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

This is one of the more ridiculous rules alright - act like you're a plague carrier when you enter/leave/go to the bathroom, but sit there with friends unmasked as long as you like in between while you eat, drink and chat among others doing the same!

More concerning though is the response from the man you met on the way out as well as some of the other posts on the last page or two - a lot of people see no problem with continuing this theatre of masks, distancing, showing your ID and "pass" for a latte or a burger etc.

It's Stockholm Syndrome on a national level (and some people doubt the mental health impact all this has had!) and given the Irish psyche tends towards servility and virtue signalling, it's something that could linger on for a long time yet if we're not careful.

The effect all this has had on me is a growing disgust with the above and I find myself increasingly frustrated and disappointed with just how little real progress we've made as a society in the last 20/30 years.

Oh sure we have SSM and increased equality and more open discussions on things that were previously taboo and these are certainly good and important steps, but underneath it all is still a "need" among many to show how compliant they are, to attack anyone or anything that stands out, and an acceptance of the status quo and instructions from their "betters" - regardless of how incompetent or involved in scandals these people have been previously, and not forgetting that we still can't address the fundamental problems in housing, health, costs of living, the growing real inequality and loss of opportunity between different parts of society etc etc. If anything those in charge seem to be actively making things worse!

It shouldn't BE accepted that we will wear masks to go shopping or eat, hand over "our papers" for the privilege of paying for an overpriced coffee and not drinking it in the hugely variable Irish weather, or putting up with restrictions every time the HSE cries about problems they themselves have made and haven't addressed for decades despite the fact that they get 20 billion a year to do exactly that!

If this continues into the long term for what is basically a mild dose of the sniffles, I think I will seriously look into moving to the UK - not just because of all this, but the hypocritical nature of our society - great at leading on all the "feel good" twitter campaigns, but absolutely backwards when it comes to mature discussion, political governance and progress (and yes, the UK is not the land of milk and honey either, but they have the more copped on /get on with it attitude to things like this, and when politicians are caught out they seem to generally resign as a result).

I really worry whether we'll ever grow up as a country.

They're asking permission, or perhaps more cynically, want Tony to make the decision for them because we have been saddled with some of the weakest politicians this country has ever seen in the last decade.

As I've said a few times, for all his many faults, you can't imagine Haughey "leading" like this.

Nothing but a "Cover your Arse" exercise by the politicians. Our politicians are only focused on one thing and that is keeping their seat so if they can point the finger at someone else when the decisions don't work out all the better. Basically our politicians are nothing but a shower of cowards, afraid to make a decision incase it makes them look bad.

The leadership has been very poor true out this whole mess.

"It is hoped bars and restaurants will be permitted to open to at least 11pm from next month after Nphet reviews the latest data on the virus."

They just don't get it do they.

They can **** off with their curfews, whether it be 8pm or 11pm isn't the point, there is no science worth a damn that justifies them.

As bad as MM is you have to admit he has not been helped one bit by one of his coalition partners doing their upmost to undermine him and the government as much as they can for their own personal gain. In saying that MM needs to grow a backbone and lift restrictions ASAP. They have had 2 years to put the structures in place to deal with this and they haven't done that.

Without getting into a back and fourth so to speak 😉, I actually think a cohort within FG didn't actually help the messaging debacle, indeed I think it reasonable to suggest some actually undermined MM and the coalition strategy in managing this Pandemic. It only seems to be more coherent (in their eyes at least) of late, a kind of Truce or perhaps a realisation their both going to be accountable ultimately and they actually need the CMO on side, more for political cover than anything else, the Greens will just continue to nod regardless. Of course, this IMO

To me, that's just the way the journalist has worded the article. Either way, it doesn't detract from the fact that our Taoiseach is a weak leader.

They will drag it out till we are fully open just in time for the next round of boosters, so cases will inevitably rise and we are back to the closing down/opening up cycle once again without really ever been open for a significant period.

I saw their letter in the paper this morning and it's literally taken up half the letters page - what a waste of ink!!

What a weird little bunch of highly educated people. They’ll be in their strange zero-covid bubble for the foreseeable, on their own, stamping their feet for attention.

Had to dig to find the letter on the website and thankfully not yet referenced in main news, hopefully stays that way. At this stage they should be treated the same as any other lunatic fringe group. And should have everyone questioning ‘experts’ and their credentials - one prominent one recently reckoned it was a good idea for all men to have 12 socialisation classes before being let loose in public.

These people have taken up huge column inches through the pandemic and their ridiculous ideas debated and given serious thought. Waste of time and space and their nonsense contributed to our dithering snail-like lifting of restrictions.

As far as i remember, the mask mandate for everyone is due to expire either at the end of this month or February 11?

Or do I remember incorrectly?

I doubt it matters unfortunately. It'll be extended at the stroke of a pen without a proper debate as to the necessity or duration I expect.