Seriously, how is this not more of a national conversation? I live in PA and my friend just told me he was followed to the doctor’s office by a cop. I’m not even aware of how they plan to enforce this new “order” that was enacted last night for my county, but even if it’s only fines it seems massively restrictive.
We are shutting down freedom of movement for anything non-essential apparently. I am possibly liable to be pulled over and questioned on where I am going, and fined if it is not a state-approved reason. I’m sorry, but I thought this was the land of the free.
I’m simply outraged by the way this is trending, and extremely alarmed at the rapidity of escalation. There’s still so much we don’t know about the magnitude/legitimacy of this virus, and to restrict people’s freedom of movement over fear is cowardly and radically un-American.
Please discuss with me here pedes - I want a better understanding of the constitutionality of these “orders” that are sweeping the nation, including how they’re being enforced, and why everyone is complacently accepting them.
I strongly agree with leaving it to localities. It’s the local governments that I think, even with your point regarding the ability to enforce stronger measures, ought not to have this ability to at-will crack down on peaceful movement.
It is a fundamental right to socialize and gather in my view, and while I do know that Constitutional rights are superseded in the name of public safety (shouting fire in a movie theater), there seems to be a dearth of evidence that this pandemic provides sufficient justification.
As a social guy, even not being able to go into the office has been hard on me, and the fact that going to visit friends and family may entail fines, and/or legal consequences goes beyond not sitting right with me.
It doesn’t feel like we live in America anymore. Thank you for the thoughtful reply.