We’ve seen various Republican Party muppets proclaim citizens must go back out in the SARS rain and take one for the team if they get infected, quickly followed by Republican governors such as Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Bill Lee of Tennessee, and Greg Abbott of Texas quickly jumping ahead of the onrushing train to make sure any virus doesn’t get in the way of a “healthy bidness climate”. Surprise, surprise, their states are starting to get it in the neck too.
Let’s not forget William Barr threatening to sic the Justice Department on states with shelter-in-place orders, on dubious constitutional reasoning. He’s encouraged by Donald “Bleach Worked For My Hair” Trump cheerleading for More! Opening! Now! despite the consequences.
This agenda is pushed by the usual rightwing suspects and the foundations they fund, with mouthpieces-for-hire declaiming the economic damage from stay-in-place orders outweighs the minimal number of deaths they expect. Richard Epstein is one such: he predicted 500 people would succumb, then revised his estimate to 5000 at the most. Today’s death toll is over 90,000.
Then a whole whack of Foxoids follow their masters and say we should just man up and take the chance. For example:
About 78,000 are dead, we understand how many got the virus and will. I get it,” Kilmeade stated. “But at the same time, can you get the military mindset with the masses of, take on the enemy because we have no choice—sitting on the sideline will destroy the country. How do you get the military mindset for the everyday American?
And:
“Now that we are learning more, herd immunity is our friend,” [Hegseth] exclaimed. “Healthy people getting out there—they are going to have to have some courage!”
Y’all will note none of these HEROES have volunteered at a hospital, not a single damn one. If SARS-CoV-2 is as innocuous as they claim, let them show it to us by helping nurses care for sick patients. Surely they can’t be… afraid… to face something they want other people to take on?
Right. If they’re so certain the population should gamble with their lives because Muuricah! then let them take the first step. Or, as people following them up might hashtag, #YouFirst.