Relaxation of Restrictions, Part IX *Read OP For Mod Warnings*

No reason for click and collect to be closed at this stage. I don't want to hear its because more people will be moving around. Towns are packed already.

SnuggyBear wrote: »

No reason for click and collect to be closed at this stage. I don't want to hear its because more people will be moving around. Towns are packed already.

I bought a TV and I'm collecting it this week so I really don't know how click+collect is still not ok for most business?

Graham wrote: »

It's a tough call MOR316. Takeaway pints encouraged crowds to congregate outside more than the odd time last year. At the same time, why takeaway pints before other lower risk restrictions that could be relaxed?

Once schools and construction have restarted, I'd like to see retail and the 5km restrictions lifted first. I think more people would feel the benefit.

I was just using them as an example as it came to mind first

But now you said that about the crowds congregating, I never once saw anyone hanging outside in groups with their takeaway pints. I did however, see and continue to see massive amounts of people congregating with their takeaway coffees, outside establishments and in villages. Huge crowds!

So to me, it's unbalanced and what they're doing currently, is jus repeating the same mistakes

Russman wrote: »

I don’t necessarily disagree, but if COVID is here to stay, then “normal” will be slightly different than before, however much we wish it wasn’t.

Depends on how it reacts to vaccines I guess

MOR316 wrote: »

I was just using them as an example as it came to mind first

But now you said that about the crowds congregating, I never once saw anyone hanging outside in groups with their takeaway pints. I did however, see and continue to see massive amounts of people congregating with their takeaway coffees, outside establishments and in villages. Huge crowds!

So to me, it's unbalanced and what they're doing currently, is jus repeating the same mistakes

You obviously didn’t see South William street at the weekends then, it was absolutely jammers

Yeah, South William street in November was obviously a bit of an out liar alright, wouldn’t be the same everywhere

MOR316 wrote: »

I remember the queues now on South William Street. But, even still the cases didn't rise and for comparison, the queues for the takeaway coffees are just as crowded and full, from what I see

But the virus loves alcohol.

Russman wrote: »

I don’t necessarily disagree, but if COVID is here to stay, then “normal” will be slightly different than before, however much we wish it wasn’t.

I don't really see this being the case. How can normal be different? unless we try to have no travel, or masks in nightclubs, or only WFH? Don't see any of those lasting.

Maybe tinkering around the edges on hand washing and staying at home if you've head cold symptoms. But that would be the extent of doing things differently that I could see lasting.

Something which should last however would be a reformed health system. Won't hold my breath though.

Responder XY wrote: »

What happened over christmas was a direct result of locking social animals up for so long. There has to be balance or there will be a repeat. Unfortunately it may be too late to prevent a repeat already. Best chance we have is to have gradual relaxation, but starting immediately. 

With vaccines also ramping up would hope that can be done without any significant increase in case numbers. But everyone needs to understand that Covid is here to stay, we can't eliminate it and we should not try. We need to get back to normal over the coming months no matter what. Health system needs to get itself ready for that. 

The data on vaccine efficacy is indicating that covid can be eliminated as a public health concern over the coming year.

There is so much negativity on this thread, it’s amazing to me!

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

The data on vaccine efficacy is indicating that covid can be eliminated as a public health concern over the coming year.

There is so much negativity on this thread, it’s amazing to me!

It stems from NPHET, RTE and The Media in fairness...

I mean I don't listen to them, the media...
There was a reporter from The Irish Times on Claire Byrne last night, who said Hollywood wasn't full of Paedophiles and it's a conspiracy theory... :rolleyes:
Tossers!

growleaves wrote: »

Lol. Thank you.



In an Irish context I'm referring to the deflationary effect on wages combined with asset inflation.

It is true we do not have rising prices and rising unemployment in the traditional sense. However we have hidden rising costs as wages do not keep up with assets, such as housing and education.

The result is that people get poorer as the cost of living rises. This was already a problem in 2008-2020, its going to get worse now as debt servicing eats up more and more potential economic activity. Personal debt stops individuals from starting businesses. Public debt turns the country into a tax farm.

Generally we're going to be going back to February 2020 economic conditions, only worsened. This isn't "doom" but it isn't great either. All previous problems like the housing crisis will be harder to solve. Constricting supply by shutting down construction won't have helped either.

They may be growth and re-employment but don't expect a big boom. A gradual slow bleed in the standard of living is the most likely outcome imo.

That’s not stagflation. You are conflating and confusing the Irish property sector and its inefficiencies with the performance of the broader economy and living standards. That’s okay, as FFG have been warned: Irish people judge their standard of living by their ability to own their own home, so they certainly need to address this.

But the reason housing has become such an issue is precisely because we are not economically regressive or stagnant and people can’t buy their own home. The economy is growing, unemployment is falling and wages are rising yet younger generations can attain a lessor house in a lessor area than their parents did despite being educated to a lower degree and earning less.

FFG need to fix this or start preparing to sit across from Taoiseach Mary Lou. Given the seeming idealogical persuasion articulated in your posts I bet you don’t agree with the likely most simple and obvious solution to this problem!

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

That’s not stagflation. You are conflating and confusing the Irish property sector and its inefficiencies with the performance of the broader economy and living standards. That’s okay, as FFG have been warned: Irish people judge their standard of living by their ability to own their own home, so they certainly need to address this.

But the reason housing has become such an issue is precisely because we are not economically regressive or stagnant and people can’t buy their own home. The economy is growing, unemployment is falling and wages are rising yet younger generations can attain a lessor house in a lessor area than their parents did despite being educated to a lower degree and earning less.

FFG need to fix this or start preparing to sit across from Taoiseach Mary Lou. Given the seeming idealogical persuasion articulated in your posts I bet you don’t agree with the likely most simple and obvious solution to this problem!

I think anyone would judge the standard of living by home ownership and rent since its so fundamental. If cheap rent was a thing then a Continental attitude could take hold towards renting.

The growth in house prices is not organic from economic growth its a consequence of the ECB policy of inflating assets while slashing rates. QE deliberately drives up asset prices.

FFG won't do anything and yes I think we will get an SF government.

I was an SF supporter until recently. I'm not against social spending per se. I thought Eoin O'Broin's schemes were just about affordable provided there was some cleverness involved. Remember in February they were trying to cost the spending and talking about corporate tax revenues from MNCs? It wasn't supposed to be an indiscriminate borrowing spree.

Now SF have shot their bolt with PUP and other subsidies. If they still intend to initiate massive social spending with more borrowing then they are indifferent to or unaware of the deflationary drag that the deficit will have on the standard of living.

They should have opposed the lockdowns point blank and stood up for the working man.

If there are still people who believe that wages are growing I don't know what to say. You have to look at wages relative to (partly hidden) inflation, like I said.

They may have risen slightly in nominal terms but the null hypothesis of their real value is ever shifting.