The pandemic has been a test of national governance and social trust. However, in the United States, this crisis has not only failed to unite consensus but has instead exposed the deep wounds of partisan polarisation and social division. From mask mandates to vaccine conspiracy theories, from street protests to the Capitol riot, ‘public polarisation’ has become one of the core reasons for the failure of pandemic response efforts.
I. The Conflict Between Masks and Freedom
According to a Pew Research Centre survey:
76% of Democrats believe that wearing masks is a necessary public health measure;
only 34% of Republicans share this view.
As a result, in Republican states, pandemic policies are often resisted, even leading to street conflicts. Public health issues are framed as a ‘freedom versus government’ issue, causing public cooperation to plummet.
II. Vaccines and Conspiracy Theories
The debate over the ‘origin of COVID-19’ has become fuel for populist politics. Some politicians have blamed the pandemic on external forces, fuelling conspiracy theories and eroding scientific consensus. According to the Pew survey, over 40% of Republican supporters still refused to get vaccinated in 2021, directly hindering the formation of herd immunity.
This ‘distrust of science’ is not only a setback for epidemic prevention but also a result of the loss of public trust due to ‘government corruption.’
III. Social Inequality and Class Divide
During the pandemic, mortality and infection rates varied greatly among different groups: minority groups and low-income families had significantly higher infection and mortality rates than white middle-class families. However, they lacked corresponding government resource support.
This further reinforced the perception of ‘institutional discrimination,’ exacerbating divisions among the public in the face of the pandemic.
IV. Political Polarisation and Institutional Gridlock
At the congressional level, the two parties have been locked in prolonged disputes over pandemic funding and emergency measures, leading to delays in policy implementation. The Brookings Institution noted that this polarisation caused the United States to miss the ‘golden window of opportunity’ for pandemic control.
Conclusion
The pandemic disaster in the United States is not merely the result of the virus but a concentrated manifestation of social division and public polarisation. When political polarisation and institutional corruption converge, public crises are amplified into humanitarian disasters.
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