Can anyone from TX or FLA tell me why people

[senseandsensibility]

aren't in the streets demanding resignations from DeSantis and Abbott? These states are not super red. There are plenty of people there smart and informed enough to see what is happening with the Delta variant and schools reopening without masks. I just don't see a lot of pushback. Of course. maybe the view on the ground is different.

[JohnSJ]

1. I am from California, but I suspect with covid raging in those states, might have something to do

With it

[senseandsensibility]

2. Yean, good point.

If I were a parent in one of those states, though, I would not send my child to an unsafe school. If like-minded parents did the same thing, (millions of students) it would definitely make an impact.

[Dan]

30. We were talking about that situation in our home yesterday

And we’re really happy that our child is grown.

But we decided if we were in Texas or Florida (or any of the southern states or under a GOP governor) we would home school our child.

[Atticus]

3. Agree. But for covid, we'd be "street meat" a couple times a month. nt

[nycbos]

4. Because a lot of right wing assholes moved there for "freedom"

They either don't think the virus is real or if it is Mexicans are to blame.

[senseandsensibility]

5. Sure, but TX and FLA are purple states.

That means 40ish something percent of them are not fools. That's millions of people.

[nycbos]

7. Not really. Florida is a light red state.

Trump won twice. Dems haven't won the governorship since the early 90s. Only one state wide elected official is a Democrats

There was a huge swing in traditionally Democratic south Texas to Trump despite the fact he called them rapist.

But the people who aren't fools know better than to have a mass gathering.

[oldsoftie]

6. Many STILL dont think its real

[Blue_true]

11. Florida not having an income tax has attracted a lot of anti personal tax people.

One of the big reasons why the state can’t attract big companies that were not home grown is that corporations here make up for revenue lost due to no personal income tax.

[rickyhall]

18. Same for Texas. No income tax.

[tazkcmo]

27. They're why I moved

Along with the gerrymandering that ensures a GOPee majority, all those mutants ruined a perfectly good place to live.

[mcar]

8. I'm in FL

It's 95 degrees + with 90% humidity - when it's not raining.

I live in a very red county - what would be the purpose of taking to the streets right now? Also, DeathSentence signed a law that allows police to arrest protesters and charge them with a felony - if the police decide it looks violent.

Several FL county school districts are defying DS and mandating masks. Courts are siding with businesses in their orders for employee vaccine mandates.

[senseandsensibility]

15. Thanks.

Sorry if it came off as if I was blaming the rational people in these states. I meant "in the streets" figuratively, really. Other civil disobedience or non-violent strategies are also available.

[mcar]

17. You are welcome

I'm a founder of our county Democratic Women's Club. You better believe we are acting. It's frustrating because all our elected officials are Republicans but we do what we can.

[rickyhall]

20. Same for Texas, it's hot. I was amazed at the voting rights marchers a few weeks ago.

Since I had heat stroke 30 years ago, I hardly go out between noon and nine in the summer anymore.

[mcar]

21. i hear you

[rickyhall]

26. I'm a Texan in exile. Retireds do better in Arkansas unless they have money, which I don't.

[Blue_true]

9. Because Democrats seldom go to the streets.

Even big rallies in early 2017 and Black Lives Matter rallies were out of the norm, very depressing circumstances fueled those rallies. Republicans go to the streets at the drop of a hat, typically carrying guns.

I personally believe that DeSantis especially is hanging himself. His potential democratic rivals are looking like thoughtful adults.

Plus, I suspect DeSantis in particular would love to see big street rallies by his opponents, that would play right into his hands.

I am from Florida, born and raised. Another aspect of this is Florida is a very bimodal state in terms of wealth, there are well off people and poor working class people, with almost nothing in between. My guess as a longtime resident of the state is that most working people are not paying much attention to his antics, they have either decided to send their kids to school masked or not masked. My guess is most parents error on the safe side, having their kids mask up.

[MustLoveBeagles]

10. I'm not from either of those 2 states but I'll chime in

As bad as Cuomo's behavior was/is I don't think his personal failings deliberately killed people. And before people hammer me with critism, or accuse me of whataboutism, no I'm NOT defending him. DeSantis's and Abbott's decisions and policies are literally killing people and that, in my opinion, makes them much worse. Parents and school districts are finding it difficult, if not impossible, in protecting unvaccinated children. Were is the outrage over their dictatorial behavior other that on liberal websites?

[senseandsensibility]

16. Absolutely.

This is life threatening to children.

[recovering_democrat]

12. Florida responses for DeSantis

I live in Florida, primarily in area with mostly senior citizens. Almost everyone I see or hear around here are already vaccinated and VERY VERY careful about keeping safe in this Covid situation.

Never have yet seen or heard anyone going in and out of stores, restaurants, etc., raising hell with others who did or did not have a mask or fuss about something. I see people with masks and people without masks. Nobody confronts others about it. mostly the mask and not mask folks are not hanging out together.

My favorite "comment" was recently I went to Walmart and since most recent increase, they have one staff person standing inside the door offering nicely if anyone came in the door without a mask if they wanted a free mask which she was passing out. She made no comment to people already wearing masks. My friend and I got a chuckle because she had this assignment and had no gloves and just passed out thr masks she had with her bare hands. A number of stores have some disinfectant type item at the entry but there was none at this place.

Guess too many people here are just too disinterested to bitch about it all. Probably the younger generations are more likely supporting DeSantis positions on these matters. People who are intense about safety are already intense about it personally.

[TheBlackAdder]

13. Heat stroke affects weak-minded people more than regular people. (correction)

Last edited Mon Aug 9, 2021, 09:37 PM - Edit history (1)

.

Sorry, in my posting haste, I misread the OP and was writing a dig on anti-vaxxers being weak-minded.

I apologize for getting this wrong and upsetting folks here. That was not my intent.

.

[snowybirdie]

14. Generalization and insulting

Doesn't help. As for us "regular people", Many in population are older. 94 degrees and 90% humidity keeps many inside where its safer. Lots are Immigrants, legal or not. Fear of trouble keeps them silent. Younger folks are working hard to support families. Little time to get involved. No college students in most places with the time and energy to protest. And lots of the winter population is up north keeping cooler. So its not weak minded folks, its circumstances. The really weak minded are the fools protesting mask mandates and vaccines.

[mcar]

19. Thanks for the insult

I helped to found our local Democratic Women's Club in my very red county. In 4 years, we've built it to the most successful Dem club in the county. The state club looks at us as a model.

I am also unable to spend even a short time out in the heat and humidity of a FL summer. Ask my children - even when they were in school, I'd usually end up in the medical tent during their track/soccer/band meets/competitions.

Tell me again that I'm weak minded.

[Phoenix61]

24. Congrats! That's quite an accomplishment. nt

[Phoenix61]

23. Come and hang out a while.

I’ve seen the heat here put young healthy grown men 6ft under. It’s not a laughing matter.

[sop]

22. DeSantis no longer cares about Florida, he's just positioning himself for MAGA primary votes.

Republican primary voters respond to his sort of mindless belligerence, cruelty and self-destructive ignorance. DeSantis only wants to be viewed as the anti-Biden.

[Phoenix61]

25. Yep! His "I'm standing in the way" speech was nearby.

I’m sure he was thrilled it made the national news. He doesn’t care how many bodies he has to step on, over, or around as long as it pushes his career forward. I do think he has seriously misjudged the situation.

[Mariana]

33. De Santis never cared about Florida, or about any of the people therein. nt.

[brooklynite]

28. Why do people keep imagining mass protests?

Its not the way people express their political views in the United States.

[LeftInTX]

29. We were in the streets on July 31st...

It was too hot for me though...masks were strictly enforced..

[GulfCoast66]

31. Because we are not French? That's not how Americans generally roll.

DeSantis has painted himself into a corner. He is running for President so knew he had to have the crazy base. So he has taken batshit crazy positions on Covid because that is what they want.

While I would not bet against him re-election it not a slam dunk like it would have been last August.

But he can’t turn back. Any backing down will be seen as weakness by his base.

But democrats, independents and non religious republicans are getting pissed. If we have a good candidate we can beat him and nip his presidential hopes in the bud.

People in Florida are scared at the numbers of Covid cases. Even the republicans I talk to. But I don’t talk to religious ones.

[Mariana]

35. "Any backing down will be seen as weakness by his base."

He's certainly being mighty quiet about how well the vaccines work. A few weeks ago he dared to say that the vaccines are saving lives, but he very quickly realized his supporters didn't like that, and so he shut right up about it.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

32. Live in TX now. Most people don't care about the big

picture. Never would they protest for a cause. Never would they even research info on a cause.

All about small circle of close family. And sucking it up. Hell, I saw where someone's aunt died of Covid. "Oh well .. everyone's gotta die someway."

[Poiuyt]

34. A lot of people in FL love DeSantis

I follow a Facebook group dealing with Sanibel Island. I've heard people there praising him as a "great governor."

Barf