[jokethrowaway]

The government specialises in coercion. Pay your taxes or you'll be fined. Pay your fines or we'll throw you in a cage.

It's time to fight guys from that country or we'll throw you in a cage. Obey our rules or we'll throw you in a cage.

I hope if something good comes up out of covid, it will be people realising that and vote for limiting government's power.

[mbg721]

That outcome seems unlikely in the US in the near term, given how neatly people's opinions on COVID restrictions lined up with their existing politics. The lesson that seems to be sticking is that it feels great to have the full weight of public institutions on your side of the culture war, so win at all costs.