I sent the Florida Chamber of Congress an email last evening explaining that as long as

[Atticus]

DeSantis was their governor, we would not be spending any of our time or money in their state. I told them I could not justify taking any of my family to a state where there were people who claimed the legal right to gun them down if they scared someone or run them down in the street if they were thought to be protesters.

I closed by telling them that California and Hawaii also have beaches and they are still civil democracies, not third-world autocracies.

[efhmc]

1. Well done.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

2. K&R and good for you.

Now if only several million other people would do the same, it might get some Rethug's attention and perhaps even in Washington!

Tourism contributions to Florida Republicans must be massive, as well as in other coastal states.

Not just guns, there's also the issue of disregarding coronavirus safety recommendations so tourist spots cans re-open or remain open.

KY

[Atticus]

4. I did mention that, judging from the way the DeSantis handled covid vaccinations, we could not be

sure we could get medical care in their state if we needed it because---we aren't millionaires who contribute to the governor's PAC.

[luvtheGWN]

17. Well, if this is any consolation...

....due to Covid, there are millions of Canadian snowbirds who stayed home this winter.

[Talitha]

3. Kudos!!!

[lpbk2713]

5. Honestly, I don't really think they will GAF.

CofCs are notoriously RW and your email will probably go right to the circular file.

[Atticus]

6. So, we should just keep our mouths shut? I had no illusions that my one email would

change things just like I understand that my one vote will seldom decide an election. But, I vote Democratic in every election and I do my best to call out arrogant asses like DeSantis.

The email didn't cost me a dime and it made me feel better. I can't control what is done with my words, but I will continue to speak them.

[Cozmo]

22. Ya did good. Kudos!

[Tiger8]

29. Thank you - You set the example for the rest of us.

Yes, C of C are rightwing, but for economic reasons - low taxes and lax regulation - showing they only care about money.

When enough people take their tourist dollars elsewhere because of right wingers running Florida, the voters and business community will take notice. I do my best to boycott anything coming from a Red State.

Do you remember anti-gay activist Anita Bryant, who was also the spokesperson for Florida Orange Juice? Once Florida oranges were boycotted and started rotting on the trees, Florida dumped her, and dumped her fast. If DeSantis makes Florida toxic, the business community will shut off their support.

[radical noodle]

7. Florida survives on tourist dollars

If more people would do that, they would pay attention.

[mac2766]

13. Florida is a very large state. Many people working in many different industries...

The state of Florida is much MUCH larger than the Disney theme park.

I've lived in this state for almost 30 years and I've never had to rely on the grace of visitors for my well being.

Not upset with you in any way, but you might want to consider not making such a sweeping statement in the future.

Not so much from your comment, but from many others I've seen on DU. I realize that it's easy to make fun of Floridians, like it was once easy to make fun of people who come from or live in Poland. Bigotry is bigotry, no matter the state or country that you're living in.

[ShazzieB]

16. Be that as it may..

"Florida is the top travel destination in the world, relying on tourism to drive its economy more than any other state." https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/011316/floridas-economy-6-industries-driving-gdp-growth.asp

"Tourism is key to Florida’s competitiveness. The truth is that visitors to Florida help 'pay the bills' and help ensure Floridians don’t pay a personal income tax. Florida’s tourism industry brings in more than $6 billion in state taxes, and more than $5 billion in local taxes which in turn helps fund schools, improve healthcare and support other government services." https://www.flchamber.com/tourism-is-key-to-floridas-competitiveness/

Yes, Florida has a diverse economy, but tourism is a very big part of it. As a resident of the state, you may not be personally dependent on the "grace of visitors" in a direct way, but it's impacting your well-being and that of the state as a whole in many more ways than you realize.

[spooky3]

18. +1

[mac2766]

21. Oh goodness.

I guess you got me.

[radical noodle]

27. I think you may have misunderstood me

I also live in Florida and do not make fun of my state. The state does depend a great deal on tourist dollars.

https://www.ucf.edu/online/hospitality/news/florida-tourism/#:~:text=article.,federal%2C%20state%20and%20local%20levels.

[mac2766]

37. Sorry...

I've been reading endless posts from people on DU who believe that it's okay to make fun of groups of people who just happen to live in Florida.

I may have jumped on your post too quickly. The paragraph related to my problem was not meant for you directly.

Bigotry in any form needs to stop. I'm not harmed in anyway by it, but I find the hypocrisy unbearable.

[MerryHolidays]

30. Bigotry???

Wow. Bigotry???

I guess President Obama is a bigot, based on your standard...Who would have thought?!


https://www.huffpost.com/entry/obama-florida-man-trump_n_5f948789c5b6a2e1fb61d49a

Obama To Floridians: Even ‘Florida Man’ Wouldn’t Behave Like Trump Does
“It won’t be so exhausting, just having a normal president,” former President Barack Obama told a Florida crowd.

The OP was CLEARLY directed at De Santis and the nutty laws your beloved Florida has passed, not at Floridians...for the reasons outlined in the OP and more, I too don't want to come anywhere close to your beloved Florida. I suppose, like President Obama, I'm a "bigot", right?

[Atticus]

33. There ya go again! You actually read the entire OP, used common sense and then typed

a reasonable response!

Tsk-tsk! 👍

[mac2766]

38. again?

Who are you? Have we met at some point?

[MerryHolidays]

40. The OP is referring to me, not you.

[mac2766]

36. Not a beloved Florida.. Just saying that...

if you are willing to poke fun of an entire group of people - "Floridians", as I've seen way too many times to count on DU, then you are a bigot. Plain and simple. Not everyone in Florida voted for DeSantis. I definitely did not.

I've lived here for just about 30 years, but I'm originally from Indiana. I'm sure some people would have something negative to say about Hoosiers as well. I'm sure that there are still people who remember how easy it used to be to speak negatively about Polish people. It's always "okay" to make fun of a group of people who don't seem to mind. I do mind. I live in Florida. Have lived in Florida for about 30 years now. When you speak so casually about "Floridians", you're speaking about me and I tend to take offence.

A hypocrite is a hypocrite in any form. And a bigot is a bigot.

Just saying.

[MerryHolidays]

39. Again, where EXACTLY does the OP attack Flordians?

If you think criticism of DeSantis is an attack on Floridians...well, I just don't know what to say.

And, regardless of the OP, who only referenced De Santis and Florida law, I guess you consider President Obama a bigot? "Plain and simple", to use your words?

[mac2766]

41. This will be the very first reference to President Obama

in my entire response.

You seem to be a very angry person. I'm not angry at all. I simply wished to express an opinion.

I believe that is what is wrong with America - the essence of what exactly is wrong with America. Anger being the first response, and the inability to have a civil conversation.

You're first and second responses to me were anger based.

[MerryHolidays]

42. You're the one calling folks "bigots"! You're CLEARLY the angry one here!

DU is a place of acceptance, if one has the ethos. Learn it please! And stop being so angry to call people "bigots" including the OP, me, and President Obama!

You are too funny!

[MerryHolidays]

43. And I just realized you're calling several of us "hypocrites" too, in addition to "bigots"

Do you have any other pejoratives?

[mac2766]

44. I am, and no.

[MerryHolidays]

46. Somehow, I don't think you're going to last too long on DU

For sure, you go on my ignore list, which totals 1. Well done.

I wish you the best in life, generally and on DU, casting baseless aspersions. Bye.

[Oppaloopa]

32. Write to Disney they really run Florida

[csziggy]

8. Contact VISIT Florida

VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official tourism marketing corporation, serves as Florida's official source for travel planning to visitors across the globe. VISIT FLORIDA is not a government agency, but rather a not-for-profit corporation created as a public/private partnership by the Florida Legislature in 1996.

Florida's tourism industry was responsible for welcoming 86.7 million visitors in 2020, a decrease from the record 131.4 million visitors in 2019 attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the latest economic impact study, Florida visitors contributed $96.5 billion to Florida's economy and supported over 1.6 million Florida jobs in 2019. According to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, for every $1 the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA, $3.27 in state tax revenue is generated.

Each year, the Florida Legislature appropriates public funding to be allocated for tourism marketing. VISIT FLORIDA is required to match those public funds dollar-for-dollar, which is done by actively recruiting the state's tourism industry to invest as Partners through cooperative advertising campaigns, promotional programs and many other marketing ventures. Through this public/private partnership, VISIT FLORIDA serves more than 13,000 tourism industry businesses, including major strategic alliance partnerships with Busch Gardens Tampa, Disney Destinations, Hilton, LEGOLAND Florida Resort, SeaWorld Parks & Resorts Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort.
https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/about-us.html

Contact page: https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/contact-us.html

[Cozmo]

23. Thank you, you get it!

[SergeStorms]

9. I always send hand written or typed correspondence....

I always find they react better to something tangible. At least that's been my experience.

I think I'll follow your lead, though, Atticus. I have family and friends in Florida, I used to live there, and I do love hitting their beaches, but I can hit the beaches somewhere else. My family and friends will understand. They know how I am.

Good for you. I'm a firm believer of voting with my wallet as well as in the ballot box.

[AllaN01Bear]

10. jolly good show . most eggscllent.

too bad cant do this to the carolinas, tennesee and so forth.

[Treefrog]

14. North Carolina has a blue gov. Are you aware of that?

[ancianita]

11. Now THAT is IT!

That's a most excellent thing you did. Here's why.

I live here in Florida, was raised and went to college here, and know that if I wrote a similar letter, there would be consequences.

I hope a million more do what you did. I hope you feel the better for it.

I can't thank you enough.

[ZonkerHarris]

12. The CoC is who you tell that you wont be opening any new offices of your business in FL

no expansion for you!

[kimbutgar]

15. Also when the cruise industry re opens I will not leave on any cruise out of florida

I hope the cruise industry wakes up, No vaccine passports? Who the hell would get on a cruise ship if the crew and fellow passengers were not vaccinated.

Until Desatan is gone I will never spend a dime or set a food in Florida. No purchases from sellers in Florida or Georgia is my mantra now.

[calimary]

19. GOOD. Hit 'em where it'll hurt them the most:

Right in the pocketbook.

[3Hotdogs]

20. And guess what... N.J also got some of the best beaches in the country....

and the toughest anti-gun laws.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

24. Hmmm. I admire what you did.

Speaking only of myself, I have been to Florida exactly once in the past 45 years, and that recent trip (2015) was to take a cruise.

[BobTheSubgenius]

25. Nice one!!!

[JPPaverage]

26. Hey that's a great idea

The wife and I are thinking about retiring in about three years and I just may do what you did. Tell them that we are looking for a place to winter and so on. Thanks for doing that and thanks for the great idea.

[niyad]

28. Most excellent. I will do the same. They don't know that I had no intention of ever going there.

[Rabrrrrrr]

31. This could be the beginning of a mass movement - to write to the shit states' politicians.

Just like the companies exerting economic pressure on the third-world states, maybe we the people should be sending letters and letting it be known that we are not visiting their states until they rejoin the U.S.

[pandr32]

34. Disney World should probably get a message like this

...from thousands of Democrats.
They are in a position to confront both the Florida Congress and the Office of Governor.

[Jilly_in_VA]

35. We went to Virginia Beach

a couple of weeks ago. It was nice in the off season. I love Sanibel down in Florida (it doesn't consider itself part of the state, really, and gives a big "FU" to the rest of the state whenever possible) but we're not going there anytime soon again. Maybe VA Beach again in the fall if we can get there between hurricanes.

[twin_ghost]

45. I think you mean, "The Florida Chamber of Commerce."

[Atticus]

47. Jeez! I sure did! Thanks for the correction. Spellcheck strikes again! nt

[jumptheshadow]

48. Woman in grocery market today...

...up north. A snowbird who apparently came in for the season. Complaining about having to wear a mask to the (older) cashier. Her coup de grace argument was, "They don't require masks anywhere in Florida!" Then, as she was leaving, she grumped at the (older) security guard about masks.