If you don't control COVID 19, you won't have a growing, open economy. And you are not immune

I've got a few thoughts with this stupid, Astroturfed meme out of right-wing Bubbleworld saying that Wisconsin and other states need to end their stay-at-home orders. The theory seems to be that if that Safer at Home ends, the jobs will all come back, we will magically pull through this pandemic, and things will return to what they were 2 months ago.

And some are going further. In the Land of Robbin' Vos, the local (GOP) Sheriff is saying he won't even enforce Governor Evers' extension of the Safer at Home order, claiming that the economic losses are more important than public health.

Sheriff indicates he won't enforce stay-at-home order.

“I took an oath to uphold the constitutional rights of our citizens & I cannot in good faith participate in the destruction of Racine Co. businesses or interfere in the freedoms granted to all of us by our Constitution." https://t.co/gah0xNRGV6

— Patrick Marley (@patrickdmarley) April 17, 2020

Well, last I checked, our Constitution says that government will "provide for the common Defence and general Welfare," and if you have a sick population, our common welfare and our economy will be wrecked. And by the way, Racine County has one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 in the state, with the numbers getting worse yesterday.

The city of Racine on Friday reported it reached a new peak in daily cases, with 11 new cases and one death on Thursday.

The city had 77 confirmed cases and three deaths, and the county reported 163 cases and eight total deaths — including two new deaths Friday.

In fact, Racine County has the 4th-highest rate of coronavirus cases in the state, more than 20% higher than Dane or Waukesha Counties.

Instead of trying the Confederate act against Governor Evers, maybe the Racine County Sheriff should care more about the fact that Racine County first responders may be in higher danger of getting infected in the coming weeks. And maybe Racine County Republicans should care more about their local governments likely to heading into bankruptcy in the coming months as they have to pay the debts for the white elephant known as Foxconn.

And I'm also hearing this mentality float from areas of outstate Wisconsin. An example is this State Rep from Rhinelander.

Here is my statement on Governor Evers misguided extension of the Safer at Home Orderhttps://t.co/AOPKykXT6H

— Rob Swearingen (@sweak1) April 17, 2020

“Governor Evers’ decision to extend the ‘Safer at Home’ order through May 26this not a sensible approach when applied to the entire state. To be clear, I fully understand the dangers associated with COVID-19, in particular how it disproportionately affects the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. I do not believe the current data supports this decision, instead of applying a one size fits all approach to Wisconsin,Ibelieve we in the Northwoods can protectour loved ones, prevent the spread of the virus, and open up our economy. The Governor’s decision to extend the order through the Memorial Day holiday will devastate local businesses such as resorts, restaurants, taverns and many other retail and specialty stores. With little revenue coming into the state, this order will also have long-term consequences for the next state budget and createstress on our schools and government-funded programs. The process of opening up our economy could be gradual, and the public will have to continue adhering to social distancing guidelines as well as take common sense precautions, but we can and must get people back to work. I will continue to work with my legislative colleagues moving forward to get Wisconsin up and running once again.

Really, Rob? You think it's a good idea to have a whole lot of people heading up North and crowding into supper clubs and shops in the next month? You don't think that some of the locals might come into contact with people from an area with a larger outbreak of COVID-19, end up infected, and overload your tiny hospitals? Or that your overwhelmingly older population might be especially at risk of being harmed by this situation?

The "open the economy" folks are clownishly and dangerously self-centered. And if you drill down, they're pretty damn elitist and racist. This tweet sums it up well.

The "reopen the economy" thing is a nationwide GOP astroturf campaign, but the barely concealed local subtext here in Wisconsin is that it's a black Milwaukee problem that small town white people around the state are being made to suffer for.

— Nick Fleisher (@nickfleisher) April 18, 2020

And now that we have found out there is an outbreak on the heavily Hispanic South Side of Milwaukee, you can bet Wisconsin Hate Radio will be adding in xenophobia to the elitism and racism. Of course, those same WisGOP spokespeople will conveniently ignore this outbreak in the 920.

#BREAKING It's not often you hear "Brown County" and "CDC" in the same breath.

You're hearing it tonight.

That's worth considering if you're thinking about blowing off Safer at Home guidelines. https://t.co/E4mdM3b2yr

— Doug Schneider (@PGDougSchneider) April 17, 2020

And the worst part about this "Open the Economy" meme is that it is obvioius Astroturf, funded by a bunch of oligarchs who are safely tucked away from having their health affected. Right-wing grifter Stephen Moore gave the game away online.

Stephen Moore, a former Wall Street Journal editorial board member and visiting fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said in a YouTube video that he was working with a Wisconsin group that planned to hold a drive-in event similar to the sit-ins of the civil rights era.

— Patrick Marley (@patrickdmarley) April 17, 2020

"We have one big donor in Wisconsin — I’m not going to mention his name — and I told him about this and he said, ‘Steve, I promise I will pay the bail and legal fees for anyone who gets arrested,' ” Moore said.

— Patrick Marley (@patrickdmarley) April 17, 2020

That donor wouldn't be Dick Uihlein, who forced his ULine employees to go to work and not tell others if they had tested positive for COVID-19, would it?

Company pushed back on story. But "two Uline staffers contacted the Journal Sentinel to say... Lots of employees in nonessential positions are being forced to go to work, they said."
One employee is quoted as saying, "We're angry and scared, but no one cares."

— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) March 28, 2020

Chuck would know, because the Uihleins funded him and the rest of the right-wing lie machine in this state for years. And have I mentioned that Kenosha County, where ULine is located, has the second-highest rate of COVID 19 infections in the state?

Look, I want to be able to go to the bars and hang out and go to other organizations that have been shut down, just like anyone. I'd love to snap my fingers and see the Brewers playing and being able to go to the Terrace. But I also recognize that we need to stop having more cases and deaths come in than we did the day before, and it needs to be on the decline for at least 2-3 weeks straight and that's not happening right now. We have to realize COVID-19 is the danger and the enemy we need to fight, and that the economy won't recover until this country literally gets healthier. That's true regardless of where you live, and you are not immune from it.

Let's be adults and deal with this reality vs being used by oligarchs and politicians who want to deflect from the tenuous economic system that put you in a desperate situation after one month of recession. They're the real enemies, they're the ones getting the bailouts while you have to fight to stay afloat, and they're creating this "Open the Economy" Astroturf to deflect from that reality. DON'T BE A SUCKER.