Pandemic widening a bitter US political divide

America is a divided country, and not just between those who hate former President Donald Trump and those who hate his successor, Joe Biden. The coronavirus pandemic has not only turned US politics on its head, but also created a new political schism that is changing lifestyles in the country.

Failure to understand this new phenomenon in the American psyche can land you in political trouble, especially with foreign countries or foreign leaders seeking US support.

Not everyone in the US agrees that COVID-19 is a deadly disease. Well, they do not believe that the virus is deadly to everyone. They believe the virus is deadly only to those who have a wide range of health-related challenges, such as cancer, a heart condition or asthma. Therefore, they also believe that the pandemic threat is mainly to those above the age of 50, since most illnesses tend to worsen with age.

At the core of this debate is an argument over whether the government has the right to impose restrictions requiring people to be vaccinated, wear face masks or limit their social interactions.

Some believe that these precautions are actually government efforts to curtail the freedoms that have been constitutionally guaranteed to all of the country’s 328 million citizens.

The pandemic has found itself dovetailing neatly with the foundations of the two major political parties.

Republicans, who are more conservative, believe individuals should be rewarded based on how much they work and that no one should impose restrictions on what can be said or how they live their lives.

Democrats, who are more liberal, believe that the government should provide financial welfare and healthcare support to the poor and that the financial costs should be covered by the rich and wealthy. Government, they believe, should provide healthcare to the needy, the elderly and especially the poor.

Republicans believe that the threat of the virus is being overblown and is being used by the Democrats to control the nation’s political system, thereby giving the party more powers and control. Democrats believe that Republicans are using the pandemic to expose Democratic constituents to challenges that will affect their ability to vote and engage in political activism, and so reduce voting numbers.

The political battlegrounds are clear: Should children be forced to wear face masks in school? Should everyone be forced to get vaccinated? Is COVID-19 a genuine health threat or is it being exaggerated by political profiteers?

These questions are being used in an emotional back-and-forth between Democrats and Republicans to undermine individual rights, and bludgeon political rivals into silence and submission.

Worse, the data is being routinely manipulated to reflect a personal viewpoint rather than as evidence of an across-the-board reality.

This polarization has made it all but impossible to defeat the virus since half the nation lives under mandatory restrictions and vaccinations that never seem to completely safeguard everybody, while the other half lives as if the threat is purely a question of individual choice.

Meanwhile, the makers of the three major COVID-19 vaccinations have been laying low, enjoying astronomical profits from their serums. The scale of their profits has fueled public suspicions that the pandemic is being exploited by pharmaceutical giants, and reinforced conspiracy theories and fears about whether the vaccinations will have long-term, unknown consequences.

In the end, the political debate is hindering the campaign to defeat the virus, with some believing the divisions are weakening the nation’s resolve.