I think it’s pretty clear that there is a massive tension at the heart of this between those who are concerned about the impact of the virus and those who are concerned about the impact of the response to the virus. But nowhere do I see the debate being stifled or suppressed. Then again, apart from here, I don’t do social media. But I do see plenty of mainstream media platforms for people like Peter Hitchens and Lord Sumption, and plenty of people in Parliament (mostly Tories) arguing the libertarian side of the case.
The way I see it is - the virus exists and can have devastating consequences for large numbers of people. The efforts to control the virus will damage the economy (have damaged the economy) and will upset those who are very focussed on their individual ‘rights’. The ‘cure’ could be as bad as or worse than the disease. Getting the balance right is the job of government based on scientific evidence. So far this has been a bit of a fiasco, neither curing the disease nor avoiding the side effects of the treatment. And we are all getting increasingly wound up and neurotic as a result, and because, in these times of ‘rights’ and instant gratification, this has gone on for longer than our puny attention spans can cope with, and our skins are too thin to manage the differences of perspective.
There is right on both sides.
I ****ing hate it when you nail something so perfectly!!
Excellent post.