Corona Virus Update

The rest of the world are aghast at how badly America has handled the virus, that its down to Trump narcissism is beyond doubt.
We are truly shocked that your president could ignore all the specialists around him and no one stepped in to stop him.

 

No, I wasn't entitled to any furlough payments.
The pub did manage to re-open in July but with reduced opening hours. It is now shut again until further notice.
My business catering for film and TV has been mothballed all year. Luckily the overheads are very small as my mobile kitchen doesn't have rent to pay since it is a truck.

 

Thanks. It’s hard for me to keep up with my own country. I didn’t know what kind of help you were getting over there. I’ve been following your economics conversations in other threads. Your ideas are more palatable than some others I see in those threads. LOL

Ok. So they are missing the feed byproducts (same as here) and missing income from producing consumable alcohol. I did a little reading on your ethanol industry. You guys are gung ho on ethanol. I had no idea you were pushing bio fuels that hard. We went through that phase in the late ‘90’s where greens, Dems, Republicans, and everyone was on board. For some reasons the greens decided they don’t like it and the enthusiasm has waned in other demographics as well. Of course I’m a fan of biofuels but I’m opposed to subsidizing them.

Here you could solve your information problem by making a nice donation to the right politician. You could probably get your business opened for a price. LOL

I can tell. That’s great, more people should do what they love. There would be less envy and greed in business and society if fulfillment was emphasized over earnings when choosing professions.

I hope it’s beat.

Surely it can’t be too complicated to work out the bugs with the vaccination rollout. I think even the US will figure it out soon.

Well, a lot of us choose what state we live in by specific state laws we like or don’t like. I could never live in New Jersey with their firearm laws. Their firearm laws would never fly in my state because we use firearms daily for practical purposes. We wouldn’t be able to carry on our business pursuits.

Federalism allows both New Jersey and Nebraska to function better for their citizens. If law was homogeneous from the Federal Government neither states’ citizens would be happy at all. The lifestyles and values of people in different regions are too diverse to be addressed by central authorities.

Another example is my state’s approach to C19. When other states were implementing mandates of all sorts and issuing stay at home orders, we caught the attention of the Federal Government for not following suit. Our Governor got called on the carpet to explain, but after his explanation the Feds left us alone. Someone in the Federal Government was wise enough to understand rural people growing the nation’s food can’t be treated the same as non essential workers in highly populated places like NYC.

Next time you come to the States, come by my place instead of just the coasts. It will make more sense if you see how different the states are.

Yeh. Schools. They have to have daycare for working parents. Same deal here.

It was 2:43 P.M. here when you posted. It’s 4:34 P.M. as I post this.

 

We have a saying here.
To many chiefs and not enough Indians.
It means everyone wants to be boss, but nobody wants to work.
This was the opposite. No one wanted to make a decision so everything got pushed up. Unfortunately Trump is the same way. He just wants to be able to say it's not my fault.
I've seen it in business a couple of times when people are afraid of management.
Good decisions just don't get made.

 

Larry King hospitalized with Covid :

https://ca.hellomagazine.com/celebr...lo_daily&sfi=4c68c4e9bd3f963fbfe158170142f11f

He is high risk at 87 yoa

 

My son was doing fight scenes at the Royal opera house and got cut off dead. We are supporting him at the moment. I really hope you survive this. I really hope tv and film restart by Feb.
What's your thought?

 

I think the high budget TV and film can afford the measures needed to work safely. They can isolate whole crews and take over hotels to ensure they stay isolated.
It's the lower budget productions that I rely on for work which will suffer.
I don't imagine we'll see a recovery of the whole industry until the summer at the earliest.
I'm hoping that once productions resume there will be a flood of work as companies rush to clear the backlogs.

 

@557. 23:40 here now, speak tomorrow buddy.

 

Yes, fire arms feature a lot in American thinking. We find it strange. Like if I said a major issue in the UK was the height of lamp posts.
Its not that the height isn't important, its just that its should not be near the top of issues.

Its how much autonomy you have that I can't fathom, we are trying to launch a new type of downloadable game into the states and fathoming out your tax system on a state by state basis is confusing.
How much autonomy does Nebraska have over its taxation?
Indeed how much autonomy do you have on everything?

That is sensible, though in the UK we found the affected and unaffected areas were much smaller than state size. Peterborough a town 25 miles from us is among the highest in the country and we are among the lowest.

We don't tend to do the coasts. We have two holidays a year in Gran Canaria which are just relax and fun, playing mini golf, laying on the beach with a book, going out for dinner.
Then we have a couple of exploring type holidays.

Last time we came to the states we flew to Vegas (Morbid curiosity) then did the grand canyon, then flew to San Francisco for a couple of days and hired a car and drove to Yosemite where we spent a week trekking up the waterfalls and mountains.
The plan for 2020 was New York, Niagara, fly to Seattle and see the islands then drive up to Banff and Calgary. But there was a bit of a virus (Don't know if you heard about it?) so we couldn't go.

We would like to come this year, but have to wait and see. Whereabouts are you? Pm me if you prefer,
I treat all PM's as private information not to be shared.
Incidentally is "Buddy" a friendly or sarcastic description in the U.S? (Its friendly here)

 

Queen Margrethe of Denmark is the first European Royal to get the COVID-19 vaccine. being before the British Royal family. How about that?

 

Whew! This is a topic that could fill pages. I guess an analogy may help. When banning certain firearms is proposed it affects me like someone proposing banning arcade games, toy machines and drinks/snacks would affect you. I’m assuming these things are part of your business, correct me if I’m wrong. I’m assuming you depend on some of the same things as child entertainment here does, I could be way off. The point being, even if one does not include self defense and Second Amendment concerns firearms are essential to life in areas like mine. They are not only essential to my business, but firearm ownership allows functional society in the almost compete absence of law enforcement. It’s at minimum a 30-45 minute response time for law enforcement here, yet locks are seldom utilized to protect possessions. I’ve been asked by law enforcement to use my firearms to do their job for them in their absence so they could perform more critical duties and not waste County resources.Firearms here are an integral part of business and civilized society.

Did you read see my reply to you several weeks ago in this thread?
http://www.politicalforum.com/index.php?threads/biden-to-impose-200-gun-tax.581622/#post-1072238083
Biden to impose $200 Gun Tax
This is a subject I could go on about for pages, but better wrap it up here in respect for the OP of this thread. But let’s continue this at some point.

That’s another big subject. Certified Accountants don’t even understand state tax law in other states. You are biting off a big chunk by trying to rationalize all states at once. in short it’s basically we all have the same federal tax code. But many taxpayers in Nebraska because they are in the ag business can often take advantage of things like fast depreciation of assets that isn’t offered to say a manufacturer. So where you live can affect your autonomy in relation to federal tax. When you get into state tax you have income, sales, and property tax. Every state decides if it has any or all or a mix of these and how much of each goes to major expenditures like education. Nebraska funds most education with property tax. We have no sales tax on food. So some people love living here that don’t own property and like to eat. LOL. On the other hand, retirees often sell out and retire in Missouri where property taxes are low. Every state has different tax rates on fuel (on top of the federal fuel tax). It goes on and on, and people can choose which state best fits their lifestyle.

Again autonomy is a big subject. Many Nebraska teens have the option to drive themselves to school at the age of 14 years 2 months. A few other states have similar provisions. Many don’t. Weed (pot) is still not “legal” in Nebraska but is in many other states. When all things are considered there’s more personal autonomy to be had in Nebraska vs. New Jersey. But it all depends on what’s most important to you. New Jersey now has legalized recreational pot, but if I drove into New Jersey the way I drive around Nebraska (armed) I would never see the outside of a jail cell again. Most of Nebraska is rural enough that even if something is not exactly legal nobody cares enough or has resources to care as long as you aren’t hurting someone. If I want to make and detonate oxygen/acetylene bombs to celebrate Independence Day, nobody cares. Try it in Rhode Island and somebody is going to care.

Oh absolutely. Most things should be decided as locally as possible. But state officials are much more likely to implement effective strategies for my county than someone in Washington D.C. that has never even been in Nebraska. All government should start at the local level, not the federal level for this reason. Even if central authorities are well intentioned they don’t have sufficient information or understanding of regional and local circumstances to make correct decisions.

I’ve not seen Yosemite. I grew up in the mountains so I’ve never really been drawn to Yosemite. The Grand Canyon is one of my favorites. I had one of my best experiences of my life there as well as one of the worst. They were the same experience. LOL. I’d still like to see Niagara but some people tell me it’s a bit underwhelming. Lots of places I’d rather see or re-visit. Calgary and Banff sounds fun. Seattle too many people for me. New York same. Once was enough.

I saw Vegas When I was about 17. Once was enough for that one, too. I’m not into most of what it’s about and the food isn’t any good there anymore. I gamble on the weather etc. at home so I don’t need to wager any more of my dollars.

Yeh the virus messed up a lot of travel. My brother lives in Hawaii and was all fired up to go see Ozzy Osborne in Dublin in 2020. He didn’t go.

“Buddy” is fine by me. It’s mostly friendly but can be sarcastic when being confrontational. You obviously are using it in a friendly manner. I don’t get offended by any of that stuff anyway.

 

Treating the C19 outbreak locally does not work.
As soon as you toughen up restrictions in one area people just travel to another to get a haircut, pint or whatever ''essential'' service they want.

 

England to enter strictest lockdown since March as new variant drives spiraling Covid crisis

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/...es-new-lockdown-n1252748?cid=eml_nbn_20210104

Seems wise given the new variants outbreak now.

 

Well surely farmers are an exception, they are even in the UK where everyone doesn't need a machine gun
No we don't have arcade machines etc.

I will address there if appropriate, so as not to derail this conversation.

Thank you so much for this. I have been looking at it all wrong. We assumed a central system with states finding ways around it.
Now I see each state has huge autonomy, we will approach each state separately.

As I say much more autonomy than I ever imagined.

I was raised in the fens
So I love mountains. I had wanted to go to Yosemite since I was 30 and finally got to go aged 56. It did not disappoint!!

Crickey. .
When we went it was windy so our helicopter flight got cancelled, but we caught a bus and loved it.

We'll pick you up on our way through

Us too. We didn't place a single bet, the casinos were underground and held a few sad women feeding slot machines. But the rest was fascinating, a weird world of strange unrestful people. Opulence and poverty happily sitting together. An entire ceiling made of hand blown glass flowers and prostitutes for sale on the side of a van.

We were caught in Spain, stuck in our apartment for 4 days, we have cancelled 5 trips since then. Still another year coming up

That's good bud.

 

Yep, but with the promise of freedom by mid Feb.

 

The word "FREEDOM" has taken on a whole new significance now

 

It’s not just farmers. The guy that does my auto body work makes about 25% of his livelihood hunting coyotes. I’d say 60% of the non farming population depend to varying extent on hunted meat to feed their families. It’s just a different world out here.

I guess you must be into more wholesome entertainment. Awesome.

I’ll pm you sometime soon as well.

No, you aren’t wrong. The states do try and work around federal tax. For years debtor states that don’t balance their budgets have been levying huge property taxes. Those property taxes were deductible from federal income taxes. So essentially the states were generating revenue at the expense of the federal government without really net penalizing their citizens. I think it was the 2019 tax year the tax law was changed so that only $10,000 of property tax could be deducted from federal taxes. There was great gnashing of teeth from states running this work-around. But the taxes levied directly by states are very variable. For example, Alaska has no sales or income tax. The state is funded by taxes on petroleum. I believe citizens still get a negative income tax, or royalty payment instead of being taxed. It’s really even more complicated when you get into other Federal taxes like heavy use vehicle taxes. Agriculture and timber industry states don’t pay their “fair share” because ag and logging vehicles that run under a certain milage per year are exempted. Well, not exempted, suspended until mileage limits are exceeded etc. It’s ridiculous. Another trucking fiasco is state fuel taxes. I don’t know if it’s changed, but back when I was familiar with the interstate trucking industry it was pretty complicated. States with high fuel tax rates don’t want trucking companies to buy their fuel in lower tax states, so state fuel taxes were shared. So miles driven in each state had to be tallied and the appropriate amount of fuel tax paid to each state. I guess that kind of interferes with state and individual autonomy.

And what’s really crazy is those of us in the most “free” states want more autonomy.

I would like to see parts of Europe but it’s not worth the hassle to me anymore. Your picture is beautiful. I really appreciate different landscapes. That looks flat, but much easier on the eyes than most of flat Florida. I spent a lot of time on the eastern Colorado prairie where my Aunt lived. It’s flat and not even green! I miss the recreational opportunities the mountains afford and mountains still are what I find the most beautiful. Even Yosemite looks beautiful, there just places in the Rocky Mountains I'd rather spend time the rare chances I get anymore.

One of you would have to stay at my place and do my chores!

That’s one of the best descriptions I’ve read of Vegas. Very astute.

All that free time you could travel because of Covid but you can’t because of Covid.

 

Before the year is out, There will still be those dying from COVID-19 and that is a fact. I don't know how else to break it to you all.

 

Some of us anticipate that., discouraging as it might be. But that is the reality of this pandemic All the denials and hoax thinking's not going to change that.

 

But the NRA are all about the right to own a rocket launcher, not a hunting rifle.

Indeed, very different to what you imagine.

Where I live is very pretty, but its flat. The UK is very green, this is one of our local walks.
That said I would love to live with mountains at my back, I used to snowboard before my knees got to bad. I was very slow, people used to warn me of passing glaciers but I loved it. You were so lucky to be raised in the Rockies (Where would you recommend?)
Its a shame you wont get to see Europe we love it and its people, we try to stay in local Airbnb's so we can meet real people and hear about their lives.

Poor Mrs Tigger2

Strange days indeed, most peculiar mummer. I'm quite lucky really I get a lot of time off now the business has grown, but this year I have been going stir crazy.
We have just been told we are going back into total lockdown for another 7 weeks. Not allowed to leave home except to get supplies and exercise alone.

 

"AS PART OF OUR LEGAL ACTION we had been demanding the evidence that this virus actually exists [as well as] evidence that lockdowns actually have any impact on the spread of viruses; that face-masks are safe, and do deter the spread of viruses - They don’t. No such studies exist; that social distancing is based in science - It isn't. it's made up; that contact tracing has any bearing on the spread of a virus - of course it doesn't. This organisation here - is making it up as they go along."
- Gemma O'Doherty


https://www.bitchute.com/video/9IbspR8lpNR9/

 

I notice its not a scientist demanding answers to these questions, perhaps you might consider upping your information gathering from bitchute. Maybe try The Lancet or Nature.

 

While I’m probably in the top five nationally in support of the Second Amendment and it’s original intent (LOL) I’m no fan of the MRA. I’ve been turned off by their marketing techniques since I was a child. I’ve been offered free memberships I’ve not taken for this reason. However, my enemy’s enemy is my friend in a way, so I’m thankful for the positive things the NRA has done. But I’m very critical of their mistakes as well. Today I wouldn’t pee on them if they were on fire. There are young people currently attempting to wrest control of the organization from those using it for personal gain, but so far no luck. I wouldn’t assume the NRA represents the average serious gun owner in America today.

I’d love to hear about it. If it promotes physical activity I salute you again.

I’m just going to pm you.

 

Of course you are correct. But attempting to force people to comply with something they physically or mentally are incapable of doing is counterproductive. It’s also counterproductive to mandate something you can’t enforce. It’s often better to use other methods to gain compliance.

 

Sure, educating people is a better way to go but unfortunately you can't educate the wilfully ignorant.
We see that every day here. People who still believe Covid is a Democrat hoax no matter how much evidence to the contrary that you show them.
When the number of people in society that refuse to follow the recommendations reaches a certain level I believe that you have to use tougher measures in order to protect everyone else.
The maximum fine in the UK is £10,000 for breaking lockdown rules. Whilst there are some who still break the rules I think there would be a lot more without such deterrents.