£23 million (and counting), and a Number One from Captain Tom for the NHS, 750,000 volunteers for the NHS, numerous fund raising initiatives for the NHS (which may I remind you is not a charity – we fund it through our taxes, and manage it through our elected Government), clapping for essential workers, general public stepping up to help the supply chain, the majority of the population Social Distancing. Celebrities raising funds and keeping us entertained on social media, the creativity shown by many on social media.
There is a shed load of good stuff to be proud of during this COVID-19 crisis.
But best not forget that however many positives, they can’t hide the negatives.
All is not rosey in the Garden, the Leopard has not changes it’s spots.
Usual culprits top the list: MP’s and Media. The gloves have well and truly come off this morning in the Sunday Papers and the Talk Shows regards the inept handling of the crisis by Boris and his Cabinet, and if they were a business a post crisis post mortem would lead surely to a number of departures, arguably at the top.
Pains me to say it though, but I do have some sympathy for the politicians with the caveat that they voluntarily put themselves in the cross hairs, as the vast majority are promoted to roles that if it were a business environment they would not even apply for, and by the nature of politics one Government often has to live with the policies of a previous incumbent. No excuse though for being under prepared and in the case of Priti Patel unable to even read a number out!
Still that is the nature of the beast as they say, and at the end of the day is no avoiding the fact that as a country we were under prepared, have been miss managed and still lack clear direction.
The media on the other hand have collectively been truly awful. No excuses at all, they are career professionals so have trained (one assumes) for years for the jobs they have, yet they continue to ask the most mundane, ludicrous and agenda driven questions. I have yet to learn anything from a question that wasn’t covered in a briefing, and I have pretty much given up watching Marr, Ridge et al as they just don’t ask questions and let people answer.
And so to the great unwashed, you, me and the oiks that are still flaunting the rules …… nah, on that note I will leave it. The sun is out, the wine is chilled, the BBQ beckons.
Stay Safe, Be Nice!