Lockdowns encourage lawbreaking

Dear Editor:

During prohibition, those who were in the know would enter a shop or cafe, speak a phrase and then be escorted to a back door that would open up to a bar and gaming house offering up all sorts of unregulated sins. These were known as speakeasies and they existed because the government provided both a demand and an incentive.

People will do what people will do. We all have free will. It is the essence of the human experience. That is not to say there are no consequences to one’s choices, but it is up to each individual to weigh the potential consequences and make their own choice.

The government will try to remove ignorance in making these choices through advertising, they will try to incentivize people to make “the right” choice through legislation and policies. But ultimately, we all have free will and we will all do what we believe is “right” or simply just what we want. This is the reality, it is human nature.

Under current government, COVID policies, all legitimate businesses have implemented what might be perceived by some people as “no fun” rules. Those individuals will then seek something that is fun, where they can hang out with their peers, party, dance, and yes, maybe even “speak moistly” into each other’s faces. This is the demand, and it is very real.

Seeing this newly created demand for the modern speakeasy, enterprising and maybe nefarious people with the means, seeing the potential for profit will make a business decision. Being that they are not a legit business with huge demand nonetheless, there are all kinds of rules they will choose to ignore. I am sure that some of the more conscientious will still ensure the safety and fair treatment of staff and guests alike, while I have no doubt others would not care in the slightest. But not even the most caring and conscientious person embarking on such an enterprise would give a second thought to paying staff under the table and not paying taxes. They couldn’t, for it would give them away. So huge demand, big money, no taxes, no regulation. This is the incentive.

It is hard to fathom the depths of mindlessness that goes into these decisions. For not considering the individual’s right to choose, “they” have incentivized criminal behaviour. For making something so benign as holding a large gathering of humans illegal, criminal behaviour has been normalized and becomes much more dangerous for the individual party goer. Once you make a business illegal, only the criminals will partake. Meaning, Joe BC will not start up an illegal speakeasy, but has no qualms attending. Only the people who are OK with getting arrested and going to jail would enter into such a business.

This is the exact argument made for cannabis. We finally figure that out, then we do this?

Smarten up B.C.

Jeff Frank, Kelowna