I think you misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm suggesting that the American people are incapable of thinking beyond themselves and do not have the stomach to voluntarily quarantine themselves. We are a weak, selfish people.
It's not just American's that are selfish. All people are selfish. It's an evolutionary advantage that helped with survival. At least up until now.
It's why true socialism and communism doesn't work. People will not sacrifice their self-interest for the interests of others. So, the key to any system of morality or system of government is to take that selfishness into account. So, in this instance, the key is to make people realize that sacrificing small amounts of freedom to avoid infecting others will, in the long run, actually be to their advantage. Rational self-interest to be precise.