Citizens have inalienable rights and freedoms. Governments have limited powers. Which part of this equation do governments not understand?

China’s record of deceit, deflection and cover-up has visited death, disease, misery, and impoverishment and also curtailed freedoms globally. Why did Western democracies copy China’s authoritarian practices, the media, social media and leading scientific journals collude in censorship, with publics mostly supportive? Neil ‘Pantsdown’ Ferguson admits to being impressed by China’s success in controlling the virus through tough lockdown measures.