Reactions: SCOTUS hears arguments on proposed federal vaccine mandates
The bottom line: We disagree on the need for vaccine mandates because our view of vaccines differs. The left tends to see vaccines as a low-risk action that prevents a domino effect of disease in society. The right tends to see vaccines as a personal choice that primarily affects the individual’s health, like choosing to eat healthy or exercise daily.
Below, we break down what information and values lead each side to reach distinct, internally reasonable conclusions.
What else is each side focusing on?
- The Supreme Court itself has COVID-19 testing requirements and strict mask rules.
- Masks and vaccines help stop the spread of COVID-19.
- The Omicron variant causes less severe disease than prior variants.
- Justices overstated the benefits of vaccination, specifically by claiming it stops transmission.
- Justices overstated the severity of the current crisis.
The Narrative
These mandatory vaccination and test practices work, as proven by the fact that two attorneys are participating in the trial remotely because they tested positive.
It would be hypocritical and cruel for the Supreme Court justices to deny everyday workers the same safe working conditions that they enjoy.
The left is overstating the dangers of the Omicron variant to push an illiberal agenda and limit people’s right to bodily autonomy.
The government shouldn’t be able to prevent us from making a living over a personal health decision. People concerned about death and severe disease can just get vaccinated themselves.
How could a reasonable person come to think this?
To many on the left, the main focus is to protect vulnerable populations from severe illness and death. With vaccination requirements and masking, more people would be protected, which would save lives and ensure hospitals aren’t overwhelmed.
To many on the right, the continual push for stricter mandates around COVID-19 constitutes an attack on civil liberties. We must protect the individual’s right to bodily autonomy because mandates made in times of emergency will be abused after the crisis has subsided.
What else is the left focusing on?
- The Supreme Court itself has COVID-19 testing requirements and strict mask rules.
- Masks and vaccines help stop the spread of COVID-19.
The narrative: These mandatory vaccination and test practices work, as proven by the fact that two attorneys are participating in the trial remotely because they tested positive.
It would be hypocritical and cruel for the Supreme Court justices to deny everyday workers the same safe working conditions that they enjoy.
How could a reasonable person come to think this?
To many on the left, the main focus is to protect vulnerable populations from severe illness and death. With vaccination requirements and masking, more people would be protected, which would save lives and ensure hospitals aren’t overwhelmed.
What else is each side focusing on?
- The Omicron variant causes less severe disease than prior variants.
- Justices overstated the benefits of vaccination, specifically by claiming it stops transmission.
- Justices overstated the severity of the current crisis.
The narrative: The left is overstating the dangers of the Omicron variant to push an illiberal agenda and limit people’s right to bodily autonomy.
The government shouldn’t be able to prevent us from making a living over a personal health decision. People concerned about death and severe disease can just get vaccinated themselves.
How could a reasonable person come to think this?
To many on the right, the continual push for stricter mandates around COVID-19 constitutes an attack on civil liberties. We must protect the individual’s right to bodily autonomy because mandates made in times of emergency will be abused after the crisis has subsided.
To learn more about why people are so divided on mandates around COVID-19, check out our deep dive.
Notable Amplifiers
Fed’l vaccine mandate argument in SCOTUS (from red state AG’s) seems to be mostly about keeping power out of the hands of the federal gov’t, even at the cost of lives & health during a pandemic
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) January 7, 2022
In today’s Supreme Court case, lawyers who have COVID and aren’t allowed in the Supreme Court building are arguing that other people should have to go to work with unvaccinated/untested people.
— Andy Slavitt 🇺🇸💉 (@ASlavitt) January 7, 2022
SCOTUS is the last remaining 🇺🇸 institution with mystique.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) January 7, 2022
Today was a bad day for the Court’s legitimacy, with multiple justices spreading disinformation about children on ventilators and daily cases exceeding total US population.
The libs on the Supreme Court- Breyer, Kagan, Sotomayor- have a very poor understanding of COVID risks, which keeps coming through in shockingly dumb statements like “omicron is as dangerous as delta” and “children are on ventilators”
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) January 7, 2022