When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world and entire countries shut down, governments began scrambling to find effective treatments and protocols to address the health crisis. Shutdowns were immediately introduced, masking, quarantines, and other measures were said to be necessary until effective medical treatments were developed. Finally, the creation of vaccines touted to prevent transmission and spread of Covid-19 were hailed as the way out of the crisis.
Politics and Vaccines
Then, the vaccines became political. Despite the disease continuing to spread and the vaccinated ultimately getting infected, many in government, the private sector, and media insisted citizens’ access to public life hinge on vaccination status. Entire cities began barring the “unvaccinated” from entering indoor establishments and many were fired from their jobs simply for refusing the medical treatment.
At the height of this intense social divide, polling from Rasmussen shows many Democrat voters supported government issued vaccine mandates, and therefore, the harsh consequences imposed on those who would not comply.
The survey was conducted in January and surveyed 1,016 likely voters. The results, in part, were as follows:
- Fifty-eight percent (58%) of voters would oppose a proposal for federal or state governments to fine Americans who choose not to get a COVID-19 vaccine. However, 55% of Democratic voters would support such a proposal, compared to just 19% of Republicans and 25% of unaffiliated voters.
- Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Democratic voters would favor a government policy requiring that citizens remain confined to their homes at all times, except for emergencies, if they refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Nearly half (48%) of Democratic voters think federal and state governments should be able to fine or imprison individuals who publicly question the efficacy of the existing COVID-19 vaccines on social media, television, radio, or in online or digital publications.
- Forty-five percent (45%) of Democrats would favor governments requiring citizens to temporarily live in designated facilities or locations if they refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Democratic voters would support temporarily removing parents’ custody of their children if parents refuse to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Division on Vaccine Mandates
It is important to note that on average the majority of all likely voters opposed these measures, however, the results are startling. These numbers represent a significant portion of the American public who would support draconian measures against their fellow citizens for declining to take a vaccine. In recent months, the fervor around vaccination has waned as many cities withdrew their indoor mandates and the courts have struck down various orders, including the proposed Biden Administration’s employee mandate.
Ultimately, this poll highlights how deeply divided the American public has become over the Covid-19 pandemic and related measures that may come back to the forefront as election season progresses and we approach the winter months where Covid may once again creep back into American life.
The complete results from the January Rasmussen poll can be found here.
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