They refuse to wear masks, and now, to get vaccinated.
They refuse to acknowledge election results.
They refuse to pay taxes.
And, now, Republican governors are refusing to accept federal pandemic aid for their states’ citizens:
“Democrats in Washington have approved trillions of dollars to help Americans weather the coronavirus pandemic, but Republican state officials are pulling back relief for low-income Americans by turning away federal money.
(See story here.)
So what are they focused on, if not serving their constituents? This: “ridding the party of leaders perceived as disloyal to former President Donald Trump.” That’s where their priorities are.
With respect to pandemic unemployment benefits, Republicans argue employers are having trouble hiring workers and claim the generous benefits incentivize them to stay home. But it’s not that simple. The generous benefits have been necessary to keep families and individuals afloat — and prevent an economic crisis. With schools still closed and child care unavailable, many parents can’t leave home. There also are legitimate fears of returning to workplaces prematurely; at this point, only a third of the adult population is fully vaccinated, and vaccines were opened up to all age groups over 16 only a couple weeks ago.
Republicans all along have resisted health measures and making workplaces safe; they’ve shown an extraordinary disdain for human life in the midst of the worst pandemic in a century. Again, it’s their priorities; they don’t care about workers, only about keeping businesses open and profits flowing to owners’ pockets.
The answer to all this is straightforward: Enforce the rules of civilized society, and don’t put up with refusal. People who assaulted the Capitol in an effort to overthrow our elected government should go to prison. Tax cheaters should be prosecuted, pay fines, and in appropriate cases go to prison. Businesses and other private property owners have a right (and, where mandates exist, an obligation) to enforce their mask and social distancing policies, and non-complying customers can be refused service, ordered off the property, and denied boarding or deboarded from planes and other transportation conveyances.
The rest of us don’t have to put up with this behavior, and shouldn’t put up with it.
Nor should we vote for politicians who incite or encourage it. And when candidates lose, they lose, period, end of story (and term of office). Republicans can lie all they like, refuse to concede, and even refuse to acknowledge an election’s winner. But they’re not entitled to break the law or overthrow an election, and when they behave like this, they certainly don’t deserve our votes.