Ol’ Ron DeSantis has me growling again! Oh wait … I don’t think I’ve stopped growling for at least the past week month year. So, what’s he done now, you ask? Today, he signed into law a bill barring Florida’s colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and limiting how race can be discussed in many courses. We’re not talking about children here, people … we’re talking about adults! 90% or more of people attending college are age 18 or over! They are adults! They are perfectly capable of understanding issues about diversity, about race, and about the history of this country!!! They are more than capable of seeing with their own two eyes that racism in this country is still rampant among some. They are old enough to drive a car, drink alcohol, serve in the military, own a gun, vote, get married, but they are not considered mature enough to learn about racism or to be exposed to other cultures???
Apparently, the legislature in Florida is comprised of friends and relatives of DeSantis, for as soon as he wants something like this done, BOOM!!! Both the state House and Senate immediately pass the bill to play into DeSantis’ authoritarian whims and before you can blink three times, it’s on his desk and he is signing it into law! This has happened so many times in the past several months that there is no way the state legislature can be considered to be uncompromised or to represent the people of the state.
Colleges and universities across the state of Florida will, effective immediately, no longer be considered “institutions of higher learning”, but rather will be institutions whose goal is to mold people into automatons without the ability to THINK FOR THEMSELVES! Come time to vote, they will vote for whomever DeSantis tells them to vote, for that will be how they’ve been taught. DeSantis and most other Republicans talk about “indoctrination” and “grooming” … well, what the SAM HELL do they think they’re doing??? They are indoctrinating college students (not to mention elementary and high school students) to become mindless proletariat.
Is this the 21st century, or did I just dream it?
If I lived in Florida, I would be packing my bags instead of writing this post. DeSantis and his merry little men in the state legislature have pissed me off many times over the past year or so, but this is the straw that broke the camel’s back. The future is pretty damned grim for Florida and its residents in more ways than one, now. Half the state is likely to end up under water in the coming decade, but if they don’t, they will be a nation of mindless twits, conditioned to believe that white, straight, Christian males are the ”superior” people and the rest of us are the doormat upon which they will wipe their feet.
Even more frightening/enraging is the thought of DeSantis becoming president over all 50 states! Fortunately, I can only see that happening under one scenario, or set of scenarios, and that is if Trump becomes (as I hope he does) ineligible either via his many lawsuits, and particularly his incitement of an attempted coup, or his death, and if President Biden dies before November 2024, leaving Kamala Harris the Democratic nominee. Mind you, I love Kamala, but in 2016 the people of this nation proved that there is still a misogynistic hurdle to a woman in a leadership position. Someday, perhaps, people will wake up, but NOT if we keep forbidding them to become truly educated!
I have a number of friends who live in Florida and every last one of them are intelligent, sensible people who strongly disagree with DeSantis’ racist, misogynist policies. So WHY did he win his last election by a hefty margin? Just a week or two ago, the legislature passed a bill reversing a law that said he would have to step down from the governorship if he declared himself a candidate for the presidency. Blink. Just like that, he can remain governor while campaigning for a higher office. WHY???
Filosofa's Word 
Flori da is passed 1984, working its way into Germany 1938. De Satan would become the ultimate authoritarian if he won, surpassing tRump in scariness only because he has a devious and actual thinking brain. I wasn’t shocked with his latest when I saw a news banner on our Canadian news today warning black people not to travel to Florida. I wonder if snowbirds even listen to the news. xx
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You may be right about that. Sigh. Germany in 1938 … people just beginning to awaken to the monster they had created. Oh, I have no doubt that either Trump or DeSantis would be authoritarian if either won the White House. While I think both are a danger to civilisation, I think DeSantis is the more dangerous, for Trump truly is stupid and will trip over his own feet given half the chance. Yes, as I note in my a.m. post today, the NAACP and two other organizations have issued travel advisories for Florida. Now, since Florida is largely dependent on the tourist trade to keep their economy afloat … … … … xx
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I don’t think De Satan is quite thinking about tourism for the state, more than he’s thinking of filling his own ego and pockets. xx
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You’re right … but in the long run, it will come back and bite him … HARD!!! I feel badly for the people of Florida, but … they voted for him!
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Jill, you might enjoy the good news out of Florida I highlighted in my post today from my hometown of Jacksonville, FL. Keith
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I just checked out your post … yes, that was good news indeed!!!
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Florida, et al are cancers on the face of democracy! We cannot exc8se them, because there are real people living there, real people who mostly are innocent of the crimes DeSantis is committing. But still, DeSantis is running a crime family, and this family needs to be taken down. Infiltrating them should actually be easy. Anyone who spouts their mantras will be welcomed with open arms. Any volunteers?
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Yes, there are real people living there … the majority of whom actually voted that asshole DeSantis into the governor’s mansion last year! But then, there are others who didn’t vote for him and they are definitely getting the short end of the stick. We cannot allow his brand of bigotry to infect the entire nation, though. Simply cannot.
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I have blogging friends who reside in Florida, and none of them support DeSantis. I have been urging them to move. In fact, I have been suggesting they leave America, not just Florida.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Same here … but most of my Florida friends have ties of family or job in Florida and don’t have the luxury of packing up and moving. I agree with you, though … if an opportunity arises for my family and I to leave the U.S., we will grab it!
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Thank you for sharing!!.. “birds of like feather flock together” and like the Trump’s and others, Desantis has found him a audience of desperate people grabbing at straws and are catering to their wishes, his efforts are a symbolic move, as all he is interested in is gaining power… what they fail to understand is today everyone has technology and do not need to go to college to gather knowledge or learn about others, etc… 🙂
While they are making the headlines, there are many in the background (some you have and will post here) that are slowly, patiently working together to make changes for a better world for all… “The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible.” ( Joel Brown)… 🙂
Hope all is well in your part of the world and until we meet again…
May your day be touched
by a bit of Irish luck,
Brightened by a song
in your heart,
And warmed by the smiles
of people you love.
(Irish Saying)
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You are so very right, Dutch! In fact, I wrote this afternoon about one such young person, Justin Jones, one of the two Tennessee legislators expelled then reinstated to the Tennessee House last month. He is indeed one of the rising stars who give us hope for the future! I sometimes forget and need to be reminded.
Thank you for the lovely Irish Saying, and for the music — I’ve always loved this one by PP&M!!
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I live in Florida and I just can’t believe what’s happening here! 😞
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You have my empathy! All of my Florida friends say the same … and most are seeking to leave the state, but something, whether a job, family, or finances, is holding them back. How DeSantis won by such a safe margin last time is simply beyond my comprehension. Hang in there, and get out if you possibly can!
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I’m one of those people held back by family, ha. We recently bought the house I grew up in and I have family here. I don’t have the heart to leave and it’s breaking my heart to stay. Sigh
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I have other friends in the same situation and it IS heartbreaking! I wish I had sage advice, but unfortunately I don’t. Just hang tough and try to make positive changes wherever you can, like in the voting booth, writing letters to your local newspapers, etc.
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When his children are old enough to understand what he’s done to their education, they’ll probably leave Florida for a better one.
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I would bet so, unless he has them completely brainwashed by then.
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They’d be completely unsocialized to the rest of the world.
I bet DeStupid didn’t think about that. FLORIDA THE LAND OF THE SUPID……..
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It certainly seems that his goal is to make the people of Florida among the most ignorant and racist in the country … and I think he must somehow assume that is what his constituents want. I hope he’s wrong and the people of Florida rise against him … SOON!!!
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A bit anti free speech, no?
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Oh yeah … more than just a bit!
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Sounds like you might soon need refugee camps for people fleeing Florida and other regressive states. Let the straight white Christian males inhabit Florida and other similar states by themselves … see how that goes.
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You are so right, my friend. Florida and Texas lead the way in authoritarian, bigoted, narrow-minded leadership, but others like Alabama and Arkansas are not far behind. I try to stop myself from peering into what I perceive the future to be, but … if we don’t do a 180° turnaround and soon, I think our future will not be democracy, but an authoritarian regime ruled by the wealthiest, or a plutocracy. We aren’t all that far from it today. Sigh.
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