Is it right for our governments to lie to us to control our behaviour or prevent panic ?

This is an very important question raised by @eotrain this week.

It actually entails many other questions in it. It also reminds me of classical question for whether it's right to lie for the good of others or to save someone's life?

Philosophically speaking, what's right and what's wrong actually depends on the individuals' perspective as none of us know what's the ultimate truth.

But Intentions do matter.

So the question is not that the lying by governments is right or wrong but are their intentions good enough or do they really want to do good to their citizens by spreading or telling lies?

It's really difficult to believe that government always act in the best interest of their citizens. In the capitalist economic system, majority of our actions are guided by some underlying interest to increase our capital in the long run.

It's an established truth that the interest of capitalism is in direct conflict with the interest of welfare of people and thriving of the natural ecosystem as a whole. Even democratic governments are not actually serving their citizens but they are fooling them to fulfill the interest of capitalists and their own selfish as well as political interests in the long term. No doubt, we're living in a psedo-democracy.

Personally, I don't think controlling someone's behaviour or even preventing panic is the right thing to do ...for these are integral part of our life. Protection is good but the act of protection should not interfere in the right of freedom to live my life as an individual. If I am not intentionally harming anyone through my freedom & living my life then I am not committing any crime. Imposing a lockdown, a quarantine, a forced or mandatory vaccination or taking away my freedom to do my business, my shopping, travelling, roaming around, partying or anything else amounts to taking away the precious time from my life.

It's like taking away some months from my life. And unfortunately, many of us have got only some months remaining in our life. So we're practically deprived of an entire or a major portion of our remaining life span. So how could that be right in any sense?

Another crime in my opinion is of unnecessary & intentional fear mongering. Even if it is fact based, spreading panic or fear among masses is actually a criminal act. On the other hand, if telling the truth instills a feeling of panic in some, it shouldn't be avoided too. That's how we evolve and learn to face more panic. We attain wisdom through adversities.

Being Fearless is a virtue. Government are trying to paralyzed the whole of humanity with the fear of death. But should human beings fear death? If so to what extent? Do we need to compromise our freedom or entire life to avoid or postpone a certain death? Shouldn't we live intensely whatever time we have in our hand? To live intensely or postpone living is an individual choice. No external entity should force upon any individual to compel what they think is correct and perfect for their lives. Who are they to decide everything for me!

Of course there are several conspiracy theories doing round around the ongoing pandemic but I know for sure that there are many counter evidences and facts that can contest the claims of many governments WHO, United Nations, etc. entities. But even if all the entities are correct about the facts and figures they are providing to us, in spite of it, I stand with my opinion that how one should choose to live her life should be left to herself. No government or entity should have the power to decide how an individual is supposed to live her life.

Let's live the way we want to live our life.
Let's live free.