First let me say --- all the polls vary just as they do in the U.S. His recent polling in June was above 50% and in the recent poll in July dropped to 40%. I should note that 40% is still near a all time high for his presidency (and previous ones) where the Presidential approval in France has normally been around 28% which is a reflection of their multi-party fractured political system. I should note the approval of France's Green Pass policy which was just approved by their legislature is near 60%.
Even here in the US we have a few small alternatives to the Democratic/Republican makeup of our politics but the way political power is structured it’s impossible for them to be effective other than pulling a few points from one side in close races. The powers that be here have been successful in eliminating political opposition outside today’s two-headed monster. Part of the problem today, here, is the way social narratives are formed - “everything” is divided along party lines. The mere acknowledging one’s personal view or opinion, regardless of actions, cast them in vehement opposition to 48-49% of the population. I would imagine a similar social mindset is forming in France. When one party demands or imposes it’s will on it’s opponents there’s going to be pushback, simply because that’s the way they respond to everything else. Tis why we have been seeing the protests there. Biden’s administration should have understood and anticipated that and choose a different approach rather the current heavy handed one they’re employing. But imo, division is the name of the political game, both sides are guilty. And we continue our slide into the abyss.
While I agree with some of your initial commentary. I disagree with your last sentence. The heavy-handed approach in France has worked out very well and is very effective. The one item which anti-vaxxers will react to and actually go obtain a shot... is when you impose restrictions on them from going out. Surveys in the U.S. also indicate this is the only way to get anti-vaxxers to take the jab.
I pray the United States never opens the “pandora’s box” you espouse. We have already given up many freedoms in the war on terror, it’s a one way street. Once these social fetters are put in place, the Government will have free reign to impose them on whatever seems politically expedient at the time. Americans have given their lives to stop the very thing you’re parading. “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Oh you mean like how the polio vaccine was mandatory in the late 50s & early 60s. With mass vaccinations of towns & cities, and students lined up in schools across the U.S. to receive the mandatory vaccine. Sorry... to tell you but the United States has been down this path before with vaccinations and we have not opened a pandora's box for other restrictions on liberty. This is a matter of proper public health practice. Back in the 50's they even stated you were not a patriotic American if you were not vaccinated -- and were helping the communists if you refused vaccinated. The few unvaccinated were social pariahs.
You're comparing apples to oranges but since you brought up the polio vaccine: Let's learn from our mistakes... Cutter incident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutter_Laboratories Past vaccine disasters show why rushing a coronavirus vaccine now would be 'colossally stupid' https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/425740...avirus-vaccine-now-would-be-colossally-stupid People are getting Polio from the vaccine https://www.the-scientist.com/news-...-causes-more-infections-than-wild-virus-66778 More polio cases now caused by vaccine than by wild virus https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/polio-cases-now-caused-vaccine-wild-virus-67287290
So one manufacturer of the polio vaccine (out of many) named Cutter Laboratories produced a bad batch which contain contained live polio virus in what was supposed to be an inactivated-virus vaccine. This amounted to 120,000 doses only which sadly got out to the public. This was a manufacturing quality control issue; not an issue with the formulation of the vaccine (which was safe & effective as demonstrated by hundreds of millions vaccinations world-wide). This is not different than the quality control issues with the J&J COVID vaccine at the Emergent BioSolutions plant in Maryland. Fortunately these tainted J&J vaccine doses did not get out to the public.
People are getting Polio from the vaccine Polio Vaccination Causes More Infections than Wild Virus https://www.the-scientist.com/news-...-causes-more-infections-than-wild-virus-66778 More polio cases now caused by vaccine than by wild virus https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/polio-cases-now-caused-vaccine-wild-virus-67287290