Thread by @ASlavitt

COVID Update: There’s lots of evidence that the country has made up its mind about vaccine requirements.

Now time to get our leaders to follow. 1/

OK so… policy is a series of trade offs.

For example, environmental regulations vs. unfettered economic growth. That’s a trade off.

In the case of vaccine requirements to enter places where lots of people can get infected, there’s also a trade off. 2/

Benefits of requiring vaccinations at school, work, travel: Saving lives & ending the pandemic earlier

vs

Harm of requiring vaccinations: violating the incorrect perception of a few that this violates the constitution & is equivalent to martial law

As I say, trade offs 3/

Chicago Police Union Boss John Catanzara is very upset about the requirement that officers get vaccinated or tested. His concern?

“We’re in America, goddamn it. We don’t want to be forced to do anything. Period. This ain’t Nazi f***ing Germany.” 4/

Hard to focus on public safety in Chicago when Gestapo footsteps are raging through your fantasies. 5/

Because fighting infectious disease is on that slippery slope to government takeover…when everything is on the slippery slope to government takeover. 6/

I for one am comforted that we live in a country where people can express their opinions, peacefully protest, & have a public debate

But sometime the loud ill -informed voices are not representative of how people feel. Paying it too much attention isn’t how to make policy.7/

So what do real people think?

First of all, people vote with their shoulders.

At schools, colleges, sports teams, companies & the military, 95% of people get vaccinated when required. 8/

What about how people rate political leaders handling of the pandemic?

In states with w vaccine requirements, 52% favorable.

In states with no vaccine requirements, 42%

And in states that PREVENT vaccine requirements, approval is 36%. 9/

In states like Florida and Texas, where there are mandates against mandates, only a minority approve. 10/

Anti-vax requirement candidates like Larry Elder have been obliterated.

People don’t buy the argument that the great threat to them is the government as they watch people around them die & the pandemic prolonged by anti-vaxx rhetoric. 11/

Nobody’s first choice is a requirement. We all wish people were adult enough to take minor small steps for the good of the whole.

But unlike most of the world, where 90% of people gratefully get vaccinated, this isn’t true here. 12/

Requirements can be properly and respectfully done. These are not requirements to get vaccinated. They are requirements not to infect people.

They ask people to get tested or vaccinated, greatly reducing the odds of spread, if in public settings. 13/

If a society decides that simply protecting one another is too far than I’m afraid there is little that society can agree on. Little that binds them together.

When Q thinking begins to permeate & everyone is out to get you, no one is to be trusted & there is no logical end. 14/

But to John & Tucker & Marjorie, here’s your answer: you actually don’t represent America with your libertarian fantasies. Most Americans do not agree with you. 15/

You’ve made your argument. But you are losing.

You think you are winning by poisoning just enough people to keep zealots contributing & the pandemic brewing & more people dying & many communities vulnerable.

But these are signs you’ve not only lost, but lost the plot./end