Posted on 04/18/2020 4:41:10 AM PDT by EyesOfTX
In a series of Executive Orders issued on Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott laid out the initial aspects of his plan for re-opening the Texas economy. The plan will be managed by what Gov. Abbott is calling a “statewide strike force” chaired by Austin banker James Huffines. If these initial steps and the governor’s statements about them are any indication, the reopening in red-state Texas will be little different than the process in many blue states around the country.
First what the Governor did do:
– He allows all retail businesses to reopen, but most will be limited to “drive-up” shopping – where customers place orders over the phone or online and then pick the merchandise up at the curb outside the store – or delivery;
– He left all public and private schools closed for the remainder of the school year, with a target for reopening in August for the fall semester;
– He reopened all state parks beginning on Monday, but with the same social distancing restrictions in place;
– He loosened restrictions on medical appointments and elective procedures, which will be a godsend to the mostly-empty hospitals around the state, many of which have had to lay off workers due to lack of activity;
– He said that updates on places that host large gatherings, like restaurants, churches and entertainment venues, will come “later.”
All of which is in line with the guidelines coming out of the Trump Coronavirus Task Force, which is fine. Sadly, these actions will do precious little to begin restoring the jobs and livelihoods of the hundreds of thousands of Texans who have been thrown out of work by the government’s response to the Wuhan Virus.
The disappointment comes in the lack of any effort whatsoever to distinguish Texas, which has had far fewer cases of the Wuhan Virus than much smaller states on the East and West Coasts and even Louisiana, from the approaches that will be taken by those other states. For example, why no attempt to treat the 100+ Texas counties who have had 5 or fewer cases of the virus differently than the big-city epicenters of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin? Why continue the absurd situation in which residents of small communities with names like Skidmore and Papalote and Poteet and Post and Troy remain subject to stay-at-home restrictions that make no real sense in their communities?
That latter may be more of a criticism of the Trump Task Force, which promised to deliver geographically-targeted guidelines but so far has not done so. But let’s also admit that 8 governors, all Republicans like Abbott, have never issued a stay-at-home order for their states. So, the President has certainly given governors a lot of leeway in dealing with these guidelines.
But that’s a leeway that Gov. Abbott was unwilling on Friday to take advantage of for his state. Equally as disappointing was the Governor’s apparent failure to attempt to balance his ongoing restrictions and mandated deprivations with the fundamental rights of all citizens. Indeed, in his statement on the orders, he laid out only two factors that would influence his decision-making:
“This [reopening] will be driven by two things: what our medical team advises and what the data shows,” Abbott said.
If it’s disturbing when a Democrat governor like New Jersey’s Phil Murphy admits he “wasn’t thinking about the bill of rights” when issuing his own draconian shutdown orders, it is perhaps even more disturbing when the Republican Governor of Texas admits he won’t be thinking about the fundamental rights of all Americans as he moves timidly forward to reopen his state. At least give it some lip service, Governor.
With protests now beginning to spring up in Michigan, Colorado, Minnesota, California, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Virginia over the deprivations of rights of assembly, speech and religion by the Democrat governors in those states, it is only a matter of time before we see similar protest actions begin to take place in many red states as well.
Abbott was sued on Friday by a group of pastors on the grounds that the Governor’s edicts violate the religious liberties of their parishioners, a contention that is manifestly true. Yes, the governors in Texas and other states do possess extraordinary powers during declared emergencies, powers that are important for them to possess when fast decisions must be made to save lives.
But there is no real “emergency” in the vast majority of the state of Texas. The seasonal flu has taken hundreds more Texas lives than the Wuhan Virus will, but there was no similar declaration of any emergency. Texas has seen 459 Wuhan Virus related deaths thus far; yet, we lose roughly 3,600 people every year to car accidents without reacting by closing down a single business or school or highway in response.
Texans like me expected more from Gov. Abbott on Friday, in large part because he has always fine job of delivering so much more for Texas during his time as the state’s Attorney General and Governor. Hopefully he will use the weekend to give some real thought to the fundamental rights of his citizens and start delivering more come Monday.
That is all.
When did Texas become tepid? Being audacious always has been one of their best attributes. Gov needs to grow a pair.
It is not like Abbott is not corrupt.
But he is so much of an improvement over Rick Perry and the sort of filth Texas Democrats run with abortion Barbie and Irish Bob.
Abbott is doing just fine. Texas’ anticipated descent down the curve is not on the same timeline as some of the already highly affected areas.
I suspect Abbott will work Texas through the stages as laid out in the president’s plan.
As my troops used to say, “It don’t mean nuttin, LT”.
People are getting fed up and starting to rebel.
I went down the hill to the big city yesterday for the first time in ten days.
Ten days ago I had the roads to myself. yesterday traffic was almost back to normal.
Ten days ago there were few people in the Walmarts as opposed to yesterday when they were teeming.
People are no longer going to listen to experts or politicians.
Rebellion is in the air.
Opened state parks. ....but must wear mask and keep 6 feet away. ...such BS. Abbott. ...thanks for nothing.
“but must wear mask”
I cancelled a doctor’s appointment (consultation prior to hip replacement) later this month because they’re requiring masks. I will NOT look like those freaks in every photo of China, whether or not the photo relates to a virus. It’s been that way for years with them.
That is really one of the stupidest things I’ve ever read.
You cancelled a doctors appointment...because you think wearing a mask is a “Chinese thing”?
“That is really one of the stupidest things I’ve ever read.”
You need to get out /read more.
“You cancelled a doctors appointment...because you think wearing a mask is a ‘Chinese thing’?”
Yes. Sue me.
I don’t think that’s what she meant. Mayflower hates the masks, so do I. I wear it because I am forced to, but I think it de-humanizes us as a society. It may protect us from “The Virus”, but it is damaging us as a people.
Traffic is starting to pick up around the outskirts and burbs of Columbia as well.
Last week I had a 4 lane road by me almost to myself a lot.
Yesterday traffic seemed to be about half of normal.
I think people are ignoring Dudley Do Nothing McMaster more and more. Every time I drive under one of those automated highway signs flashing stay safe / go home propaganda, I say a certain expletive.
Since I am by myself on the road, no one hears it, lest they be offended.
Stop the tyranny! Fire the SOBs!
I respect your decision, though I disagree with it. Each of us is handling this Corona mess in our own way. I’d like to urge you to rethink it. A short time of annoying inconvenience traded for treatment you apparently require in the long-term. I’ve had a few surgeries myself, but only for something that would effect my quality of life. I’m insured through Veterans Insurance. In my case, if I turned down too many opportunities to get something worked on, I’d probably lose my priority as a patient down the line, when i urgently needed something done.
Think it over, and good luck to you.
Traffic in north Texas is almost normal. Businesses are just declaring themselves essential and opening up. Older folks and those who are sick or have at risk conditions are staying home more but hardly anyone else is.
Dentist and salons/barbers are all closed because they have regulatory commissions that will drag them through the street if they open- but everyone else is starting to refuse to participate in the recession.
My guess is that many churches in the rural areas will start opening for services soon with precautions in place.
“You cancelled a doctors appointment...because you think wearing a mask is a “Chinese thing”?
I didn’t explain fully:
If it meant never visiting my 96-year-old mother again, of course I’d wear a mask in a heartbeat. If my doctor’s visit were critical and a mask were required, I’d wear a mask. My doctor’s visit had to do with a non-critical elective surgery and I can wait until Americans are free again. Unlike some people, I respect the fact that others (1) Have opinions different from my own, (2) live in fear, and/or (3) want to wear them for for other reasons which are none of my business. I spend a lot of time every day sewing masks to donate to hospital volunteer workers. (The ones I sew are very effective — and pretty.)
BUT for myself, I prefer to not wear masks. It’s my choice not to be one of the government-manipulated drones. The thought of spending every day for the rest of my life walking around in public with a mask as a permanent appendage — uh uh. HELLno. And, yes, like it or not, that 24/7 freakish mask wearing thing IS prevalent in China. (Maybe they’re aware of the lax policies at their bio-weapons and virology labs, so it makes sense to them; I don’t know.)
When people live in mask bubbles, when/if masks are removed they’re even more susceptible to bad sh!t getting in — having no tinge of immunity makes them vulnerable. Just let it play itself out and be done with it. Like we do every year with ... well ... the FLU.
Joke
Those are the the regulations for current shelter in place in Georgia
When I can go sit down at a restaurant or wander around a book store then I know we’ll be open
They ought to just throw everything open. Stay home if you’re sick. Duh
and if this was an article about a blue state you and your ilk would rupture a testicle about the response :)
TX rolling out s..l..o...w...l...y...like a blue state, the article says
heh heh :)
That latter may be more of a criticism of the Trump Task Force, which promised to deliver geographically-targeted guidelines but so far has not done so. But let’s also admit that 8 governors, all Republicans like Abbott, have never issued a stay-at-home order for their states. So, the President has certainly given governors a lot of leeway in dealing with these guidelines.
What is Blackmon talking about? There is no statewide “stay home” order in Texas. All of the “stay home” orders are local. There is a statewide orde prohibiting gatherings and imposing some other restrictions, but it does not order anyone to stay home. It also identifies a minimum list of essential activities that local governments cannot restrict, including religious services.
I live in Houston. The “stay home” order in force here is issued by Harris County. Even that order, while more restrictive than I like, is not that restrictive by national standards.
Do I wish Abbot was more aggressive in yesterday’s plan? Sure, but I think he’s doing the best he can.
Reopen Papalote!
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