en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/16552702 Comments by mb194 https://www.conservativehome.com/international/2021/01/ben-roback-what-do-bidens-appointments-tell-us-about-his-presidency.html#IDComment1097042092 Let us see, Biden certainly has his work cut out for him! Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:38:54 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/international/2021/01/ben-roback-what-do-bidens-appointments-tell-us-about-his-presidency.html#IDComment1097042092 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/100000-dead.html#IDComment1097040217 Influenza is more mortal to younger age groups than Covid. There are very large similarities between Influenza and Covid pathology, despite them being very different from a genetic perspective. Ultimately despite our wish to control SARS-CoV 2, that will be impossible. If you look at the global case map for Covid, you will notice huge swathes of the globe where there is little or no surveillance, testing for it what so ever. Usually in poorer countries with low median ages, where it poses little threat relative to other pathogens. It will continue to evolve in those regions regardless of what the rest of the world does. Then spread back via illegal migration, freight and even via animal carriers. Even if elimination was possible in the countries it now has a foothold. I firmly believe vaccination is unlikely to provide any kind of solution for several years at least. Even anti virals might end up being more viable. I believe there is little or nothing we can do here other than co-exist and deal with the consequences of that. A laissez faire approach is the only viable one. Wed, 27 Jan 2021 15:06:03 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/01/100000-dead.html#IDComment1097040217 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/12/dont-stereotype-anti-vaxxers-they-may-not-be-who-you-think.html#IDComment1095695107 It's normal to be cautious to be taking a vaccine that is still undergoing its phase 3 trial. The primary completion date of the Pfizer study isn't until August 1, 2021 and the whole study won't be complete until January 29, 2023. Very large difference between being cautious about essentially joining the trial phase and being an anti vaxxer. The main risk in the broader sense is that the vaccine doesn't work and wastes several billion more in the process. Sat, 5 Dec 2020 10:58:49 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/12/dont-stereotype-anti-vaxxers-they-may-not-be-who-you-think.html#IDComment1095695107 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/11/watch-johnson-strives-to-soothe-vaccine-frenzy.html#IDComment1095179315 The logistics are just one issue. The trial didn't even finish yet! There are huge questions about all the medical aspects of the trial which need to be answered. The reaction to what is a trial and a candidate have been as ridiculous as the reaction to SARS-CoV-2 generally. Tue, 10 Nov 2020 13:39:29 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/11/watch-johnson-strives-to-soothe-vaccine-frenzy.html#IDComment1095179315 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2020/11/david-gauke-if-johnson-goes-for-a-brexit-trade-deal-as-he-should-he-should-also-go-for-a-further-implementation-period.html#IDComment1095135837 As we've seen with the furlough extension, if there is a deal it could be done at the last minute. Businesses are not even remotely prepared for customs checks and / or tarrifs with the EU from 1st of January. If there is a deal, a trade implementation period would be a no brainer? The larger issue remains, will any deal, having signed the WA be worth having? The EU can just offer us an abysmal deal and wait for us to crack. What leverage is there to do anything about it? Sun, 8 Nov 2020 07:34:55 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2020/11/david-gauke-if-johnson-goes-for-a-brexit-trade-deal-as-he-should-he-should-also-go-for-a-further-implementation-period.html#IDComment1095135837 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/11/watch-sunak-announces-the-extension-of-furlough-until-the-end-of-march.html#IDComment1095080837 No surprise here, the government think the recovery from Covid will actually be able to begin then. That is also how long lock down will last for roughly. There were still 4 million or so on furlough at 31/10. Most would have been unemployed by Christmas. Can see why they extended it... They're deluded in my view, things will improve with the seasons. Back to Covid square one by this time next year. They're increasing the long term damage both with this lockdown and by racking up more borrowing to pay for it. Thu, 5 Nov 2020 15:25:50 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/11/watch-sunak-announces-the-extension-of-furlough-until-the-end-of-march.html#IDComment1095080837 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/07/watch-raab-on-spain-a-real-time-response-was-right-anything-else-would-have-created-uncertainty.html#IDComment1092045615 Indeed. Sars cov 2 is like influenza, not sars cov 2003. Lockdown is totally the wrong approach. The only solution is population level immunity. The media and government are actually the problem here. Terrifying everyone and dragging the initial waves out, probably for years Sun, 26 Jul 2020 11:07:07 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/07/watch-raab-on-spain-a-real-time-response-was-right-anything-else-would-have-created-uncertainty.html#IDComment1092045615 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/07/watch-johnson-unveils-new-powers-to-impose-local-lockdowns.html#IDComment1091850414 They will open everything right in to the jaws of the tiger? I find it really amazing how stupid the government seemingly are and how poor the scientific advice must be to come to the descisions they've made. Maybe it's a kind of mass self delusion? Everything we've done will be shown to be both totally pointless and in fact probably counterproductive within 6 months. Sars cov 2 isn't going anywhere, as soon as we hit winter, temperature drops, much less sun and vitamin D, we're forced to spend time inside, it'll let rip again. Most importantly, it's almost certainly not vaccinable. So there isn't really any choice, nor has there ever been. Fri, 17 Jul 2020 13:11:50 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/07/watch-johnson-unveils-new-powers-to-impose-local-lockdowns.html#IDComment1091850414 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/07/gove-is-right-face-masks-should-be-about-common-sense.html#IDComment1091763139 Masks are a medical issue. For sars cov 2003, an entirely reasonable and sensible way to get it burn out. It had 100% symptomatic transmission, CFR of 10%, so masks worked. Burnt out in a few months. Sars cov 2 is totally different, highly aggressive asymptomatic spreading virus, CFR of less than 1% (and that will continue to fall), non vaccinable because our immune system sees it as a glorified cold virus. So any vaccine would need to be changed and topped up every few months. It's already endemic in huge portions of the world. It'll keep spreading until we give up trying to control it and let nature sort it out. Population level immunity must be allowed to develop. For 99%+ of the population it's no more dangerous than a cold. Some countries have surveiled it well enough to show how mild it actually is. The alternative is a futile multi year battle that cannot be won. The side effects of that politically and economically will be utterly disastrous. Mon, 13 Jul 2020 19:33:28 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/07/gove-is-right-face-masks-should-be-about-common-sense.html#IDComment1091763139 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2020/07/roderick-crawford-almost-halfway-through-july-there-is-still-no-sign-that-a-trade-deal-with-the-eu-is-possible-never-mind-probable.html#IDComment1091755681 We gave up when we signed the modified WA. Making all these concessions before any trade deal was a huge mistake. We should have walked and negotiated from a position of strength. After everything we've seen recently, this government is terrified of any risk how credible do we think it is that we now just walk away...? For me it's all theatre and a deal will be agreed or maybe already has been... Mon, 13 Jul 2020 12:54:52 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2020/07/roderick-crawford-almost-halfway-through-july-there-is-still-no-sign-that-a-trade-deal-with-the-eu-is-possible-never-mind-probable.html#IDComment1091755681 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/07/watch-gove-i-trust-peoples-good-sense-why-he-doesnt-think-face-coverings-should-be-mandatory.html#IDComment1091750780 Yes masks create a culture of fear for what is not a mortal threat to 99%+ of the population. Importantly, what do people imagine the end game is? Given vaccination looks impossible due to our bodies losing immunity after 3 months or so. Permanent suppression, masks and lockdowns when it comes back, forever? Our actions have merely strung the problem out over several years. The sooner we develop population level immunity to it, the sooner some kind of normalcy can emerge. Mon, 13 Jul 2020 08:21:26 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2020/07/watch-gove-i-trust-peoples-good-sense-why-he-doesnt-think-face-coverings-should-be-mandatory.html#IDComment1091750780 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/07/research-suggests-lockdown-came-after-the-peak-but-that-doesnt-make-the-armchair-epidemiologists-right.html#IDComment1091750263 Evidence is now emerging immunity only lasts 3 months or so. It'll come back every winter and no way of stopping it without shutting everything down. Exactly the same as influenza and other cold like viruses. That is because sars cov 2 is just a highly glorified cold virus, just one we don't have immunity to yet. Wait till we have 5+ years of mask wearing and lockdowns. On what time frame should the deaths be counted, because this virus will be here permanently. It could even outlast us given how stupid most of the species has become. Mon, 13 Jul 2020 07:46:24 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/07/research-suggests-lockdown-came-after-the-peak-but-that-doesnt-make-the-armchair-epidemiologists-right.html#IDComment1091750263 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/the-slow-steady-fall-of-confidence-in-johnsons-handling-of-the-coronavirus-continues.html#IDComment1091489260 This is why I said futile, there is no way of controlling sars cov 2. There is no need to, because like normal cold and flu viruses it's not particularly dangerous to 99%+ of the population. Just to those over 60 and those who have a weakened immune system. It'll also never be vaccinable for the same reason, our bodies won't hold immunity for more than a few month, no matter how hysterical we are about it and it'll mutate like corona cold viruses do already. By locking down, we have just strung out the inevitable over several years or even longer. That is the infection rate needs to reach 70% plus and then sars cov 2 fades in to the background, probably competing with Influenza every winter. A permanent addition to the stock of seasonal viruses. This is not a temporary phenomenon. That is the big mistake. Those countries you praise, will be permanently cut off from everywhere else, where it inevitably becomes endemic. Their containment will fail eventually as well, it's just a question of how long it takes. Mon, 29 Jun 2020 14:00:15 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/the-slow-steady-fall-of-confidence-in-johnsons-handling-of-the-coronavirus-continues.html#IDComment1091489260 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/the-slow-steady-fall-of-confidence-in-johnsons-handling-of-the-coronavirus-continues.html#IDComment1091487579 It's not just Boris. The global response to Covid 19 will go down historically as disastrously as world war 1. Decades of negative ramifications from it. Totally futile economy destroying lockdowns, for a virus that isn't particularly serious in 99%+ of cases. Similar psychology is at play. Mon, 29 Jun 2020 12:07:47 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/the-slow-steady-fall-of-confidence-in-johnsons-handling-of-the-coronavirus-continues.html#IDComment1091487579 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/dont-rule-out-a-second-lockdown.html#IDComment1091398977 Sars cov 2 isn't particularly dangerous for 99%+ of people. I doubt said 99%+ will hold immunity to it for long. As with the usual cold and flu viruses. The first lockdown was a ludicrous over reaction and also utterly futile. What we're actually dealing with is technology induced mass hysteria. That is the very serious problem with our society that needs to be addressed. Fri, 26 Jun 2020 12:11:31 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/dont-rule-out-a-second-lockdown.html#IDComment1091398977 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/july-4-the-businesses-that-are-resuming-the-rationale-for-reopening-them-and-the-rules-that-they-face.html#IDComment1091350955 Most places will go bust within 12 months, no profitable way to operate with these rules. Then presumably mass civil unrest over next few years due to sky high unemployment. The lunatics have taken over the asylum and it's going to end very, very badly. Wed, 24 Jun 2020 17:28:08 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/july-4-the-businesses-that-are-resuming-the-rationale-for-reopening-them-and-the-rules-that-they-face.html#IDComment1091350955 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/six-months-on-from-last-years-general-election-its-only-the-libdems-who-bang-on-about-europe.html#IDComment1091228424 The EU will cease to exist with a couple of years anyway. We're looking at mass unemployment and civil unrest in the UK, the EU and other western countries. None shall be spared. Trivialities like fishing rights going to be the least of our concerns. Thu, 18 Jun 2020 11:43:19 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/six-months-on-from-last-years-general-election-its-only-the-libdems-who-bang-on-about-europe.html#IDComment1091228424 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/police-chiefs-have-unwisely-emboldened-the-mob.html#IDComment1091080220 Police have been cut to the bone in the last 10 years. With all the BS generally in 21st century society, it's an impossible job. Fri, 12 Jun 2020 17:44:57 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/police-chiefs-have-unwisely-emboldened-the-mob.html#IDComment1091080220 https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2020/06/coronavirus-count.html#IDComment1091075501 Not likely to be over anywhere for several years or even longer. Face masks just slow it down slightly but don't change the end game. Dragging the initial phase out 40% or so longer. It becomes entrenched globally, another winter virus alongside influenza and the rest no matter what we do. Covid 19 is trivial for 99%+ of the population. That 99%+ won't hold immunity, because they don't need to. So mass vaccination is doomed as well. This will run and run... Fri, 12 Jun 2020 12:59:41 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2020/06/coronavirus-count.html#IDComment1091075501 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/the-government-has-held-86-coronavirus-press-conferences-how-many-has-coffey-fronted-none-why.html#IDComment1091071330 I have watched 0/86 and couldn't be happier with that descision. As for BoJo, anyone really think the there is anyone better? They're all abysmal, not just our benches, all of them. Fri, 12 Jun 2020 09:58:00 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2020/06/the-government-has-held-86-coronavirus-press-conferences-how-many-has-coffey-fronted-none-why.html#IDComment1091071330