link to original reddit post by /u/ChildhoodThese7203
We hear time and time again that this lock down is morally justified and not-authoritarian because the spread of covid can be asympotmatic. In other words, just by being around someone, you could put their life at risk without knowing it. Therefore, as many progressives claim, being in close proximity to someone, even if you have no covid symptoms, is a violation of their right to life. Many left-libertarians claim that standing around someone unmasked is a violation of the NAP.
This reasoning seems very sound, so much so that banning someone from sitting on a public bench is being applauded. However, under further examination, it is extremely odd, and can lead to very authoritarian policies being implemented as my analogy will hopefully prove.
During the 1980s, the aids epidemic had been ravaging throughout the country. Lack of research and funding for a cure led to many deaths, of which Reagan was criticized for. THe aids epidemic, since its outbreak, has killed almost 700,000 people in the united states alone, and 30 million throughout the world. While it could have been spread through blood transfusions and child birth, is was mostly spread through unprotected sex, mostly in the LGBT community. So much so that by 1990, according to the British academy, 1/9 gay men had aids, and 1/15 gay men were died from it. It should also be noted that some estimates at the time said that the aids epidemic would kill far more, with even up to 1/3 of the population getting.
One of the reasons why Aids was so lethal was that it could have been spread asymptomatically. Meaning that you could give it someone without experiencing any symptoms whatsoever.
Imagine, if during the Reagan administration, in addition to funding for various research and awareness programs, Ronald Reagan implemented a ban on any and all sex, even if consensual, especially in the Gay community. What would be your response? Would it be one of "Well, aids is contagious, and it spreads asymptomatically. So even if you consensually love your partner, it is actually violating their rights." Or would it be one of total disgust at the authoritarianism occurring right before your eyes?
Yes, aids can be spread asymptomatically, and it is contagious, but that doesn't change the fact that we human beings still deserve to live free lives. This is despite the fact that, at least in the LGBT community, it has killed a far greater percentage of people than anywhere close to what covid has. And despite the fact that predictions for aids far exceeded covid deaths.
When framed like this, I hope all progressives can realize the folly of their justifications for banning a thanksgiving dinner with my family, or a meeting with live long friends, or a date with a lover. Please let us live our lifes. Almost an entire year of it has been stolen from us.