Yes, humanity has normalised many problematic things before. We've set many poor precedents. I don't disagree!
The issue here is that vaccine passports currently have no medical justification but are persisting purely as a punishment (I'd say incentive, but anyone here who hasn't yet been vaccinated will never be swayed by vaccine passports at this point). I of course do expect these to go even in my fairly strict jurisdiction, but now the precedent of punishing people in this way has been set. Was quarantine, mask mandates, vaccine mandates used to punish people in this way previously?
My close family circle is against the vaccine mandates now, as am I. Although we all supported them initially. So it is hard for me to gauge the general opinion on the mandates. I suspect support is waning fast with high vax rates and the reduced threat of COVID.
I don’t think mask mandates punish in the same way as a vaccine mandate. You can change your mind and wear a mask instantly. A vaccine takes time and has greater consequences. Mask wearing is also an altruistic act; you put yourself through mild discomfort mostly to benefit those around you. It’s polite because it makes others feel more comfortable. A vaccine, especially when it comes to Omicron, protects you without really effecting risk of infection. So it’s more of a personal choice. Except at the population level where collective vaccine uptake have helped protect hospitals.
I think we're mostly in agreement. I mean, I did go and get vaccinated so the coercive measures did work on me, and I also wore a mask when I had to. But I really chafe at the notion that we haven't set a profound precedent in terms of governmental control over daily life, and a lot of people seem completely fine with all these mandates and vaccine passports. I find it kind of shocking, even though I'm pretty heavily pro-vaccine.
The issue here is that vaccine passports currently have no medical justification but are persisting purely as a punishment (I'd say incentive, but anyone here who hasn't yet been vaccinated will never be swayed by vaccine passports at this point). I of course do expect these to go even in my fairly strict jurisdiction, but now the precedent of punishing people in this way has been set. Was quarantine, mask mandates, vaccine mandates used to punish people in this way previously?