Ross Miller wrote:...nowhere to go but to institute a lock down...
Yes, RM, I understand that 'the authorities'
tell us they had 'nowhere to go' but 'lockdown', and I see that, astonishingly, most people actually believe it. But the real story is that an increasingly hysterical media demanded that 'something must be done', created a mass of echoing voices demanding that 'something must be done', and this, along with some doubtful science, panicked (or pretexted, according to your view) a jejune administration into taking oppressive and damaging economic and social (let alone legal and regulatory) measures. But if you've got your ear to the ground you'll know that behind the 'united front' there's a rum old battle going on about how to retreat from the disastrous set of circumstances their naivety brought about (and how to shift the blame). What's more, the latest reports suggest that covid-19 infections peaked in March,
before 'lockdown', and that the government were aware of this.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8235979/UKs-coronavirus-crisis-peaked-lockdown-Expert-argues-draconian-measures-unnecessary.html
The 'lack of clarity' etc... is simply what you would expect from politicians who are big on the grand gesture but hopeless on the detail.
By the way, I have no doubt that the vast majority of people do 'take responsibility for [their] health and behaviour', and don't require a finger-wagging policeman (or pseudo-policeman) to remind them to do so. Apart from a few instances of questionable behaviour, I've witnessed only a respectful distance being kept. Collective punishment isn't really a healthy way to respond to irresponsibility and criminal behaviour. I know it's the norm in North Korea, but I wouldn't be happy to see it in England.