Another Giant Setback in Biden‘s COVID War; Maybe Now It’s Time to Use a European Tactic Which Works
Q3 2021 hedge fund letters, conferences and more
Another Setback In President Joe Biden's Efforts To Fight COVID
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 7, 2021) - In still another giant setback in President Joe Biden's efforts to fight COVID, his requirement for federal contractors’ employees to be vaccinated has been halted nationwide; now virtually all of his initiatives to get more Americans vaccinated - a goal he admits is the best if not the only way to fight the pandemic and save lives - are stayed or otherwise put on hold.
Perhaps now its time to consider a different approach related to airline passengers which has been recommended by many of his own advisors and other experts, but with a European twist which would slash objections and help protect it from another legal attack, says public interest law professor John Banzhaf, who has had two of his suggestions to Biden already undertaken.
Banzhaf points out that although restrictions on unvaccinated people are much stricter and limiting in most European and other developed countries. there has generally been much less resistance because of a simple matter of definition.
Indeed, most of Europe, as well as a growing number of other countries, now require people to be vaccinated in order to engage in many desirable daily activities; thereby being far more intrusive than requiring vaccinations just to fly.
Although these mandates are far stricter and more inclusive than anything which might be adopted in the U.S., they have proven to be workable, and are increasingly becoming accepted as necessary by a public weary of COVID.
Vaccination Requirement
The primary reason they work well, and are increasingly being accepted, is that the requirements treat those who have recovered from COVID just as if they had been vaccinated, notes the law professor.
In other words, to engage in many of life's daily activities, people must show EITHER that they have been vaccinated OR that they have recovered from COVID - i.e., the two conditions are treated identically.
While it's not completely clear and proven that the two offer completely equivalent protection, treating them the same substantially increases acceptance of vaccine requirements, and slashes public opposition to them.
Therefore, since it is undisputed that a vaccine requirement for flying, even with a major exception for COVID survivors, would be very effective in accomplishing at least two of Biden's major anti-COVID objectives -
(1) providing strong incentives for many so far refusing vaccinations to become protected AND
(2) substantially increasing the protection for all airlines passengers, perhaps even to the extent that masks might no longer be required, at least on some flights
Biden should require Americans wishing to fly to show proof (in whatever form or format seems acceptable) of:
A. Having received at least one shot of a recognized vaccine (which may provide only limited protection, but does permit the unvaccinated to fly even on short notice if absolutely necessary) OR
B. Having tested negative on a recent COVID test (according to whichever testing methodologies and time frame are recommended by experts) OR
C. Having recovered from COVID (under whatever time frame seems appropriate)
This would not only help achieve these two major objectives in substantial part (because those who recovered from COVID would get a free pass even though their immunity and ability to spread the disease might not be the same as those who have been vaccinated), but also help show that the President is taking more effective action to save lives than pleading with people to get people vaccinated, with his major initiatives stalled indefinitely in courts largely hostile to him. argues Banzhaf.
