NYT's Ezra Klein on Vaccine Hesitancy
CAN I ASK YOU THE DEMOCRACY QUESTION T MINORITY MAJORITY QUESTION. YOU WORK A LOT ON THAT. YOU HEARD WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE FRENCH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. JUST HEARD WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SAID. HOW LONG CAN A POPULATION, A MAJORITY, PUT UP WITH A HOLD OUT MINORITY, A SIGNIFICANT MINORITY, BEING MOLLY CODDLED. BEING COD LTD AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MAJORITY? >> WELL THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION. I'M NOT SURE I THINK ABOUT IT EXACTLY LIKE THAT. BECAUSE YOU ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF STATES. THIS IS VERY LOCAL WHERE IT IS PLAYING OUT. WHERE I LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO VERY HEAVILY VACCINATED AND YOU HAVE PLACES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE A MAJORITY WHO AREN'T VACCINATED. YOU HAVE VERY DIFFERENT POLITICAL TRENDS AROUND THIS. SO IN CALIFORNIA, THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING -- IS CREATING BASICALLY A VACCINE MANDATE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. IN FLORIDA THE GOVERNOR THERE IS CONSIDERED A LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 2024 IS MAKING IT ILLEGAL FOR INDIVIDUAL PLOYERS TO HAVE THEIR OWN VACCINATION MANDATES. YOU HAVE VERY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS IN COUNTIES AND STATES AND IT IS THE COLLISION OF THESE DIFFERING MAJORITIES. THESE DIFFERING PUBLICS. THESE DIFFERENT POLITICAL CONSTITUENCIES THAT ENDS UP REALLY MATTERING HERE OF. BUT AS PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THE VIRUS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION. VIRUS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR IDEOLOGY. THE VIRUS IS HAPPY TO INFECT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE. SO ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT WEAKNESSES IN THIS ENTIRE PANDEMIC IS OUR POLITICAL DIVISION.
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