How deprived have we been?

​ I overheard a comment the other day about all the ‘deprivation’ that is currently in our lives. I guess they were referring to the restrictions placed on us (for our own good, by the way) due to the Covid-19 virus.

The amount of people protesting about wanting “FREEDOM” is astounding, even though it’s not completely clear what they need freedom from – or for.

I guess we’ve all been upset at times about Covid restrictions.

BUT…As much as the past two years have been tedious and worrying, we haven’t been without too much. Not too much ‘deprivation’.
Deprivation – for our own good, as I keep saying – is altogether not too bad.

Consider this:
(Back when Australia’s population was only about 7 million -– in the time of WW ll)
“Rationing regulations for food and clothing were gazetted (14 May 1942). Rationing was introduced to manage shortages and control civilian consumption. It aimed to curb inflation, reduce total consumer spending, and limit impending shortages of essential goods.” (ref: published by the Australian War Memorial)
Now that’s more akin to ‘deprivation’. 
“Rationing was enforced by the use of coupons and was limited to clothing, tea, sugar, butter, and meat. From time to time, eggs and milk were also rationed under a system of priority for vulnerable groups during periods of shortage.”
(Reminder: some of us have recently been worried about enough toilet paper). 

Later. How about this for deprivation:
“By the 1950s most Indigenous Australians had lost their lands and lived in poverty on the fringes of non-Indigenous society. Many were not eligible for the dole or other state or federal benefits which non-Indigenous people received. State laws controlled where many Indigenous people could live, where they could or couldn’t move and whom they could marry.
Many Indigenous Australians were not legal guardians of their own children and were not permitted to manage their own earnings.  (ref: National Museum Aus)
Deprivation?
 
By the 1960s, with population a little over 10 million, we forgot deprivation for a while… 
With 1960s television now the main family entertainment, relaxing was good.
But, hang on, in 1965, all boys (yes, they were only boys, even though officials called them ‘males’ or ‘young men’) who turned 20 between Jan 1 and June 30, had to register for National Service. 
Then, in that same year, troops were sent off to Vietnam.
Try to imagine what would be said about that nowadays!

Later again: 
To 1970s, 80s and beyond, if you ask older people, you’ll hear lots of tales of (what could now be referred to as) deprivation or hardship, including high interest rates, war protests, land rights, Aboriginal rights, overflowing school class sizes, unemployment and more…
 
Yes, the restrictions around Covid-19 have been a trial at times, with two years of deprivation.
But, here, in February 2022, we have a little easing of restrictions.

We’re not back to normal, yet, but, as someone said last week, 
“Privation is (now) a late Amazon delivery”. 
 
Food for thought? Privation indeed!