Texas lt. governor on reopening state: 'There are more important things than living'

SSgt Ray Stone it took me a couple of readings of your introduction to the article to figure out your position. I believe you are saying Lieutenant Governor Partick is evil. In addition you hate President Trump and all Governors are capitalists. I won't pretend to expect to dissuade you from your position. You're obviously a liberal with firm beliefs. I did take a very different view of Lt Governor Patrick's interviews with Tucker.

I am a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Like you, I once took an oath to protect and defend our country including giving up my life for it. I believe that oath has no expiration date. I'd sacrifice myself today for my kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and the USA. I do not believe we should allow the destruction of our civil liberties, economy, and society because of a disease. I think the COVID-19 virus will prove to be both more widespread and less deadly than first thought. We have suffered enough under the mandates of Federal and State governments flexing their muscles in this emergency. They have constrained many of the rights granted under the Constitution we both agreed to support and defend. The rights of free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, to petition the Government, to bare arms, and to equal protection under the law have been "suspended" or outright canceled. We cannot allow this to continue, especially in ways that don't make sense. Governors made a lot of stupid decrees during this crisis: you can buy alcohol and weed, but not garden seeds. You can have an abortion, but not have stints put in you heart or your knee replaced. To save lives we have to keep everybody inside their houses, but most people who got the virus got it indoors. Hardly anybody got it outdoors, but we can't go to parks or recreation areas. This is the stupidity that needs to stop before we lose our liberties. It's amazing how quickly and calmly our lemming-like citizenship have followed our state and local leaders over the cliff of totalitarianism. Helps us understand the mindset of the European Jews in the mid-20th Century.

We need to get the US economy going again as quickly as possible because tens of thousands of small businesses are on the verge of disappearing. These small businesses hire about 50% of the US workforce. In an effort to keep the economy afloat, the Congress and Administration have pumped borrowed money into the economy. This may work for a short time, but it isn't sustainable. We need to put the USA back to work. If doing so costs me catching a fatal disease, then I'm willing to take that risk. My Granddaughter is a beautician. She is self employed. Her state has prohibited opening hair salons. She has no income and she was the number one breadwinner for her family. Would I give up my life so she could restart her business, care for my great-grandchildren, and preserve a capitalist economy that rewards hard work? Yes I would.

My daughter is a Navy Reserve Nurse Practitioner working at Javits Center in NYC. I pray every day that she serves her patients well and will come home safely as soon as possible. When she gets back, she will rejoin the Veterans Administration Hospital workforce caring for our country's heroes. She put her name on the line just like you and me. I am proud of her. I want her to come home to a grateful welcome, but also an economy that is healthy enough to allow the Federal Government to continue to fund the VA as it should be.

I agree with Lt Gov Patrick, if it costs me my life to ensure my family has a robust country to live in, then I'm good with that.

Texas Governor: More people will die, but we need to open up the state. He is advocating genocide against older people. Let that sink in.

Jussaying#52