Texas Progressives: Coronavirus, week 2

As with last week, and possibly for a couple more weeks, we'll be separating the COVID portion of the roundup from the rest. Part 2 is here. (This split has continued since this week; the March 30 week of COVID news here. And for April 7 week, here. Week 5 is here. Ditto for Week 6. Here's Week 7, and Week 8.)

As things look grim in Northern Italy, we all need to focus on the new normal.

We also need to look out for new outbreaks of privilege and selfishness.

We need no more COVIDIOTS like Rand Paul.

Period.

End of story.


Socratic Gadfly, in a role as "Doc Steve," has some blunt words of advice for people out shopping in today's new world, starting with hang up the cell phone and fucking shop. Period.

Every hospital in the state should be doing what some already have done — delaying elective surgeries. Every patient in the state with an elective surgery scheduled should take the initiative themselves, if their hospital hasn't.

We're still a ways away from a possible vaccine, but antivaxxer wingnuts (mainly on the far right here in Tex-ass, but a few Greenie types too) are ramping up the rhetoric.

Speaking of, vaccine expert Dr. Peter Hotez talks to the Chronic.

Dallas County has adopted a shelter in order place. So do both Travis and Williamson counties. Bexar County. Galveston, but not (yet) Harris; it may be later today. Hunt, Brazos are smaller counties that have adopted them. Per my comments above, observe it. Don't be a COVIDIOT.

IOKIYAR? Remember that old acronym? It includes self-inflicted death panels, I guess, as Danny Goeb wants grannies to bite the bullet for their grandkids, all for the good of the economy.

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

Reality is that wingnuts would love for grannies to die so they can raid Social Security. And beyond that, the realities of capitalism? Dan Patrick, in addition to being a grandparent, IS working from home as much as possible. Read his comments. He wants OTHER GRANDPARENTS to off THEMselves.

At The Rivard Report, Alex Bernel discusses COVID and paid sick leave.

Space City Weather has thoughts on coronavirus, social distancing, and flattening the curve.

Juanita sees Las Vegas at the forefront of social distancing. At the same time, she overlooks that an industry that is entirely based on selling people on the idea that good luck is real doesn't actually believe that.  (Beyond that, "respectable" Vegas is probably gagging at the idea of drive-through strip shows.)

The Bloggess personalizes social distancing.

Finally, per American Indians with research science degrees, stop peddling your fucking "ancient Indian cures."