Warnings not to visit Florida are global now. It is dangerous for many people. What a commentary

[RKP5637]

Last edited Fri May 12, 2023, 04:49 PM - Edit history (1)

on Florida this governor, DeSantis is doing. I think it will effect those traveling to Florida for recreation. I find this chilling.

https://www.donotvisitflorida.com/

THERE IS ALSO THIS: https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/florida/experiences/news/multiple-travel-warnings-have-been-issued-against-florida

[sarcasmo]

1. Florida is a rogue State. Texas will be the next to receive the same warning.

[yellowdogintexas]

2. I am seriously shocked Texas wasn't the first one

for gun violence alone

[eppur_se_muova]

7. State Dept. should issue travel warnings for TX ... to all Americans. nt

[anciano]

20. Agreed .....

Our current situation here is appalling.

[TeamProg]

23. +1 hell, I have no idea what TX has to offer tourists. No Grand Canyon,

Escalante, Yosemite, Arches, skiing, river rafting, etc.

What are TX tourist destinations?

[BlackSkimmer]

35. I only visited as a recruit in San Antonio. And I've been in all the airports.

But that area is very nice (not that I saw much of it). They have the Alamo (not much to see), but I'm told the Riverwalk is gorgeous.

Austin is supposed to be nice.

I'm not much of a Texas type person, but I understand they have some nice areas, just as most states in this country do.

[Dave says]

88. I've been on the river walk. It is nice.

(San Antonio, of course - a century ago. And yes, while a historical marker, there’s not much to see at the Alamo.)

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

112. The key to the Alamo is to go on the weekend

Yes, it's crazy busy, but they open up the grounds in the back, and various people from the local museums and historical societies set up exhibits to show what life was like in San Antonio at the time. We got to see women tatting up bobbin lace or spinning and weaving cloths, an exhibit of what a typical "traveling salesman" would offer, people making toys for children, craftsmen even making violins or other small instruments, various Native American artifacts on display--

All of it was super-informative and fun, too.

[Ilsa]

53. Big Bend National Park is nice. nt

[TexasBushwhacker]

60. TX is actually #4 in tourism behind California, Florida and Nevada

However, as a Texan, I think a lot of our tourism is Texans going from one part of the state to another. Texans travelling to the coast, others going to Big Bend or the Hill Country. We have a lot of state parks and natural areas that are nice to visit, and it's a great place for birdwatchers and fishermen. Then there are 3 big events in Austin - ACL, SXSW and the Austin Film Festival.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

111. Texas actually has a great deal to see and do

San Antonio has something like 5 other missions along with the Alamo, and they are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, I hear the city has done a great deal to make it a more enjoyable experience, like building a big trail to connect all the missions. Don't know where that stands these days. The city also has the Riverwalk, and a couple of major theme parks. Some good museums, and a fairly decent transit system to move between them. I think people can also tour some of the military bases--or people could when I was stationed there. For a laugh, make a detour from the airport towards San Pedro road along I-410, to see the giant boots outside a mall there. They even light 'em up for the holidays.

Austin, from my experience, is a bore. You can do most of what can be done there in a weekend: Capital, Texas History Museum, Barton Springs for a dip, a trawl down 6th street for music and getting wasted. Other that? YAAAAAWWWWNNNN.

The Hill Country has a great deal of hiking and natural beauty to enjoy. There's a drive going out from Bandera to Garner State Park that's quite gorgeous. They aren't kidding about the hills there, though--be careful on some of the roads, because they can be steep and twisty.

El Paso has lots of desert-y outdoor stuff to do nearby, and some mountains quite close as well, plus of course getting across the border for shopping.

The Rio Grande Valley is an internationally renowned bird-watching paradise (a flock of parakeets flew right over my head when I was there visiting once), and I also saw some rare butterflies in the Valley. Easy access to Mexico, too. South Padre Island is down there as well, for those who like beaches. Port Mansfield and Baffin Bay both have excellent fishing, for people into that. The King Ranch is a bit to the north of the Valley itself, and the whooping crane park is a bit further up the coast.

Big Bend is an amazing national park, and I think there are some big national parks of pine barrens in the eastern part of the state. Never went to any of them, but if green and trees are your thing, well, there you go.

Caddo Lake State park on the Louisiana border is extremely weird and a little creepy. It's the only natural lake in the state, and it's sort of swampy and trees with long trails of Spanish moss--that sort of thing. I seem to recall that Jay Gould had a house over near there, but it's been a while. I might have him confused with someone else.

Houston has the Johnson Space Center. I took my son there when he was that perfect age to enjoy it--10-12. Had the time of his life.

Palo Duro Canyon up near Amarillo is the Texas form of the Grand Canyon.

So much for nothing to offer tourists, eh?

[TeamProg]

114. So, lots of places to get shot?

[yellowdogintexas]

115. Fort Worth will keep you busy for days!

FW has the Stockshow and Rodeo every January. It runs for 2 1/2 weeks and is a major attraction.

The Fort Worth Stockyards is another major attraction, with a huge western theme and even its own daily rodeo and a cattle drive. (herd of longhorns are paraded down Exchange Ave and led out to a nice green pasture in the morning, and herded back in the afternoon)

The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition every 4 years is one of the premier music competitions in the world, and attracts the finest young concert pianists on the brink of starting their careers. (Cliburn Foundation has now added a Junior Competition and an Amateur's Competition (competitors must not be performing professionally).

The Schwab Challenge PGA Tournament (formerly known as The Colonial) happens on Memorial Day Weekend. It is the only stop on the PGA Tour which has been played on the same course since its beginning (77th Tournament begins next week)

The Cultural District has 3 world class art museums, The Cowgirl Hall of Fame and a Science Museum within walking distance. The Kimbell Art Museum hosts some extraordinary traveling tours of fabulous art.

Right in the middle of all this culture is the WIll Rogers Equestrian Center, which hosts National Equestrian events all year.

The Bass Performance Hall is home to the FW Symphony, Opera and Ballet as well as theater productions. There are also a number of smaller theaters in the near downtown area.

About 40 miles SW of Ft Worth is Glen Rose, home of Dinosaur Valley State Park where one can play in the Paluxy River and walk in the footprints of dinosaurs. A couple of miles away is the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, with all sorts of critters to ogle as you drive through the park.

We have a lively and safe downtown, a world class zoo and a number of attractive parks.

Plus, Arlington is only about 30 minutes away. Six Flags, a huge water park, the Texas Rangers and Cowboys stadiums are all in Arlington.

You can go to Dallas if you must but FW is much more laid back.

[yellowdogintexas]

116. No National Parks in East Texas but I think there are several

state parks.

There are only 2 National Parks in Texas: Big Bend and Guadelupe

[BlackSkimmer]

43. You do realize this isn't a real warning? nt

[Captain Zero]

113. Florida is a Hate State

They even hate Mickey Mouse now.

[Aristus]

3. I don't think the resulting loss of tourist income is going to make a difference.

Repukes will just keep right on voting for the people who are making this whole thing worse. They're too stupid to see the damage they're doing to themselves.

[TeamProg]

25. When the convention biz stops coming the local conservative

Chamber of Congress won’t like it.

[BlackSkimmer]

63. It's not a real warning.

So...the conventions will still be coming, and the bowl games, and the tourists from the US and all the other countries in the world, not to mention the thousands who move there every year.

[TeamProg]

69. The everyday news is enough of a warning. Travelers have a better reason, re: safety, to avoid TX.

Florida doesn't strike me as being super violent, yet, but this no-permit carry just got started. Give it a month.

[Tommy Carcetti]

4. Not to dismiss DeSantis' shenannigans, but that's just a random website. NOT a travel warning.

Last edited Fri May 12, 2023, 01:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Different when you're talking about official government warnings.

[RKP5637]

16. There are also several travel warnings but not state issued. n/t

[inthewind21]

17. Exactly

[plimsoll]

18. I agree,

I mean it seems to need a travel warning, but I suspect the Federal government would have kittens if a foreign power issued a travel warning for Florida. Until that actually happens it's just good advice. Although if they want to stay open they should probably host it offshore.

[wnylib]

24. Exactly. If various countries were giving

these warnings, the wording would vary from one country to another. But the Spanish version is a direct translation of the English one, and the German one appears to be the same. I can't read the others, but it seems safe to say that they probably are also direct translations of the original English one.

Statements issued separately as an official government warning from various countries would not be so uniformly similar.

[BlackSkimmer]

36. It's just some random website that someone made.

It doesn't even make sense.

No one with an accent? Makes no sense even as a spoof.

Silly.

[Celerity]

107. Fodors is not some rando site, (granted the warning is not state issued) it is one of the biggest tr

guide firms in the Western world, especially the Anglophone parts.

[BlackSkimmer]

108. The OP is a website, and it's not Fodor's. The OP posted a random website.

Then he tried to say that since a guide book ALSO said something SIMILAR, that it all makes sense. That website is not Fodor's unless he's edited it from yesterday's.

I've traveled most of my life, so I'm familiar with Fodor's.

Lol, not my favorite. Learned that very early on.

[Celerity]

110. Multiple big name nations have issued official warnings at some level for the US

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217909125#post109

Sweden did last year as well, not sure if it is still in effect, although my wife says yes.

[Hekate]

54. Fodor's writes a line of travel books, so not entirely "random"

I think their comments will be taken seriously by the people who buy their guides, and with good reason.

Recommend reading the article at link — it references a number of sources, not just an off the cuff opinion.

[GoneOffShore]

5. I was hoping that this was a site with official warnings from various countries.

If it was from country governments, I was going to post the links on various expat groups.

[intheflow]

12. I'd hoped that too, but Fodor's issued one and their guides are used globally.

So the word is getting out. Agreed that the OP's website is basically just a blog with links to news stories.

https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/florida/experiences/news/multiple-travel-warnings-have-been-issued-against-florida

[GoneOffShore]

13. Good to know. This is something that is worth sharing.

[intheflow]

6. I find it rather delightful.

Not that the state is dangerous for sane/LGBTQ+/Muslim/Jewish/etc. people, but that the state will see a significant loss of tourist revenue due entirely to it's delusional and cruel governor.

[wnylib]

26. It will also affect Disney, giving DeSantis an economic win over Disney.

[intheflow]

50. I'm sure Disney can handle it.

[Chakaconcarne]

8. Good luck finding it....

Nothing came up when I searched

[grumpyduck]

11. Funny. It came up just now.

[sarisataka]

9. A website that is owned

By someone through a Canadian service that conceals identities is hardly an authoritative source.

It is someone willing to spend about $200 per year to make their statement on Florida available on the web and hide who they really are.

[BlackSkimmer]

39. Exactly.

And people will post it on social media, and the same people who believe anything on the internet will believe it's real.

[RKP5637]

44. Here are the travel warnings issued.

https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/florida/experiences/news/multiple-travel-warnings-have-been-issued-against-florida

[BlackSkimmer]

47. That is not the one your OP is about though, is it?

Why not edit and admit?

[RKP5637]

49. Look, all I did was post a link! Bye! n/t

[tinrobot]

10. DeSantis has pushed it too far and the pendulum is about to swing back hard.

[TeamProg]

22. One would hope so! But he got re-elected.

[tinrobot]

34. Pete Wilson got re-elected in California

His support of Prop 187, however, doomed the GOP in the state. Hispanic voters in the state switched their allegiance to Democrats, which helped turn the state blue.

DeSantis and his GOP have alienated enough Florida voters to cause a similar shift. We'll see how that plays out.

[Sky Jewels]

31. You would think so, but

Florida has been attracting MAGA assholes like flies to shit. It's going to take a long time for most of them to die off.

[tinrobot]

37. The ones in the Villages are dying off as we speak.

Most of the MAGA types are not very young. The young voters replacing them are overwhelmingly liberal.

No wonder the GOP is wanting to raise the voting age and enact policies that prevent college students from voting.

[Meadowoak]

14. You couldn't pay me to visit Florida

[lpbk2713]

21. And all that cement and asphalt will add to the warming effect.

I read somewhere that only one in three Florida adults was actually born in Florida.

[ancianita]

29. Where do you live in Florida? I'm on the west coast, grew up in Broward County, went to FSU.

[BlackSkimmer]

48. Guess we're not getting an answer.

Interesting.

[ancianita]

55. Nope. And that's a Big Tell. I don't like blanket "air of hatred" accusations leveled at

a state I actually live in. There are people all over the U.S. who hate. But nowhere is there an "air of hatred." That's utterly ridiculous.

This poster doesn't need to "air of hatred"-slam a state that produces Val Demings, Maxwell Frost, Charlie Crist and other well known Democratic leaders.

I get goddam tired of people slamming Florida when they don't live here and haven't seen the good fight Dems have put up since long before the Bush v Gore slam it got from SCOTUS.
Not to mention the arts and music -- Tom Petty, Jim Morrison, T-Pain, Johnny Van Zant, Gloria Estefan, Debby Harry, Ray Charles, Dicky Betts, Diplo, Miami Sound Machine, Flo Rida, etc. -- that have come out of Florida.

WTFF

[BlackSkimmer]

42. Where do you live there? I'm just not hearing this from my friends there.

I have friends all over the state.

They cannot stand DeSantis, but nothing has changed in their daily lives.

[allegorical oracle]

51. Moved up from the Tampa Bay area, my birthplace, to N Florida. Yeah, a ton of MAGAts, here, but the

rivers, springs, clean air, scant traffic, fireflies, wildlife and rolling hills offset most of the icky people. We need more people like you to move into these rural areas to turn the state's politics around.

[ancianita]

58. You still haven't said where you live in Florida.

Everything you say about it is patently untrue. "Air of hatred and tension everyplace...road rage...overcrowded roads..." are flat out lies.

[RKP5637]

62. I guess I must just be delusional! Do some searches on the net, it's now

sadly ranked the worst state in the US. Are you in Real Estate? I'm just deleting my comment!

[ancianita]

65. You said it, not me. Come on, now. Where do you live in Florida.

Because if you don't, you can stop this. I had a real estate license in Illinois. I understand real estate, whatever you're trying to say by asking.

Deleting your comment? You should, imo, delete your OP. You poison Democrats' interest in a state where Democrats live.

Within seconds of my googling I found that Florida's ranked the #2 fun state in the country!

https://wallethub.com/edu/most-fun-states/34665

[RKP5637]

71. OK, if you must! Indian Creek Island n/t

[ancianita]

73. Haha Okay. Maybe you could be a spy for us at the nearby Doral convention, catch some

shots of right wing loons that are speechifying and selling their "influence" to curious billionaires.

[RKP5637]

75. Can I use a drone? n/t

[ancianita]

76. Dunno, can you? If lived that close, I'd rather see the inside stuff, wouldn't you?

[RKP5637]

78. I could wear a MAGA hat, they would let me right in with them! n/t

[ancianita]

82. That's the spirit! Don't forget the golf shirt.

[RKP5637]

84. Yes!!! n/t

[RKP5637]

74. Florida, Montana among worst for LGBTQ community The index ranked states according to five areas:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/06/01/best-worst-us-states-lgbtq-gay-inclusiveness-pride-month-2022/7454218001/

[EX500rider]

85. Ranked worst by who?

It's ranked 10th best by the U.S. & World News using metrics from WHO

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/worst-states-to-live-in

The actual worst is:
Louisiana (#50 overall)
Healthcare: 46
Education: 48
Economy: 47
Infrastructure: 47
Opportunity: 48
Fiscal Stability: 42
Crime & Corrections: 50
Natural Environment: 49

[RKP5637]

86. Florida, Montana among worst for LGBTQ community. Please see link.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/06/01/best-worst-us-states-lgbtq-gay-inclusiveness-pride-month-2022/7454218001/

[EX500rider]

90. Sounds like somebody who's never been to Key West for Fantasy Fest

St Pete has one of the biggest gay pride parades in the southeast

[RKP5637]

94. Yes, it does!!! n/t

[EX500rider]

98. Not really what the article says in it though.

But while New York held the top spot for the second consecutive year and South Carolina scored the worst for the third year in a row.
It says Fla has dropped 3 to 4 pts but still scores a 55 Vs 33 for S Carolina.
Looks like Fla scores the highest amoung all the Southern States & Txs.

[lark2]

19. I've lived in the south for 50 of my 71 years.

I live in North FL, have relatives in Sarasota FL and tons of relatives in TX & LA with a few in Wa. So, I've traveled by car throughout the south a lot in my life. The ONLY places I've ever gotten hasseled, even in the days when I was recognizably a hippie, was in TX, & LA. Had trouble 2 times in each state. LA police actually tried to shakedown my dad, but they had no idea who they were dealing with and they eventually let us go, after about 2 hours. I had trouble with LA police also in 1987 but we paid our way out of that one. Twice in Texas I;ve been hassled at restaurants, once was really scary and serious. Never had any issues with a restaurant in FL, even when I looked like a hippy. Wasn;t hasseled when I went to Home Depot about a year into the Covid thing and wore a mask. I was one of the few wearing masks, but no one bothered me.

That being said, I don't care if tourists don't come here. Let the FL businesses reap the whirlwind of supporting "business focused" repugs, they earned it, or rather earned the loss of patronage. If FL businesses suffer, you can bet the ruling party here (repugs) will suffer too!!

[PatSeg]

27. Welcome to DU!

I lived in Pensacola for a couple of years a long time ago. I can't believe how much it has changed.

I spent some time in Texas back in the mid seventies and I knew people who got hassled by law enforcement. It was often an intimidating place and when I left, I swore I'd never go back, not even "passing through".

Welcome to DU!

[DENVERPOPS]

28. Take the visitors money out of Florida

and Dems boycott traveling/vacationing in any RED state.......

[allegorical oracle]

52. Welcome to DU. Been up in N Fla for 40 years, now. It's nice. Just need to change the politics. nt

[lark2]

97. Thanks, but I'm actually an old timer.

Retired 6 years ago and I'd originally signed up using my work email, and there was a glitch with DU. I got tired of not being able to like or reply so just gave in and started a new one. So now instead of lark, I'm lark2. Hoping I can get admin. to fix this.

[Tickle]

30. Is disney world included?

If so I can't boycott florida

[BlackSkimmer]

33. Yep, it is still in Florida.

Employs a helluva a lot of LGBT folks too.

[ancianita]

56. Sure. Florida has lots of Democrats. Disney World and its cities are full of them.

Democrats shouldn't boycott red states over their governors or batshit legislatures.
That's total bullshit.

Support of Democrats means supporting them everywhere.

[BlackSkimmer]

32. That is someone's homemade website.

Why would you represent it as something it is not?

"Individuals with an accent"? Wtf is that lol? Which accent? Have they been to Florida lately?

The entire state speaks with an accent...New York is well represented, Cuba, of course; the midwest is probably the winner, but lots of Boston accents there too.

You got to go north in the state if you want to hear a southern accent though.

[RKP5637]

46. Here is this one too!

https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/florida/experiences/news/multiple-travel-warnings-have-been-issued-against-florida

[ancianita]

57. Give it up, RKP5637. Just stop.

I live here. If Florida were as dangerous as you portray, I'd have been long gone by now.

Never judge a state by its worst folk. Only by its best people, who far outnumber the worst. That goes for ANY state.

[intheflow]

102. Just curious as to your race, gender, and economic status.

Because that Foder’s link is reporting on three highly respectable organizations’ travel advisories: the NAACP, Equality Florida, and the Florida Immigration Coalition. But why trust what the Black, brown and LGBTQ+ residents say and how they feel, amirite?

[ancianita]

104. You go first.

Are you right? No. You misread me. Of course the advisories would be for the NAACP, Equality Florida, and the Florida Immigration Coalition. I get that.

You miss my overall points to those who condemn Florida altogether.

1. The "united" part of the nation's name is important. Unity is NOT uniformity, unlike what the Right is told by its owners to want (while it makes itself an exception whenever convenient).

2. No one can justify excising any state from this union based on the worst characteristics of its politics. Florida is the current whipping boy of many liberal left (I'm to the left of Bernie) Democrats, and I'm calling that out.

[EX500rider]

38. Fla is ranked 27th in US homicides

Only 2 spots different then Calif

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_intentional_homicide_rate

[BlackSkimmer]

40. Who is first?

And maybe whatever web designer did this one - can do another for that state. Or the other 26!

[ancianita]

59. Yeah. If they want to fearmonger around DU, try being accurate, at least.

[EX500rider]

99. DC & Puerto Rico are 1 & 2

Worst State is Louisiana with a score of 15.8 homicides per 100,000

Fla is at 5.9

BIG difference

[BlackSkimmer]

41. Affect/effect.

One is a noun, and one is a verb.

[FakeNoose]

45. And yet, DisneyWorld is doing land-office business this year

They survived the MAGA boycott, and now it's the normal Democrats who are refusing to enter the state. But their DisneyWorld attendance is back up to pre-Covid numbers. I would imagine that it's probably safe to stay at the Disney-owned hotels. Never leave their premises until it's time to go home.

[ancianita]

61. Yes, it is, Fake.

And no, it's safe to stay anywhere in Florida. I know. I've lived all over this state.

Do I think Florida's got problems? Hell yeah, and batshit trumpers are at the top of my list. But in general, its cities are as liberal as those in the north -- like Chicago where I lived for 50 years -- and travel is safe.

Don't believe the hype -- DeSantis's or fearmongering tabloid media -- we must remain as "united" as the nation's name implies.

[BlackSkimmer]

64. Thank you ancianita.

I refuse to let the governor of ANY state influence where I live or where I visit.

Serena Williams lives in Florida, Dave Barry Lives in Florida, Carl Hiassen lives in Florida, Nancy Pelosi has a house there...and I'd be willing to bet there are MANY Dems with property there.

At any rate, people from everywhere FLOCK to Florida, and that's not changing because of some piss-ant governor.

[ancianita]

66. Thank YOU. You've been remarkably more restrained than I've been. Good for you.

I LUV Dave Barry, Tim Dorsey (No Sunscreen for the Dead is hilarious!) Carl Hiassen, and the fact that Nancy Pelosi has a house here.

You're also dead on about where the "accents" are -- lots of New England and New Yahk on the east coast, midwest American on the west coast, and southern accents north of Gainesville.

[ancianita]

67. AND. We can't forget MSNBC's Joy Reid!

Straight out of Broward County, where I grew up.

[bdamomma]

81. nice post

nice to read.

[ecstatic]

100. I understand your point, but supposedly tiny d won by nearly 20 points

Including in the Miami-Dade County area. So if the state is liberal, WTF happened in the last election?

[RKP5637]

77. But they are apparently reviewing if they want to make any more investments in Florida.

All of this fighting with Disney is so unnecessary.

[Hortensis]

101. THIS. There's TRUTH to chew on there to offset overblown sensationalism.

Sure, there are real concerns in the news coming out of Florida, and if we were tourists considering travel to Florida we'd choose to go elsewhere while its people get things back on track.

BUT, in fact, Democrats refusing to enter the state for reasons of personal social responsibility are far fewer than those coming for the usual reasons.

Same for Canadian snowbirds. Some are going elsewhere in disgust, but their numbers are lost among the numbers coming south; many are returnees to friends, familiar winter places, etc. A bigger concern for some seems to be inflation in Canada and abroad and continued ability to afford to winter in Florida and other points south.

Most tourists visiting Disney don't stay on premises but rent rooms and residences in the surrounding area, dine and shop elsewhere, visit other people and places. We've rented our place almost 2 hours away to tourists with Disney topping long to-do lists.

And, although there is reason for concern and aversion, walking high-crime neighborhoods in drag anywhere, including "at home," is a bad idea and most avoid it wherever they are.

Even more than in the past, the hoards who descended on Florida during spring break this year brought more criminals with them than were waiting for them; there were guns and murders in Miami, vandalism from unruly crowds presumably infected by today's craziness, over 200 arrests!. But none in Ft. Lauderdale.
And overall they pretty much survived to return home in the same numbers as before the nation went crazy.

[SYFROYH]

68. Such Fakery.

Weak sauce.

[RKP5637]

80. What/where is the Fakery? Thanks. n/t

[SYFROYH]

87. These non-governmental sites have about as much clout as my grandmother....

...saying don't go to Florida in Polish.

[raccoon]

70. Good!

[bdamomma]

72. Oh how many

more states are going to join. Putin's dream to divide the US.

Florabama, that's what Randi Rhodes calls it.

[RKP5637]

79. The sad part is it is all self-generated in the US. n/t

[ancianita]

83. Yes, how many

I myself was thinking about Putin style propaganda that helps red states stay red, and tries to convince Democrats to abandon them. Randi Rhodes isn't helping. And red state Dems need fellow Democrats' donations and help.

It's fine to criticize Florida from a position of fact-based fairness, but no one criticizes the other red states where Democrats are also battling against gun, fascist, racist, sexist, voter suppression laws all the time.

[LowerManhattanite]

89. Place won't see any tourism money from me OR as few active dollars spent with companies HQ'd there...

…until some things turn around politically.

My same feelings on TX, MS and a coupla’ other places. There’s fifty damn states—I can easily live without mucking about with four or five of ‘em for a while.✊🏾

[Skittles]

91. I wouldn't go to that fucked up state

and I live in fucking TEXAS

[RKP5637]

96. Florida is working to be number one. Come vacation in Florida, the most fucked up

state in the US. Florida has misery for everyone.

[NowISeetheLight]

92. HaHa

Florida is like the North Korea of America. Maybe the state department should start a new list of states that have been taken over by fascists?

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

[RKP5637]

95. It sure is getting to seem that way.

[Kaleva]

93. According to that site, Florida is safe for for white heterosexuals.

"Extreme caution should be taken by people of color, individuals who speak with an accent, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and international travelers."

https://www.donotvisitflorida.com/

[intheflow]

103. Exactly.

Really makes me wonder about the race and gender of the people here swearing that Florida is safe!! The Fodor’s warning is about warnings from the NAACP and Equity Florida.

[Hortensis]

105. When truth won't provide a satisfactory degree of confirmation bias,

isn't it time to examine the bias?

What Florida's state government, elected by a distinct majority of its people, is doing is very wrong and is causing by far most harm to those who live there, as well as those who visit. Being ANGRY AND BOYCOTTING TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST IT is justified. Reality is bad enough.

People in Florida can't be shamed by blatantly sensationalized propaganda nonsense, btw, because even those addicted to lies are able to recognize it for what it is. In contrast, the truth IS shameful, and shaming.

Sensible people at increased risk also know Florida's still overall very safe. Also that the increases in active hostility and violence toward targeted groups are NOT just U.S. or Florida phenomena, they're planetwide and they're nationwide. They're in your towns.

[RKP5637]

106. True, but there are states that are far better than Florida. n/t

[Celerity]

109. The UK, France, Germany, Japan, NZ, Australia, Canada have all issued travel warnings for the US

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/travel/article/travel-warnings-other-countries-us-violence/index.html