Its a shame a few more of these dynamic youngsters that are being inhibited through the lock down have not been so visible through the last few years, we may have been able to send the Eastern europeans home

Who's built the country? The older generation ie the weak/sick and elderly. After all it's only been just over 4 months with Covid-19. What an absolute disgraceful and shameful lot of younger generation harbouring the thought of sacrificing the weak/sick and elderly - the builders of this nation - to Covid-19 so that they could live and have an easier life? 

Maybe this lot might be better off not born or emigrate elsewhere eg Timbuktu or the Sahara desert.

I think the sight of poor little children walking around in the sunshine with surgical masks clamped to their faces is one of the saddest sights I've seen in this country.

It was 80F out in Taunton's high street on Thursday, and I saw four trussed up like that, belonging to what looked like three families. And that was in just 10 minutes.

Only 112 of 50,000 UK applicants for fruit pickers take jobs amid farmers' fears over skills and application

Farmers face a challenge to recruit skilled staff they need to pick fruit and vegetables as East European labour is cut off by coronavirus


It seems like our dynamic youth don't want work

Some bizarre analogy from a select few here.

In some countries people walk about daily with attire totally covering their entire body because of their faith or belief, but a face mask is unacceptable because of Covid-19. What a bizarre and "intelligent" analogy?

A classic example of "empty vessels make the most noise".

So we just willingly and readily "sacrifice" a few of the weaklings eg the weak/sick and elderly for the majority ie the weak and elderly taking one for the majority (the stronger in society). It's a scary thought another "human being" can play GOD at the expense of a few who'd have worked and contributed aplenty to the world and country but might not be able to enjoy the fruits of their labour because they could be sick/weak or elderly (bearing in mind we all grow old with time) some clever "wally" decide to play GOD.

If so, I'd be ashamed and not want to be part of that "elitist" and selfish society   ----You know thats not what I said Impossible. I was responding to a doomsday scenario put forward by another poster. The reality is in any case that me me me is the mantra of the modern economic world and you are just as much a part of that as everyone else. The reality is that the measures being taken through lock down etc will cause more death sand misery than covid. Thousands of people have dies over the last ten years because they couldn't get the treatment they need from the NHS due to austerity of the banking crisis. Not too many out with their banners protesting that. You have it wrong it is the working people suffer the elites always are ok.

Stacks of coffins and packed mortuaries maybe slightly sadder,possibly relatives of those poor deprived children?

Interesting thread and though it opened about Goodwood today, most posters recognise that the discussion concerns something far more important. Both points of view are entirely valid, though of course both cannot be right. That the government's full lockdown was inevitable can be debated...at least the extent of it. I personally think the risk factor may have been overstated(with assistance from an eager media), but surely better that than underplaying the health hazards. Reopening then became the focus, igniting the economy versus virus cases argument. For me at least, ONE preventable death from Covid is preferable to an unknown number from economic carnage. The economy collapse has already happened anyway of course and that was inevitable whatever the reopening strategy.
America is currently the dreadful proof that a balance was impossible, so the figures in the UK were at the very least encouraging enough to attempt normalisation for people to attend race meetings etc. The acres of space in Sussex however would still have seen most congregate near the winning line therefore cancellation was probably the right call with cases and deaths showing a worrying upturn.
Those that argue that the fairly minimal risk of catching Covid today at Goodwood fail to address the fact that had one racegoer had a big winning day and popped in to his ageing infirm gran on the way home with flowers and chocolates, he could be putting that lady at risk of losing her life.
With Covid it is not the known that is the major problem but the unknown. Unwitting carriers put the vulnerables at risk and that ought to be enough to deter those that seek a return to normality.
Containment, (whatever that constitutes in the months ahead), is the time to start thinking about a return to normal in my opinion and attendance at sporting events really should be pretty low in the priorities column.

given that life expectancy is in the 70s, a tiny % of people in their 70s can expect another 20 years ahead of them

I have a big problem with the approach where we are effectively saying to a group of people that we are going to carry on as normal and it'll probably result in a bunch of you dying, but hey, you've had your time anyhow so that's that basically.

There's also the approach of the majority carrying on as normal precisely in order to prevent the vulnerable minority dying. If the unaffected minority get it now, they won't be getting it and passing it on with worse symptoms in the winter.

Duffy. I dont believe thats correct, in fact I think the lockdown has been of no benefit to the vulnerable at all since as soon as it ends the virus returns and so few have had it there is no chance of herd immunity (and I know the validity of this is disputed).
I think a selective lockdown where we protected the vulnerable and let the younger/fitter people carry on as normal would result in a much safer environment for the rest after a few months.  The way we are going unless we get a vaccine the weak and old will be at great risk for the forseeable future. And I think everyone accepts lockdowns cant be repeated time and again.

Economy before health and well-being of citizens. Wow! How low have some people sunk to to equate health and well-being to health of economy? I hope the same "smart alex" are still young when another deadly virus visit the UK like Covid-19.

They will not a play a different tune, will they?

you can't have a proper health care service without a flourishing economy so you don't prioritise health over the economy, otherwise eventually both will go to sh1t

its basic downstream economics

when poverty levels increase, lots of vulnerable people die who otherwise would have lived
that's the ill, the old, the poor etc etc

If only it was that simple. Thank-goodness none of you were my Economic lecturer at Uni. And, hopefully none of you are holding the purse string of any entity. I'd feel sorry for the recipient if any of you are.

Chester a bit ironic "behind closed doors", when the best view has always been from the Walls.

impossible. I suggest you do your own research. Nobody else denies there is a link between recessions and extra deaths other perhaps far right Tories like Rees Mogg.

wondersobright • August 1, 2020 2:12 PM BST
given that life expectancy is in the 70s, a tiny % of people in their 70s can expect another 20 years ahead of them

Life expectancy is 80.4 years. impossible123 is entirely correct to assert a strong moral position.