Possible loss of civil liberties from swine flu epidemic ?

**Martin N** · April 30, 2009, 05:53 PM

“If it becomes a pandemic, you could lose some simple rights - like going to the movies,” said host Steve Doocy, before introducing legal analyst Peter J. Johnson, Jr.

“People in our government need to start thinking about how, if this actually becomes a pandemic, how it’s going to affect our daily life and our rights,” said Johnson, before asking if people who try to escape quarantines or refuse mandatory vaccinations would face jail time.
Johnson added that Americans were willing to give up rights in order to “stay alive” but that an orderly discussion of how that would happen needs to take place.

Closing schools, closing the border, forcibly quarantining Americans and eliminating the right to freely assemble, including preventing people from going to shopping malls, were all mentioned as possibilities.

“What about legislatures? What about the U.S. Congress? What about courts of law? What about not impaneling juries because we don’t want to have public assemblies?” asked Johnson.

“Plus the possibility of martial law, but that’s a whole other conversation,” added Doocy, with Johnson responding, “not going there”.

Indeed it is fox news, but it raises a valid question, americans wouldent like being forced in quaranteen, or maybe being forced to take vaccinations, or being forced under house arrest, now take note of the emergency provisions act, and the patriot act, there are certain passages which would completeley suspend the constitution and all our rights, and would deploy certain parts of the military in the case of a global pandemic or terrorist act ("Man made disaster"

)

Now i dont know about you, but our bill of rights and liberties are dwindling everday now it seems, everytime we look it now it seems 1 is striked of the list.

How would you feel if you was forced into this situation ?

**Barry Goldwater** · April 30, 2009, 05:57 PM

That sure as hell would suck

But I don't think anything (or at least anything major) is happening right now, or will in the future.

**NLegari** · April 30, 2009, 06:00 PM

Oh great, the government hopped on the bandwagon, wonderful...

**Martin N** · April 30, 2009, 06:01 PM

But I don't think anything (or at least anything major) is happening right now, or will in the future.

Of course its nothing much right now, but i believe the discussion on fox news, was if it turns into like a real pandemic, like on a scale of spanish flu, we havnt really got a vaccine for it, but i believe one is in the making.

**CtrlAltDe1337** · April 30, 2009, 06:02 PM

It will probably happen, but I don't like it obviously.

**Player989random** · April 30, 2009, 06:13 PM

There is a large difference between a pandemic and taking away our civil rights. If there is a flu out there, I would just buy enough food/water for 6 months, nail up my door, and camp out. Don't need a government for that.

"Markel describes a dramatic example in the mining town of Gunnison, Colorado. In 1918, town leaders built a veritable barricade, closing down the railroad station and blocking all roads into town. Four thousand townspeople lived on stockpiled supplies and food from hunting or fishing. For three and a half months, while influenza raged in nearly every city in America, Gunnison saw not a single case of flu -- not until the spring, when roads were reopened and a handful of residents fell sick. "

Even normal people decided that they should give up their liberties to prevent illness and death. And if you have ever had your tonsils taken out, you should know that your docter tells you to avoid public areas (such as the movies) to prevent infection.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/30...ons/index.html

Full article

**Admiral Piett** · April 30, 2009, 06:19 PM

Well swine flu is a big fluke, but I guarantee you that if something else was going around like smallpox or something, I'd definitely support strong measures to prevent further contamination. National emergencies like this do necessitate such measures authorized by the constitution. This is the one issue I'd side with the local governments on.

**Chipp** · April 30, 2009, 06:20 PM

When there's a real pandemic, the population MUST be controlled. I am not authoritarian, I just speak for common sense. If you have the flu, should you be able to go around affecting everyone else?

**Jacket60** · April 30, 2009, 06:54 PM

in the grand scheme of things all of our rights are slowly fleeting. Inevitably all democratic societies move towards totalitarianism.

**Vercingetorix_Defeated** · April 30, 2009, 07:31 PM

Allow me to ask Martin N an equally valid question:

Would you want to be thrown in the Pacific Ocean from a helicopter if we told you it would stop you from being infected by the swine flu?

This thread was a joke, right? The question you asked us is a joke whether you wanted it to be or not, the only question now is whether you wanted it to be a joke, in which case I am laughing at your great joke, or whether you were serious, which means that I am laughing AT you.

**Maverick** · April 30, 2009, 08:00 PM

When is the loss of civil liberties ever impossible?

Theory is nice but what rights are inalienable in practice?

Originally Posted by The Man

But I don't think anything (or at least anything major) is happening right now, or will in the future.

Go on...

**Valiant Champion** · April 30, 2009, 07:04 PM

I almost said to scrap the constitution out of humor. Who would want the constitution dissolved?

There is no way to halt influenza. It runs its course globally like a fire spreading through a forest. Some trees burn down others survive.

To attempt to declare homeland security style martial law is simply an excuse to strip more freedom away.

**Martin N** · April 30, 2009, 07:37 PM

The question is valid because it is possible, its discussed, its come into law, a part of the patriot act and the emergancy provisions act specifically states that martial law can be implemented, and all personal and state rights can be suspended in the event of an national emergency, or terrorist event, i dont see where the joke in that is.

Yeah id love to be thrown in the pacific ocean, especially from an helicopter, would you ?

**Vercingetorix_Defeated** · April 30, 2009, 07:44 PM

Oh, so any question is valid simply because it is hypothetically possible? And that it's "discussed"? Oh, I guess you and me "discussing" my question made it valid as well.

Gee, I guess it is hypothetically possible for you to be thrown out of a helicopter too, therefore my question is equally valid. And it WOULD stop you from being infected, because after all, there are no people or pigs to infect you in the pacific ocean. And the sharks would probably get you first. Therefore, to escape the swine flu, you can just jump into the ocean instead, leaving the constitution intact. Nice solution, eh?

Declaring martial law during a war that determines the fate of a state, and declaring martial law as a result of a sickness that has killed 200 people and freaked out a bunch of paranoid jokers are entirely different things.

If Americans were truly that paranoid, the government could just claim that a few dozen people had died of "super evil man bear pig flu" and therefore the country would be under martial law.

**C-Rob** · April 30, 2009, 08:34 PM

a disease be used to butcher our constitution? Popeye-cock. We already have AIDS and cancer for that. if it hasn't been butchered by now, then a disease many regard simply as a "flu" and dont' give a crap about, would not be able to be manipulated by our government.

Personally I will never, ever trade civil liberties for anything- fame, fortune, or security.

Martial law would be retarded in this situation. I can only see a curfew beign instated- we wouldn't put up with soldiers everywhere.

**Barry Goldwater** · April 30, 2009, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Maverick

Go on...

The future is unpredictable, perhaps I am having an optimistic streak but it may turn out alright for us

**OG Grenadier** · April 30, 2009, 11:25 PM

The Constitution will always be there. Now is not the time to cling to it , the U.S is not under threat from a foreign power. Federal , State , City and Municipal authorities will always trump under these circumstances.

**Stavroforos** · April 30, 2009, 11:27 PM

AFAIC, this is just fearmongering on part of the news.

**Admiral Piett** · May 01, 2009, 12:24 AM

The same issue came up during the AIDS crisis and the CDC tried to close down the bathhouses where it was suspected many men were reporting acquiring the infection. The owners of the bathhouses filed lawsuits against them for such infringements. But to be honest, I take the side of the CDC. These guys aren't interested in expanding government.