The Artful Dodger

Just to say, in 1923 there was a putcsch attempted in a beer hall in Munich. Much like this it was unorganised, pitiful and sad. But 10 years later... Please learn, America is on a precipice.

These people aren’t going against ‘American history’ they are American history. Perhaps more people might come round to my way, and most of the worlds thinking, that the USA is the biggest danger to life on the planet. Awful country.

Ok, point taken. Perhaps there were other generations who sacrificed. However, I'd argue this is the only generation that has been required as a whole, to forego their future specifically for the adults. Usually it's either the other way around or a mixture. Now, obviously the latest lockdown is essential but the way children and young people have been talked about throughout the whole saga is as almost a pestilence, responsible for spreading disease etc. These people will be old one day, and if they've got no education, no prospects and no money then we will have serious problems.

I'm not sure that's a great point, considering the cause they were fighting for but yes, as Rando says, I'm talking about Britain.

A nice touch perhaps but ultimately our children are going to suffer greatly because of this. Perhaps not right now but each day out of education does damage. I understand at the moment they have to be lockdown but they should be the absolute priority when it comes to reopening things. Has there ever been an equivalent generation where children are sacrificing their futures for the adult generation? With this and Brexit happening, I wouldn't blame any young person for feeling that the generations above them have been completely failed in their duty, which is always to hand over a country in the best possible condition for young people to thrive. Not one thought has been given to them, instead they have been tacitly blamed for the disease.

Seeing the crowded streets of New Zealand to see in New Year is pretty depressing.

I don't think many people can even come close to Dylan but this perhaps tops it, without wanting to sound pretentious it's incredibly moving

Actually agree with Carefreeluke. I know I've made some remarks about Lampard but surely he, if any manager ever at Chelsea is, is going to get proper time to build something. I assume the idea is to build an identity that can live on from manager to manager, which is something Chelsea have lacked really. Obviously your ruthless acquisition of trophies has meant it didn't really matter but I think that's what Abramovich has sought here, he's been a known admirer of managers like Guardiola who build a definitive and enjoyable style. I'm not sure Lampard is that man, but given his close affinity with the club it would seem he'd be the one to try and build it. I think Abramovich, and many of the fans, would deal with a couple of trophyless seasons if you end up building something like Klopp's Liverpool. Which is not only successful but enjoyable to watch and has that real connection with the fans.

I know there are many people flouting the rules without a care but I still can’t get myself angry about another person not wearing a mask, for a simple fact I don’t know they have a reason not to do so and that it would be none of my business if they do.

Only just seen the Villa goal, Christ it’s another shocker from Mendy. Another new keeper on the cards in January or will they wait until summer?

We are too small to have a tier system, it's only a matter of time. We should all lockdown as one.

S

What I do think is wrong is this staggered lockdown. We all know we’re going into a full one sooner or later, just do it now. I’m happy for a few more days of well poured Guinness but it’s not the priority.

I’m not saying it’s a conspiracy. It’s just something that was always going to happen, has happened and is not the end of the world. I think some people think we should be just at no Covid cases whatsoever. All this ‘super Covid’ is hysteria.

People need to get some perspective on what ‘new strain’ means. It’s the same virus with over a certain amount of mutations, this was always going to happen. It happens every year with the flu and other illnesses. There is no evidence the vaccine won’t work against them.

It’s your last paragraph I’m talking about and I’m not trying to judge people. We live in a society which means we have no time, family is looked as peripheral rather than central to our lives. I think we should try and reverse this.

Balotelli is a mad one. He was never a truly world class talent but he had enough to play at the top level for his whole career. I do wonder about the mental side of being a black player in Italy, the abuse they get is really astonishing and some of the tales about what he suffered over there are horrific.

I 100% agree but now we're past the point of no return, where do we turn? I am being unreasonably grumpy today, my Mum lives in Scotland and won't be travelling down for Christmas now. I know it's not the greatest sacrifice but just seems this year is never ending.

Christian belief is similar, at its heart. We've become so rooted in money and our own life that we just want the easiest solution. There are conditions which need care which the family can't provide I'm not trying to judge people here. It's what we encourage as a society. But I do think, as best we can, we should look after our family cradle to the grave. Having your loved ones around you when you are coming to the end can make such a difference.

Might be controversial but I'll put this out there: the multi million business of care homes is a moral stain on this country. Only the most exceptional circumstances should an elderly person go to a car home, the family should take care of them. They looked after us as kids and we should look after them when they are old. It is the absolute epitome of Thatcherism that they are seen as annoying, dispensable people who we can lump off. I sincerely hope that if I have any children they love me enough not not to put me in a home, the most cruel fate for anyone.

I don't know their COVID stats, do you? The UK is the most obsese country in Europe, we see old people as burdens and families refuse to look after their own old and put them in homes. I know people will refuse to look at ourselves but there is a lot we can learn. Our culture is part of the issue. Nobody will admit it though.

Yes and they look after older people properly there, unlike our country which shunt them off to care homes as soon as we can. This whole thing is a damning indictment of the West, and are still reacting. Absolutely no fortitude whatsoever, just blame and sorrow. I hope we never hear anything about the made up 'Blitz spirit' ever again.

Old populations and increasing obesity. The healthy east is fine, fat, decrepit west is struggling. It's no surprise.

Sad thing is people see Russia as the enemy behind everything, when in fact the biggest enemy to the world is and peace is the USA. Has been for 30 years.

I genuinely fear for the future, we've unleased a tide of people who are happy to grass on their neighbours for seeing a family member, agree to any restriction however arbitrary because of 'the virus!'. We need to accept that diseases will spread because human beings are emotional and social beings, I think attempting to curb those innate things will do more long term damage than the virus will. Now that's not to say restrictions aren't necessary, of course they are. But this resentment against fellow citizens is really worrying.