It’s funny how Abbott doesn’t seem to mind mandating things like taxes, getting a state driver’s license before being allowed on the roads, and carrying vehicle insurance.

But when it comes to putting a simple piece of cloth over one’s face, in what is ultimately an act of loving one’s neighbors, he puts his foot down and says the state has gone too far.

He won’t even allow school districts being hit hard by the crisis to mandate masks to keep children safe and keep the communities they live in safe.

I guess what he thinks about Texans is that they are mean spirited toward their neighbors and want to be mean spirited toward their neighbors.

I don’t think that’s true at all. I think a vocal minority of Texans are reacting to political leadership coming from, among others, Abbott himself.

Can you imagine how things might have gone if all our leaders had sincerely and positively urged people to take effective, loving precautions?

Sadly, I very much doubt that Abbott’s own diagnosis is going to lead to more positive leadership.

Since he is vaccinated, he is highly unlikely to develop serious illness.

I doubt any kind of deep personal introspection is in the offing. I suppose strong ironies are going to keep building.