If it must come to sending the elderly on a COVID kamikaze mission to save the US economy, that’s a sacrifice 69-year-old Republican Dan Patrick is willing to make.
"If that’s the exchange, I’m all in," declared the lieutenant governor of Texas and grandfather-of-six on Fox News earlier this week.
Patrick insists that many people of his generation aren't ready to "lose our whole country" and risk economic collapse over this public health crisis. "So my message is that, let's get back to work, let's get back to living, let's be smart about it and those of us who are 70 plus, we will take care of ourselves but don't sacrifice the country. Don't do that. Don't ruin this great American dream."
What Patrick is saying is that America’s elderly can and should be willing to die of coronavirus so that the rest of us can patronize stores and restaurants, spending our money to boost the economy, and go back to life as it once was.
Before you applaud him for his bravery, you should know: Patrick insists he isn’t a hero.
"...that doesn't make me noble or brave or anything like that. I just think there are lots of grandparents out there in this country like me... that what we care about and what we love more than anything are those children."
Well, that and a soaring DOW Industrial Average, apparently.
Open By Easter?
His comments come as President Donald Trump has started making a public push to reopen parts of the country by Easter, even as the number of cases continues to soar in the face of unprecedented lockdowns and social distancing, and even as the CDC continues to warn that citizens 60 years and older face the highest risk of serious illness or death.
In fact, the White House's coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx pointed to data suggesting 99 percent of those who’ve died of coronavirus deaths were over 50, even as President Trump was making the case that the COVID cure can't be worse than the disease.
However, Patrick's interview set social media ablaze, with plenty of references to dystopian films like Logan’s Run in which no one is allowed to live over the age of 30.
Virginia Democrat Qasim Rashid wasted no time in calling out Patrick's comments.
https://twitter.com/QasimRashid/status/1242265306040598530
And former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke insisted this sort of language is wildly dangerous.
Pro-Life Turns Pro-Death
The irony of a staunchly pro-life politician calling for, essentially, the elderly to risk death to help the stock market, was not lost on many.
Author John Pavlovitz echoed journalist Alex Cole in questioning how a man who was once "screaming about Death Panels" would suddenly be willing to sacrifice his generation to an uncertain fate - if not certain death - to prop up the economy. "Call me strange, but I don't think the sick or the elderly are expendable just so Republicans can hold the presidency or so some already wealthy people can become even wealthier. Maybe I'm not a "pro-life" Christian—just a decent human being. I'll be okay with that."
A prominent Texas newspaper’s editorial board even wrote a takedown of Patrick’s statements, pointing out that he “apparently missed what should be a remarkable moment for the [pro-life] cause. The country has largely rallied around the idea that protecting life, especially that of the fragile, is worth the sacrifice. You’d think he’d reinforce that message.”
Dying for the DOW
And yet, Patrick may just get his way.
With 700 confirmed cases related to the virus, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has continued to resist implementing a stay-at-home order for all of Texas.
And Dr. Tom Inglesby of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health warns it's only a matter of time before what's happening in hard-hit states like New York, California, and Washington reaches every last corner of the country.
As Patrick knows, continuing to carry on business as usual will indeed come at a very steep cost: Our seniors’ lives.
The question is: Are you willing to die for the economy?
47 comments
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Norma Battes
Attention old white people in Texas, you’re dead meat. And Republicans first.
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Toni D Story
AMAZING that someone could be so dim-witted and thoughtless. However .... If the Senate and the politicians thinking about their personal wealth would volunteer it might be a good idea. But keep the elderly. Their knowledge to pass on to our children is our future.
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Ty Ford
I don't know who Vincent Cleary is, but I can say he's all over this thread in a very messy way. Please delete him. He's an embarrassment.
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Daniel J. Trebas
Okay - Everyone assumes it's a question of putting people or profits first. However, there are A LOT of facts not being presented in mainstream media. Try googling "Trump v Fauci: Battle of Agendas" to see the video put out by ""The Highwire". According to their statistics every 1% rise in unemployment results in an added 70,000 deaths. Also called "deaths of despair". So, if the unemployment goes up 25% that's about 1,750,000 deaths - which is much higher than the worst case scenario for covid 19. HOW EVER, the simple solution is for Trump to end the State's bidding wars for the limited supplies of masks and gloves by using the war powers act to ORDER companies to mass produce the masks and gloves needed so that, instead of just a 1,200 stimulus check the masks and gloved would be sent to EVERYONE. Then, instead of these counter productive lock down orders they could just order that everyone has to wear gloves and a mask at work and for ALL public interactions. BUT - the order to mass produce needs to happen NOW!!!!! Given production and distribution time lines this is the only SANE way to get the people back to work as soon as possible.
As a side note: I cant help but think that those Muslim women who wear those burkas and veils might be the safest people right now. The veils are kind of like masks and they only have to remember to not touch their eyes.
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Tori Maricelli
but abortion, killing babies is OK?! all life is precious isn't it?
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Lionheart
Not in the eyes of the Christian god. He killed babies because he was not powerful enough to take care of Pharaoh, not to mention babies, women, children, and pregnant mothers that must have died during the great flood. And let’s also not go into his condoning stoning people to death, and slavery. Thank goodness this is all myth. 😜
🦁❤️
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Vee
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Vee
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Tori Maricelli
exactly where is it in his post that he says that? i don't see that at all. hmmmm i guess people can take out of it what they want. maybe just share the news or don't but who is anyone to interpret what he said for their own agenda? seems like bias to me.
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Donna Mayotte
Love it when someone offers me as expendable. I inspires me to fight to stick around
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Vee
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Donna Mayotte
Hell no. the very idea inspires me to fight to stick around .
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Robert T Wilson
Dan Patrick is not a hero, if his plan was put into play he would be a villain and would be destroying the economy. By having more people out, the disease would spread quickly (see Italy and Spain). Deaths would rise amongst all groups with the illness and because the hospitals would be overwhelmed. We would lose lost is people for days, weeks or forever. Sure some people would not feel thr symptoms, they would accidentally spread. Some people would take no days off or a few or weeks or months. This man had a bad idea that was not worth sharing is all.
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Vee
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Donna L Troy
Firstly Dan Patrick has never done anything good for Texas.He has only done things for the people that give him the bucks and the fanatical Christian groups that support him. If he would like to be the first "Weak and Fragile" Senior Citizen 's to sacrifice themselves by all means show us how it's done. Personally I intend to keep fighting to live and make a difference in spite of Idiots like Patrick! Yes I do have a compromised immune system , diabetes and stage 4 liver disease with no chance of affording a transplant! But I plan on being around a long time to enjoy my golden years with my wife and hopefully more grandchildren! Socialism is not a dirty word, it's another word for Teamwork, compassion, community, caring and good citizenship! In this country we should not have homelessness, starving children, poor education or not being able to pay for healthcare. It's the Billionaires and Millionaires that don't give their fair share that should feel ashamed and should step up. The Corona Virus does not pick and choose who it attacks and you can't take your money with you! May the Goddesses and Gods in the Universe help us!
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Sara Lizabeth Rawlins
That is the most idiotic reason not to self-isolate, SOCIALISM. I'm sure a lot of you as well as myself are older and are on both Medicare and Social Security (a form of socialism) because of the money we put into this program when we worked and are now retired. I for one want a healthy workforce and if that means they have to take the time off to be safe and isolate themselves from others so they won't "die" from this virus, then I say do it until the threat is no longer there. This is "SOCIALISM"!. It doesn't mean you can't make money in a socialist society, it just means you will make sure others less fortunate than you can stay alive through the government's initiative via taxes. If corporations (according to the Supreme Court are people too) and the Millionaires/Billionaires pay their taxes no one has to "die" for lack of money to support their family.
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Vee
Defiantly part of the greatest generation are you? First read about the percentages, so as far as spreading it, that’s, what the word? Oh yeah ‘STUPID’. The man is talking about his family, his kids and grandkids. If you don’t care about anything other than your entitlements. You are a sorry excuse for a human.
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Amber Fry
Unfortunately we are finding that there are more passing from this in the 25-40 age range. The best medical guesstimation I've heard so far is that the elderly are more frail so it just tore through them easier and faster first. Younger people generally have a bit more resilience and were able to last longer with this thing. however it's important to remember that this is a fairly new this particular strain of Coronavirus and we are still learning about it.
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Vee
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Robyn Adrianne Reviere
Dan is and always has been an idiot. He is here in Texas as the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, cannot wait to vote him and his equally repulsive boss out. Idiotic.
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Michael Dench
I wouldn't shed any tears for the loss of the stock markets, its another form of gambling is all and doesn't have anything to do with the real strength of the country and its entrepreneurs and work force.
Die for the sake of a corrupt bunch of crooks and shysters? Not bloody likely!
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Vee
Unmmm I think he said, for his family. His kids, his grandkids.
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H3T038
"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book". Rev 22:16,18-19
"Let no man deceive you by any means, for that Day shall not come, unless there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sitteth as God in the temple of God, showing himself to be God." 2 Thessalonians 3-4
Some of what I'm sharing will seem not relevant to COVID 19, I say now, it is. When it comes to Prophetic "wisdom" I hold steadfast to: Every Book within Father's Word is "ONE" Book. Every Human has what is called "choice" and based on those choices, one will bring blessings or one will bring curses as written in my Father's Word. My Father's Law is inevitable. There is no way/shortcut around it. I'm neither Pro-life or death. I am Pro Yeshua; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the God of Abraham, Moses, and Joshua (who have not returned home yet). One is the House of Judah and one is the House of Isreal. Again, this IS relevant to the COVID 19 virus that is now an epidemic; which may very well turn pandemic.
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Revelation 2:29
In the name of Yeshua, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; Amen.
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Tom
He must have read and liked the concept of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"....
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Rebecca L Tice
It's all about the economy.... taxes... tribute... money.... shiny baubles.... little idols.
Sure the strong are willing to throw the elderly in front of the lion. That's life....
Anti-abortionists fail because they don't have a righteous loving solution to the story.... they are only good at horrifying.
Pro-life.... fail because they fail to provide support for the mother and child after the pregnancy.....
People who claim to be Christians.... saying things like "if you can't afford a baby you shouldn't get pregnant" or "why does that geezer keep hanging on.... come on... how much longer do you plan to hang on taking up space and resources"
Life.... my daughter works in a Hospital. She has a couple of patients who have the virus. She is already worried about the mortgage payment..... the car payment..... etc.... if her husband's employer has to close the doors... they will be down to one income on a two income budget. My daughter is adopted.... she survived abortion.... she also survived ovarian cancer.... at the age of 17..... and now.... you want her to sacrifice her "mom" and "dad" because we are a blight on the economy?
Pro-Life..... is not the same thing as anti-abortion.
Christians are getting a black eye because of these "wannabe"s...... No Christian would put the economy over one life....
That's my opinion.... and I'm sticking to it.
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Vee
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Vee
Well thank god your opinions count for little to nothing. I would most definitely lay down my life for my family. By the way, where did you get Pro-life out of that information? You say your daughter is struggling. You wouldn’t do anything to help her? (Who mention a blight on society? Your words, are you a blight?) You wouldn’t lay down your life for your children or grandchildren? You are a very selfish old and probably bitter old woman
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Brien
WHAT??? A politician says stupid things??? Say it isn't so! I have never heard a politician being stupid before. Politicians are always honorable and have the peoples interests at heart, right? Ok, back to reality. The guy is an a$$clown and probably will not survive another election. But, considering the stupid choices people have been making lately, they'll probably give him a medal. It is just a sign of our times. People behave badly with their right to vote, and we end up with idiots driving the bus. Please, be responsible with your right to vote.
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Vee
As do people who respond to post they haven’t read through. Morons.
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Brien
I did read the entire story as posted here, then I saw the actual interview. At best his comments were in very poor taste. Not really worth the time and effort on this. Just another politician pandering to his supporters. Honestly in the grand scheme of things this doesn't rate a second thought. Peace
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Brien
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The Heretic Hour
Pro-death hiding behind the Pro-Life lie.
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Vee
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Stewart
He knows that by virtue of being almost governor but not quite good enough that even if sick would get special priority care as would his family . Easy when you know that you can have best of everything ton be so facetiously self sacrificing on tv .
Reality is he has no intention of getting exposed and has personal bodyguards that protect him from the peasants .
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Vern Dee Wall
Much better analysis here: The End of Civilization? https://mises.org/wire/end-civilization The Benefits of a Free Society during Pandemics https://mises.org/wire/benefits-free-society-during-pandemics
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Rodney Knight
Okay we will start with the white house superem court Congress the Senate and the rest of politicians in Washington and around the states then when they are done we will elect better men and women and continue on
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Vee
He worried about his kids, his grandkids. What would you sacrifice for your family?
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Reverend Cory
That is one of the most moronic things I've ever heard. He needs to resign. He's an embarrassment.
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Vee
Hey Reverend. Would you sacrifice yourself for you flock?
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Daniel Gray
I dont know who wrote this crap but their bias is showing. What Patrick is saying is stop closing down the states and put the people back to work. Even Gov Coumo stated the exact same thing today on SNN, so is the writer of this crap going to attack him? I highly doubt it.
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The Rev. Dr. Marion Ceruti
No one believes this. Only communists and people who support abortion are pro death.
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Vee
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John
If Dan Patrick and any of his cohorts want to sacrifice for the good of the whole, then do the following. Arrive at an overloaded hospital that is short on beds and protective equipment. Volunteer to care for the patients, assist with transferring and moving them, cleaning them, feeding, comfort, etc..but without incorporating any of the protective equipment. The MDs and RNs will certainly appreciate your sacrifice. I mean why are they constantly working, treating, getting sick, and even dying when you would be willing to sacrifice on their behalf. Will be back to normal in no time because of your sacrifice. Well, whenever your ready get to it. Easter is only 3 weeks away.
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Vee
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Tom Thackrey
1) Failing to "social distance" will kill far more than seniors. COVID-19 is not that age specific. 2) While giving one's life for another is heroic (and biblical) mass manslaughter is neither. 3) It simply won't work. Stopping the prevention early may allow the economy to restart, but the virus will force us to stop it again later. We need to slow the spread so medicine can handle the workload and a vaccine can be created and distributed. There is no easy or quick fix.
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Vee
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Ty Ford
You first, Mr. Hitler.
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Vee
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Ty Ford
Yes, Dan Patrick is a pretty horrible human being. So him first. Have him get back to me and let me know how he liked it.
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William R Clapie
Wow. Selective much? Kill the seniors? The ones with the money? The brains? The skills? Who is this and why is he in office?
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I'm a Texan, and that fool will never get my vote, nor has he ever.
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Judith
He’s not saying kill the elderly. He’s saying that many of us older folks would be willing to RISK infection with the (still slim) possibility of death, not for the stock market, but to keep the economy from becoming so bad that we see our children & grandchildren from becoming destitute. So we don’t see suicides as happened during the Great Depression. To keep things from becoming so bad that turning the country socialist would start looking like a good option.
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Father Phoenix
No offense, Judith, but as a 33-year-old working male currently affected by the slowdown, I absolutely would not sacrifice my grandparents' health and risk their potential death to bypass a temporary economic slowdown and I think it's absurd that it's even a serious topic of conversation.
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Vee
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
You won't often find serious topics of conversation on this blog, Phoenix. So lighten up,band have some fun with the rest of us.
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Toni D Story
When did money and wealth become our god? Why are there so many divisions? Political, monetary, race, gender, age and even religion? We are children of God. All of us.
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Richard L Freeman
Exactly Judith @
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William Waugh
So. You and your texan homey should stand together while an infected person sneezes and coughs on you.. Go ahead. Lead the way. Demonstrate the actions necessary actions to welcome death and save the bank accounts of all the already rich. Lets not stop there. Lets save social security. In one fell swope. No problem sending socialsecurity checks to the dead. Come on texan homeies. Lead!!!!
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It started with the vaccaniation from Small Pox. Other wise God plagues would still happen. If his mother is still alive she might be thinking why she did not abort this clown.