My views are pretty clear.
I believe there is a coronavirus pandemic. I don't believe it's fake.
I do believe that time will tell us that many people who died of coronavirus would have died of other things normally.
I believe the government have tried to do their best and I think a lockdown has saved a lot of lives. I believe that some politicians are out for themselves.
I think if we didn't have so many idiots in the country who could follow guidelines we would have saved more lives.
I don't believe Bill Gates or Dominic Cummings are trying to make money out of a vaccine that isn't needed but time may prove me wrong.
I don't believe countries are in league with each other to keep people frightened, nor do I believe the world media is in on that conspiracy either. I could believe pharmaceutical companies would try and make money out of it but have no evidence of that to date.

On other posts.
I believe Black Lives Matter and can't believe that we need civil rights activists in 2020.
I believe it is a criminal offense to graffiti or damage public buildings, statues or street names.
I believe right and left wing activist just looking for trouble and publicity have damaged a very important protest but equally I believe protesting without considering Corona Virus is stupid. At least wear face masks.

I believe people have a right to voice their opinion, as you are doing now, but equally, should not use that freedom to harm others in any way.

I believe the police should be able to apply the law but must remain inside the law themselves.

I think people need to remember Caroline Flack's epitaph.
In a world where you can be anything. Be Kind.

I think that covers it all.

I don't necessarily believe they are desperate to benefit me, even though they often do but equally I don't believe they are corrupt either.
If the only evidence of corruption is stuff you've posted I guess I'm still gullible. It's interesting but no more than that. I don't see any evidence that would stand up in court, or even a proper discussion using sound logic.

For all you say it's corrupt and about money, you would make far more than them if your evidence was strong enough to expose them. Every news outlet in the world would through money at you.

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Thank you PopTart appreciate it. I don't confess to having all the answers its just my suspicion that I strongly believe there is more to this Pandemic than the Government would have us know. Our views differ to some degree, I respect and expect that as this crisis affects everyone differently. I suppose history in years to come might be able to tell us who got it right and who got it wrong. Time will tell.

I'd also like to say that I'm happy for you to have chance to post your views. They are very different to mine at times and when I've given the odd smart answer it's because I've genuinely thought you must be trying to wind people up, which you have justified so I take them back.

I reckon if we knew each other (which we may well do for all I know) we'd have a really good discussion over a beer on this one day. You'd probably frustrate me but I'd really enjoy it.

There is a level of corruption in most walks of life, where money is involved, from petty theft to fairly serious stuff.
The whole "pandemic is corrupt" line though is just laughable.
People are dying in every nation on the planet, regardless of colour, creed, ethnicity and more importantly, the situation is similar the world over.

Now, for cries of corruption, you need to know where the winners and loser are in this so, tell me who wins in a world wide "corruption scandal".
The usual enemies are East (China/Russia) vs West (America/Europe) but, I dont see either of these "sides" being in a stronger position than the other.

Are we about to have a new world order or did I miss something ?

From those figures things do seem pretty fair. I honestly think this problem is worse in some parts of the country than other parts and I do not think the race issue is as bad up here as say, London, and perhaps the bigger cities up here.
What I personally object to is the likes of what I saw yesterday, which was a sign in a house window in Sandal 'If you're not racist but don't speak out against it then you're complicit'
I don't really know what that means but if it means I have to join protest marches or start conversations so I can denounce racism then I'm complicit and will remain so.

ITS NOT A LOCK DOWN. Look at countries that operated a lock down policy and then compare the death rate.
Pop tart you have taken a great interest on this particular thread while recently locking 2 simular threads.
I would agree about the death rate beimg reduced just imagine what it could have been had the goverment implemented a full lock down earlier.
Its been a shambles and how anyone can defend bojo and his chums beggars belief.

I can defend the government. Yes they’ve made mistakes, and we can all criticise in hindsight, and I believe the government made decisions at the time with the best of intentions. The opposition parties are worst of all. It’s easy and hypocritical of them to say they would have done things differently, and extend the financial schemes, when they don’t have to practice what they preach because they are not in government. I’m not a Conservative, I did vote for them Dec 2019, to get rid of that hypocrite Mary Creagh, and to get Brexit done. Yes, it has been shambles at times, but we still need to support them to get things back onto an even keel.

Well that's what opposition parties do I'm afraid , that's how it works, and the conservatives would be exactly the same but probably with much more venom if they were the opposition party.

One black man who has far more privilege than most white men used his past under privilege in society and experiences to overturn a government decision to ensure this summer holiday children won't go without meals. He articulately and politely challenged a decision he and others didn't like. No violence, no protests, no looting or finger pointing. Top man Marcus Rashford and that's from a Leeds United fan. Lots of people could take a leaf out of that young man's book and I'm sure we'd all agree on that

Just look at the recent scandal regarding free meals for under privileged children - they were going let kids STARVE.

What’s more is they had a go at footballers doing enough and they (initially) said no to Marcus Rashford. Unbelievable!

What a horrible government we have.

Decisions "with the best intentions" is an extremely interesting thought. Best intentions for whom exactly ??
It wasn't with the benefit of hindsight that made the Government slow off the mark, it was a political decision.

You dont have to be a rocket scientist to know that travel, especially o and from virus hit countries, was absolutely crazy and was prolonged for all the wrong reasons and it has and will cost us all very dear.
Those nations that moved earliest to "lock down" are having their "freedoms" returned earlier and on a wider scale.
You have certainly let them off the hook very easily indeed.

As for Creagh, despite the result of the referendum, she didn't believe in leaving the EU. Perhaps it would have been more hypocritical for here to do a 360 degree change ?

The leader of the party that you voted for seems rather more hypocritical.

Up until 2016, his views were that we were better off in Europe, only to change his mind when he got a whiff of the Tory leader's job - now tell me who is the real hypocrite.
He also runs the party that froze the wages of all NHS staff for 10 years and then has the audacity, to lead "the clap" on a Thursday evening. Again, who is the hypocrite

Finally, what do you think will happen to the wages of the key workers when the books have to be balanced, do you think they will see any kind of pay rise

I’ve no problem with law’s being changed democracy, remember the poll tax riots, mob rule should never win the day, the Thatcher gov dropped the name PollTax, but households still ended up paying more Council tax. As for free meals for some kids during none school time, where do we draw the line. There will always be some cases where ‘‘this is required, I’ve been out of work 3 times in my working life, 3 kids and a mortgage, my kids never got the free meals, walked miles just to save 50 pence bus fare. It’s called taking responsibility for yourself. Too many people cry “it’s not fair” then jump onto the state welfare bandwagon, most of them spending the money on none essentials, instead of feeding their kids, and don’t try telling me this is not the case, because I can see it all around me. The Welfare payments started off with good intentions, but then, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Try getting people to accept responsibility for themselves, instead of sponging off the taxpayers.

You need to catch up. I locked the threads ages ago because they were being derailed and this thread is designed to stop that. I explained it earlier in the thread