# My mother says the government never had the right to make us stay home since we're a "free country." Is this true? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 29, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204 "2020-12-29T23:52:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CorpusNeptune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corpusneptune/32/17561_2.png) [@CorpusNeptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorpusNeptune)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/1 "2020-12-29T23:52:52Z")
**I put this in Politics and Elections since this topic is in that sort of nature, but What\_Exit or another mod can change the category if another is more appropriate.** Anyways, I’m on the fence with another one of my mother’s opinions. I mentioned to my mother as we were watching the news that we should do _way_ better in following government orders and mandates in the future, as us not doing that is one of the reasons the pandemic streched out for as long as it did. However, my mom commented that the government never had the right to mandate us staying home or anything in that nature, as “we’re a free country,” as she described it. She also mentioned “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet; we’ve had this discussion,” thinking I got my opinion from here or somewhere else. 😑 Again, I’m on the fence with this one. A lot of fears and/or opinions she has can have a reasonable explanation, but for this one, I’m just baffled. **Do correct me if my point of view is completely warped, however!** ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/2 "2020-12-29T23:59:16Z")
[https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/8852098/vanderhook2.html](https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/8852098/vanderhook2.html) An except: [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/75_X3m0O3nptkz0xBxfe4CDqJVWsOLPaWsRZRkInwxwaV-jQDFU-GzmG9p0MU0qyt3bfBzbtelxuNFFKKd5uavLlH73Prh9LCCy_bU6BlVcZ3_HuwKZbPuHrot43ev_VZc6v4gj_2g=w600-h315-p-k "New item by John Thornton") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/tfqo3nmBgqRXtPmS9) In short, the Federal government fighting quarantines was one of the standards set by the Founding Fathers themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/3 "2020-12-30T00:09:26Z")
And just what provision of the Constitution does she claim it violates? You could probably make a case that the federal government can’t, but the only limits on the states are the ones specifically imposed on them. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/4 "2020-12-30T00:15:28Z")
It’s pretty simple: If your mom is wanting to get back to 1776, do what your _State_ tells you. If she thinks 1950 is the high point of American freedom, then she needs to follow the federal laws. Regardless, there has been no time since the adoption of the Constitution where the citizens could argue that _no_ government could constrain the citizens in times of quarantine: the argument is over _which_ government has the right to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/5 "2020-12-30T00:16:51Z")
OP, ask your mother if she’s familiar with Typhoid Mary. She refused to cooperate with the health authorities. > **[March 27, 1915: Typhoid Mary Imprisoned for Life! - History and Headlines](https://www.historyandheadlines.com/march-27-1915-typhoid-mary-imprisoned-life/)** > > On March 27, 1915 the woman history has come to know as Typhoid Mary was placed into involuntary quarantine for the rest of her life! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/6 "2020-12-30T00:25:04Z")
So if I have this right, since this is a free country then the government never had the right to make us do anything. Has anyone alerted the media about this? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/7 "2020-12-30T00:28:00Z")
The government had the right to tell you to go to a camp for a few months to get yelled at and then travel several thousand miles to get shot at. Staying home is a doddle… ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/8 "2020-12-30T00:28:21Z")
Were these people around during WW2 rationing and drafting? What % of the 1943 population was like this? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/9 "2020-12-30T00:32:16Z")
Surely she doesn’t believe we were a free country at the founding… A number of slaves may object to that classification. So the question is when did the US become a free nation ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/10 "2020-12-30T00:37:45Z")
It might be worth reminding her that in a theoretical Libertarian paradise, if she is wandering around enjoying her freedom but is suspected of being a carrier of plague she might be shot on sight because it’s a free country. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/11 "2020-12-30T00:57:16Z")
> [@CorpusNeptune](#): > > my mom commented that the government never had the right to mandate us staying home or anything in that nature, as “we’re a free country,” as she described it. I’d like to hear your mother’s views on what is and is not included in “anything in that nature”. For example, is she free to scream “Fire!” in a crowded theater? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/12 "2020-12-30T01:02:52Z")
You know, the government never actually mandated that you stay home. Do you know anyone who was arrested for not staying home? Tell yer ma: “Nice strawman you got there.” ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/13 "2020-12-30T01:44:56Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > … Do you know anyone who was arrested for not staying home? … Typhoid Mary ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/14 "2020-12-30T01:45:59Z")
During the pandemic in 2020? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/15 "2020-12-30T01:49:37Z")
In terms of the OP’s question, Typhoid Mary is relevant, limiting it to only 2020 is cherry picking, but it has happened: [Florida couple arrested, jailed for breaking COVID-19 quarantine order](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/31/florida-couple-arrested-jailed-breaking-covid-19-quarantine-order/5553285002/) ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/16 "2020-12-30T01:51:10Z")
She was arrested for refusing to go into another line of work. As long as she wasn’t a cook, she was unlikely to be a danger to anyone. Unfortunately, the government didn’t give her any reasonable alternative to being a cook. Wikipedia says her ob as a cook could get her 2.5 more in wages than what she made at the job the government placed her at. They should have given her better retraining and such, but it was a much less enlightened time in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/17 "2020-12-30T01:51:17Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > I’d like to hear your mother’s views on what is and is not included in “anything in that nature”. Indeed. Does she believe that she has the right to operate a car without getting a driver’s license, drive through stop lights, refuse to pay taxes, take a dump in the county reservoir, and help herself to whatever she wants at the grocery store without paying? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/18 "2020-12-30T01:56:44Z")
Just as a reminder, the OP is 15 years old. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/19 "2020-12-30T01:57:05Z")
Instead of discussing the draft and traffic laws, maybe discussing the legal weight of the various shelter in place orders would be a billion times more relevant. Maybe? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/20 "2020-12-30T01:58:06Z")
I’m not cherry picking anything. Someone who whines that today, in this crisis, the government doesn’t have the right to make us stay home is delusional. The government is not making anyone stay home. They are trusting us not to be morons, which kind of makes them morons. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204.md?page=2)