flexghost.Here’s a picture of completely empty bookshelves in a Florida classroom after DeSantis ordered teachers to remove all books or else face felony charges
Imagine being a chuklefuck Republican and thinking this is a win.
Barbara Monaco@flexghost This makes me so sad. As a child, reading was one of my greatest joys. My experience was deep and wide. Breaks my heart to think of kids being forced to read only state sanctioned books.
What do the kids think of this? What is it teaching them?
What do the kids think of this? What is it teaching them?
@Barbramon1 I agree. I can’t emphasize the importance of reading enough. Republicans have had to seek votes from the uneducated. I guess the plan is to make more people uneducated.
@flexghost It's been the plan for a long while. If we don't stop book banning now, while we can, I think we know how this will end.
@Barbramon1 I’m trying to think of any penalties we’ve handled these fascists lately
@flexghost People in Florida need to step up, to not only vote out DeSantis and his ilk, but they need to protest, to initiate lawsuits, and use any tools available to reverse this situation. It will become harder as time goes by, as FL is now a magnet for fans of authoritarianism. I can support their efforts from afar via boycotts, etc.
@Barbramon1 unfortunately, the majority of Florida voters voted for fascism. I’ve been to so many damn marches the past few years but to no effect. As women, we lost some of our bodily autonomy, and our safety from gun violence is negated. I’m feeling a sort of apathy, so I identify with anyone who feels similarly. It’s incredible in this country. They just let the government steam roll right over you.
Brent, in a jar@flexghost @Barbramon1 Yeah, I feel bad for all the good people in Floriduh. Protestors are working their asses off and you can't really blame the voters, given the massive disenfranchisement and gerrymandering, but I do think the state has become a magnet for authoritarians and haters. Would love to see more corporate boycotts, etc, as kicking Floriduh in the tourism business might get some attention (but then again, they went after Disney!)
@flexghost @Barbramon1 Also too, don't forget this culture war garbage, while very dangerous, is a distraction for DeSantis' really unpopular goals of dismantling the safety net. Hard to keep power in retirement-land when you are openly gunning for Social Security and Medicare, so he feeds his base red meat and keeps owning the libs.
Never forget he was one of the founders of the Fredumb Cockus!
Never forget he was one of the founders of the Fredumb Cockus!
@BrentInMasto @Barbramon1 while true, they have access to the same information I do. Perhaps more because they are local. But point taken.
@flexghost @Barbramon1 I grew up there and still pay pretty close attention. The amount of just blatant corruption that goes on in local and state government is mind boggling. See recent stories about Florida Power and Light setting up completely new industry friendly media outlets and straight up bribing elected officials for an example that got some attention. I hope, and even suspect, the FBI is still working cases in Tallahassee.
@BrentInMasto @flexghost The residents of FL who are over 65, nearly a quarter of the population, and anyone else who would like to have Social Security, Medicare, disability and so on need to be made aware of the intentions to destroy them.
I believe most people think that these elements of the safety net are untouchable, and simply cannot conceive of them being eliminated.
Awareness is the first step toward change.
I believe most people think that these elements of the safety net are untouchable, and simply cannot conceive of them being eliminated.
Awareness is the first step toward change.
@Barbramon1 @flexghost That said, people that already got theirs will likely be protected. Most of the plans to dismantle it involve privatization of fund management and other things that impact those that are not yet collecting social security payments (raising retirement age is a common attack)
@Barbramon1 @flexghost And sadly few of those same people care about the attacks on kids and education either
@BrentInMasto Repubs have attacked and attempted to dismantle Social Security since 1935. They have been beaten back every time.
There has been a decades long disinformation campaign to undermine faith in the system, claiming it will be insolvent by a certain year. It will be insolvent only if no tweaks are made, but a lot of younger people have been convinced that they will never see any benefits.
There has been a decades long disinformation campaign to undermine faith in the system, claiming it will be insolvent by a certain year. It will be insolvent only if no tweaks are made, but a lot of younger people have been convinced that they will never see any benefits.
@Barbramon1 Pete Peterson can rot in hell. I'm sure there are armies of right wing activists working to destroy it but his name is the first that springs to my mind. Agree we need to convince the youth to fight for their right to some safety in, and chance at, retirement
@BrentInMasto Not blaming voters, far from it. There's only so much that can be done by voting. What seems to be working best in most places are lawsuits and actions that might hurt them financially. Corporate boycotts can really make a difference as we've seen elsewhere. It remains to be seen if FL can beat Disney.
Bottom line is that FL should not be made to stand alone in a battle against fascism. I am 3K miles from there, but will support it as much as I can. So will
many others.
Bottom line is that FL should not be made to stand alone in a battle against fascism. I am 3K miles from there, but will support it as much as I can. So will
many others.
Stephen Czetty@Barbramon1 @BrentInMasto True, there is only so much that can be done by voting.
Also true, one can choose not to vote for the fascist in the first place.
There is the corporate lawsuit front, and there is the education front.
@flexghost I truly feel for you and good people of FL. I've been an activist for decades and fought for many just causes. Have probably lost more than I won.
You don't sound apathetic, you sound exhausted. Having been there, I fully understand.
Perhaps your job, right now, is to do exactly what you're doing on social media, giving us a first hand report of life in "free" FL. Awareness is the first step toward change.
I and others really appreciate what you do. Sending support from afar.💙
You don't sound apathetic, you sound exhausted. Having been there, I fully understand.
Perhaps your job, right now, is to do exactly what you're doing on social media, giving us a first hand report of life in "free" FL. Awareness is the first step toward change.
I and others really appreciate what you do. Sending support from afar.💙
@flexghost @Barbramon1 That state has fallen so far since it elected people like Bob Graham and Lawton Chiles
Ted_Cville@flexghost @Barbramon1 So sadly true!
Cat Food Casserole@flexghost @Barbramon1
Some of that is because people ACTUALLY believe in American Exceptionalism and capitalism so much, they are willing to be ground into the gutter for it.
Some of that is because people ACTUALLY believe in American Exceptionalism and capitalism so much, they are willing to be ground into the gutter for it.
@casserolefood @flexghost Yes, it's sadly true. We may not be able to change the minds of the fully indoctrinated. It's up to us to be creative and fight our way out of this.
@flexghost @Barbramon1 Peaceful anti fascist protestors get longer prison terms, but some of the J6 insurrectionists and the chuckleheads that tried to kidnap MI's Gov are doing some pretty serios time. Of course, I want to see the leaders of the coup attempt and top hate pushers in jail too but the fascists aren't getting off completely.
@Barbramon1 @BrentInMasto so far I’m only seeing the grunts getting punished and not the organizers
@flexghost @Barbramon1 Ain't that always the way! One would think potential supporters would see how past supporters have been used up and thrown away!
#EverythingTrumpTouchesDies
#EverythingTrumpTouchesDies
@flexghost @Barbramon1 @BrentInMasto Yes! And that is my big problem with our DOJ, even though I try to resist getting all conspiracy theory about Garland.
After all this time, just a few indictments would be helpful! Recall that they charged and convicted Flynn, Stone and Bannon - during trump - before he pardoned them all.
@Ted_Cville Could not agree more. I understand that J6 is the biggest case in DOJ history and that it takes time. I understand that there is much DOJ can't reveal re ongoing cases.
Nevertheless I feel that at minimum Garland should communicate with the public regularly. Bring awareness to the cases they've successfully prosecuted, and shareany updates. Anything, just talk to us.
People who aren't news junkies like me have no idea what's going on at the federal level.
Nevertheless I feel that at minimum Garland should communicate with the public regularly. Bring awareness to the cases they've successfully prosecuted, and shareany updates. Anything, just talk to us.
People who aren't news junkies like me have no idea what's going on at the federal level.
@Barbramon1 What worries me is the constant timidity and concern about political fallout, when those things are, in fact, considerably less important than the dangers to democracy and our constitutional system!
@Ted_Cville More than ever today's politicians play to the media and polls. We need bolder leadership at all levels.
@Barbramon1 ... which is my concern about Garland. He may be a basically good man, but... And he has been a guest speaker a number of times at the Federalist Society, so he is pretty much a pal to a lot of these guys.
JMaverickJacks1@Barbramon1 @flexghost This ultra-conservative attack on literacy is Satanic. The Bible specifically commends the men and women in a town called Berea because they read and studied issues for themselves instead of automatically agreeing with anything you told them. They were cheerfully open-minded, but they avoided gullibility by staying well-read. Therefore, Saint Luke, the author of the Bible book Acts, called the Bereans “more noble” than folks elsewhere. Acts 17:10-11.