Manipulating our animal survival instinct, i.e., fear of death. Manipulating our minds through disinformation and brainwashing. Manipulating our crowd-instinct, which includes the power-rush you get from shaming and scapegoating a non-conformist. And yes, it works on at least some people even in Red areas.

This whole hoax is an experiment in how much freedom and individual rights the State can steal from you under cover of public health (in this case). So far the results are encouraging for the Commies. The vaccine is the next step, and after that the chip, and then the full-blown surveillance-and-social credit system. Plus the destruction of middle class businesses putting all economic decisions in the hands of the State, reducing the entire population to poverty-line subsistence and dependency.

The Soviet States of America.