The author of the Vulgar Marxism newsletter criticized New York City leadership on Monday for “abandoning commitments” to assist residents because some unvaccinated New Yorkers are ineligible for unemployment benefits.
Matthew Thomas told Hill.TV the pandemic has caused liberals to shift away from positions they would normally support.
“They invest a lot of their identity in being somebody who takes COVID seriously, which means robust enforcement of social distancing and masking and vaccinations,” he said. “But it has led to a place where I think it causes people to abandon commitments that they previously had.”
Thomas reported last week that unvaccinated residents in New York City “are ineligible not only for unemployment benefits, but food stamps and cash assistance.”
On Monday, Thomas said the issue raises questions on when states should and should not “be coercive” in enforcing health policies.
“If you believe that everyone has a right to assistance, that they have a right to not be hungry and to have shelter,” he said, “then that becomes an area where the state should not withdraw what it provides to its citizens.”
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