Hope their health care system holds up better than their power grid.

Gov. Greg Abbott ends statewide mask mandate, moves to 'open Texas 100%'

[www.statesman.com]

Quote

Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday it's time to "open Texas 100%" and end the statewide mask order, citing declining hospitalizations across the state as more people are vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Abbott will issue a new executive order, which will take effect next Wednesday and rescind most of his earlier orders, including restrictions on business occupancy and the July 2 statewide mask order.

"Texas is in a far better position now than when I issued my last executive order back in October," Abbott said, referring to his order allowing bars to reopen under certain circumstances. Cases spiked after he eased business restrictions in the fall.

Abbott said Tuesday that businesses can still limit capacity, require masks or implement other safety measures if they choose to do so. "It is their business, and they get to choose to operate their business the way they want to. At this time, however, people and businesses don't need the state telling them how to operate."

...

Seems a bit premature. I cannot imagine Texas has vaccinated most of their citizens. June seems like a good timeline if we can keep up with vaccinations over the next 3 months. Then school will be out as well.

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C(-)ris
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Throwback Thursday Signature:

haven't we learned what happens when we declare early victory in this war?

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hal
haven't we learned what happens when we declare early victory in this war?

Texas declares 'victory' about every two weeks or so.

Abbot needs to move the conversation off the collapse of their power structure and deaths (still counting) and financial losses (still tabulating) from the deep freeze.

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RgrF
Abbot needs to move the conversation off the collapse of their power structure and deaths (still counting) and financial losses (still tabulating) from the deep freeze.

Well, all the deaths coming in two weeks are sure to accomplish that.

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Globe readers vote to keep restrictions in place:

On Monday, Massachusetts entered Phase 3, Step 2 of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 pandemic reopening plan, meaning restaurant capacity limits have been lifted (as long as tables remain 6 feet apart), and indoor performance venues are allowed to open at half capacity, with a maximum of 500 people. And on March 22, fans will be allowed back into stadiums, arenas, and ballparks at 12 percent capacity as the state starts into Phase 4.

What do Boston.com readers have to say about these loosened restrictions? For a good many of them, it’s: “Thanks, but no thanks.”

“This plan does not seem well thought out,” responded Ashley of Boston to our poll gauging people’s comfort level at attending different venues as they open up more widely. Richard of Bedford, meanwhile, said that Gov. Baker “should focus on getting the vaccine to the cities, towns and medical facilities and less on opening up businesses long before it can be done safely.”

"Abbot thinks 'mandate' is the prelude to gay marriage."

We have never even had a mask mandate here in GA.
Luckily most places of business finally wised up and require them.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

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rgG
We have never even had a mask mandate here in GA.

Which is one more reason why the Demoncrats did so well in the elections (besides the massive fraud).

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2021 04:38PM by Speedy.

It is not a problem! According to the KFF tracker, Texas is 49th in percent of population vaccinated at 12.79. The national average is 15.5%. Alaska is the best at 22.9.

So yeah, herd immunity is right around the corner.

As Jim Wright (someone I follow on FB) said, "apparently the snow storm didn't kill enough people."

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Mask mandate? Just another Texas liberal idea.
-- TN residents

put another way, Abbot got his shot and the hell with the peons

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

"Governor Abbott declares Texas to be a COVID-19 Sanctuary State."

....Tex......Mess(x).......????

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_____________________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

You know, that thing we’ve been doing is really starting to work!

That means it’s the best time to stop doing it.

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DeusxMac
You know, that thing we’ve been doing is really starting to work!

That means it’s the best time to stop doing it.

This^ x 1000.

Everywhere I go in Texas everyone is required to wear a mask. I hope the businesses continue to require masking. I hate to take my patronage elsewhere.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2021 07:41PM by Speedy.

Good thing, too. Once most citizens in TX start getting their energy bills for Feb, they won't have anything left to purchase luxuries like masks.

A few restaurant owners I know are keeping the 25% limit and requiring masks. Retail Hero HEB is requiring masks for employees, requesting them for customers.

My take....

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San Antonio, TX (in the old city)


"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke
“Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Eli Weisel

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt (1918)

"I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it." - Billy Graham 1981

"Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise" - Barry Goldwater

.....red mask.....of death......???

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_____________________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2021 10:13PM by NewtonMP2100.

Let's see how many more follow tomorrow. Bet Florida will be one of them.

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Grateful11

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In tha 360. MRF User Map

As in Mass, customers can choose not to go to these places. Employees, however, pretty much don't have that option and will likely pay the price.

Guess we'll see.

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Grateful11
Let's see how many more follow tomorrow. Bet Florida will be one of them.

Hasn't Florida been pretending there's no pandemic for months now?

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Right wing cancel culture:

Pandemic? What pandemic?

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Grateful11
Let's see how many more follow tomorrow. Bet Florida will be one of them.

Florida never enforced any restrictions or mask requirements from day 1. the closest DeathSantis came was closing schools for a few weeks last Spring.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

Quote
Ombligo

Quote
Grateful11
Let's see how many more follow tomorrow. Bet Florida will be one of them.

Florida never enforced any restrictions or mask requirements from day 1. the closest DeathSantis came was closing schools for a few weeks last Spring.

Literally everyone I know who lives in Florida has been negatively affected by the lack of will from political leaders. And the numbers are in the dozens.

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rj
AKA
Vreemac, Moth of the Future

It's not a lack of will, but a blatant disregard for the well-being of the citizens in favor of corporate profit. While these governors may or may not be Trumpistas, they all definitely bow to the gods of business.

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The arts are not luxuries but assets that give way more than they cost.
--Ronald Tucker on YouTube

A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.
--Frank Zappa

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