Palma24/03/2020 09:10
It is a tale of two nations; in Britain the Prime Minister calls for people to stay at home and fight the coronavirus and a sizeable number of people head to the parks, their country retreats and the shopping centres. In Spain the Prime Minister delivers the same message but a week earlier and everyone takes note.
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Next month ? Next year, if ever.
Part of it may also be the erosion of trust that has rotted the relationship between civilians and their elected political representatives. The last few years have been distinctly unedifying in the UK for all political shades and has unwittingly allowed pygmy political populists to drive agendas. Farage and brexit for example. And even further back with the expenses scandal. The days of Cool Britannia are far far gone! Not that it was ever that real, but there was a spring in the step of Britain back then which has evaporated horribly.
Whilst out for a walk with the wife, we usually go over a small bridge and walk along a river bank on a made up gravel path about 1 metre wide. We are aware that the virus can be spread by contact and air dispersal so the mantra is keep 2 metres apart.First we met a elderly gentleman who stepped off the path and commented as we passed "I think that's over 2 metres", " Thank you" I replied.On the way back we met a young couple probably in their early twenties walking two dogs, we stepped off the path and waited for them to pass, they carried on regardless down the middle of the path looking at us as if we were aliens.At the end of the path we cross a narrow bridge that crosses the river about 1.5 metres wide, we stepped on the bridge and could see a middle aged couple arrive at the other side who then stepped aside.On reaching the other side I said "thank you" and we went on our way.It seems from this that the older people have more social awareness and are more socially conscious, whilst the younger generation tend to be more involved in themselves.
The difference is obvious! In Spain it was a legal obligation once the PM had announced it and the police and civil guard were to ensure that people complied. In the UK it was only a recommendation (until yesterday evening).