear the fall will be worse than the spring.” He added, putting it bluntly: “America is not near the top of countries who have handled COVID-19 effectively.”
Just three days later, news reports revealed that the Trump administration was trying to block any new funding for testing and contact tracing in the new coronavirus relief package being hammered out in Congress. As one member of the Rockefeller coalition said of the administration’s response, “We’re dealing with a schizophrenic organization. Who the hell knows what’s going on? It’s just insanity.”
The thing about Syria, Russia and all the other pseudo/non democracies is that most people actually realise they are being lied to (even if some, for a variety of reasons, choose to believe the lies) Unfortunately, one aspect of British exceptionalism is that too many imagine "it could never happen to us".frog222 wrote:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ ... in-britain" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;Why, I wonder, looking back, was he so stubbornly determined to come here and not elsewhere in Europe? He smiles. “I had studied English literature and I thought of London as the centre of democracy and human rights,” he says. “Having lived in a totalitarian country for two decades of my life, I wanted to live somewhere that I could be free.” He watched the film Braveheart 10 times back in Syria; that William Wallace cry of “Freedom!” stayed with him.
This is a delusional democracy, where people are lied to, and vote for the liars
He might, he admits now, have been careful what he wished for – to the extent that he is no longer certain he even wants to stay here beyond next year. “For someone from Syria, the creeping authoritarianism is quite vivid here now,” he suggests. “Contracts going to government cronies; politicians breaking the rules and not facing consequences; this delusional democracy where people are lied to, and vote for the liars.”
Kafka's England ?
(cJA edit)AnatolyKasparov wrote:---
The thing about Syria, Russia and all the other pseudo/non democracies is that most people actually realise they are being lied to (even if some, for a variety of reasons, choose to believe the lies) Unfortunately, one aspect of British exceptionalism is that too many imagine "it could never happen to us".
Apart from the fact I’m monstrously busy with work, this is the main reason I don’t post much any more. What is there to say?Willow904 wrote:I used to enjoy discussing politics because governments used to make political arguments to support policy decisions and there was always scope for wide ranging discussion of the rights and wrongs of the political choices taken.
Which I found interesting.
Now, though, there is little to discuss. Why does the government take the decisions it takes? It's a short discussion that always ends in the same place - because they're a bunch of corrupt crooks, bought and paid for by dirty money.
Paul I posted the Vanity Fair link on Kushner's NON-Covidtesting back a little . You are very lucky to be busy! Son in law gave me a demo of teaching English pronunciation to a half-class of 15yo's, through a mask , Aaaagh ! Good comments from uni teachers in this one yesterday https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... pert-warns" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (( FUBAR ))PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Apart from the fact I’m monstrously busy with work, this is the main reason I don’t post much any more. What is there to say?Willow904 wrote:I used to enjoy discussing politics because governments used to make political arguments to support policy decisions and there was always scope for wide ranging discussion of the rights and wrongs of the political choices taken.
Which I found interesting.
Now, though, there is little to discuss. Why does the government take the decisions it takes? It's a short discussion that always ends in the same place - because they're a bunch of corrupt crooks, bought and paid for by dirty money.
I sent the hassan-akkad article to my half-sister in Puerto Rico … immediate reaction —A vain, outlandish, anti-immigrant, fearmongering demagogue runs for President of the United States - and wins. Sinclair Lewis's chilling 1935 bestseller is the story of Buzz Windrip, 'Professional Common Man', who promises poor, angry voters that he will make America proud and prosperous once more, but takes the country down a far darker path. As the new regime slides into authoritarianism, newspaper editor Doremus Jessup can't believe it will last - but is he right? This cautionary tale of liberal complacency in the face of populist tyranny shows it really can happen here.
what is the point of having two people who just agree with one another and make statements without recourse to any data but express opinions?frog222 wrote:
I looked at our risk assessment and sat down and did pages of sums - how many kids have we got, how many in each year group, how many sinks have we got that they can use, how long will it take to get them to the sinks / for them to use them properly / for the changeover to the next person. It's really really easy to say 'everyone wash their haands' but it takes a surprisingly long time for everyone in school to do it. Any risk assessment that relies on it should be pulled apart and 'thought experiment' tested with the actual numbers involved. I reckon that even if we staggered year group changover times it would take each year group about 20 minutes. Presumably for each year group at each changeover. Which means it wouldn't happen - people wouldn't queue up, wouldn't wash properly.Willow904 wrote:snip
Instead schools are due to fully re-open with no preventative measures at all - no social distancing, no face masks and only theoretical hygiene in the absence of budgets for more soap and sinks. All we have are "bubbles" of 100+ pupils which will be sent home once coronavirus has already spread and infected many in said bubble.
Ah yes, that would be Carl Heneghan, the genius who thinks the lockdown was a waste of time and people washing their hands was the single most important factor in reducing the instances of an airborne disease. Ch4 and Newsnight have him on all the time to provide an alternative view so it's not like the CEBM are being ignored, it's more the fact barely anyone else agrees with him.howsillyofme1 wrote:The CEBM are looking at the data
Yeah talking to my brother he said exactly the same, it's completely impossible for his school to have all the pupils back and maintain any semblance of a 'Covid secure' enviroment. But apparently a fireplace salesman is eminently qualified to say otherwise.adam wrote:I looked at our risk assessment and sat down and did pages of sums - how many kids have we got, how many in each year group, how many sinks have we got that they can use, how long will it take to get them to the sinks / for them to use them properly / for the changeover to the next person. It's really really easy to say 'everyone wash their haands' but it takes a surprisingly long time for everyone in school to do it. Any risk assessment that relies on it should be pulled apart and 'thought experiment' tested with the actual numbers involved. I reckon that even if we staggered year group changover times it would take each year group about 20 minutes. Presumably for each year group at each changeover. Which means it wouldn't happen - people wouldn't queue up, wouldn't wash properly.
I'm getting the 'War of the worlds' and cocaine use references but I feel I'm missing something.Michael Gove is standing in a public waste disposal site in west London, objective reality dissolving around him, surrounded by a semicircle of imaginary attendants he has made himself from discarded rubbish; mop-handle spines, coathanger arms, sofa cushion bodies, and rotting rubber football heads. “These are my attendants, Leapy Lee,” he cried up at me, his eyes Bolivian bright, “they are immensely dignified and they are real.” But there were scarcely 10 false attendants, and they had taken Gove a week to make. I could have made that many in a day. I suddenly had my first inkling of the gulf between reality and the Brexit government’s acceptance of it. Why was I here?