Science Denying Guv’s Covid Walkback may be a Model for Climate Deniers
June 27, 2020
Watch for something like this as climate deniers, one by one, have to acknowledge reality and admit that science is real.
Honestly, who could have known that people in bars could spread a virus?
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas surpassed 5,000 hospitalized coronavirus patients for the first time Friday afternoon as Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledged in an interview with ABC-7 that he allowed bars in the state to reopen too soon.
“If I could go back and redo anything, I would slow down the re-opening of bars,” the governor said, expressing regret over his decision because of “how quickly the coronavirus spreads in the bar setting.”
The lesson Abbott said he learned is that “a bar setting in reality just doesn’t work with a pandemic.”
June 27, 2020 at 1:42 pm
Bars make money selling judgment-impairing substances to people who are more social than average. What could possibly go wrong?
June 27, 2020 at 2:17 pm
“Watch for something like this as climate deniers, one by one, have to acknowledge reality and admit that science is real.”
That may happen, with a few exceptions, but what’s happening with Abbott and others like him is that they’re protecting core values they think are more important – both to themselves and definitely to their core supporters. In this case (and with a lot of aspects of climate change), it’s individual freedoms outweighing medical and scientific advice.
Abbott will wear a mask himself, and he recommends others do it, but he refuses to mandate it for the state – a huge mistake, imo. He’s declared schools will be in session in the fall, but individual students can opt out (without similar protections for teachers, however) – another mistake, imo, even though I think in-person learning is best. If bars are bad, how bad will schools be with most of the students asymptomatic, constantly mixing together, in close confines for half a day 5 days a week, with flu season approaching, and with immune systems weakened with the colder weather?
Abbott officially limits gatherings now to 100 people, with the loophole that local officials can overrule that. Here’s a town close to me doing just that:
https://therockwalltimes.com/news/2020/06/26/rockwall-city-council-approves-public-events-fourth-of-july-festivities-set-to-continue-as-planned/
With climate change, the same things apply. Republicans will practically never increase regulations or mandate rules for anything, but even Repubs like Rick Perry will be enthusiastic about welcoming new businesses like wind power. Abbott is excited about Tesla moving to Texas:
https://www.kvue.com/article/money/abbott-confirms-talks-with-elon-musk-about-moving-tesla-to-texas/269-c2f03544-02f8-4a5b-a5ec-08653e1ded5f
But this is why action against climate change will be continuously roadblocked by Republicans (and many Democrats) well past the time of actually accepting that it’s a real thing. The future of climate change in politics in the States will be a fight of essentially rear guard actions, where Republicans refuse to do what’s necessary in favor of protecting values they feel are more important – which is exactly what’s happening in Texas with coronavirus right now.
June 28, 2020 at 3:41 am
June 28, 2020 at 11:47 am
Here’s another example of Abbott trying to have it both ways:
https://abc13.com/alcohol-delivery-in-texas-mixed-drinks-tabc-greg-abbott/6275615/
He’s essentially allowing drivers to have mixed drinks their cars. Better that than being the governor that took away bars rights to make money in a pandemic, I guess.
And here’s an example of just the sheer crazy one encounters in Texas:
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/06/27/business-owners-rally-against-harris-county-mask-order/
June 28, 2020 at 11:51 am
Here is an update about Rockwall allowing a large outdoor concert and fireworks display during Abbott’s 100 person gathering limit:
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rockwall-council-allows-large-outdoor-events-to-continue/287-939e83f5-aef1-4e5f-82ab-8403acb6d3e5
“I just do not think that the government should be the one telling people how to handle their own socialization,” Pruitt said at the council meeting Friday.
July 2, 2020 at 4:08 am
The City of Round Rock, just north of Austin, finally cancelled its fireworks when they realized that people would come from surrounding times because their fireworks were cancelled.
June 27, 2020 at 3:24 pm
I thought alcohol was an antiseptic.