I’ve talked about the GOP suicide cult in the context of climate change, the denial of a grave and imminent danger that leads to catastrophe for all of us. The coronavirus pandemic has shown a telescoping of this pattern, condensed into mere weeks and months. And it hasn’t taken long for the Cult of Death to get quite literal about its intentions: Trump is now listening to voices calling for a “re-opening” of the economy — just let people die already, we got stuff to do.
If this is the conservative idea of “freedom”, frankly I’m not that into it:
Dan Patrick, Texas’ Republican lieutenant governor, on Monday night suggested that he and other grandparents would be willing to risk their health and even lives in order for the United States to “get back to work” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Those of us who are 70 plus, we’ll take care of ourselves. But don’t sacrifice the country,” Patrick said on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
Tx Lt Gov Dan Patrick says grandparents would be willing to die to save the economy for their grandchildren pic.twitter.com/wC3Ngvtsbj
— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) March 24, 2020
This is a logical Biting the Bullet of epic and monstrous proportions. By “take care of ourselves”, Patrick apparently means that our parents and aunts and uncles will cheerfully submit to death by asphyxiation, triaged outside a medical facility with too few ventilators by powers of ten. (People under 70 are, of course, also being cut down by the illness.)
So we’ve come to the point where many in the Republican Party (if not most) have run up against the hard wall of reality. One might ask them: Is it going to kill you to change your mind? Would you rather die? And Lt. Gov. Patrick and others answer, Yes — but you first.
This is a death cult — literally. For myself and my family, no, I am not signing on. Go away.
SomervilleTom says
I’ve been saying for months now that we remain in denial about the aim and intensity of these thugs.
We face an existential crisis. The longer we allow this death cult to remain in power, the more difficult it becomes to remove them from power.
Donald Trump and his cult of Trumpists must be removed from power. NOW.
jconway says
Trump’s indirectly killed at least one of his supporters with his misinformation. While deep down I know he won’t be the last, I’m praying harder than I’ve prayed in awhile that we be spared the worst of this leadership. Too many innocent people will die because of this mans arrogance and incompetence.
terrymcginty says
Sharp and penetrating. And rightly so Thank you!