BDM
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.
M.S. Bellows, Jr.@flexghost I can't imagine being a teacher and following that order. At some point you need to stand up, and this would be a fairly safe place to do so.
@msbellows felony.
@flexghost I'll take that case to a jury every time.
Peter Butler@msbellows @flexghost Of course. But in the meantime you’ve been fired. Not many teachers have the resources to go through a criminal trial and then another civil trial to get their jobs back.
I’d be very curious about teachers refusing to comply, though, if there are any.
@peterbutler @msbellows there are so many people online who say, just move or just don’t shop there or just defy them… there’s an issue. Most people live paycheck to paycheck and that is by design. It’s servitude enforced.
Cat West
Pam Field@peterbutler @msbellows @flexghost My daughter, a 4th grade teacher, says she is not removing materials that she uses for small group exercises that she bought with her own money. These materials are nationally approved and she has neither the time or resources to replace them. Her classroom library is next for the school approval police. I’m thinking she isn’t backing down.
@Parlyn @msbellows @flexghost Geez, that brings up the whole part of the fact that many (most?) of these classroom library books were bought or acquired by teachers themselves or from family donations (or PTA funds, etc.).
Good for her. I hope that the national approval is enough. Who knows anymore.
I’d be very proud of her for being a teacher. 4th grade is a tough one, but we had some great 4th grade teachers. (my own, not so much.)
hammancheez@Parlyn @peterbutler @msbellows @flexghost tell your daughter the mastodon weirdos you post at think she's rad as hell
mark@msbellows @flexghost a jury of people who have voted for DeSantis? Its going to be really hard to get a full panel on your side , even if it's right
@msbellows @flexghost By making it a felony, they insure that anyone who stands up will A: Lose their license/teacher certs, and can be immediately jailed if they can pay some exorbitant bail. Maybe one can win in court, (months? Years?) but the ruin of family, personal dignity in the meantime, will devastate. Those who can should either strike or quit. But most can’t.
Collette
Rory@flexghost LOL @ "chuklefuck"
Ron DeathSentence really wants our children to be dumb and stupid... That will make them more likely to be republicans...
@customer228 it’s been proven there’s a correlation
cyberop5@flexghost time to bring back scrolls.
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.
E.T.@flexghost
I was and still am flabbergasted that the voting public in Florida believes this man is good for them. We line up to surrender our freedoms so we can earn or keep a few dollars more each year.
I was and still am flabbergasted that the voting public in Florida believes this man is good for them. We line up to surrender our freedoms so we can earn or keep a few dollars more each year.
@elliott not only that they believe that their morals need to be imposed on others
@flexghost The buck has to stop with their bosses. The officers, the ones you meet on the street are sometimes forced to enforce laws written by the politicians, even when their morals dictate otherwise. Yes, police have discretionary powers in some areas of law enforcement, but some of the laws are mandated.
The laws need to be changed and this change must start with the lawmakers The morality of the laws begins with them. Change must start there.
The laws need to be changed and this change must start with the lawmakers The morality of the laws begins with them. Change must start there.
IthanulThey are all brainwashed or heavily indoctrinated. Even folks in the other States nearby love him. Even folks in my Guard unit likes him. They all have taken too deep of the kool-aid.
Seriously, he ain't a conservative, nor traditionalist.
He is a fucking authoritarian fascist. And, I will keep saying that around everyone down here in FL and my Guard unit.
Ω 🌍 Gus PoseyHow do you know when Republicans have been making chocolate chip cookies?
There are M&M shells all over the floor.
@flexghost Somebody should start a charity to get e readers in the hands of all these children and let them read whatever they can download.
JL Roberson@flexghost but they get owls, which symbolize wisdom, so therefore no problem, they have wisdom totems so who needs the real thing
@flexghost JFC. Paging @neighbours_wifi ...
Sasha Strange@flexghost Seems he heard that children are our future, and decided that the best way for his party to 'win' was to ensure the future was dumb enough to buy their rhetoric.
@sasha_strange first books the Nazis burned? Transgender studies. Studies on immigration. Philosophy. They’re simply doing it again.