I feel the need to clear the point that the lockdown/restrictions were provincial, and set to expire during those 2 weeks long before the protest was even organized. The public opinion had already turned, and there was no appetite for further restrictions at that point. They cannot take credit for “ending the lockdowns” but unfortunately, the timing and limited awareness make it seem so.

someone's abort doesn't kill a strangers kids or grand parents. Come on use your brain or stop being disingenuous.

The other comments put it well in saying that vaccines affect other people. Though, oddly enough, we do need better laws regarding what food can be sold as far as that one goes because companies making sugar-filled, addictive food very much on purpose is an action they take for personal gain that relies on hurting others.

For sure people are losing faith in institutions, and that is largely because of the critical thinking issues you mentioned and also the fact that we can’t help ourselves but elect at least a few untrustworthy people into office. The people who attended the convoy were largely Conservative voters and if they have a problem with the government they’re only going to make it that much worse by putting the scummiest people you know into positions of power.

These also aren’t really problems if you think about them or look to places that have already worked them out.

The only one in there you listed that doesn't affect only the person making the decision is vaccines. The classic quote is something like "Your freedom to swing your fist ends at someone's face."

People aren't forced to get vaccines. They are forced to live with the consequences of whatever they decide. If it is in the interest of public health that people who are not vaccinated stay away from public places or immune compromised places like hospitals, then people who make the choice not to get vaccinated, make themselves unable to participate. No one gets held down and forced to be vaccinated however they may lose some privileges (temporarily) that go with being vaccinated. Once the pandemic was under control and people weren't dying in large numbers every day, those limitations went away.

I get you are trying to open a philosophical debate, people are seeing it as strictly antivax, probably the wrong forum to discuss philosophy

It was only "forcing" in the same way we force people to not drink and drive.

Both the vaccine restrictions and drunk driving laws are in place for the safety of everyone around you. You are free to choose to defy those restrictions, but that doesn't mean you are free from the consequence of that choice. Just like driving drunk could result in the loss of your license. No one was breaking down doors and literally forcing a vaccine into people. There was always a choice. But there are also consequences for choosing the option that endangers the rest of the society you are participating in.

I am totally on board with there being consequences for stupid decisions that endanger others.

OK, I'll bite. I read the WestJet article. The person won their case because the judge decided WestJet didn't believe they were serious in their religious basis for their exemption request and therefore didn't consider options to give the person work in another role that wouldn't be impacted by their lack of vaccination.

This in no way supports your position that the mandates were somehow illegitimate.

Job requirements are a thing.