This morning I heard that Tennessee is 4th from the bottom in the drive to vaccinate TN residents against Covid19. Surely you are aware that only three states are doing a worse job of getting their residents vaccinated. I’m beginning to think you simply don’t care, or you are too incompetent to lead the Legislature and other civic leaders in TN to protect TN residents against Covid. Take a look at the news postings on the WPLN news site this morning: 1. Nashville health officials are seeing the first signs that COVID-19 cases may start marching back up. Davidson County’s transmission rate is back above 1.0, meaning each case is resulting in at least one additional case. 2. New NPR polling finds that rural residents are less likely to get the vaccine than Black or immigrant communities. The same survey found Republican men are among the most hesitant. While recent efforts appear to have picked up the pace to get shots in arms, it appears that you and our Republican controlled Legislature seems much more intent on increasing the number of handguns being carried around by untrained, unlicensed, individuals. And passing legislation aimed at infringing on the civil rights of LGBTQ individuals who call TN home. You and your fellow GOP colleagues know that these laws will cost the state tens of millions of dollars to defend against the inevitable lawsuits. The transgender ban against trans girls participating in highshool sports will likely impact TN businesses and TN’s ability to host economically attractive sporting events. Please get off your evangelical high horse and think about what you and your TN congressional colleagues are doing to our state. Recognize the ever changing demographic and try to find ways to use our state’s diversity to everyone’s advantage. You’re supposed to be our leader. Try thinking about things from a higher perspective, Governor. We’re not all evangelical, radical Republicans.
