The covid-19 pandemic has brought all sort of issues from political, social and economic. All over the world no single nation that has not faced pandemic challenges. Nations have experienced high rates of deaths, lockdowns, the shortage and hiked prices of basic goods, among other challenges. The United State has not been an option. The federal government response to contain the spread of the corona virus has been aggressive. But, State governments have been against the federal government responses to fight the pandemic (Censky, 2021).
On November 4, Joe Biden announced the federal government policies of containing the Covid-19 pandemic. Among these policies are OSHA to ensure all employers with more than 100 employees are all vaccinated or take the Covid-19 test weekly, and all health care workers in facilities of Medicare and Medicaid are all vaccinated (The White House, 2021). Though, these measures are meant to increase the vaccination drive, save lives, protect health care workers, reduce the number of citizens being hospitalized and contribute in re-opening the economy, there is resistance from state governments.
Although, the president’s guidelines are for the good of the citizens they are violating individual’s civil liberties. Making covid-19 vaccine mandatory contravenes the First Amendment of the Constitution. No single American citizens should be forced to accept issues outside his or her beliefs. These guidelines are also against individual’s privacy (The U.S. National Archives, n.d.). If an employee reveals his or her medical condition, chances are if the results are not pleasing to the employer, the employee may undergo discrimination. The information may also be used to the disadvantage of the employee. For instance, insurance companies may use that information to overcharge employee premiums due to his or her condition.
In states that are dominated by the Republican party, bills have been passed to nullify the federal government Covid-19 response measures. States like Kansas, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Missouri, Alaska, Arkansas, among others have been on the frontline to oppose the Federal government. But, should an individual give up his or her civil rights for public goods? Though, these states argue that the mandatory vaccine will make health care workers to abandon their jobs, it seems the issue of the political fraction is in play in this issue (Censky, 2021).
The founding fathers of America when framing the constitution, they avoided the issue of political parties. They foresaw the pains political fractions inflict on citizens. It seems the same problems are now eating the bleeding America. Why is resistance to the president guidelines not coming from states led by Democrats? Does it mean the president is using his political fraction power to dominate some states? Why is Congress and Judiciary not handling this matter with urgency it deserves? This resistance is hurting the common citizen as it obstructs federal effort to address the national pandemic (Trident University Online Library, n.d.).
In conclusion, Federalism has its own benefits and challenges. If the national and state governments work together the citizen’s benefits. But, when rivalry dominate between the state and central government citizens suffer. The latter is happening in America as the nation is trying to fight Covid-19 pandemic that has hit the nation hard.
