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They can make you pay your taxes, but can't restrict your movements in a disease outbreak. I live in Japan, and the government here also does not have the powe
by mikekchar 6y ago
They can make you pay your taxes, but can't restrict your movements in a disease outbreak. I live in Japan, and the government here also does not have the power to legally lock us down (which is why there are only recommendations here -- luckily most people seem to be following them). It strikes me odd, though. There are so many things that the government can legally make you do, many of which seem much less important to me than this. I'm sure there are many people who disagree, but having a conversation over whether or not the government should have this power is not unreasonable IMHO.
- zebrafish 6y agoIt’s more about having your representative government voice the voters concern than anything. Not that this is important or that the government doesn’t have the power to implement this. It’s just the branch of government which has the power to implement is in question.
- Grakel 6y agoYes, the legislature would have to pass a law. But in the US this would be unconstitutional due to the right to assemble. A good government is a secretary / janitor, not A CEO.
- zebrafish 6y agoSeems like there is a consensus in this thread that shelter in place is legal, though stay at home may not be.
- djsumdog 6y agoLike they could suspend rent, mortgages, interest of any kind. In the UK, people get 80% of their pre-layoff wages. In the United States, the Payroll Protection Program ran out in days! If America is going to close the State, it also has to freeze the economy and give people ideas, goals and hope. The American government, at all levels Federal and State, and failed at doing this to a tragic degree. I wrote more about this: https://battlepenguin.com/politics/this-is-not-a-time-of-honor#politicians https://battlepenguin.com/politics/this-is-not-a-time-of-hon...