The Covid19 thread

[SoulReaver]

Actually, no you're not getting a shot with the new strain. You're getting a shot of last years strains and the scientists basically hope the cocktail will at least contain enough elements which are similar enough with the new strain so your body has a head start.

that don't work with the flu



now for something different
friend of mine in France related how one of her colleagues at hospital got a fine - for removing the mask while on the hospital parking (so that was outdoor but she says it's mandatory even outdoors in some cities). that was after wearing it for hours at work, basically removing it for a breather

btw those who gave the fine are some special police called "gendarmerie" they're basically a military force employed by the ministry of defence
you read that right the french are ruled by martial law
even the US doesn't have that

she says her colleague will contest the fine but the very fact the SS can fine someone for not wearing their gag even under such circumstances shows how pathetic that country is

even the germans for all their discipline have some measure of self-respect (there was a massive demonstration in Berlin to protest against a similarily draconian law 30000 people or something most without mask - so many that the authorities couldn't to anything about it - no such protest in France apparently)

then again the frogs have long been a culture of submission so maybe it's no surprise they let themselves be muzzled even outdoors

mentalities there haven't changed much since Vichy
lol. pathetic frogs



ps. apparently their Government's quite the capitalist one
they're in favour of immigration (detail) but on most other issues they're in tune with the conservatives & even the far right

[Annoyed]

that don't work with the flu



now for something different
friend of mine in France related how one of her colleagues at hospital got a fine - for removing the mask while on the hospital parking (so that was outdoor but she says it's mandatory even outdoors in some cities). that was after wearing it for hours at work, basically removing it for a breather

btw those who gave the fine are some special police called "gendarmerie" they're basically a military force employed by the ministry of defence
you read that right the french are ruled by martial law
even the US doesn't have that

she says her colleague will contest the fine but the very fact the SS can fine someone for not wearing their gag even under such circumstances shows how pathetic that country is

even the germans for all their discipline have some measure of self-respect (there was a massive demonstration in Berlin to protest against a similarily draconian law 30000 people or something most without mask - so many that the authorities couldn't to anything about it - no such protest in France apparently)

then again the frogs have long been a culture of submission so maybe it's no surprise they let themselves be muzzled even outdoors

mentalities there haven't changed much since Vichy
lol. pathetic frogs



ps. apparently their Government's quite the capitalist one
they're in favour of immigration (detail) but on most other issues they're in tune with the conservatives & even the far right

Frogs?

[Gatefan1976]

Frogs?

Slang for French people

[Womble]

From a scientist here in Belgium: "That would be a very bad idea.", and I agree.

While it's beneficial to have everyone vaccinated, I agree that it should be everyone's choice to get it or not. It should not be made mandatory. Same as the flu-shot. Get it, don't get it -- make that choice your own.

Which leads to pockets of anti-vaxxers sustaining a disease which could otherwise be eradicated. Case in point: the pre-covid measles outbreak of measles. Measles virus requires a susceptible population of 500 000 to sustain an epidemic; it is entirely within our power to suppress if MMR vaccine was made mandatory all over the world - but we're keeping it around.

[Falcon Horus]

btw those who gave the fine are some special police called "gendarmerie" they're basically a military force employed by the ministry of defence

That's not entirely correct.

The National Gendarmerie is one of two national police forces of France, along with the National Police. It is a branch of the French Armed Forces placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior—with additional duties to the Ministry of Defense. Its area of responsibility includes smaller towns, rural and suburban areas, while the Police Nationale, a civilian force, is in charge of cities and their centres.
Because of its military status, the Gendarmerie also fulfills a range of military and defense missions. The Gendarmes have a cybercrime division.

The Gendarmerie is the heir to the Maréchaussée, the oldest police force in France, dating back to the Middle Ages.

Which leads to pockets of anti-vaxxers sustaining a disease which could otherwise be eradicated. Case in point: the pre-covid measles outbreak of measles. Measles virus requires a susceptible population of 500 000 to sustain an epidemic; it is entirely within our power to suppress if MMR vaccine was made mandatory all over the world - but we're keeping it around.

The scientist who mentioned that it wouldn't be wise to make it mandatory, said so with the anti-vaxxers in mind. They would rebel against it and it could throw a wrench in the distribution plans. Basically, let us not give them any ideas that the government is conspiring against them. I mean, remember the conspiracy theories surrounding 5G.

[SoulReaver]

I like how megacorp Pfizer claims their vaccine has 90% efficiency as if that's a good thing
that's still 10% test subjects who aren't protected (but still get the side effects)

That's not entirely correct.

The National Gendarmerie is one of two national police forces of France, along with the National Police. It is a branch of the French Armed Forces placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior—with additional duties to the Ministry of Defense. Its area of responsibility includes smaller towns, rural and suburban areas, while the Police Nationale, a civilian force, is in charge of cities and their centres.
Because of its military status, the Gendarmerie also fulfills a range of military and defense missions. The Gendarmes have a cybercrime division.

The Gendarmerie is the heir to the Maréchaussée, the oldest police force in France, dating back to the Middle Ages.

I know other places like Italy have it too (Carabinieri)
but like you say they're military yet they rule over civilians = martial law

think about it even the US has no gendarmerie cause it's not necessary (and makes no sense why should the military have anything to do with law over civilians in times of peace?)

[Womble]

That's not entirely correct.

The National Gendarmerie is one of two national police forces of France, along with the National Police. It is a branch of the French Armed Forces placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior—with additional duties to the Ministry of Defense. Its area of responsibility includes smaller towns, rural and suburban areas, while the Police Nationale, a civilian force, is in charge of cities and their centres.
Because of its military status, the Gendarmerie also fulfills a range of military and defense missions. The Gendarmes have a cybercrime division.

The Gendarmerie is the heir to the Maréchaussée, the oldest police force in France, dating back to the Middle Ages.

Gendarmerie is basically military police that was assigned civilian policing duties in the countryside. The "proper" French police controls cities, while the small towns, coastal areas, seas, airports, power stations, military installations, police duties among the military personnel and riot control duties are Gendarmerie's turf.

One could make a case that 95% of French territory is being policed by a military force. It would've been a tremendously useless case to make though. It also isn't the same as martial law, as martial law would mean that civil law was suspended. Gendarmerie's authority does not supersede that of the civil courts.

Police force that is a branch of the armed forces because it historically evolved from paramilitary units is a fairly common thing in Europe - often precisely due to French (Napoleonic) influence. The Italian Carabinieri, the Dutch Royal Marechaussee, the Spanish Civil Guard, Portugese National Republican Guard etc. Pretty much all of Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland, Romania etc. has "internal affairs troops" that are basically gerndarmerie. Historically the Royal Canadian Mounted Police started out as a paramilitary force/gendarmerie - and while we're at it, the US Coast Guard qualifies as well.

The scientist who mentioned that it wouldn't be wise to make it mandatory, said so with the anti-vaxxers in mind. They would rebel against it and it could throw a wrench in the distribution plans. Basically, let us not give them any ideas that the government is conspiring against them. I mean, remember the conspiracy theories surrounding 5G.

You mean, let's not give them ideas that they already have?

[SoulReaver]

in a way it does supersede civil law: they're employed by the ministry of defence which means they're first & foremost military which means rank's above anything else right?
even if their secondary duty is to be cops

imagine someone stopped for a traffic offence by a gendarme & the offender reveals themselves to be another gendarme - of higher rank (eg. an officer). offender can literally pull rank & avoid a fine by just ordering their subordinate to stand down: in the military you must follow orders
this probably happens all the time in Italy France Spain etc.



as for the vaccine FH probably meant, such an obligation would be potentially dangerous & counter productive (imagine if a giant demonstration were to take place to protest against it this would only worsen the epidemic)

[SoulReaver]

btw the US Coast Guard's a weird example & Wiki contradicts itself
it says the coast guard is part of the armed forces (= ministry of Defence = military) but also says it's under the ministry of Homeland Security which is civilian/non-military
who pays its staff? who's the employer? ministry of Defence or of Homeland Security?
do they have true military status like any soldier/sailor/airman or they just paramils?

[Annoyed]

btw the US Coast Guard's a weird example & Wiki contradicts itself
it says the coast guard is part of the armed forces (= ministry of Defence = military) but also says it's under the ministry of Homeland Security which is civilian/non-military
who pays its staff? who's the employer? ministry of Defence or of Homeland Security?
do they have true military status like any soldier/sailor/airman or they just paramils?

The USCG was moved to the Dept. of Homeland Security in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks. Prior to that it was under the authority of the Dept. of Transportation. It is however, a full fledged military service, despite it's primary role of protecting the US shorelines and waterways.
Most of their operations concern drug and other smuggling operation interdiction and providing safety and rescue services on domestic waterways, as well as rescue operations on international waters near the US.

[SoulReaver]

The USCG was moved to the Dept. of Homeland Security in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks. Prior to that it was under the authority of the Dept. of Transportation. It is however, a full fledged military service, despite it's primary role of protecting the US shorelines and waterways.
Most of their operations concern drug and other smuggling operation interdiction and providing safety and rescue services on domestic waterways, as well as rescue operations on international waters near the US.

if it's a true military organization then why's it part of a civilian ministry?
anything military by definition will be under the (only) military ministry ie. ministry of defence


why not put the navy under the authority of the ministry of agriculture, makes as much sense

[Annoyed]

if it's a true military organization then why's it part of a civilian ministry? makes 0 sense

if it's military then by definition it'd be under the (only) military ministry ie. ministry of Defence


why not put the navy under the authority of the ministry of agriculture while they're at it, makes as much sense

I would presume that it's because its mission is different. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and now Space Force are intended to act against foreign enemies.

[SoulReaver]

I would presume that it's because its mission is different. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and now Space Force are intended to act against foreign enemies.

then reverse question why is CG a military force to begin with

[Annoyed]

then reverse question why is CG a military force to begin with

Well, for some of their duties, such as catching smugglers & other threats, you want a military force.

There may also be other reasons. This is just a guess, but back when it was formed, the folks serving in it probably wanted parity with the other branches of military service.

[SoulReaver]

Well, for some of their duties, such as catching smugglers & other threats, you want a military force.

ICE DEA ATF FBI ... not enough? that's their job

army/law merging is typical of medieval time back when guards patrolled the streets at home & also waged war abroad
there has to be a good reason why those 2 functions got separated with time



else what's to stop FBI agents from also demanding military status