You might think that the federal government cannot force you to receive the Covid vaccine, and officially, you would be correct. Our federalist system of government keeps the feds from forcing vaccines on us, although states might try to mandate vaccination.

But we’re not in the clear. Instead, big corporations, with their allies in media, are nudging citizens into compliance.

Take, for instance, Krispy Kreme donuts.

Now who doesn’t love a donut, amirite? So donut chain Krispy Kreme has promised one free fat-and-sugar-laden glazed goodie to anyone with proof of vaccination. And they won’t require any additional purchases! Plus, since KK knows that not everyone can get a vaccination quickly, they’re even extending the offer through the end of 2021. What a deal!

But that’s just the start of it. Now office giant Staples has offered to laminate your Covid vaccination card for free. As Business Insider wrote:

“The CDC cards are the only way to prove you’ve received a COVID vaccine, so Staples is laminating them for free.”

Make sure, however, that you check the gubmint seal so you don’t ruin your precious vaccination card.

But hold on — all free donuts and beer and lamination aside — why does any American need to “prove” they’ve received the vaccine?

Because elitists want more control of us, of course.

Travel industry trade groups are already developing vaccine passports so that Americans can travel overseas. These documents will show if the holder has been vaccinated or has tested negative for Covid-19. But if you don’t want paper proof that you’re safe from Covid, there’s an app coming for that, of course.

One app, called Travel Pass, will be designed so that any airline can use it. Common Pass, which comes from Switzerland, lets users upload their health and vaccination records.

Is that making you a bit queasy about your private information?

Plus, you may have seen the “Clear” devices at various American airports which use your iris and fingerprints to establish your identity. Now Clear will be using HealthPass to show that you’ve received your Covid vaccination. Not only that, but HealthPass will also provide temperature checks and lab results, too.

Thanks, but no thanks. My local airport doesn’t have Clear available, but even if it did, I would pass. Yes, I know my health history is floating around on some clouds out there, but I don’t need to help Big Tech get easier access to it. This sounds all too much like Communist China and its biometric data collection. I’ll stick with my TSA pass, thankyouverymuch.

Now the World Health Organization said last month that it doesn’t support making Covid vaccination required for travel. But you know it’s coming. In fact, they’re already here, with the help of Big Tech, Big Corporate, and Big Media.

Vaccine passports are already here. You just don't really know it yet. https://t.co/pfAun8H48W

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) March 26, 2021

And you know it won’t stop with overseas travel, either. Once Covid vaccines become more readily available, and Big Tech develops those handy-dandy apps, you’ll be required to prove your vaccination status for domestic flights, too. And sports venues, and concerts, and other sites where people might gather for, you know, fun. Because Americans will need to be reminded just who’s in charge of their lives.

Now I have nothing against vaccinations in general. I’m not an anti-vaxxer, and my children received their vaccinations on schedule. I get my flu shot yearly, especially since several years ago I forgot to take the vaccine. I developed the flu, which went into pneumonia, and I don’t want to go through that again.

And, I received my first Covid vaccination just this past week.

I wasn’t looking for one; in fact, I wasn’t even sure I would get one. But the hospital where my doctor has privileges emailed me a schedule for vaccines. Seems they had received a boatload of them, and I fit the demographics of people who are at a higher risk.

So I got one — the Pfizer type. While waiting the required 15 minutes after the jab to make sure I didn’t have any reactions, I noticed some cards along the windowsill that people had filled out. They had been preprinted with:

“I got a vaccine because. . . .”

Fill in your virtue-signaling here.

I read stuff like “because it’s my civic duty.” “Because it’s my obligation.” (No, it’s not. So far the state does not require you to get a Covid vaccine.)

Or “to protect me and my loved ones.” That’s fair.

But the most self-righteous?

“Because I believe in science and God.”

I assume that by “God” the writer meant the Deity, but maybe he/she was referring to Anthony Fauci. These days, who knows?

Getting the vaccination was my decision. I didn’t get a Krispy Kreme donut, and I doubt that I’ll be laminating my card at Staples. It’s too big to fit into my wallet, anyway. But it’s clear that even though the country is rapidly reaching herd immunity, the government still will not remove its control of our lives. And media, corporations, and Big Tech are more than happy to help Big Government keep their hooks in us.

Welcome, Instapundit readers!

Featured image: SELF Magazine/flickr/cropped/CC BY 2.0.