I paused at that same sentence/concept. KM is absolutely correct. After living through the last three years, where most people blindly followed mindless rules (mask-up; stay six feet apart; one way in grocery aisles, etc) out of fear stirred in large part by gov’t, it is understandable why some would wonder if protecting the public from their own fear does not have some benefit. But any such benefit is, of course, fleeting; the truth will out. Had there been no “restriction of information flow,” i.e., censorship (by the same gov’t that instilled the fear), humanity would be in a better place on so many levels. Questioning must always be permitted; speaking as a lawyer, cross-examination (questioning) is considered an indispensable method for the discovery of truth. When critics of gov’t policy are silenced, suspicion is warranted.

Frank Herbert wrote that “fear is the mind-killer.” Indeed it is. What happens when the public’s fear turns to anger?