Methusala

Perhaps by addition of a "Flux Capacitor!"

It's a matter of being free to make judgements on what is presented by our politicians. We need to hold a discussion on the strength (or weakness) of their case. Using language such as "apalling slurs" and "people who are going their hardest" is not helpful. There is no golden rule stating that those holding the reins of power are above reproach. Remember that the Morrison govt has serious questions to answer as to the probity and even, according to constitutional experts, the legality of their actions prior to and even following the prorogation of the last parliament. As to the acceptability of codeine in the pharmacopeia available. this is a question of "balance". My strong opinion is that, 'on balance' the need to have a strong analgesic available for people (such as the huge numbers of women suffering from endometriosis) outways the argument that some ilicit users of drugs may access their hit. Figures are published on deaths by drug overdose and I am sure that codeine represents a small fraction of these. If one has knowledge gained through working in this area then, don't be afraid, put it up. For the record, I am appalled that parliament has been suspended for 5 months. In exceptional times it is imperative that decisions made "in the national iterest" be subjected to scrutiny in full gaze of "we the people" and I condemn the Labor Party for not objecting ferociously to this travesty.

From Wikipedia:- An old "in joke" from the 1940's.

Took 1 week longer for people and families to have their fears allayed than for businesses. Good work Scott from marketing.

Mate, this is the message that we all need to be guided by. Not a game. Sorry, not attacking you. The fact is that so many thoughtless people have demonstrated sheer arrogance in flocking to beaches or holding large parties that the authorities have called enough! We are probably just collateral damage

I have held for a long time that this person is probably acting for 'Big Pharma" and definitely NOT in our interests. The fact that TGA has, over the past few years, acted to firstly remove Pethadine from its legitimate place as a strong (and strictly by prescription) analgesic and secondly to severely limit access to codiene and that the Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy, has supported this is damning evidence of a set-up. Codiene is a cheap, effective generic which has been supplanted by Oxycontin and Endone, both of which are patented and bring their producers huge profits.If in doubt about this then consider that I was casually offered 8 Oxycontin tabs, quite casually, by a dentist following a recernt tooth extraction. When you consider Oxycontin, Endone and codeine in overdose statistics, which is of greater potential to do harm?

I really would welcome some signs of an awakening of a political consciousness in you after all of the discussions you've taken part in here. I guess that 'hope springs eternal". The statistics are fully public and undeniable that wealth has continued to concentrate in fewer hands and that the gap between better off and the poor is actually accelerating. This is what I and many others recognise as the great ponzi scheme. Please keep up.

Wrong! An economy will always exist as, by definition, it is the mechanism for transfer of goods and services between people. 'The Economy' Facthunter is referring to is the ponzi scheme, devised over 40 tears ago by Milton Friedman and the Chicago School of Economics and others, as a rip-off, which Morrison supports, designed to transfer wealth to a small number of oligarchs. This positions these interests above the interests of ordinary citizens. Health should be the only consideration in this crisis and going hard and early is the way to protect the maximum numbers of citizens. Where do hairdressers and personal trainers fit into such a model?

My mistake...meant Brendan Murphy. So...on another, very important front I ask when does this 'do nothing' govt act on evictions? Maslow's hierarchy of essential needs lists shelter next to food as MOST important. Landlords have been well looked after by govt on taxation and legislative protections. They must understand and authorities have a serious responsibility to make sure they do, that with the rights and benefits conferred upon them, they have the duty to protect their tenants. If an otherwise excellent tenant is unable to pay rent, for no direct reason that they can control, the landlord must continue to provide the basic need of a safe place to live. Families are vulnerable and deserve our best efforts to look after them.

It may be worthwhile to spend some time thinking about the role of organisations such as CDC, US FDA, WHO and our own TGA. These organisations are fully integrated with "Big Pharma" or, in other words, the hugely lucrative, world wide drug cartels. Below is a link to a story out of France but linking to a major theme globally re hydroxychloroquine's possible role as in combating the virus. https://asiatimes.com/2020/03/why-france-is-hiding-a-cheap-and-tested-virus-cure/ Please treat this in the helpful spirit it is offered and DON'T SHOOT ME...I'M ONLY THE MESSENGER! I have a strong disagreement with the decision made recently to remove small dose codeine medications from readily being souced over the counter. These are highly effective analgesics in treating crippling pain experienced by many women suffering from endometriosis. I have had 8 tabs of oxycontin casually flipped to me by a dentist following tooth extraction. As a layman I can't help thinking that codiene has been given a 'bum wrap' when one looks at the overdose stats for codiene vs other synthetic opioids. PS: Brendan Nelson has been a major promoter of the restrictions on codeine use in Aus.

We did circuits in gliders with ASI covered and also in training for our pilot's certificate.

A tip for those who, like us, have found themselves in mandatory isolation. Treat it as a role-play for the inevitable, enforced retirement. On the question of the first infected person, read some of what has been written re Ft Dedrick in the US. Also a story which appeared a little after this of a mysterious, commonly fatal respiratory disease which was linked? to vaping in the US. Our 'merican friends have a history of developing deadly bugs to use militarily. When the subject of Murdoch or Fairfax press arises, I think of Dad's words,"Believe nothing that you read and only 1/2 of what you see".

I wrote an email to RAAus asking advice on BFR requirements when impossible to do due to social distancing obligations mandated by govt. I recieved 2 back from them stating that they were supporting the members etc, etc...blah blah. No information whatsoever in relation to my question. The only news I have had is via BlurE's post 17 on this site. Thanks for being incompetent and derisory in your non-helpful response, RAAus (AUF in the old days was way better).

G'day Bex, I wrote in a post days ago: Many thousands are going to die because, by stealth I believe, This place is being subjected to the failed policy of herd immunity. Pentacostalism is a death cult. Keep well all who take this dire emergency seriously.

Please don't think that I am guilty of any less respect than many, both in and out of the media, who still refer to previous PMs as "Gillard" & "Rudd".

'This is war': Professor says immediate lockdown will stop the spread of virus Professor Crabb said a lockdown would apply to schools. “I would have thought that it’s pretty logical until we know better to assume schools were potentially significant sources of community transmission”. Remember that the current figures are actually 7-10 days out of date, given the incubation period. We have not a second to waste.

'If you need a hair cut, get real, people's lives are at stake' Victoria’s health minister says just because the federal government has decreed some services can remain open, doesn’t mean that people should go out to use them. Yes the "wartime cabinet" (why does it not include the leader of the federal opposition?) Makes some pronouncements but who holds the purse strings? The federal treasury. If you don't believe this, I have a nice bridge you may like cheap... There are some good, concise media messages that I have seen on FB -just not from Australia.

Morrison is WRONG. Go hard or go home is the message in this catastrophic situation. Adern is more focused on people's health than the financial economy. The true economy will recover - what may not survive is the extremely leveraged corporate economy dominated by huge corporations with very little empathy for workers or national tax obligations. Good riddance.

With policies such as maintaining that hair cutting is a national imperative it is tempting to believe that the Morrison govt wants to see continued spread of coronavirus among the people. Just Cuts CEO has labelled the policy as "just nuts" arguing that it is impossible for hairdressers to work while maintaining the minimum distance rules that Morrison claims are essential. Can someone please explain how this makes sense. Another stupidity is to allow personal fitness training sessions with up to 10 people. Am I going nuts or is Morrison an Australian Trump clone?

Much of the govt's focus is aimed at rescuing the economy. "The economy" in this context relates to the financial economy. That's why the RB has begun buying govt bonds. This financialised economy is company structures and their capital base. Eg. the govt is pouring $715m into "saving the airlines" while Joyce sacks 20,000 people with no intention of supporting these people's lost income. He is reported as saying that Qantas' reserves of capital will remain untouched. The RB's reductions in interest rates have largely benefited investors by reducing the interest burden on company borrowings. Money can be suppliwed to consumers who will use it to buy essential goods and services benefitting the supply chain. Why can't the government; a)Provide cash directly into personal bank accs, and b) Provide staples of food via modern soup kitchen style? Again, too much corporate welfare and the population being left to catch-up.

"Don't say sorry..." On the way into Sydney last week, a short film from Border Force entitled,"Don't say sorry..." was shown to us. Its message was, you know what is the correct thing to do, so, no excuses. All I seem to hear from our federals is (shrug, smirk) mistakes are going to happen but, ya know, we're all human so give us a break! Centrelink has been operating for years on the principle that no excuse will be tolerated...just pay up. When do these jerks ever take responsibility for anything. Close the schools now, stop treating a haircut as some kind of "essential service". We intend to isolate ourselves for the duration - when we need food, we will go singly, with PPE, to the closest food store and pay with card. Not getting or passing on infection is the only thing that will buy time. Nothing else matters.

Border Force allowed 2,700 people from a cruise ship disperse across our most populous city, having performed no scrutiny, with the vague instruction to "self isolate". These people should have been conveyed to a secure lodging (no shortage of large hotels nearby) and TESTED for god's sake. Who knows how many secondary (and tertiary...and quaternary) infections that "oversight" has caused. This level of bufoonary by those charged with monitoring the bio-security of the place should be treated as a serious crime!

My view, FWIW, is that we must track,test and isolate and be rigorous about very hard self isolation. South Korea has reduced the infection rate from similar to Italy's down to a very low number. We need to avoid swamping the health system because it is required to treat many other life threatening conditions, not just Covid 19. China has managed to reduce re-infection almost entirely...remember that in affected ares they had only one person per dwelling allowed to obtain food once in 3 days. This was rigidly enforced.

The following link is to a very comprehensive report on "our options". You may find it helpful. https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-the-hammer-and-the-dance-be9337092b56 It illustrates how bleak the future may be if we don't handle it with ruthless discipline. On the other hand it gives some bright hope for the future.

"Yep. The bit I don't get is that leaves them with 89,999,839 people vulnerable to the virus once they open the borders again......" IBob IBob, this is not about herd immunity, it's about protecting the population from a wave of cases that will easily swamp the health system. Time is your friend in this pandemic.