Our Pro-Choice Governor
Our Governor has made it clear. He believes that we all have a choice. Over the past months he has become more and more outspoken on this issue of choice, repeatedly speaking in favor of “personal responsibility.”
The Governor recently tweeted “The path forward relies on personal responsibility... .” He followed up with “The State of Texas will continue to vigorously fight... to protect the rights and freedoms of all Texans.” Through his spokesman, the Governor is said to believe that “Every Texan has a right to choose for themselves... .” Wow, those are strong words. Sounds like he really means it.
These declarations from the Governor about our collective freedom of choice and his stance to protect those freedoms are refreshing. Imagine, the idea that Americans have the ability to choose for themselves. Sounds cray-cray, right?
Even our Lieutenant Governor has spoken in favor of choice, quoted in January 2017 as saying “...every family should be able to make that decision of the choice... .” Families choosing what is best for themselves - that is what he said. That is his stance.
Then throw into the mix the Attorney General speaking in favor of “liberty and individual choice,” and speaking out against “government overreach.” He will “continue to oppose” any sacrifice of freedom “for government control.” This quote is from just a few weeks ago.
The Governor is also quoted earlier this month saying “Texans, not government, should decide their best health practices” and that the Lone Star State continues to defend “Texans’ liberty to choose... .”
So, there you have it. Elected officials at the highest levels of our state government have made it clear. They all have a pro-choice stance and will defend Texans’ right to choose. They want to keep the government out of a family making a personal decision, particularly one with regards to health issues.
Just to clarify, and as you may have already guessed, all of these expressions of freedoms of liberty are used in very limited circumstances. Most of these are quotes related to wearing masks during the COVID-19 situation. Insofar as wearing our masks in public, or in school, or just about anywhere else, our Governor is pro-choice. At least one of these quotes is attributed to whether or not parents should be able to send their child to the school of their choice, public or private. And there are other hot button topics where our freedom to choose reigns in state government (e.g., guns).
Our state’s leadership has also made it abundantly clear that if your situation does not fall within these very limited circumstances, let the restrictions and legislation fly. All of these quotes about liberty, freedom to choose, government overreach and on and on basically go out the window. Don’t you worry one iota about it. The state will tell you what to choose. Or better yet from their perspective, they will make the choice for you. What a relief. We can’t have too much freedom, right? That could lead to anarchy and who knows what.
On a related issue, I recently bought my pet duck a mask, to protect it from corona virus. It’s nothing flashy, but it fits the bill.
Johnny McNally is Grimes County’s Best Dressed Businessman advocating for Grimes County and writes a bi-weekly column for the Navasota Examiner.