Is no one even a little concerned about the intrusion and removal of freedoms?

[DoubleAction]

I know needs must and we're in a real crisis situation but it does make me a little uneasy to see how easy it has been to remove all freedoms.

The real shocker for me today was the text messages. I've spent the last year or so working on GDPR stuff and all the "threats" associated with that. Who gave the government all our numbers?!

I know it's insignificant in the scheme of things now but is it right that it's so easy?

I'm massively concerned. Glad to have this thread as it has been on my mind the past few days.

Could anyone tell me what the legislation actually is which is in place?

I get it. I stayed in all last week and have this week. I will continue to.. But its hard to reason with myself when it's not impacting me in any way. Probably selfish.. But there has been 0 confirmed cases in my area and I dont know anyone with symptoms and I have had all this freedom taken away.

They are putting up road blocks tomorrow apparently., again I get why and do not want anyone to die. But it doesn't make it any less scary to see this happening.

The steps we've taken to stop covid are not us being virtuous. This is us panicking disgracefully and getting next generation to bear the cost

We should be ashamed of ourselves

This ought to be put in very large bold capital letters at the top of the MN Corona thread, @GoatyGoatyMingeMinge

It is the best and sanest thing I've read on here today by several light years.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Was Spock the first character/person to say that?

Parliament isn't even sitting at the moment. This worries me.

GoatyGoatyMingeMinge

The steps we've taken to stop covid are not us being virtuous. This is us panicking disgracefully and getting next generation to bear the cost.

We should be ashamed of ourselves.”

Who are “we”?

Our asthmatic son is 17 and may well become extremely unwell or worse if he contracts this. I’m not the least ashamed of panicking a bit. I’d rather pay economically than with his life or lives of the many other young people who will no doubt be affected too.

Yes, aspects of the new legislation worries me. Things like reducing the number of doctors required to sign off on sectioning those with mental health issues from two to one.

I understand it's a health crisis and we're trying to save lives but we should take care our government gives back those powers when we're done.

Yes I'm concerned. I don't understand why parliament cannot carry on, if not in person, then using video conferencing etc.

Does anyone else remember studying the Reichstag fire at school and how it was used to bring in emergency powers? People should be more wary of giving up their freedom.

transform.iema.net/article/natural-disasters-creating-oppressive-governments-new-study-finds?redirectcounter=1

I'll just leave this here for anyone who wants sobering reading.

I’d rather pay economically than with his life or lives of the many other young people who will no doubt be affected too.

Newsflash, austerity kills. The last decade of austerity and the next decade or two which will be needed to financially recover will kill far more people than this virus even if left unchecked. But that's ok, because it wont be your son, it'll be someone elses.

Not at all concerned. The government has been very reluctant to impose a lockdown, but a lot of the public have been total fuckwits. Something had to be done to protect us all.

When they put the bill through I thought ' do they expect this to last 2 years' then I remembered Brexit . If this crisis lasts 6 months that will bring us to September. By then the economy will be on its knees. Then we fall out without a deal in December and all hell will break loose. Already the Chancellor intends to put tax fir self employed on level playing field in exchange for helping them now. Someone has to pay for all the bail outs and it will be the taxpayer. There are going to be people evicted, losing their homes, starving, unemployment will be massive inflation rocketing. Yep, the country will be in huge mess. So keeping those laws for 2 years may come in handy for the Government.

You all might be interested as to why we can't get ventilators.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52052694

Maybe the British gov't did get the email wrt procurement and maybe they didn't. I would take any speak coming out of Downing street with a tonne of salt. They say they would only consider participating in it anyway.

Yes, the border is not closed. Things needed by the UK can still get through.

As to austerity. It will be a choice how a future gov't spread the pain.

Here's to getting through this with as few preventable deaths as possible.

Lmao that it was just emailed and not communicated any other way. There are worldwide shortages of PPE and I doubt an abundance of ventilators lying around, buying power only works when there's products; otherwise you end up vying for the same stuff and sharing it between more people. Making our own seems sensible, I'm sure though the EU could extend the deadline that they created if they wanted.

Something doesn't add up with several aspects of this. On the one hand we're all confined to barracks and police round the country can now fine you up to £1k if you don't have what they regard as a valid excuse for being outside your home; on the other hand, have a look at www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid

And the timing of Event 201 was interesting.

@hamsterchump Yes Quite a few people channelling their inner Vivienne Rook.

@SmileEachDay
Anything that would makes things easier, faster and cheaper in the future?

Restrictions on our freedom is a small price to pay to prevent huge numbers of deaths.

It's a good job they do know everything about us all now - you'll be glad of it when it means those who are more vulnerable are getting the help and care they need. For gods sake the government are doing all they can in unprecedented times - what are you concerned about. We have much bigger fish to fry right now!

Does anyone else remember studying the Reichstag fire at school and how it was used to bring in emergency powers? People should be more wary of giving up their freedom.

That’s one of the most embarrassing analogies I’ve ever read on here - well done!

Ok *Raspberry”. Let’s just ignore this then and all get on with life as normal. Sod the millions of vulnerable who will die, many of whom, newsflash, have probably been more severely affected by austerity than the healthy already. But let’s just kick them when they’re already down and disregard advise because our civil liberties, the right to walk in beauty spots, is clearly way more important.

I care about everyone’s sons, daughters, parents, partners who will die because of this, not just my own, so don’t be so bloody sanctimonious with me. You have no idea whatsoever about my personal economic circumstances but at the moment I don’t give a flying f**k about that. Right now I don’t want - anyone’s - loved ones to die alone and frightened from a wretched disease. Or is dying as a result of austerity somehow more worthy of your empathy?
So, you can bugger off and peddle your politics at someone else who’s interested in them. I appreciate every penny the Government is spending to try to get as many people safely through this, whatever age they are.

@Duchessofblandings not sure where I said any of that.
But some people seem to lack the understanding that paying economically now wont actually prevent deaths, it will just shift the numbers to being caused by something else. And that is what came across in your post.

Duchessofblandthings it is normal for the government to do a cost benefit analysis of lives v economy for each decision it makes, i.e. if you support the Heathrow expansion you support a broader policy of economy over lives that leads to 20,000 premature deaths in the UK this year.

What is not new is the absolute vilification of those who question this analysis.

I understand that you have a stake in this and I wish you all the best.

It’s not mutually exclusive, is it, “Raspberry” Deaths by austerity don’t trump deaths by disease, or vice versa.
We’re all trying to get through this unknown mess, some in more challenging circumstances than others.
Political ideals aren’t top priority for me right now. I don’t want macro economic lectures and whingeing about civil liberties going forward, when some people don’t even know if they will be going forward. Sorry if you find loving my family and not wanting two of them to die, which they will if they contract this, abnormal or offensive. I don’t want anyone’s loved ones to die, for any reason.
But you’ll forgive me if I worry about continued austerity if and when we all get through this.

No government, of any colour, could be doing more.

I do appreciate the way it works, MarginalGain.

I worked for a London MP (Labour as it happens, Raspberry, still in post) many moons ago.

Thanks. This is incredibly tough on us all but already just a little sick of some people (whose families, I would hazard a guess, possibly aren’t quite as personally threatened by disease potential as others) trying to make a non-political situation partisan and lecturing others who aren’t quite as concerned about the bigger picture just now, who are just trying to get through the days. They’re willing to worry about the fallout later if that’s all the same. I do believe that people in a more privileged position are also being forced to reconsider society too and I think we will emerge from this, dazed and shell shocked, a fairer minded nation.

But for now, the majority of people are, rightly I believe, focussed on the here and now. This thread was about civil liberties, I think. I and I suspect millions of others are more than happy to temporarily give a few of them up to save lives, it really is that simple.

Think I’d better come off here. I’m normally a pretty rational person, slow to anger, really don’t like causing offence, but this is “doing my head in”, I think the term is 🤯

Let’s all just do what’s needed so as many as possible get through it.