two people phooey

Restricting "social occasions" to just two people is ridiculous. It's the thinking of people who smash avocados and claim it as a work meeting: just me and my very important client.

Family and real society work differently.

Yes, we -- real people -- often go out for coffee or a meal with a friend. One on one. We also go out as a couple, to meet another couple -- two on two. We discuss the world, other people -- and families. Part of the pleasure is that a couple of people are meeting another couple.

Once one couple has grabbed their take-away coffee and snack -- that's two people. Maximum group size. Not allowed to catch up with that other couple, our good friends since forever.

Two people? No children allowed? One child plus one adult plus... no-one. Phooey.

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Here's how it should really be:

A maximum group should be two *family groups*. Two couples. A couple and a single. Two couples and a couple of their children.

Enough to allow social contact between *families*. Between *friends*. *Social* contact rather than -- or as well as -- business meetings.

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Okay, you need to trust your friends. You need to maintain social distancing. Mainly -- you need to be allowed to meet with friends. One couple with another. One family with another.

The government is trying hard. Doing its best. Yet they seem to have forgotten that society involves more than one on one business meetings.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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Carpe Librum, Seize the Book … Scottish Book Trust on Read a Book Day
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Dying for you to read my blog, at https: // notdotdeaddotyet .blogspot. com. au/ :-)

corona Financial virus

The first response of the federal government was to throw money -- or promises of money -- to business. Forget the disease, look afternthe people who buy the votes.

Once the government took serious action -- I was impressed. Gone was Scotty from Marketing, here is a PM who is making good decisions. Okay, choosing the only sensible options. Still, PM and government performed well.

Now there is time to look at protecting "the economy". At the level that really matters. That is, people and jobs.

In the UK the government is offering to cover 80% of everyone's pay. So people will continue to be employed. When the crisis is over, people will still be employed. If their employers still exist.

Meanwhile, what are they doing? Sitting at home, presumably, because shops and businesses are all closed.

In Australia the government offers welfare. Employees are being laid off, they join the welfare queue. When the crisis is over they will all be looking for new jobs. Unions would prefer that workers remain as employees, even though there is no work to be done. And, often, no place of employment.

Is there a compromise?

Lay off workers but retain their employment status.

Everyone is sent home. The government picks up the welfare/wages  bill. When the crisis is declared to be over -- everyone is employed again. Automatically. If they are no longer needed -- normal employment law takes over.

This allows businesses to cut the wages bill, perhaps to survive. It provides continuity of employment, before and after coronavirus. It protects both business and employees. It will simplify business restart, post crisis.

Nick Lethbridge  /  consulting dexitroboper
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"We must believe in free will -- we have no other choice." … Isaac Bashevis Singer
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self isolation

Hey Premier,

At the end of this week my wife and I will return to WA after a short holiday in NZ. We will immediately go into self isolation: do not pass go, do not collect groceries.

So what are we expected to eat for the next two weeks?

All very nice for you to act the big man, thump your chest, tell people that your fines are bigger than their fines. What about the people starving at home?

Do something useful: guarantee that every person in enforced self isolation will get food. Organise deliveries of a basket of essentials a couple of times a week.

It will take the fear out of self isolation. It may even reduce panic buying.

Forget the big threats. Do something positive and practical.

Nick Lethbridge  /  consulting dexitroboper
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"The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you." … B.B. King
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