"The evidence on masks is very mixed. The current R0 value is low and falling. The mortality rate of Covid also appears to be falling. Yet the government (not just ours, this is increasingly a global phenomenon) is imposing a blanket policy, backed by civil and potentially criminal sanction, without any meaningful democratic oversight and with no defined mechanism for repeal. Again."
The R0 value is low because of the measure taken over the last 3+ months. Measures that cannot exist indefinitely without crippling the economy. The mortality rate is falling because we now have effective treatments for those people so seriously affected by C-19 that they have to be hospitalised.
"These restrictions are always dressed up in language that makes you the villain if you oppose them"
You're basing your use of "always" here on this one pandemic or do you have other examples of time when the U.K give have locked down all of society and enforced the use of masks?
"Remember, when you say "it's just a mask", that this government still thinks it can tell you how many friends you may see and whether you are allowed to have an overnight guest. Quite recently we submitted, apparently willingly, to something not unlike house arrest (or exactly like house arrest for many of our European neighbours)."
Yes, they took action because thousands of people were getting ill or dying, asking us to please stay home and wash our hands wasnt working because we ignored the messages so action was taken.
"Some time ago, another continental government went a bit further in the whole "safety" thing. The secret police force that kept half of Germany under continuous surveillance and subject to rules about where and when they might go out, and with whom they might associate, was called the "State Safety Service". (As indeed was its brown-shirted predecessor)"
Really? A comparison to Nazi's. Really???
"If I'm asked to wear a mask and given some reasonably compelling evidence that it actually achieves something, and there is a credible risk to others, then of course I'll wear a mask"
And this is why it needs to be enshrined in law with penalties attached, because clearly you don't intend to actually wear a mask, despite WHO and CDC and SAGE and the many other scientists advising that it is the right course of action. You believe you know better. What exactly is your scientific specialism?
"The London case count, for instance, has been basically stable for six weeks at about 50-ish cases per day. No change from relaxation of lockdown. No change from BLM marches. This compares to 1,000 a day at the peak of the epidemic. So it seems an odd moment to introduce a significant new restriction on personal freedom, especially since no other freedoms are being restored in exchange."
Saying it again and loudly, BECAUSE WE LOCKED DOWN, AND EVEN WITH THE CURRENT RELAXED RESTRICTIONS WE ARE STILL SOCIAL DISTANCING, STILL HAVE WHOLE INDUSTRIES CLOSED, STILL HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL AND PEOPLE OUT OF WORK. WE HAVE NOT RELEASED LOCKDOWN FULLY. TO DO THAT WE NEED OTHER METHODS OF REDUCING TRANSMISSION. LIKE MASKS.