When Karma And Schadenfreude Become One

Or, I'm going to try VERY hard not to find joy in Greg Abbott's COVID-19 diagnosis

Gov. Greg Abbott tested positive Tuesday for COVID-19, according to his office.

Abbott, who is fully vaccinated, is not experiencing any symptoms and isolating at the Governor's Mansion, spokesperson Mark Miner said in a statement. He is getting the Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment.

"The Governor has been testing daily, and today was the first positive test result," Miner said. "Governor Abbott is in constant communication with his staff, agency heads, and government officials to ensure that state government continues to operate smoothly and efficiently."

Miner added that "everyone that the Governor has been in close contact with today" has been informed of his positive test. The first lady, Cecilia Abbott, tested negative.

After thoroughly politicizing the pandemic currently laying waste to his state, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is now experiencing what happens when you disrespect COVID-19. He’s discovering that denying COVID-19 makes it no less real. But, of course, being a wealthy, well-connected Republican, Abbott has access to the very best treatments, which are not always available to his constituents.

I’m not going to gloat over Abbott’s positive COVID-19 test. That would be too easy and too lacking in compassion, something there’s already far too little of in this public debate. However, I will say that I don’t see anything wrong with hoping that this will provide Abbott with a slightly different, perhaps more humane and sympathetic, perspective.

Being a prominent member of the Party of Personal Responsibility, it might just be time for Abbott to exercise some of that responsibility. With most Americans now supporting mask mandates, Abbott (and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis) can no longer claim the moral high ground. The truth is that the anti-mask, anti-science lunacy being pushed by Republicans like Abbott and DeSantis are killing Americans. This has created a backlash as Americans realize that their lives are valued as little more than political footballs.

Karma has come to Texas, and while it would be far too easy to engage in a heaping helping of schadenfreude, I don’t wish COVID-19 on anyone.

Would that Gov. Abbott felt the same way.

How does Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis) treat children and the most vulnerable in his state? Unfortunately, it seems as if he’s far more concerned with “personal rights” and “civil liberties” than he is about the health and safety of his constituents.

No, not every Republican Governor is an anti-mask covidiot willing and eager to play politics with the health and lives of their constituents. A few understand that COVID-19 is serious and that the Delta variant is every bit as highly communicable and deadly as advertised.

It remains to be seen whether Abbott’s dance with COVID-19 will temper his compassion-deprived approach to mask mandates. Will he finally consider doing what’s best for children? Or will he continue making decisions based on what he believes is best for his political future?

After 18 months, one thing should be crystal clear to any rational person. We have little hope of ending this pandemic unless we take action together. That means stop declaring that COVID-19 is a hoax. Stop getting information about the virus and vaccines from Facebook. Instead, accept your responsibility to get vaccinated, wear a mask, practice social distancing, and follow CDC guidelines.

Trust. The. Science.

More than anything, it means that we need to stop acting as if science is just another theory. Likewise, we need to stop treating religious faith and personal beliefs as equivalent to empirical scientific evidence. If you believe in God, recognize that your God gave you a brain for a reason. It would be best to use it to full effect to do the things that will protect you and those around you.

Simple, garden variety common sense dictates that since children can’t yet be vaccinated but CAN get COVID-19, they should be masked- particularly if they’re in school. That’s not a “parental rights” issue; that’s a “child survival” concern.

Parents also must understand that the best way to protect children not yet eligible to be vaccinated is to ensure that the people around them ARE vaccinated. If you love your child, then getting vaccinated should be a no-brainer. No parent who loves their children would want to see them placed at unnecessary risk. So why do so many parents refuse to get vaccinated?

Gov. Greg Abbott has a wonderful opportunity to use his own experience with COVID-19 to urge others to do the right thing and get vaccinated. It’s also a moment for him to use his position to advocate for using science to protect children. Finally, it’s an occasion for him to put protecting his constituents over securing his political future.

Will he use this moment to do the right things for the right reasons? I’m going to err on the side of optimism, if only because I’ve already felt far too much pessimism and anger during the pandemic.

I hope that Gov. Abbott will do right by Texas’ children and most vulnerable citizens. Because right now, hope is about all we have.