COVID-19

I get the point that politicians may become frustrated with certain lines of questioning, some of the questions asked are beyond stupid, but Trump can't even answer simple questions anymore. I would dare the first journo askng a question at todays presser to wind him up, 'So mr president, have we put our toys back in the pram?'

 

Trump fails to understand that being in the hot seat at the white house and running his business empire with fear and bullying are two entirely different scenarios. With his businesses he can run them how he sees fit, essentially its his money. But being arguably the most influential person the planet comes it with, shall we say, a different skillset, one which doesn't include walking off stage when someone asks you a 'nasty, nasty, question'. In times like this, firm and decisive leadership is paramount to keeping confidence in the electorate. That is if they haven't already died from drinking dettol.

 

Everything he does is motivated by his overwhelming need for power, popularity and positive self image.
He sees everything through that lens because he's the ultimate narcissist.

He's not interested in the actual business of governing - that's irksome and boring and he doesn't have the intelligence or the attention span to do it. He just wants/needs to be the person in charge - the glorious leader. So all his press conferences and public briefings are just campaign rallies. Stuff the content or the public's need for accurate information; it's all about whatever he thinks he can do to maximise his popularity. Anything that disagrees with or challenges him or makes him look bad is automatically 'fake news' even when there's overwhelming evidence behind it.
It's hard to imagine a more unsuitable person to be the president.

 

This could be the beginning of the major political and economic difficulties. For a lot of people rent and bills come to over half their salary - and so cutting the remainder of your salary like that will make a massive difference.

 

This is quintessential Trump.
Instead of cooperating with global efforts to develop vaccines, he has committed to a 'go it alone' approach. This, no doubt, is so that he can take the credit at election time if the US is the first to get a vaccine by this autumn, which seems highly unlikely. And to hell with the rest of the world.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/12/the-race-for-a-vaccine-how-trumps-america-first-approach-slows-the-global-search?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

 

Would imagine that those that cannot understand the word 'alert' will be able to understand this....

BRITAIN will extend the furlough scheme for FOUR months until the end of October, the Chancellor said today.



The job-retention scheme will remain the same until July, but after August there will be changes, including the ability to able to pay people part time instead.

 

Well, then. Absolutely the right thing to do. Buys time to help us off the scheme later on in the year. The fact it remains at 80% rather than 60% is a big deal.

Definitely some in the media will be reeling after being mis-briefed! I wonder what role the unions had in this.

 

I’m slightly surprised to see no talk of cutting the VAT rate to 15% to help things start to move along.

 

Heard someone in hospitality asking for reduction in his industry to 5%
trouble is this kind of reduction is rarely passed on and no-one feels any real benefit...

 

Would it go as low as 15%? Would have thought down to 17.5?

 

Fantastic move and keeps confidence that employers can reopen with a little less pressure

 

Mortgage payment holidays set to be extended beyond current 3 months period. An announcement due before end of the week

 

Any self employed on here? Guessing so. Still waiting to hear anything from the IR about that assistance for the self employed in june (?). By pure luck, i’ve managed to keep working (not quite full time every wk since lockdown though) as the jobs I have on I can be in empty properties on my own and the clients wanted to continue. However, there’s going to be a time that I begin to run out of work, as new jobs i’m guessing won’t just suddenly pick up instantly when things get lifted, as many folk will still be skint trying to get back on track, or understandably holding back on work in order to check it doesn’t all resurge again. Other than a few emergency call outs my phone has been understandably dead for new work, since this started. I realise it is still may but it’d be nice to know something might actually happen for this sector.

 

The government have said they are looking at this separately and furlough was the first. So I’d watch this space so to speak

 

Yes fair, would presume that it would at least first go to 17.5%. I said 15% to try and create some form of immediate impetus.

As has been mentioned, it’s an easy fiscal lever to pull. And even if the consumer doesn’t see immediate impact, it could provide an effective means with which to get money flowing around again. I’m not necessarily saying it’s the right thing to do (I’d guess workplaces had to be declared safe before anything happens) I’m just surprised nobody seems to have mentioned it yet.

 

Ok. Said that over a month or more ago. hopefully we will hear something, i guess it’s difficult for them to keep us informed (as unless i’ve missed it, it only seems to be the group you mention that appear to need to be kept in the loop). I’ve every faith it’ll all happen of course....