The Clown Circus

[Enoch the Red]

You know that's still a bit strange even from your libertarian way of looking? That there is not just the policy up for debate here, but that the man who used the power of the state to enforce it on others blatantly flaunted the rules? You seriously are blind to the use of the full force of the state in this issue?

Again, my ignorance of British politics is showing. Dominic Cummings played what role in regard to the creation and enforcement of health policy? Is pandemic response in his wheel house? Does he deal with policy implementation, enforcement and fines? If any of this is true, and he was in charge of setting these bad rules, or managing enforcement actions, then it is absolutely contemptible of him to say one rule for thee and another for me. If he is simply a member of the government that implemented these rules then I am far more sympathetic. My sympathy only grows if enforcement is handled independently on a local level, (for instance if a police officer in Durham is being told to approach the individual with a warning and only issue a fine if they don't comply vs. one in London being told to fine first). I don't get to dictate what good or bad policies my boss puts into place, and I have probably knowingly or inadvertently violated one or two.

[Hazir]

Again, my ignorance of British politics is showing. Dominic Cummings played what role in regard to the creation and enforcement of health policy? Is pandemic response in his wheel house? Does he deal with policy implementation, enforcement and fines? If any of this is true, and he was in charge of setting these bad rules, or managing enforcement actions, then it is absolutely contemptible of him to say one rule for thee and another for me. If he is simply a member of a government that implemented these rules then I am far more sympathetic. My sympathy only grows if enforcement is handled independently on a local level, (for instance if a police officer in Durham is being told to approach the individual with a warning and only issue a fine if they don't comply vs. one in London being told to fine first). Idon't get to dictate what good or bad policies my boss puts into place, and I have probably knowingly or inadvertently violated one or two.

I am not a specialist on every detail of british government workings, but as far as I know; as the Prime Minister's most senior aide, he is involved in the process about Covid-19 on two sides. He is part of the council that advices the government on which rules to put in place. Then again, as the Prime Minister's most senior aide (I think CoS in the WH comes close) he is involved in what the government makes out of the advice he's in part himself has given them. Only in the most formal way Cummings isn't responsible for locking up most Brits in a way that they couldn't even be in their own garden. That legal nicety is not enough for me to absolve him from blame.

If you want to get an idea; google Dominic Cummings bullies