We're kinda communist now...right?

veryangryman

I mean it's good to see that people are getting looked after and all but... what do ye think?

Bobblehats

Sort of

Wibbs

Paddy's Day parade when it starts up again next year.

JohnnyFlash

The best bit about communism is at the start where all the communists start getting suspicious about other communists and what sort of communist they are and there’s a purge or mass execution of false communists by real communists.

the beer revolu

Well for now, we have no two tier health system.
Health insurance won't get you seen any quicker if you have covid-19. Private hospitals are now under control of the state.

I think this is a good thing.
I have private health insurance.

beejee

Yup.

And it will have the same longevity as usual too

Leg End Reject

Emergency measures that have to be implemented due to exceptional circumstances?

Yep, just a cover up for the stealth introduction of communism. I heard we're getting microchipped next.

banie01

Basically.
They've nationalised a large swathe of the work force, thrown the bourgeoisie, I mean the self employed to the dog

Taking private hospital beds into HSE use was always on the cards, it may well give a pathway to a coherent integrated care model.
This being Ireland, I doubt it tho.

The actions taken, are in fairness a laudable effort to ensure that as many as possible are protected both medically and economically.

There will be a lot of debt accrued as a result, but I am quite happy that our Government is putting health of citizens before the rush to restart the economy.

banie01

Wibbs wrote: »

Paddy's Day parade when it starts up again next year.

That's actually a parade I'd attend!
Nice bit of hardware, plenty of precision marching and a show execution or 2 to round off the day.

1o059k7ewrqj3n

When the chips are down, the system goes Socialist.

Because you’ll be waiting a long time for the market to sort it out.

Montage of Feck

“Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few"

4068ac1elhodqr

Cash as a store of expendable value certainly seems to have taken a back seat.

For any of you out there still buying smokes, and buying too much strong cheap booze, (with the tap n' pay cards).
Your records will be noted. As such you will only be given secondary level treatment, due to your social point system score.

Suggest you buy bags of organic kale and high potency green tea to correct your wayward habits.
You points will be adjusted accordingly, in due time.

I miss the posse of libertarians on this site. They would be working themselves up into a didactic straightjacket in response to the pragmatic actions of our government.

banie01

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I miss the posse of libertarians on this site. They would be working themselves up into a didactic straightjacket in response to the pragmatic actions of our government.

They are even sloping off from replying on the Trump thread.

It's a wet dream moment for UBI proponents tho

Seriously tho, the difference between the response of the Authoritarian State, The Social Democracy, and the Market Democracy in how a threat to a citizen is dealt with and balanced against the need of the overall economy is being laid bare in a way that political scientists will be salivating over for years to come.

There's quite a few PhDs to be had out of this shítstorm.

dastardly00

Leg End Reject wrote: »

Yep, just a cover up for the stealth introduction of communism. I heard we're getting microchipped next.

You know the mouth swabs taken during a drive-thru test for Covid-19... they are really just implanting the microchip :eek:

Communism to capitalism's rescue yet again.

corner of hells

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

The best bit about communism is at the start where all the communists start getting suspicious about other communists and what sort of communist they are and there’s a purge or mass execution of false communists by real communists.

关于共产主义的最好点是，一开始，所有共产党员开始对其他共产主义者以及他们是什么样的共产主义者感到怀疑，而真正的共产主义者则对虚假的共产主义者进行了清洗或大规模处决。

See , I've even learned the language.

SEPT 23 1989

5 billion to keep a country going for 12 weeks

Sure what can go wrong

Leg End Reject

dastardly00 wrote: »

You know the mouth swabs taken during a drive-thru test for Covid-19... they are really just implanting the microchip :eek:

AND getting all your genetic information to profile our DNA. It's how they'll identify us when they remove all our teeth and fingertips.

johnnyskeleton

No.....but......

Imagine you'd been working all your life and contributing to private health care just in case you ever needed it. The money you pay to private health insurers is used to pay for private procedures which is what primarily funds these private hospitals. This is on top of the already heavy taxes you pay but you think it is worth making those sacrifices. You forgo foreign holidays, work extra shifts, don't upgrade your car etc to pay for it (it ain't cheap) but you think its worth it because it'll always be there when you need it.

Well, over the next few weeks you might need it. Whether for Covid or for some other procedure or treatment. And guess what....you're all out of luck pal. Some feckless and irresponsible schmoe has taken your place courtesy of the HSE. He went to cheltenham instead of paying for the VHI and gambled away all his money. He also caught covid-19 and then passed it on to you when he coughed in your face for a coronavirus challenge.

Imagine you did get Coronavirus, but like in Italy you were triaged to be too old to get a respirator. So you die. Your children are told by the private health insurer that had they had control of their hospital, they might have been able to save you, but it's too late now. Are private health insurers even suspending premiums as they aren't really offering much in return (this would be a token gesture at best, but still).

Now, imagine you are your children. Would you pay private health insurance knowing that, when you need it, it will be temporarily socialised?

So in an ideal world, we wouldn't have a two tier health system and it would be ready for any emergency. But we don't live in such a world, we live in an awful awful world with a self destructive desire to be seen to be socialists and private health insurance has shown itself to be basically an extra voluntary tax with no benefits to you.

Your Face

Its just that I hate the dowdy uniforms.
Nothing cuts a dash like field grey.

biko

My favourite part is where they kill everyone with glasses.
Watch out dorks!

alchemist33

Don't think we've gone communist, but this does illustrate the weaknesses of capitalism.

rossie1977

Wouldn't we be all working on the front line in some capacity to deal with crisis if we were communist though.

landofthetree

No.

The taxpayer will have to pay higher taxes for years.

It's a loan.

landofthetree

alchemist33 wrote: »

Don't think we've gone communist, but this does illustrate the weaknesses of capitalism.

As bad as our health service here is I'd rather be in Ireland than Venuzuala right now

whisky_galore

No.

People who think this is communism wouldn't know communism if it bit them on the arse.

bluefinger

biko wrote: »

My favourite part is where they kill everyone with glasses.
Watch out dorks!

Laser eye surgery ftw

Joe_ Public

I would describe whats happening now as a pure necessary bolt of common sense.

We'll have to wait until the time comes for payback to put an ism on it.

Limpy

If venuzuala wasn't sanctioned from east to west I would imagine they would have a better country.

landofthetree

Limpy wrote: »

If venuzuala wasn't sanctioned from east to west I would imagine they would have a better country.

So they need access to the globalised world? :eek:

Doesnt sound very commie to me,

growleaves

Yep, just a cover up for the stealth introduction of communism. I heard we're getting microchipped next.

Yeah but if microchipping was a real thing how many people would say 'Whats the use in being un-microchipped if you're in a wooden box and your family and friends are in the ICU?' etc.

In the last two weeks we've learned that fear of death is a blank cheque for whatever. People will ridicule 'conspiracy theorists' in one breath and call for martial in the law in the next.

Raconteuse

The people who hold the view that this is just to oppress us, what alternative do they suggest to curb the spread of a virus as contagious and potentially dangerous as this one? Because there ain't a vaccination or drug treatment. And people are gleefully risking the spread.

And do they really think it's just to oppress us as opposed to stemming the spread of a virus so that the horror in Italy doesn't become a reality here?

Who's looking for martial law and microchipping?

Dr. Colossus

It's not communism.It's social democracy and the mixed economy responding to an unprecedented crisis.

whisky_galore

Limpy wrote: »

If venuzuala wasn't sanctioned from east to west I would imagine they would have a better country.

Other countries get sanctioned but their citizens aren't starving and shooting each other.
Gross mismanagement and over dependence on oil more like.

Limpy

landofthetree wrote: »

So they need access to the globalised world? :eek:

Doesnt sound very commie to me,

Even commies traded. They have vast amounts of oil they could trade for commodities they need.

growleaves

The people who hold the view that this is just to oppress us, what alternative do they suggest to curb the spread of a virus as contagious and potentially dangerous as this one? Because there ain't a vaccination or drug treatment

And do they really think it's just to oppress us as opposed to stemming the spread of a virus so that the horror in Italy doesn't become a reality here?

Ah here I'm not getting into a big back and forth.

mrsdewinter

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

No.....but......

Imagine you'd been working all your life and contributing to private health care just in case you ever needed it. The money you pay to private health insurers is used to pay for private procedures which is what primarily funds these private hospitals. This is on top of the already heavy taxes you pay but you think it is worth making those sacrifices. You forgo foreign holidays, work extra shifts, don't upgrade your car etc to pay for it (it ain't cheap) but you think its worth it because it'll always be there when you need it.

Well, over the next few weeks you might need it. Whether for Covid or for some other procedure or treatment. And guess what....you're all out of luck pal. Some feckless and irresponsible schmoe has taken your place courtesy of the HSE. He went to cheltenham instead of paying for the VHI and gambled away all his money. He also caught covid-19 and then passed it on to you when he coughed in your face for a coronavirus challenge.

Imagine you did get Coronavirus, but like in Italy you were triaged to be too old to get a respirator. So you die. Your children are told by the private health insurer that had they had control of their hospital, they might have been able to save you, but it's too late now. Are private health insurers even suspending premiums as they aren't really offering much in return (this would be a token gesture at best, but still).

Now, imagine you are your children. Would you pay private health insurance knowing that, when you need it, it will be temporarily socialised?

So in an ideal world, we wouldn't have a two tier health system and it would be ready for any emergency. But we don't live in such a world, we live in an awful awful world with a self destructive desire to be seen to be socialists and private health insurance has shown itself to be basically an extra voluntary tax with no benefits to you.

LOL!

The private hospitals were NEVER going to admit your covid-racked body.

Was it Stillorgan that put up a huge sign outside its gate 2 weeks ago telling visitors with suspected coronavirus to stay away??

Leg End Reject

Raconteuse wrote: »

The people who hold the view that this is just to oppress us, what alternative do they suggest to curb the spread of a virus as contagious and potentially dangerous as this one? Because there ain't a vaccination or drug treatment. And people are gleefully risking the spread.

And do they really think it's just to oppress us as opposed to stemming the spread of a virus so that the horror in Italy doesn't become a reality here?

Who's looking for martial law and microchipping?

I was sarcastic when I mentioned microchipping.

What's happening now is necessary, hopefully the naysayers will start to take note instead of wailing about being oppressed.

growleaves

Who's looking for martial law and microchipping?

No one is looking for microchipping (so far as I know).

Some people are looking for a military-enforced lockdown (technically not martial law actually, but a military suspension of ordinary life) and the government has refused - Leo said he wouldn't give in to "populist pressure".

tabby aspreme

Money trees are a thing after all

landofthetree

tabby aspreme wrote: »

Money trees are a thing after all

It has to be paid back.

Zebra3

So when will the US drop chemical weapons on us?

storker

banie01 wrote: »

but I am quite happy that our Government is putting health of citizens before the rush to restart the economy.

...and before what their ideological instincts might suggest. Credit where credit's due. So far they seem to be rising well to the occasion.

Manach

Now that you mention it, that giant statue of Comrade Leo that being erected in place of Nelson's pillar was a bit of give-away.

Raconteuse

Dr. Colossus wrote: »

It's not communism.It's social democracy and the mixed economy responding to an unprecedented crisis.

On another thread it's nazis.

I think it's obvious what that truly means... :eek:

https://frinkiac.com/caption/S09E23/38537

Raconteuse

Leg End Reject wrote: »

I was sarcastic when I mentioned microchipping.

Oh I know, L.

landofthetree

storker

landofthetree wrote: »

"The KGB have better cars"
"Yes, but they don't always take you where you want to go, do they?"
- Gorki Park

RandomViewer

Leg End Reject wrote: »

Emergency measures that have to be implemented due to exceptional circumstances?

Yep, just a cover up for the stealth introduction of communism. I heard we're getting microchipped next.

Mandatory or compulsory?

RandomViewer

whisky_galore wrote: »

Other countries get sanctioned but their citizens aren't starving and shooting each other.
Gross mismanagement and over dependence on oil more like.

The whole of South America seems poorly run no matter the method