H1N1

Stranger than fiction?

The emergence of swine flu in New York, Texas, California, Kansas and Ohio this past weekend has prompted the federal government to issue a “public health emergency” and triggered agitation across the country.

Officials have so far urged calm and not announced drastic new measures to stem the virus, which is believed to have originated in Mexico.  The Mexican disease has purportedly claimed over 100 lives and sicked more than 1,500.

Although our response has been orderly and there is no sign of widespread panic, it’s worth pointing out that public health crises seem to be the pretext of authoritarianism (or, at least, illiberal interventions) in an awful lot of dystopian movies.

Think about it:

  1. Outbreak
  2. 12 Monkeys
  3. Doomsday
  4. V for Vendetta

What others?

Something about the invisibily destructive force of viruses seems to lend itself as a ready metaphor for illigetimate rule.  Because they can be almost anywhere, anytime, viruses are the perfect proof point for governments justified and led by fear rather than reason.

We’re a long way from forced quarantines or any other suspensions of civil rights, but now is as good a time as any to reflect on the subjectivity of the contract between government and governed.  We consent to government because it’s in our perceived self-interest, and the power we accord government (should) mirror those interests.  But the interests themselves are contingent.  The government we support to protect us from a microbe will a character and powers all its own.

-Sam

Related posts:

  1. H1N1 v. Cancer
  2. Give me health care, or give me death
  3. When may people disobey?
  4. Let’s talk about rights, baby
  5. One flu over the cuckoo’s nest

April 27, 2009 · Filed Under Sam

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    Jacob Bronsther is a law student at NYU. He has an MPhil in Political Theory from Oxford.

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