Tough rules for a grocer

MY trip into town was depressing. The city had a post-nuclear disaster look with shops, cafes and pubs closed up, chairs stacked on table tops and “Sorry” signs on windows. It was a sorry sight but I hoped a new market would be a green shoot of optimism. Keen to support local producers who’ve had their livelihoods stomped on, these small business owners are trying to gather whatever opportunity they can to stay afloat. I was greeted by someone who asked if I had registered. I don’t normally register when I purchase carrots but she didn’t seem too concerned which was a relief because I wasn’t sure exactly how many carrots I would have registered for. It was conditional that I submit my forehead for a temperature reading. She advised me that as the organisers had been working with government, the market had to follow these strict measures.

I can understand this in airports, but for a green grocer? What’s growing are the seeds of doubt about the logic of some of these measures. It’s hard to comply with something that appears completely bonkers. Such extreme measures for a small group of struggling vendors to comply with when the hardware chain up the road with the full carpark and missing sausage sizzle did not. Requirements to register for everything these days is not just troubling because we know data is gold for marketing purposes, but more importantly it excludes many older people including those who have lived through a lot worse than this virus. Our ability to do things spontaneously is not looking to be restored any time soon. Should we be concerned? Is this a question about our ability to be free human beings? They may take away our carrots but they’ll never take our freedom.

Louise Bowers

Orford