My Merriam-webster’s definition of draconian is “cruel” or “severe.” It is usually used to describe harsh laws, rules, or regulations.
In my mind, although I could be mistaken, the term is usually used in a negative context when the policy is not supported.
For example, would you add the adjective ‘draconian’ to police shutting down a highway for an hour due to an accident ? Nobody likes it, but everyone understands the need for it.
I believe that the crux of the issue is whether the people ordering the draconian measures had a good faith belief – at that time – that the measures were justified to save people’s health and lives.
Just because there were other alternatives or mitigations in no way refutes, disputes, counters or proves that the reasoning behind the draconian measured was incorrect.
Mesirah has the exact same connotation as draconian. It usually is used exclusively when the mesirah is not allowed.
A Jew calling non-Jewish authorities on a synagogue is straight up mesirah. But if the synagogue was serving poisoned fish it would probably be allowed.
The pikuach nefesh argument can be applied because the mesirah was done in order to protect lives not to harm the synagogue. Unless someone had been trying to close down the synagogue previously and found during Covid the perfect excuse to call the authorities.
I do not deny people being bullied. I was bullied myself and I know of many instances of the Mitzvah of “bein adam lachaveiro” that metaphorically was flushed down the toilet.
It was a very big nebach of the whole situation.
“Much of the criticism of these policies is not being made now with the benefit of hindsight, but was made early on during the pandemic and was suppressed. And the criticism goes way beyond the aspects of the response that require knowledge of the virus itself. Knowing whether Covid is transmitted by aerosols, droplets, or from contact with surfaces doesn’t inform us on whether it’s a good idea to bully, scapegoat, deceive, or ignore the impacts of policies.”
I understand and I will repeat my previous sentence.
I believe that the crux of the issue is whether the people ordering the draconian measures had a good faith belief – at that time – that the measures were justified to save people’s health and lives.
In order for us to get through Covid, we needed one plan of action. During the pandemic, the people responsible in the government had to decide a course of action. I probably would want the advice of the person who has been at the head of infectious diseases in the US for the past 40 years.
The people who were not responsible could criticize all that they want. It was not their responsibility to safeguard the health and lives of the nation, and nobody would be blaming them for any deaths.
There was one man who shouldered the heavy responsibility and accepted all the criticisms. He did not shirk it although he knew that he would be castigated and made into the Republican’s party scapegoat.