Populism and reality

Populism is the art of offering simple solutions to complex problems. Without understanding the problems. Or the consequences.

Whether it is Brexit or COVID, populism has failed, because it fails to actually come with solutions.

And because, in this country, and in the UK, populists are stupid.

Populism can win you elections, and make you seem all knowing, but reality don't give a shit about that.

If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.

On COVID, if you compare death rates of the UK and US, the US currently has just over 250,000 deaths, meanwhile the UK would have over 340,000. I mean, Johnson and co are actually worse than Trump and his group of useless idiots.

We have even done worse that Sweden who did nothing, although even they now are mandating masks and other measures.

And in doing worse than anyone else, the UK has bpent billions and billions of pounds, hundred of billions of pounds to have a far worse death rate, a worse economic recession and will have a longer, harder recovery.

And on top of that there will be Brexit.

Johnson could have forseen the second wave and not agreeing a deal with the Eu and eteneded the transition, but he pressed down on the accelerator and drove us towards the cliff. This is our own special emergency, and Johnson will own it, though he will try to blame everyone else, just like Trump.

Don't blame me, I didn't vote for him, I had seen enough to guess what was coming, but this is far, far worse than I dared believe.

Buckle up, bub, its gonna be rough.

12 examples for the Government's own reasonable worse case scenrio:

1. 60-80% drop in availability of medicines and medical products

2. Protests and counter-protests will absorb significant police resources

3. Clashes between UK and EU fishing vessels and a significant increase in illegal fishing

4. Extra demand on maritime agencies will put UK security ar risk

5. Reduced availability of food, especially fresh food. Critical supply dependencies in food supply chains will be broken

6. Low income groups and regions will be disproportionately affected by food and fuel shortages / cost increases

7. Border issues will lead to disruption of water, energy, food and fuel services, and lead to some vital chemical suppliers reducing operations or closing

8. Border delays will lead to local fuel shortages

9. Reduced access to veterinary medicine will affect our ability to prevent outbreaks of animal disease, directly impacting human health

10. 40-70% of trucks will not be ready for border controls, leading to 2-day queues at ports

11. Loss of access to international data will cause a reduced ability to tackle crime and terrorism

12. Around 1 in 20 local authorities will financially collapse as a result of higher demand and lower income caused by Brexit transition - leading to major social services crisis