Labour / NZ First Government

[Balance]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/a...ectid=12326274

"Not one of the people on the Covid Response Cabinet Committee has ever run a business - and it shows."

" .... all sorts of things like depression, suicide, domestic violence and a whole lot of other social issues that cause far greater social damage.

"In the end the only thing that's going to save lives isn't just medical expertise - but an economy that's capable of providing the utilities to face the crisis."

[dobby41]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/a...ectid=12326274

"Not one of the people on the Covid Response Cabinet Committee has ever run a business - and it shows."

" .... all sorts of things like depression, suicide, domestic violence and a whole lot of other social issues that cause far greater social damage.

"In the end the only thing that's going to save lives isn't just medical expertise - but an economy that's capable of providing the utilities to face the crisis."

I'm not sure Barry Soper (or his vocal wife) have run a business either but they seem to be 'experts' at lots of things.
Talking heads doing what they do best - talk.

[justakiwi]

All we have are our individual opinions. Mine is “yes, we do need to have the strictest lockdown regime” to achieve it. Without the lockdown restrictions we have had/still have, the figures may very well have been significantly different.

Nobody is disputing that NZ has done very well and we should all be very happy with how well from a health (no of infections and deaths) perspective.

But do we need to have the 'strictest' lockdown regime in the world to achieve it?

Australia, Taiwan and HK show we did not have to.

Why do we always have to compare against the those worse off than us? Can we as a country not aim higher and aspire to be truly the best?

And to be the best, you need to be objective and compare with the best.

[blackcap]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/a...ectid=12326274

"Not one of the people on the Covid Response Cabinet Committee has ever run a business - and it shows."

" .... all sorts of things like depression, suicide, domestic violence and a whole lot of other social issues that cause far greater social damage.

"In the end the only thing that's going to save lives isn't just medical expertise - but an economy that's capable of providing the utilities to face the crisis."

Totally with you there Balance. The externalities of this lockdown are going to cost generations down the track a lower life expectancy, lower quality of life and a health system that will not be able to cope with excess issues because things right now are not being detected. ie a larger portion of ambulance at the bottom of the cliff is awaiting NZ because we have neglected the fence at the top. It's really sad to see actually.

They the PM has the gall to waffle on with her fake sincerity about "it's all about saving lives". No its not you devious lying politician. Its about making you look good and bugger the consequences for generations to come.

[jonu]

Every year Cabinet makes decisions on Health spending that cost hundreds of lives. Will they fund various types of cancer screening and at what levels? Will they raise funding levels for Pharmac? Funding for DHBs in general.

When the Health Minister from either party goes to Cabinet with their wish list for the Budget at any time in the next seven...maybe 10 years, they are going to be knocked back on all sorts of things because we can't afford it. The death toll will number in the thousands.

[Balance]

I'm not sure Barry Soper (or his vocal wife) have run a business either but they seem to be 'experts' at lots of things.
Talking heads doing what they do best - talk.

Barry was actually quoting Winston Peters in the excerpts I posted above!

[dobby41]

Barry was actually quoting Winston Peters in the excerpts I posted above!

I have heard him make the same comments himself.

[westerly]

Look across the Tasman - they are just as successful with containing the outbreak but without the horrendous impact on businesses.

Or Taiwan.

Why do we have to compare with countries which have not done well? Aim higher! Aspire higher! Achieve better than the ones who are doing well.

The ABs do not compare themselves against Canada - they compete against other world champions like England or South Africa, right?

Since when has public health become a competion? As for all the doom forecast on the economy and the social effects - thats all they are forecasts. Given that 10% of cases are health workers it is fairly obvious that efforts to reduce the number of cases is worthwhile.

westerly

[jonu]

Since when has public health become a competion? As for all the doom forecast on the economy and the social effects - thats all they are forecasts. Given that 10% of cases are health workers it is fairly obvious that efforts to reduce the number of cases is worthwhile.

westerly

Do you accept that the future Health Budget is being compromised by paying people to do nothing for 5 weeks?

Are you aware that supermarkets, which have face to face transactions across all sectors of the community, have not been hotbeds of infection?

[dobby41]

Do you accept that the future Health Budget is being compromised by paying people to do nothing for 5 weeks?

Are you aware that supermarkets, which have face to face transactions across all sectors of the community, have not been hotbeds of infection?

Are you suggesting we shouldn't have done anything then?