Re: Locked down? Really? Visit a prison some time. We're pampered. We can shop, exercise, shower, access Archived Message Posted by margo on April 26, 2020, 1:37 pm, in reply to "Locked down? Really? Visit a prison some time. We're pampered. We can shop, exercise, shower, access" After a first-world prison, perhaps a third-world (casino capitalist) country offers another comparison? "books, TV, music, videos, internet, telephone, food/cooking, clean bedding, medicines... gardens, balconies, cars" I get that you are talking about the UK where presumably most people have most of those things. This lockdown is global, though, and all manner of people and classes are in lockdown, all over the world. A majority of these people don't have access to a majority of the middle-class items on that list. Vast majority on lockdown in South Africa (with military in streets, no outside exercise/walks allowed) can't afford internet, phones and/or data and TV sets, are squashed into kennel-size houses without videos, books and medicines because they can't afford these items if they are unemployed (28%) or on contract work wages. Just to take one sector as an example, 800 000 skilled, smiling waiters and chefs in South Africa's rather impressive food and restaurant industry are now utterly destitute, as restaurants are closed: many see themselves going to the wall as the lockdown drags through winter and owners cannot afford to pay staff. Tourism sector is dead with international flights rumoured to remain locked for 6 to 18 months, 'pending vaccination'. There's a lot South Africa has done that is right: acting swiftly, engaging with medical sector and getting prepared. Aside from medical measures, though, government has thus far used lockdown to: - usher scores of military onto the streets, bypassing parliamentary debate SANDF deployment raises serious concerns around separation of powers https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-04-23-the-path-of-ramaphosas-letter-for-major-sandf-deployment-raises-serious-concerns-around-separation-of-powers/ Management of lockdown threatens respect for rule of law https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-04-22-management-of-the-covid-19-lockdown-threatens-respect-for-the-rule-of-law/; - rapidly sign up South Africa to IMF and World Bank loans, which many wanted to avoid; - lay down a new anti-foreigner law stipulating that, after lockdown, all informal sector businesses have to be South African owned and employ only South Africans (tens of thousands of Malawian, Zimbabwean and Somali entrepreneurs are in utter panic and can't even return home as they want to, because all borders and transport are firmly locked); - entertain by-law amendments which "allow for an authorised official to instruct a person who is in contravention of the by-law to leave an area and - without a warrant - to stop, enter and search any vessel, vehicle, premises or person for a prima facie offence". Public are unable to comment on these pending amendments because libraries are closed and hard copies cannot be obtained. These amendments portend power to enter any property and seize any property without warrant, including vehicle and home: if you want your property back you will need to pay recovery cost; Not saying the 'lockdown' doesn't need to happen within medical parameters, but what's going on around it in some countries - with rapidity and lack of public scrutiny - is worrying. Message Thread: Locked down? Really? Visit a prison some time. We're pampered. We can shop, exercise, shower, access - Der April 26, 2020, 10:02 am Re: Locked down? Really? Visit a prison some time. We're pampered. We can shop, exercise, shower, access - Mick Travis April 26, 2020, 10:54 am "Placed under house arrest"? We can shop, exercise, walk the goddamn dog... Jeez! - Der April 26, 2020, 11:10 am Re: Locked down? Really? Visit a prison some time. We're pampered. We can shop, exercise, shower, access - margo April 26, 2020, 1:37 pm Re: Locked down? Really? Visit a prison some time. We're pampered. We can shop, exercise, shower, access - dereklane April 26, 2020, 2:37 pm Maybe that's why I said "some of us". nm - Der April 26, 2020, 5:13 pm Absolutely. One can make an argument that nobody has the right to be safe if not everybody is safe. - Der April 26, 2020, 5:45 pm   Searching