'No, I Will Not Die For This Damned Economy': R.J. Eskow
'No, I Will Not Die for This Damned Economy.' R.J. Eskow, Common Dreams, March 24, 2020.
But if I do die, it's likely to happen because we didn't plan for the longstanding possibility of a pandemic like this one. Why not? Because in this economy, the one that now asks the ultimate sacrifice of us, human life was less important than quarterly profits. That sounds like hollow rhetoric, but it is also objective reality.
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick received a lot of attention Monday night when, according to many progressives, he seemed to tell Tucker Carlson that he was willing to die in order to preserve the American economy.
But this economy is damned. Merriam-Webster defines "damned" as "to bring ruin on," or "to condemn to a punishment or fate."
"I will give up a ventilator for a younger person, more than willingly, if it comes to that. But if it does come to thatif I'm forced to die for this economyI'll curse the people who made it happen with my dying breath."
This damned economy. And we, the damned who live within it.
Here's what Patrick said:
"
(No) one reached out to me and said, "As a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?"
He went on:
" .. And if thats the exchange, Im all in. And that doesnt make me noble or brave or anything like that. I just think there are lots of grandparents out there in this country like me, I have six grandchildren, that what we all care about and what we love more than anything are those children. And I want to live smart and see through this, but I dont want the whole country to be sacrificed. And thats what I see."
Patrick said he turns 70 next week, that he's a "small businessman," and that pandemic precautions are causing an "economic collapse."
Im a few years younger than Patrick, but Im also likely to be at much higher risk because I have a chronic lung condition. I spoke to a pulmonologist this weekend, and when I said, "Needless to say, if I catch this thing
"
He said, "Dont finish that sentence."
Was Patrick really saying that seniors should willingly die to preserve this economy? It looks like it, but theres some ambiguity in his wording. The truth seems to be that Patrick shares the longstanding American belief that commerce and freedom are inseparable. But, in the modern economy, commerce is dominated by corporate monopolies, which even traditional conservatism would not consider "free." That nuance gets lost, often deliberately, in todays corporate-funded politics.
Patrick went on to say:
"
my heart is lifted tonight by what I heard the president say, because we can do more than one thing at a time. We can do two things. So my message is that let's get back to work. Lets get back to living. Let's be smart about it. And those of us who are 70 plus, we'll take care of ourselves, but don't sacrifice the country. Don't do that. Don't ruin this great America."
The president's plan is considered reckless by health professionals. So, yes, at least in one sense, Patrick is saying that seniors and other vulnerable people should risk death in order to get the economy back on its feet. But whose economy? Are we being asked to sacrifice our lives for our families, our communities, and the future? Or are we being put at risk for the sake of corporations who might, just might, hire a few workers back?
Give working people money. And workplace democracy...
More, https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/03/24/no-i-will-not-die-damned-economy
Richard (RJ) Eskow is Senior Advisor for Health and Economic Justice at Social Security Works and the host of The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow on Free Speech TV. Follow him on Twitter: @rjeskow
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)appalachiablue
(41,056 posts)on over those over 50, liberal, poor, disabled, etc. in the name of 'patriotism'?
> Glenn Beck says older Americans should return to work: Even if we all get sick, I would rather die than kill the country
https://www.mediamatters.org/glenn-beck/glenn-beck-says-older-americans-should-return-work-even-if-we-all-get-sick-i-would
GLENN BECK (HOST): I mean, I'm in the danger zone. I'm right at the edge, I'm 56. In Italy they're saying if you're sick and your 60, don't even come in. So, I'm in the danger zone. I would rather have my children stay home and all of us who are over 50 go in and keep this economy going and working, even if we all get sick, I would rather die than kill the country. 'Cause it's not the economy that's dying, it's the country.