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?

No, it's to protect us, hardly a bad thing!

I havent seen anyone here "whinging" about the lack of freedom @ MinkowskisButterfly. People have said it's necessary, it's just a musing about how easy it would be in different, less necessary, circumstances.

They haven't removed ALL
Freedoms! Try living in Iran OP!!

Well quite, that's my point Mother. How did it start in Iran?

I agree OP but you'll get nothing here. Have a read of this Coronavirus may have infected half of UK population — Oxford study - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/042c6088-8ef6-4a71-a4cb-4ebe4fa08cf1 via @FT

Totally agree with HandBellender and angell84

@MinkowskisButterfly Not everybody dies, most people will have mild symptoms.

No

What would have the Government do in what is essentially a war situation? If in demanding one's 'rights', whatever they might be considered to be, means that the well-being of the majority is endangered then one's behaving like a terrorist and should be dealt with accordingly and quickly.
Maybe after this is over the issue of 'rights' can be looked at, if a criminal doesn't recognise the rights of the majority to live safely then the criminal has forfeited their 'rights'. At the moment 'rights' work in favour of the criminals.

OP - On the back of a revolution in Iran with an early cull of non-compliant revolutionaries (communists and general freedom-fighters, unfortunately for them) through generalised/mass murder then establishment of theocracy supported by theocratic police, though the deposed Shah was supported by state secret police who had a fearsome reputation so the autocracy might have been culturally embedded prior to the revolution (depending on your view of cause and effect).

OP I understand your concerns but context can be everything. There's another thread where people are arguing that they should be able to roam the countryside as they see fit and holiday there for "isolation". The human ability to shoot itself in the foot never ceases to amaze me, setting fire to food delivery trucks and damaging ambulances. The list is endless.

Yes, I do feel a squeak of concern. At the moment it's hard to disagree with the measures taken to keep us all safe - it's more a question of what controls might remain after this is all over. (I know they're currently time-limited, but who knows what the future holds?)

Re: the texts. DP and I are on different networks. I had a text this evening but he didn't.

The ironic thing is if the government really cared about people and lives, they would have invested a hell of a lot more in public services years ago. This would have enabled us to do really detailed contact tracing and testing like SK, instead of being on hold for 24 hours and being told to piss off unless you've come back from Wuhan. Then we could have avoided having to borrow 330billion to deal with the fallout, and draconian lockdowns. It's like the government equivalent of not getting travel insurance then having to pay out thousands for an operation abroad.

Yes I am OP. This lockdown may well be merited due to the severity of the situation but I’m amazed there hasn’t been more public questioning of quickly how our liberties have been stripped from us, or of how long we are willing to sacrifice them for.

I’m not so bothered by the text messages and don’t think our government has sinister motives in this case, but it’s an interesting study in how authoritarianism feeds on fear. I’m sure some of the world’s less scrupulous governments are taking note.

how quickly

PURRR LEEESE the government doesn't want the control they have now....they are begging us not to force them to control us.'

Get a grip

@userxx so just a few die...well that's all right then is it? Just the vulnerable, elderly, the drs and nurses on the front line, the 433 dead in this country (and counting) - so no @userxx not everyone dies but those lives mattered and the lives that can be saved by a few stringent 'freedoms stolen by the government' matter too. And if people are too fucking selfish to adhere to a few simple instructions then I think the government need to do all they can stop the escalation of this crisis in this country.

@Binterested

Oil. Theres nowt wrong with a bit of Keith and Kin.

Concern - a little. But a huge relief as freedom is worthless if you are dead. We are fighting something you can’t see - so no other way when pole will not do as asked and exercise common sense and social responsibility.
Personally as both myself and DH are key workers - I’m bloody relieved. I don’t want to die to save an idiot.

Not read full thread so apologies if already posted but article saying lockdown could last 6 months www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-uk-lockdown-how-long-last-fines-covid-leaving-home-2020-3?r=US&IR=T&utm_source=reddit.com

Hi OP, I have been wondering about this.

I have found it quite extraordinary how happy people are to give up their freedom/rights

And how some are clamouring to be able to “turn in” those who do not obey the new rules. (Citizens policing other citizens, kids turning in their parents next?)

I do believe it to be necessary. But part of me is anxious about how quick we are to sign our rights away. And if we will get them back fully

Am not opposing current new rules, not flaunting them. but part of me cannot imagine what this is going to mean for us, long term....

It is concerning. But they're pushing on an open door. It's our children who'll get fleeced. But they're going to get fleeced anyhow. Anyone take a look at the size of the debt we'll be leaving behind? How about the Coronavirus bill? The kids will have to pay that off. You better have more kids.

You can’t please everyone. Until we had proper lockdown there were so many people saying Boris isn’t being firm enough, he needs to follow other countries, shut schools etc. Now he is being doing what the experts are advising him to do to flatten the curve and some are complaining again.
What do you actually want?

Fuck you. Your ‘mild illness’ killed my step father. He had diabetes which was managed and was otherwise very healthy. His ‘underlying health condition’ would not have killed him. This ‘mild illness’ did.
And he died alone because we are all in isolation and could not be with him.

Shame on those questioning whether there is a virus. Sickening.

Nobody cares that there might never be another general election

Of course there will be another general election. There are some interesting views on this thread but also some that are completely over the top (see above).