I often think we are one calamity or national emergency away from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” or some other authoritarian nightmare.

This latest pandemic shows how easy it is for democratic governments to take control of every aspect of life, including how we work and leave our homes.

It shows how quickly elected officials can find new ways to restrict public gatherings, transportation, access to leisure and entertainment, and more.

All of this with very little resistance or scrutiny, and sometimes with a compliant majority easily turning on those who do not follow the new rules.

Before this pandemic, some proclaimed they would have fought and resisted if they lived during times when government seized more power and restricted liberties. They did not understand why many stayed silent and how loved ones betrayed each other. They rejected notions that a common enemy (real or not) and fear or panic were sufficient disincentives to resist.

They now accept ceding, without question, their rights and freedoms. They cheer each new restriction, celebrate state powers to imprison, rather than educate non-compliant citizens, call for mandatory mass testing, and snitch on neighbours.

The hypocrisy. Hindsight is a beautiful thing when one wants to be self-righteous.

I hope this experience changes attitudes about working from home, the power of collective action, the need for a living wage, and the importance of adequate funding for and access to public health care.

I hope it demonstrates how drastic and immediate action can fight climate change, and we see the value of guaranteeing peace, order and good government, even in times of crisis. And I hope we finally learn the benefits of washing hands and covering mouths.

May we be kinder to those in the past (and present) who were too afraid to speak or act when faced with governments who consolidated power. May this experience not blind us to the signs of future (or current) leaders who face a crisis and wish to consolidate their power or make us forget about the liberties we once enjoyed. And may we never lose sight of facts and remain critical of actions for the “common good.”