Monday morning, American democracy became more brittle, at least in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that prohibits the state’s public colleges and universities from continuing their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
I won’t be setting foot in Florida until their governor is replaced. Authoritarianism must be stopped. It is antithetical to personal freedom. What Republicans mean by freedom is absolute freedom for *white men*. Full stop.
Great move. The summer is coming and Florida needs that tourist money. I have learned the way to get rich peoples attention is not give them your money.
I have also made that vow. Please write to the tourism boards and chamber of commerce to let them know why you refuse to set foot on their soil. It will be effective if they hear from all of us.
True, but I don't think DeSantis and his buddies will care that another "woke" person won't come since he has declared that "Florida is where woke comes to die."
Be sure to add "Disney was right, and CA looks forward to 70,000 wage jobs returning In addition to providing personal income, employment addresses broader societal needs these jobs help accrue resources for various community programs. Too bad your personal and business taxes are going to have to take up the slack."
My husband and I are a few years from retirement and were seriously considering spending our winters in Florida. That has changed. Florida is off the table due to the horrible politics of DeSantis and the Republican party in Florida.
Many of the warmer states have this issue (Hawaii somewhat but not completely excepted.) Still, there are many wonderful ways to adapt, going from place to place.
I'd specify "evangelical cults". Have a friend who escaped one (long story!) that had tendrils to David Koresh and Timothy McVeigh, as well as to the Chicago mob. The "laying on of hands" photos of Trump revolt her.
I sympathize too, but DeSantis and the legislature supporting him are representative supposedly. Where are the dissenters, the opposition, the demonstrations? Are the people unaware or is this what they want?
You bet. I've helped with postcarding to get out the vote in FL and donate my coffee money here and there. I've got friends in FL tied to disabled family in FL. I truly wish they'd come back, but it's hard to leave.
This would seem appropriate, however they’re one of the states gaining the most in pop growth.Texas another. 🤷♀️
The midterms said a healthy objection to Republican takeovers but it was several(?) years ago the R. plan. And I assume that plan continues.
What more can we do but encourage Democratic vote surge? At this point I’m barraged by requests to donate 20-30 a day. There ARE some critical elections going on but most primaries, correct?The focus is getting out the ‘24 vote and youth registration, IMO. I have a long time chosen lifestyle level ( back-to-the-land) which allows only a few 5$ commitments at critical points ,not really sure when that is but 6months previous to Nov 24 I assume.
If you have bandwidth - reach out to your independent and non affiliateds.
Locally the GOP (thanks to John Eastman's Claremont institute lobbying from out of state) insist we are "all red here", but we are not... GOP is only 41% of our population, and only about 1/2 of the voters. They were enraged to encounter any pushback on the idea to annex 2/3 of Oregon as "all red" to Idaho in a gigantic rights grab.
After a local election, I've learned there's an election intimidation complaint going to Oregon Sec State. Can confirm there was intimidation.
So...find out who the independents are, registered independents and approach them? What are non-affiliates? It’s either Dem/Repub/independent...right?
This here is WV. I know what the stats say , Dems are outnumbered by 50K ( I’d have to check again, and will. Never thought to see about Independents. I don’t have FB/Twitter/Insta./TikTok . I have PBS , MSNBC compliments of ...( no names) . Antennae TV . No more protesting for this octo, and little running about . I talk to the large community choir mostly but ever-so-once-in-a-while I strike fresh ground and make sense . Many previous believers of TFG admit and ‘you were right,Patti’ but many still voting Repub. I’ve heard ‘there’s no fresh faces , no up and comers’. I think there are plenty in the Dem juniors very promising. Got to be some in the Junior Repubs, they can’t all have bought into the Catagion ....
As I see it ‘ For the People’ means coming to compromise , working for cost cutting , stopping waste, redlining, discriminatory practice, we don’t need the tax reduction for the rich they’ve got enough.
It’s something else for them. Complete control is all I can pin point!
Held hostage and falling right with them ...off the cliff.
And then...it will be too late as they scream ‘ oh, sh*t Patti, you were right again’!
The problem with that is that people of privilege can afford to do that; the population that is struggling to get an education without too much debt doesn't have that option. Does anyone know a wealthy benefactor or have influence in schools around the country that would welcome (and pay expenses for) students from less well off groups to go to their schools?
Joyce, Republicans have been on the war path against open minded education since Ronald McDonald Reagan was elected. It's taken them 43 years of "Deep Private" funding, 'Black hole' foundations, and secret society handshakes, but they appear to be on the brink of succeeding, having created an under educated populace that may know a door knob from a hinge, but can't tell fact from fiction.
Dave: If I may suggest, “they” have not yet achieved success in destroying higher education in Florida or anywhere else if “we” all participate in support for nonpartisan voter registration of 18 to 25 yr olds who value broad based, inclusive education, gun safety legislation on a federal and state basis, legislation protecting a women’s reproductive rights, and effective legislation enacted in 2022 by Congress to fight climate change!
This younger generation will be repelled by the legislation signed today by DeSantis. Solid polling discloses that 75% of them favor these measures but it is our job to provide them with the means to register in most competitive states online if you and I and all of Joyce’s fans will go tonight and tomorrow to www.turnup.us/ which is a tax deductible org run by amazingly effective Harvard students.
They are trying hard to engage with high school seniors in selective 2,700 high schools which are only in competitive CDs, and as well in colleges in eight competitive states where a U.S. Senator will be elected in 24. Our Democracy with a big D depends on their turnout so please go to www.turnup.us/ and be a true patriot to save education, to accelerate gun safety, to protect reproductive rights and to truly fight climate change! We can do it we all try! Thank you.
None of this activism matters if the students are not actually showing up to vote. And they are the worst that way. School IS about learning and I wonder why so few of them understand that self-government means showing up. I’m very socially progressive yet can’t even listen to the students anymore. Their turned-backs and all that. They can sure show up for that! But if they don’t vote, I’m not interested.
I live in North Carolina and the students do try to vote. During the 2016 Presidential election in Durham. The student were in line. The electricity went off. Once it was back on not all the students were allowed to vote. They shut the polling places down. Horrible. Where else did this happen?
Another incident, the map makers cut the campus in half by gerrymandering here at A&T State University, yes going to court helps. Horrible actions by evil men. We must stop self-interest politicians in the map making process. We must encourage all ages to vote locally as well as the Federal elections.
Gunny: As you know, one has to be registered to vote first! That is a process which is difficult to accomplish if it is left to the individual alone to get registered in the second semester of her/his senior year in high school. Moreover, going to an out-of-state college doesn't help and many in-state college students do not have firm plans as to where they will be living once they graduate. I'm not making any excuses for them because my foundation, Inspire2Vote, has registered 105,000 high school seniors in many states over a period of years. But all of these parameters are changing right now, and changing very fast! 1) Abortion is obviously a very, very personal issue! What is happening since the SupCt overthrow of Dobbs is getting worse and worse every day. Young women, young men, and their mothers/fathers are about to vote next year on Members of Congress and President based on their fears and apprehensions with respect to the laws governing abortion access--a very different dynamic than previously which was speculative and remote! 2) Gun safety--again gettting worse and which group of potential voters has been locked down over the years while they think of the potential shooter taking their lives? Another key issue which is now based on personal experience, not theory! So, the motivations have changed; now it is personal, not theoretical; they will vote in very big numbers in 24 as they did recently in Wisconsin where youth voting increased 234% and they elected a Supreme Ct Judge by 11% in a state where almost every election has been decided by less than 1%. So please go to www.turnup.us/ and help them with a contribution to an outstanding group of young Harvard students who know how to get it done!! Many thanks.
Check out Democracy Docket's discussion of states targeting college age voters with voter id suppression. There's an active campaign nationwide to make voting activities of all kinds much much harder.
Where is this polling info coming from! 75% favor these measures referring to DeSantis’ legislation as I read it? Be prepared for tons of polls coming from main stream publications that will be given with little if any background sources. As I approach my 76th year I have never been ‘polled’. Have you? This will very much influence our election. We’ll be fighting against a tsunami of corporate vague, sensationalized, profit motivated ‘news’.
That is a very negative view. Remember that Jie won by 7 Million votes and there is no doubt that Trump is weaker as he is crazier. When he is criminally indicted in three more cases he will be weakened further among more moderate business Rs.
Many thanks; please pass it on to your friends and family… we need everyone to participate at this very effective voter reg site run by an outstanding group of harvard students at www.turnup.us/
I need to check with my grandnephews mother before I send it to him. He just graduated from high school and is headed to college in the fall. He lives in Michigan and not in Florida. I have already shared it on Facebook too. Thank you for all you do! We indeed are all in this together☮️
Dave, my thoughts are similar. The "Ivies," Harvard and Yale among them, have been salted with similar funding. Often I see those schools being "name dropped" among Pubbie pols and right wingers as "virtue signaling," i.e. that they are intellectually accomplished. Clearly they are not. Almost as clearly those esteemed schools of law and politics have become, er, "right washed."
I am a proud second generation Floridian who is steadfastly against everything
DeSantis is signing into legislation! To read that people on this blog are shocked and dismayed at what he is doing and ‘how could anyone live in such a fascist state’ is repulsive to me. Be careful of those who throw the first stone. After all your state could and probably is next. What can I do to stop this madness? Vote every local and state official out of office and find like minded people to join me! We are all in this together indeed! Peace☮️✌️☮️
My state (Idaho) IS there, ZsuzEB. It’s just that no one gives a you-know-what about us because the electoral college makes it all about Florida, Ohio, Iowa, and Texas
Idaho is forcing ED and OB-GYN docs to make tough choices and many are leaving your state...leaving your state with sub par healthcare for women, families and actually anyone in need of emergency medicine. Y’all need to vote to save your state. I’m hanging in California where sanity mostly prevails and I’m happy to pay the price of living here.
I am a retired Neonatal Intensive Care RN. I am well aware of the MDs that you spoke of plus the Neonatologist friends that are appalled and wanting to leave too. The cost of malpractice insurance will drive many from our state alone. I am concerned for the young women who want kids but are stuck if something goes wrong in their pregnancy... the list goes on.....
Republicans in California complain about the taxes, the price of homes ( until they put theirs on the market and move to Idaho or Florida) gas, food, travel, woke-ness, Nancy Pelosi, abortion, vaccines, homeless…you get the picture. This is a great state, I was born here and will probably die here. The MAGA GOP are even worst and the evangelical Christian MAGA even worse. I know it’s bad is other states. We have to keep talking to people, especially young adults as they seem to be the most apathetic about the state of our union. They have had it too easy, didn’t live through school segregation, civil rights, Vietnam draft, women’s rights to bodily autonomy so giving it up doesn’t feel as personal as it does to those of us who knocked on doors, and campaigned for these freedoms that so many took for granted. As long as I can take a breath I will fight for our freedoms and democracy.
ZsuzEB I can’t thank you enough for this comment! I’ve often felt deflated by reader’s comments denigrating “all Floridians” because of DeSantis’s actions. Those types of broad-brush, holier than thou, finger-pointing insinuations are the reason I quit Facebook. I agree, finding those same types of comments in this forum are repulsive. While the home I love is currently under the dark cloud of DeSantis evil politics, that does not mean I support him or what he is doing. I read this newsletter and others to learn how to fight his actions and to learn how to improve and strengthen democracy and promote voter education in EVERY corner of our country.
I think there is concern for the people of Florida because this is, after all, happening to them. I want them to win this fight and any forums that can help them be heard are so important.
My state took its case against women and their right of choice - and........ ASS ABBOTT is gonna hold special sessions with his state legislators until he gets his private school voucher enacted....... Can't get any gun safety laws enacted though
I have lived in FL since 1970. I graduated from high school & college at UCF. My first job as a kid was at Walt Disney World. My first career that lasted nearly 20 years was that of a high school American History, Government & Economics teacher. What DeSantis did today is alarming. I’m saddened, horrified & pissed. We must elect Dems into all state offices to check DeSantis. This is so overwhelming but we have to rally. Oh, dear Lord, give me the strength to encourage other Floridians to vote blue. Tomorrow will be a new day. I need to research any Dem candidates running at the state level. I didn’t expect to start working this early, but I will if I need too. We are under attack from every angle. Thank you for letting me rant. It has kept me from crying. And it’s helping me to get a plan together to fight this in my own backyard. Thanks ya’ll.
Cindy, good luck to you. There are other likeminded people out there. Check with your local Democratic Party headquarters. Volunteer to help people register to vote. I will be thinking about you and cheering you on. Look up Ira Lesher and his plan to help college students register to vote. Ira Lechner is a Substack member, too. See his comments above. And I know what the Tea Party people did to North Carolina, but businesses, the entertainment world refused to hold concerts, etc. ,began to boycott NC because of their treatment of LGBTQ groups.
If you need a a chuckle, check out an artist friend of mine, Anne Belov, who writes political satire featuring pandas! Her Substack page is Finding my Inner Panda. She is funny. Thinking about you. And again, good luck to you. ❤️🐼
Higher education was originally designed as a trade school to prepare semi-educated willing workers who weren’t so smart as to know they were getting screwed…and it was ever thus.
I am in Colorado but can support pro-democracy work in Florida by supporting youth voter registration drives and Indivisible.org.
We can also keep reminding ourselves and friends and family and coworkers -- anyone who is in or could join the "reality-based community" -- that it is absolutely "political or social activism" -- FOR white male supremacy -- to deny the past and present facts of systemic racism, sexism and classism.
Advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion qualifies a person to say the Pledge of Allegiance's "liberty and justice for all." Anyone against DEI should not say the Pledge. Right, DeSantis?
I am actively engaged in Democratic voter registration and get out the vote activities in Florida and have been for the past 8 years.
Recently, Florida Republicans have built up a small lead in registered voters. However, Independents make up a significant portion of voters.
Heading into 2024, with all of DeSantis' horrible policies, the momentum will swing back to Democrats. We have the real opportunity to pickup a number of federal and state congressional seats.
I can't encourage everyone enough to get involved in helping Florida turn Blue again!
Many initiatives are in the planning at the statewide and local county levels. We'll need all the help we can get
I have a question. Did Fl. legislature pass a bill that would allow DeSantis to run for president while still in office? It is my understanding that he has to resign the governor job to run for presidency?
Yes, the legislature passed such a bill. Additionally, another piece of legislation allows him to NOT report any travel info - so we’ll never know about private donor meetings, etc. It is mind boggling that these types of legislation are even legal.
Hooray for your work, Merrill! From Simon Rosenberg I have learned about https://www.thecivicscenter.org/, the inspiring coalition doing great work registering young voters. We CAN "Get to 55" and crush MAGA.
We have a grandson at U of F, just finishing his first year. His tuition is free as he qualified given his excellent high school record. He “came out” last year - I have been worried sick ever since. I’m really wishing he would opt to leave Florida, although paying for his college education would be onerous.
DeSantis has to be one of the very worst people to breathe air. I hope to God he will never be president.
Scary fascistic times in FL. I would love it if all federal monies could be pulled from FL! My taxes should not support any of FL while DeSantis and his GOP are in control.
Both DeSantis and Durham were educated in college and law school curricula that apparently failed to teach them sufficiently about the rule of law, American civics, and constitutional law. Or, they were immune to learning so their pivot to lies and autocracy was always going to happen. In any case, Floridians must ask themselves if they want to be ruled by their very own Castro-wannabe and the rest of the country needs to recognize what Florida is doing is actually unAmerican. As for Durham, I am confident he knew he prepared a dishonest report and magaGOP will eat it up, but perhaps Karma has a way of showing up in such a way that he will regret his part in the Trump/Barr obfuscation and lies. Something to look forward to...
Unfortunately many people/voters in FL like what *Santis is doing. See tfg's New Hampshire show on CNN. No state income tax is big for rich retirees. Those of us who live in small, blue enclosures, while swamped by gerrymandering -- see Dunn, US Rep -- are working to stop this madness. It's not going to be easy for us. He must not be elected president.
Thank you so much for sharing this. The march of Fascism is laying waste to liberty in Florida and sadly will spread. As you so succinctly noted, “Trumpism will survive Trump”. Sadly, it will probably thrive.
It appears that a sizeable chunk of Floridians and other Americans actually prefer an authoritarian government. They want someone to tell them what to think - and when, how, and where to do it. Making choices is hard, weighing differing opinions is hard, and using independent judgement is hard. It's way easier to not think, choose, or judge. Just obey.
Unfortunately for them, democracy requires thinking, choosing, judging.
I disagree that a sizable chunk of us prefer what is happening in our state! It is the gerrymandering districts that have made representation more Republican than Democrat!
Yes well Democrats have never been even remotely interested in State Govts until recently and that’s what you get if you don’t participate I’ve been screaming about this for years.
I don’t know how anyone enjoys living in Florida. Man, it’s so hot in August you need to bring winter clothing just to keep from freezing inside since everyone has the air conditioners turned way up. Then if you go to the ocean to cool off after being outside, water is too warm. Now on top of that, the government is sicko. Nah, give me my New England. I prefer to be a nutmegger. Of course some just call me a nut plain and simple. Ahya…
Yes, 'tis a sad situation in FLA... apparently, a very skewed partisan and lower EQ and IQ demographic. It may take a combined effort of some major corporations and professional/college sports teams threatening to move out or cancel games. Money talks... major losses to state revenue (maybe even federal money?) might be the tipping point to get him out of office.
I won’t be setting foot in Florida until their governor is replaced. Authoritarianism must be stopped. It is antithetical to personal freedom. What Republicans mean by freedom is absolute freedom for *white men*. Full stop.
Great move. The summer is coming and Florida needs that tourist money. I have learned the way to get rich peoples attention is not give them your money.
I also refuse to set foot in FL. I lived there two years when Charlie Crist was governor. Never again
I have also made that vow. Please write to the tourism boards and chamber of commerce to let them know why you refuse to set foot on their soil. It will be effective if they hear from all of us.
You're entirely correct. A protest means nothing if the people the action is aimed at don't know about it. Write to the tourism board AND DeSantis.
True, but I don't think DeSantis and his buddies will care that another "woke" person won't come since he has declared that "Florida is where woke comes to die."
Perhaps not. But when the number of letters increases to an amount that can't be ignored it may make an impression.
Be sure to add "Disney was right, and CA looks forward to 70,000 wage jobs returning In addition to providing personal income, employment addresses broader societal needs these jobs help accrue resources for various community programs. Too bad your personal and business taxes are going to have to take up the slack."
My husband and I are a few years from retirement and were seriously considering spending our winters in Florida. That has changed. Florida is off the table due to the horrible politics of DeSantis and the Republican party in Florida.
Many of the warmer states have this issue (Hawaii somewhat but not completely excepted.) Still, there are many wonderful ways to adapt, going from place to place.
“What Republicans mean by freedom is absolute freedom for *white men*. Full stop.”
I’d add christian to that: “white christian men”
Even “christian” is subject to censorship by DeSantis Republicans.
I'd specify "evangelical cults". Have a friend who escaped one (long story!) that had tendrils to David Koresh and Timothy McVeigh, as well as to the Chicago mob. The "laying on of hands" photos of Trump revolt her.
I sympathize completely. But what about those of us who for a variety of reasons, cannot cease living here? Support us in some way please!
I sympathize too, but DeSantis and the legislature supporting him are representative supposedly. Where are the dissenters, the opposition, the demonstrations? Are the people unaware or is this what they want?
Gerrymandering.
Still, where are the people? Do they want this?
You bet. I've helped with postcarding to get out the vote in FL and donate my coffee money here and there. I've got friends in FL tied to disabled family in FL. I truly wish they'd come back, but it's hard to leave.
Exactly. No more Florida snowbirds here!
My hope is that a large number of athletes decomit or transfer from Florida universities.
And, the teams refuse to play games in Florida! Pros and amateurs!
Mass exodus would do the job.
This would seem appropriate, however they’re one of the states gaining the most in pop growth.Texas another. 🤷♀️
The midterms said a healthy objection to Republican takeovers but it was several(?) years ago the R. plan. And I assume that plan continues.
What more can we do but encourage Democratic vote surge? At this point I’m barraged by requests to donate 20-30 a day. There ARE some critical elections going on but most primaries, correct?The focus is getting out the ‘24 vote and youth registration, IMO. I have a long time chosen lifestyle level ( back-to-the-land) which allows only a few 5$ commitments at critical points ,not really sure when that is but 6months previous to Nov 24 I assume.
If you have bandwidth - reach out to your independent and non affiliateds.
Locally the GOP (thanks to John Eastman's Claremont institute lobbying from out of state) insist we are "all red here", but we are not... GOP is only 41% of our population, and only about 1/2 of the voters. They were enraged to encounter any pushback on the idea to annex 2/3 of Oregon as "all red" to Idaho in a gigantic rights grab.
After a local election, I've learned there's an election intimidation complaint going to Oregon Sec State. Can confirm there was intimidation.
So...find out who the independents are, registered independents and approach them? What are non-affiliates? It’s either Dem/Repub/independent...right?
This here is WV. I know what the stats say , Dems are outnumbered by 50K ( I’d have to check again, and will. Never thought to see about Independents. I don’t have FB/Twitter/Insta./TikTok . I have PBS , MSNBC compliments of ...( no names) . Antennae TV . No more protesting for this octo, and little running about . I talk to the large community choir mostly but ever-so-once-in-a-while I strike fresh ground and make sense . Many previous believers of TFG admit and ‘you were right,Patti’ but many still voting Repub. I’ve heard ‘there’s no fresh faces , no up and comers’. I think there are plenty in the Dem juniors very promising. Got to be some in the Junior Repubs, they can’t all have bought into the Catagion ....
As I see it ‘ For the People’ means coming to compromise , working for cost cutting , stopping waste, redlining, discriminatory practice, we don’t need the tax reduction for the rich they’ve got enough.
It’s something else for them. Complete control is all I can pin point!
Held hostage and falling right with them ...off the cliff.
And then...it will be too late as they scream ‘ oh, sh*t Patti, you were right again’!
🥺🤷♀️😬
Yeah, man, it’s all about sports! Why not go after golfers? Oops….
🤣🤣🤣
Pipe dream of mine. Every student and faculty at the college and university level walk out of Florida schools.
The problem with that is that people of privilege can afford to do that; the population that is struggling to get an education without too much debt doesn't have that option. Does anyone know a wealthy benefactor or have influence in schools around the country that would welcome (and pay expenses for) students from less well off groups to go to their schools?
That's the whole diversity and inclusion effort around the country that DeSantis just cut off this week.
Yes!!
Joyce, Republicans have been on the war path against open minded education since Ronald McDonald Reagan was elected. It's taken them 43 years of "Deep Private" funding, 'Black hole' foundations, and secret society handshakes, but they appear to be on the brink of succeeding, having created an under educated populace that may know a door knob from a hinge, but can't tell fact from fiction.
Dave: If I may suggest, “they” have not yet achieved success in destroying higher education in Florida or anywhere else if “we” all participate in support for nonpartisan voter registration of 18 to 25 yr olds who value broad based, inclusive education, gun safety legislation on a federal and state basis, legislation protecting a women’s reproductive rights, and effective legislation enacted in 2022 by Congress to fight climate change!
This younger generation will be repelled by the legislation signed today by DeSantis. Solid polling discloses that 75% of them favor these measures but it is our job to provide them with the means to register in most competitive states online if you and I and all of Joyce’s fans will go tonight and tomorrow to www.turnup.us/ which is a tax deductible org run by amazingly effective Harvard students.
They are trying hard to engage with high school seniors in selective 2,700 high schools which are only in competitive CDs, and as well in colleges in eight competitive states where a U.S. Senator will be elected in 24. Our Democracy with a big D depends on their turnout so please go to www.turnup.us/ and be a true patriot to save education, to accelerate gun safety, to protect reproductive rights and to truly fight climate change! We can do it we all try! Thank you.
None of this activism matters if the students are not actually showing up to vote. And they are the worst that way. School IS about learning and I wonder why so few of them understand that self-government means showing up. I’m very socially progressive yet can’t even listen to the students anymore. Their turned-backs and all that. They can sure show up for that! But if they don’t vote, I’m not interested.
I live in North Carolina and the students do try to vote. During the 2016 Presidential election in Durham. The student were in line. The electricity went off. Once it was back on not all the students were allowed to vote. They shut the polling places down. Horrible. Where else did this happen?
Another incident, the map makers cut the campus in half by gerrymandering here at A&T State University, yes going to court helps. Horrible actions by evil men. We must stop self-interest politicians in the map making process. We must encourage all ages to vote locally as well as the Federal elections.
I agree with you.
I had no idea that we purchased Alaska from Russia.
How can a country own another country? Everyone needs to wake up for sure.
We own nothing in this Earth. Everything is on loan. We come here with nothing and we leave here with nothing but Love.
We truly have so much work to do.
Thank you for your wonderful message.
Uh... Manhattan Island. Kingdom of Hawaii.
Big chunk of the NW from Canada (England)
Louisiana Purchase from France. Texas from Mexico
Much of the west from Spain. (Fun fact, after shooting Hamilton, Burr tried twice to be a king or emperor in both Texas and the SW).
Gunny: As you know, one has to be registered to vote first! That is a process which is difficult to accomplish if it is left to the individual alone to get registered in the second semester of her/his senior year in high school. Moreover, going to an out-of-state college doesn't help and many in-state college students do not have firm plans as to where they will be living once they graduate. I'm not making any excuses for them because my foundation, Inspire2Vote, has registered 105,000 high school seniors in many states over a period of years. But all of these parameters are changing right now, and changing very fast! 1) Abortion is obviously a very, very personal issue! What is happening since the SupCt overthrow of Dobbs is getting worse and worse every day. Young women, young men, and their mothers/fathers are about to vote next year on Members of Congress and President based on their fears and apprehensions with respect to the laws governing abortion access--a very different dynamic than previously which was speculative and remote! 2) Gun safety--again gettting worse and which group of potential voters has been locked down over the years while they think of the potential shooter taking their lives? Another key issue which is now based on personal experience, not theory! So, the motivations have changed; now it is personal, not theoretical; they will vote in very big numbers in 24 as they did recently in Wisconsin where youth voting increased 234% and they elected a Supreme Ct Judge by 11% in a state where almost every election has been decided by less than 1%. So please go to www.turnup.us/ and help them with a contribution to an outstanding group of young Harvard students who know how to get it done!! Many thanks.
Thank you for getting the word out, Ira. I joined your excellent site and will try to spread the word for sure. Great idea!
Thank you very much; really important!
Check out Democracy Docket's discussion of states targeting college age voters with voter id suppression. There's an active campaign nationwide to make voting activities of all kinds much much harder.
Where is this polling info coming from! 75% favor these measures referring to DeSantis’ legislation as I read it? Be prepared for tons of polls coming from main stream publications that will be given with little if any background sources. As I approach my 76th year I have never been ‘polled’. Have you? This will very much influence our election. We’ll be fighting against a tsunami of corporate vague, sensationalized, profit motivated ‘news’.
That is a very negative view. Remember that Jie won by 7 Million votes and there is no doubt that Trump is weaker as he is crazier. When he is criminally indicted in three more cases he will be weakened further among more moderate business Rs.
I just joined Turn Up. I never heard of it until now, I don't believe. Thank you!
Thanks; please pass it on to your friends!
I already started.
Many thanks! We all have a role in saving our democracy.
Yes, indeed.
Thank you and done!☮️
Thanks; please pass it on to your family and friends!
I have already☮️
Many thanks; please pass it on to your friends and family… we need everyone to participate at this very effective voter reg site run by an outstanding group of harvard students at www.turnup.us/
I need to check with my grandnephews mother before I send it to him. He just graduated from high school and is headed to college in the fall. He lives in Michigan and not in Florida. I have already shared it on Facebook too. Thank you for all you do! We indeed are all in this together☮️
I discovered turnup and have begun donating to their cause. The young voters are our future as well as theirs.
Marcia: thank you! I agree wholeheartedly; please pass it on to your family and friends.
Many thanks! Please pass it on to your family and friends!
Dave, my thoughts are similar. The "Ivies," Harvard and Yale among them, have been salted with similar funding. Often I see those schools being "name dropped" among Pubbie pols and right wingers as "virtue signaling," i.e. that they are intellectually accomplished. Clearly they are not. Almost as clearly those esteemed schools of law and politics have become, er, "right washed."
They will not succeed. Do we all agree?
That is quite my under standing too. ‘I’m sorry Dave I can’t help you with that..’😉
I am a proud second generation Floridian who is steadfastly against everything
DeSantis is signing into legislation! To read that people on this blog are shocked and dismayed at what he is doing and ‘how could anyone live in such a fascist state’ is repulsive to me. Be careful of those who throw the first stone. After all your state could and probably is next. What can I do to stop this madness? Vote every local and state official out of office and find like minded people to join me! We are all in this together indeed! Peace☮️✌️☮️
My state (Idaho) IS there, ZsuzEB. It’s just that no one gives a you-know-what about us because the electoral college makes it all about Florida, Ohio, Iowa, and Texas
Idaho is forcing ED and OB-GYN docs to make tough choices and many are leaving your state...leaving your state with sub par healthcare for women, families and actually anyone in need of emergency medicine. Y’all need to vote to save your state. I’m hanging in California where sanity mostly prevails and I’m happy to pay the price of living here.
I am a retired Neonatal Intensive Care RN. I am well aware of the MDs that you spoke of plus the Neonatologist friends that are appalled and wanting to leave too. The cost of malpractice insurance will drive many from our state alone. I am concerned for the young women who want kids but are stuck if something goes wrong in their pregnancy... the list goes on.....
You got that right, Pam! Wish our votes counted .
Republicans in California complain about the taxes, the price of homes ( until they put theirs on the market and move to Idaho or Florida) gas, food, travel, woke-ness, Nancy Pelosi, abortion, vaccines, homeless…you get the picture. This is a great state, I was born here and will probably die here. The MAGA GOP are even worst and the evangelical Christian MAGA even worse. I know it’s bad is other states. We have to keep talking to people, especially young adults as they seem to be the most apathetic about the state of our union. They have had it too easy, didn’t live through school segregation, civil rights, Vietnam draft, women’s rights to bodily autonomy so giving it up doesn’t feel as personal as it does to those of us who knocked on doors, and campaigned for these freedoms that so many took for granted. As long as I can take a breath I will fight for our freedoms and democracy.
On Mon, May 15, 2023 at 21:15 Linda Laz <forum@mg1.substack.com> wrote:
Linda Laz replied to your comment on Bad News from Florida.
You got that right, Pam! Wish our votes counted .
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Yes, my concern is that DeSantis decisions are and will spread to GOP-controlled states!
ZsuzEB I can’t thank you enough for this comment! I’ve often felt deflated by reader’s comments denigrating “all Floridians” because of DeSantis’s actions. Those types of broad-brush, holier than thou, finger-pointing insinuations are the reason I quit Facebook. I agree, finding those same types of comments in this forum are repulsive. While the home I love is currently under the dark cloud of DeSantis evil politics, that does not mean I support him or what he is doing. I read this newsletter and others to learn how to fight his actions and to learn how to improve and strengthen democracy and promote voter education in EVERY corner of our country.
I think there is concern for the people of Florida because this is, after all, happening to them. I want them to win this fight and any forums that can help them be heard are so important.
My state took its case against women and their right of choice - and........ ASS ABBOTT is gonna hold special sessions with his state legislators until he gets his private school voucher enacted....... Can't get any gun safety laws enacted though
I’m a WVirginian...I hear ya! 😬
I have lived in FL since 1970. I graduated from high school & college at UCF. My first job as a kid was at Walt Disney World. My first career that lasted nearly 20 years was that of a high school American History, Government & Economics teacher. What DeSantis did today is alarming. I’m saddened, horrified & pissed. We must elect Dems into all state offices to check DeSantis. This is so overwhelming but we have to rally. Oh, dear Lord, give me the strength to encourage other Floridians to vote blue. Tomorrow will be a new day. I need to research any Dem candidates running at the state level. I didn’t expect to start working this early, but I will if I need too. We are under attack from every angle. Thank you for letting me rant. It has kept me from crying. And it’s helping me to get a plan together to fight this in my own backyard. Thanks ya’ll.
Cindy, good luck to you. There are other likeminded people out there. Check with your local Democratic Party headquarters. Volunteer to help people register to vote. I will be thinking about you and cheering you on. Look up Ira Lesher and his plan to help college students register to vote. Ira Lechner is a Substack member, too. See his comments above. And I know what the Tea Party people did to North Carolina, but businesses, the entertainment world refused to hold concerts, etc. ,began to boycott NC because of their treatment of LGBTQ groups.
If you need a a chuckle, check out an artist friend of mine, Anne Belov, who writes political satire featuring pandas! Her Substack page is Finding my Inner Panda. She is funny. Thinking about you. And again, good luck to you. ❤️🐼
Found my copy of the book!
Good work!! We are in this together
Higher Education has long since been turned into a trade school.
Employability became the goal. High paying tech jobs the holy grail.
The goal should remain to produce an educated mind.
There is nothing wrong with an educated plumber or ditch digger or freight handler.
In fact, there is much right with that.
Higher education was originally designed as a trade school to prepare semi-educated willing workers who weren’t so smart as to know they were getting screwed…and it was ever thus.
I am in Colorado but can support pro-democracy work in Florida by supporting youth voter registration drives and Indivisible.org.
We can also keep reminding ourselves and friends and family and coworkers -- anyone who is in or could join the "reality-based community" -- that it is absolutely "political or social activism" -- FOR white male supremacy -- to deny the past and present facts of systemic racism, sexism and classism.
Advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion qualifies a person to say the Pledge of Allegiance's "liberty and justice for all." Anyone against DEI should not say the Pledge. Right, DeSantis?
I am actively engaged in Democratic voter registration and get out the vote activities in Florida and have been for the past 8 years.
Recently, Florida Republicans have built up a small lead in registered voters. However, Independents make up a significant portion of voters.
Heading into 2024, with all of DeSantis' horrible policies, the momentum will swing back to Democrats. We have the real opportunity to pickup a number of federal and state congressional seats.
I can't encourage everyone enough to get involved in helping Florida turn Blue again!
Many initiatives are in the planning at the statewide and local county levels. We'll need all the help we can get
Tks
Merrill Weingrod
I have a question. Did Fl. legislature pass a bill that would allow DeSantis to run for president while still in office? It is my understanding that he has to resign the governor job to run for presidency?
The legislature did pass a bill making it ok to run for president while governor🙀
Yes, the legislature passed such a bill. Additionally, another piece of legislation allows him to NOT report any travel info - so we’ll never know about private donor meetings, etc. It is mind boggling that these types of legislation are even legal.
Hooray for your work, Merrill! From Simon Rosenberg I have learned about https://www.thecivicscenter.org/, the inspiring coalition doing great work registering young voters. We CAN "Get to 55" and crush MAGA.
We have a grandson at U of F, just finishing his first year. His tuition is free as he qualified given his excellent high school record. He “came out” last year - I have been worried sick ever since. I’m really wishing he would opt to leave Florida, although paying for his college education would be onerous.
DeSantis has to be one of the very worst people to breathe air. I hope to God he will never be president.
Brain drain is happening & growing!
If DeSantis gets the nomination, just devote time to working against him and he won't be president..
I don’t understand how he continues to get away with this!
I also would like an explanation.
The chritian right.
You mean the American Taliban?
Scary fascistic times in FL. I would love it if all federal monies could be pulled from FL! My taxes should not support any of FL while DeSantis and his GOP are in control.
Federal Government contracts are not supposed to be awarded to any entities that discriminate.
I suppose a classical Christian education forgets to love your neighbor as yourself ? Matthews 22:37-40
It absolutely means not loving your neighbor as yourselves because that would be political.
Both DeSantis and Durham were educated in college and law school curricula that apparently failed to teach them sufficiently about the rule of law, American civics, and constitutional law. Or, they were immune to learning so their pivot to lies and autocracy was always going to happen. In any case, Floridians must ask themselves if they want to be ruled by their very own Castro-wannabe and the rest of the country needs to recognize what Florida is doing is actually unAmerican. As for Durham, I am confident he knew he prepared a dishonest report and magaGOP will eat it up, but perhaps Karma has a way of showing up in such a way that he will regret his part in the Trump/Barr obfuscation and lies. Something to look forward to...
Unfortunately many people/voters in FL like what *Santis is doing. See tfg's New Hampshire show on CNN. No state income tax is big for rich retirees. Those of us who live in small, blue enclosures, while swamped by gerrymandering -- see Dunn, US Rep -- are working to stop this madness. It's not going to be easy for us. He must not be elected president.
Thank you so much for sharing this. The march of Fascism is laying waste to liberty in Florida and sadly will spread. As you so succinctly noted, “Trumpism will survive Trump”. Sadly, it will probably thrive.
Not if we continue paying attention and vote for starters.
It appears that a sizeable chunk of Floridians and other Americans actually prefer an authoritarian government. They want someone to tell them what to think - and when, how, and where to do it. Making choices is hard, weighing differing opinions is hard, and using independent judgement is hard. It's way easier to not think, choose, or judge. Just obey.
Unfortunately for them, democracy requires thinking, choosing, judging.
I disagree that a sizable chunk of us prefer what is happening in our state! It is the gerrymandering districts that have made representation more Republican than Democrat!
Yes well Democrats have never been even remotely interested in State Govts until recently and that’s what you get if you don’t participate I’ve been screaming about this for years.
I don’t know how anyone enjoys living in Florida. Man, it’s so hot in August you need to bring winter clothing just to keep from freezing inside since everyone has the air conditioners turned way up. Then if you go to the ocean to cool off after being outside, water is too warm. Now on top of that, the government is sicko. Nah, give me my New England. I prefer to be a nutmegger. Of course some just call me a nut plain and simple. Ahya…
I’m from there but won’t go back sad to say.
Yes, 'tis a sad situation in FLA... apparently, a very skewed partisan and lower EQ and IQ demographic. It may take a combined effort of some major corporations and professional/college sports teams threatening to move out or cancel games. Money talks... major losses to state revenue (maybe even federal money?) might be the tipping point to get him out of office.