Our power-sharing executive, which have hardly covered themselves in glory in recent weeks, plunged to new depths last night when they announced further tighter restrictions for Northern Ireland, starting for two weeks on 27 November. Despite having voted against lesser restrictions a week ago when the seven day rolling average of infections was notably higher than it is today. There is indecision, inconsistency and indifference and then there are Northern Ireland’s political leaders.
This means that, in addition to hospitality and close contact services, all non-essential retail, places of worship, gym and sporting activities are to cease. There seems to be a naive belief that such action now will ‘save Christmas’ for us all. News check – Christmas is not the be all and end all for many people. Nor is going to a pub or restaurant. It’s no surprise that this recent U-turn has been met with anger and disbelief by a large section of the population.
Personally, this latest debacle has left me drained and frustrated. Thank goodness for the scientists who will be the true saviours of the world. Although the politicians will undoubtedly try and take credit for the various vaccines being produced. It’s the quiet men and women in the laboratories who deserve the praise, not the arrogant, blustering buffoons who have mismanaged our nations through the pandemic.
My overriding worry is that, however, when the next elections come around the masses will vote unthinkingly again for the same main parties they have voted for all their lives. We, as a country, need to remember days like yesterday when polling day comes around again. Our political landscape is currently a pitiful fiasco and it’s time the circus left town. I don’t like clowns at the best of times but this lot have just dragged my disdain downwards to a whole new level.
I think that’s the most frustrating thing (even watching from afar) – the inconsistency. The number of U turns the UK government(s) have done is embarrassing. And, ‘having a normal Christmas’ is a double edged sword. By all means invite granny and auntie Ada round and then see what happens at the end of January… I hope it’s not visiting them in hospital, or worse…
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I’ll trade you your clowns for ours.
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As a libertarian and someone who comments regularly on your blog you know how I feel about personal liberty. That said the government responses around the world have mostly been a disaster. What should’ve happened early on despite my extreme misgivings about it, is a complete and total shut down. That would’ve gone a long way to slowing the spread of this pandemic. Here we are almost a year later and we’re still haggling over should we wear a mask should we shut down etc. so on. We should be way further along on this it’s really too bad
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I can completely relate to your frustration. If the masses would all just make an effort to curb their socializing a bit, we may not be in this boat. From the time we went into lockdown and schools were closed, the parents in my town still let their kids have sleepovers because they just can’t say NO. Then you have the politicians shutting down states while they go about their business in complete contradiction to their orders. It’s bullshit. And for what it’s worth, my faith is ESSENTIAL, as is receiving the sacraments. It pisses me off that people can go to Walmart, but I can’t worship. Don’t even get me started. Oh, wait…you did already! hahaha!
Rant over. Be well, Stephen.
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Unfortunately there is no “normal” this year no matter where you live. In the USA life is a whole mess between elections and COVID so I feel your pain. Hopefully the scientists save us all and come out with something that would save us all. Hang in there. ❤
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It might be scattershot and convoluted, but at least your clowns are making some kind of coordinated, national effort. The U.S. C-I-C (Clown in Chief) is more concerned with pouting over his election loss than actually doing anything to save lives. Which brings this question to mind: Do you have some affordable houses there where you are?
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And then there is the USA.
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