About the welfare of society

I came across a quote this morning, a great mind who nails-it.

The welfare of society is always the alibi of tyrants. 

- Albert Camus

What does the state really want of society? 

It cannot possibly be concern over/about our health and safety? 

Why are healthy folks quarantined, relegated to shelter-in-place?

In no other experience in U.S. history have the healthy been isolated and for many already, unemployed. 

Why are/were projections of the virus incomparably higher than the reported deaths to date?

The degree of error in the initial projections is incomparable with actual results (and yes, I am glad about that), though I wonder how otherwise credible sources could be so incredibly wrong--so much so as to suspect political motives.  

Presently, polls suggest that many citizens favor the policy, standing on the side of safety and health, shelter-in-place and social distancing (rather than strictly job security, economy and finance), but at the same time, many have yet to feel the hard effects of this response thought if/as it continues, the table will turn. 

Perhaps more will realize that the welfare of society is always the alibi of tyrants perhaps best summarized in the quip, 

We're from the government and we're here to help you.