3 ms·
Is the pandemic turning the West into China?
- retrac 5y agoOh, I've certainly been worried. But I think such comparisons are hyperbolic to the point of being not only useless but potentially harmful. Because I can think of so many counterexamples that well, aren't like China. For example, during the crisis phase of the second wave, when we were hovering somewhere between a shutdown and an actual lockdown, the Ontario government in Canada enacted a stop-and-present-ID clause in the regulations which was probably unconstitutional as worded. (It seemed to compel self-incrimination if you were breaking the distancing regulations, making it a crime not to answer questions.) Within hours this was all over the media, talking head lawyers are on TV explaining the issue, and the next day police departments were issuing public statements saying they would not enforce the regulation. It was quickly repealed, reworded to fix it, and re-enacted. This would be unimaginable in China.