Personally, I don't consider myself in this category ... but I know that I leave myself open to criticism by openly stating what I think. There are too many things happening in the world today that cannot be put down to coincidence.
Unfortunately, our wonderful Prime Minister is now, of course, like his ex-buddy in the States, a lame duck, and has opened himself up in the cash for honours enquiries and had his second interview with the police kept under wraps until it was convenient to have it publicised (after Lord Levy had been "arrested" for a second time!) ... it just goes on and on.
A diversion was deemed necessary to keep the public mind distracted from the events of the previous few days. A new headline was needed. Something that would capture the attention of the population. Something so potentially devastating that all thoughts of anything else would seem insignificant.
Bernard Matthews, the breeder of 'bootiful turkeys' in Norfolk, suddenly announced that there was a possible outbreak of avian influenza on one of his large turkey units resulting in immediate blanket coverage on the television news outlets (BBC, ITV, etc). We were informed about the perils of this 'potentially lethal disease' getting out into the public and developing into pandemic proportions. The remedy, of course, was a total cull of all the turkeys.
Blair was now 'off the hook' as we all worried about what to do to prevent catching this 'potentially lethal disease' which, according to a statement from one scientist the following morning, could not be transmitted from the birds unless you worked in close contact with them, and then only if you worked with their faeces and/or blood and guts. Not the sort of scenario you want to hear too much about on the breakfast TV transmission.
In 2001 there was an outbreak of foot and mouth in the country and we saw unforgettable footage of cattle being 'culled' and then burned on massive pyres on the spot. Turkeys are, apparently, different. We heard that the bodies of these unfortunate birds were to be taken for disposal to Staffordshire ... to a meat rendering plant! Why weren't they burned like the cattle and totally destroyed?
I thought I would try to ask the question of anyone who may read this in the hopes that I can be assured that I am not turning into a 'delusional cultist'!
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