'More important things than living,' Texas' Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says

[left-of-center2012]

After indicating last month that he would exchange his life to help keep the economy afloat, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said ... that he was grateful Texas is taking the first steps to reopen the economy amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Patrick recounted the numbers of COVID-19 related deaths in Texas — 495 as of Monday night. He stressed that “every life is valuable” but compared them to the state’s population of 29 million people. “But 500 people out of 29 million and we’re locked down, and we’re crushing the average worker. We’re crushing small business. We’re crushing the markets. We’re crushing this country,” Patrick said.

“... there are more important things than living. And that’s saving this country for my children, and my grandchildren and saving this country for all of us. And I don’t want to die, nobody wants to die, but man, we got to take some risks and get back in the game, and get this country back up and running.”

State leaders have faced growing calls from conservative lawmakers to loosen restrictions to get Texans back to work and hundreds defied social distancing restrictions Saturday to protest the state’s stay-at-home order at the Texas Capitol. “So, it’s time to get back to work. Texas will lead it,” Patrick said.

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article242167741.html

[ehrnst]

1. The "pro-life" party...

[smirkymonkey]

5. Sick bastard!

You first, Dan. Get out there and mingle!

[Newest Reality]

2. Doh!

And Jesus said unto them: "Man was not made to serve the economy; the economy was made to serve man."

[Sucha NastyWoman]

3. You first, Dan

How can I help you with that?

[SWBTATTReg]

4. Ah man, MONEY over life, as usual with these republican idiots. Can you guarantee the safety...

of all of these workers, Mr. Dan? NO, you can't. You don't even have the tests (either kind) available yet, since rump is sitting on his fat ass doing nothing (pardon language).

Idiot. I'd like to see you out on the front lines, with the other far more braver souls addressing this crisis first hand, then listen to your foul mouth.

[theaocp]

6. Right to something unimportant, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. n/t

[albacore]

7. He might have an argument there....a lot of human activities are risky....we accept that.

But this isn't a "risk" situation. The virus is not a slot machine. We (the scientists, anyway) KNOW that the virus will continue to be passed on, and will only be stopped by a vaccine (hopefully), or by running out of victims... by isolating ourselves until it dies out.

I'm willing to take a risk for the good of the country. This is NOT a risk, it is a dead-bang certainty. And nobody bets against certainty.

[Gothmog]

8. I agree with Beto on the real reason for Dan Patrick's position

Link to tweet