Texas Lt Gov Dan Patrick bluntly said what trump has been saying more subtly with his 15-day plan to open up businesses and schools — that grandparents should sacrifice their lives to save the economy for the children. Also, he is implying that there are only two (false) choices — save the economy or let the elderly die.
In the video segment below, Tucker Carlson, instead of being his usual chatty and nasty self, listens in silence, probably thinking of his parents, and asks a question in the end —
Tucker: You are basically saying that this disease could take our life, but that’s not the scariest thing to you, there’s something that would be worse than dying.
Patrick: Yeah
This is not some isolated wacko making a hideous statement. This is pretty much in line with trump’s and McConnell’s plans — open up businesses in 7 days, let the older folks die, shower trillions of dollars of our grandchildrens’ money on (select) businesses, and as for workers — let them eat Chloroquine.
This is also in line with the approach advocated by many republicans — let the virus spread, young people will develop immunity while “just” 3.4% of the population will die. What they discuss behind closed doors and the dark hallways of right-wing “think-tanks” is anybody’s guess.
Will only the elderly die?
No, it won’t just be the elderly who will die; the death rate among the young and middle aged is nothing to sneeze at. The death rate will be much higher as hospitals run out of beds and supplies. Even those who survive will get serious lung damage. The infection and death rate among doctors, nurses and other health workers will be staggering.
Stats from NY -
Do lockdowns and social distancing work?
Yes, lockdowns, social distancing and testing work. Italy in spite of getting a slow start is showing good progress and bending the curve. Italy, like us, ignored the problem initially but has taken the right steps over the past 2 weeks. Many other countries, now including India, are applying the lessons learnt from China, S, Korea and Italy to their own situation.
Some reactions:
Gov. Cuomo using his bully pulpit to say it clear and loud - this is republican social Darwinism. And we will not allow this to happen.
Ken Carroll: Dan Patrick demonstrates all the hallmarks of a cult member, praising the cult leader and expressing his desire to lay down his own life in the service of the cult leader. Just like Jim Jones followers who drank poison and had their children drink it too.
#NotDying4WallStreet is trending on twitter.
The inconvenient truth -
What needs to be done and how some responsible blue states are going it. Check out the full set of tweets in this thread by the Director of The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Epilogue
Let’s do all we can to protect our loved ones — young and old. Let’s follow all the guidelines on staying home, social distancing, washing hands, getting tested if you notice any symptoms, etc. We will get through with this, in spite of the spite shown by Republicans to humanity.
Let’s also keep in mind that most states (at least the blue ones) will act responsibly; Most companies (except a few conservative ones like Hobby Lobby) will not force their employees to come to work in the middle of a raging pandemic. And if they do, most workers should refuse to go to work — there’s nothing worse than watching our loved ones die.
And let’s keep reminding the electorate of the depraved nature of this despicable party called the GOP, so we can end this nightmare in November.
The cure for the disease is to expunge the real virus from the White House.
P.S.
For those who want to explore more science-based information about Coronavirus, check out diary “Coronavirus - Myths, Realities and Uncertainties” for some more info.