Florida Today published my letter to the editor. (re: The Slate of Hate)

[Pacifist Patriot]

It's probably behind a paywall. https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2023/05/21/gov-desantis-and-slate-of-hate-letters-to-the-editor-may-21-2023/70226210007/

I submitted it yesterday morning and got a call within 20 minutes. I expected it to be the typical, "is this you and did you send it?" verification call. I was in a meeting and had to call back.

When I introduced myself, the editor immediately launched into how much she appreciated the letter, said she squealed when she read it and called her husband over so he could read it too. She's working on a story that will be published next week about the slate of hate leading to a brain drain in our community. She mentioned three families she interviewed for the piece who relocated out of state recently. I knew two of them! We ran in the same circles about 5-10 years ago.

She also said she was getting nervous because the deadline is noon Friday and the editors were worried they wouldn't have enough content to publish in the section.

Don't be shy about submitting a letter to your local paper!

Here's the text:

The “slate of hate” and S.B 300 passed by our GOP held legislature signed into law by presidential hopeful and governor of Florida when it suits his political ambitions, Ron DeSantis, is chilling in its aggregative impact. Elected officials have willingly put the well-being and safety of Floridians in serious jeopardy because of religious ideology and for political currency.

I guarantee that if you do not feel affected by these laws, you care deeply about someone who is. They dramatically impact a family member, friend, colleague, or neighbor. They are ill-defined measures designed to sow confusion and breed contempt rather than improve our lives or safeguard our communities. They violate both “love thy neighbor” and our constitutional rights.

These laws don’t just assault the freedoms of the LGBTQ+ and women of childbearing age in our state, they curtail the liberty of healthcare providers, educators, and others. If you don’t think they impact you, someone you love does not feel safe being honest and authentic in your presence. Consider that carefully.

Floridians of good conscience should be appalled by this blatant violation of these lawmakers’ oath of office to support, protect, and defend the Constitutions of the U.S. and Florida. These laws are brazenly undemocratic and shockingly immoral. Taxpayers will be funding their legal defense for months maybe years to come.

I pray Florida voters pledge their loyalty to the state and their country the next time they cast a ballot and cease supporting an agenda of bigotry and discord.

----

In retrospect I wish I had ended with the word "oppression" instead of "discord."

[niyad]

1. Congratulations. And thank you for this very important letter. May it open minds

and hearts.

[scarletlib]

2. Great letter. Thanks from a beleaguered transplanted Floridian.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

35. Here, here.

We left FL when the handwriting on the wall was impossible to ignore -- Rick Scott. We still have family there and are begging them to leave before it becomes too difficult for them to do so.

Republicans have turned FL from a once beautiful paradise into a cesspool of hate, greed and bigotry.

[intheflow]

3. Fantastic LTE!

And I think ending it with discord is better than oppression. Of course it’s oppression and also that’s a word like woke or CRT to conservatives. Discord gets the message across and increases the chance someone who needs to hear this might actually hear it. ✌🏼

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Appreciate that insight!

[LisaM]

36. I like "discord" better too.

I agree, using "oppression" is code language for the right.

[malaise]

4. K & R

Fabulous

[Walleye]

5. Excellent job, keep up the good work

[PatrickforB]

6. Ultimately people will wake up, Pacifist. They are waking up now. DeSantis and his wife have

gone too far. This was a great letter, and ultimately the pen will prove mightier than the sword.

You (and this editor) are absolutely right about the coming 'brain drain' from FL. I'm thinking that any sane, educated and skilled member of the labor force will shortly, or has already begun researching opportunities in other places. They are doing a Wall Street lead on the article talking about only three families, but as an economist specializing in tracking labor force trends, I can tell you that I fully expect to see increases in migration of educated workers from FL, and other states across the south as anti-abortion laws, censorship and other policies based on homo- trans- and xenophobia are enacted.

For example, you should know that our national 'cap' for bringing in skilled workers from other countries is 85,000 this year. Seriously. And, of these, 20,000 must have their country's equivalent of a master's degree or higher. I'll tell you this - in my state, the Denver metro area could absorb ALL 85,000 of these skilled H1B people today, right now. And it wouldn't even fill all the need.

When a company like Disney pulls $1 billion in growth that costs a state 2,000 jobs, that will have far reaching effects throughout the state.

I think we're seeing Wall Street becoming increasingly uneasy at these regressive, oppressive, bigoted laws. The worshippers of the golden bull idol on Wall Street are the ones who really call the shots around here. They have since the Powell Manifesto was penned in 1971 and laid out the plan for the present corporate takeover of the republic.

It is ironic, I think, in light of DeSantis' Disney debacle, that the old proverb says, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." If these right wingnuts piss off Wall Street while trying to placate their utterly crazy base, they will lose elections because Wall Street will not risk its profits on the unprofitable ideologies of these Birchers.

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. Thank you for that information!

My family is one of the exodus. Or will be shortly. When we help our third child move back to school in NY for his junior year in August my husband and I are going to start the house hunt in VA.

We began the prep work to put our house on the market about a year ago. The pace has just accelerated.

[erronis]

11. Super analysis. You lay out in very clear terms what the future holds for Florida

and other regressive states. These are many of the same types that think a US default on its debts will be "good" for them. It sounds like an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex - lack of reasoning and executive control.

[yardwork]

15. To be blunt, much of coastal Florida will be uninhabitable within decades.

There will be an exodus from Florida and other coastal areas in the southeast.

People living there now would probably be wise to relocate soon, before housing prices in other areas get too high.

[calimary]

17. And Disney may not be the only job-creator reading the proverbial writing on the wall.

The brain drain begins.

[skydive forever]

9. Hey! We're neighbors

Live in Rockledge. Grew up here. I sometimes think that I’m one of the few liberals that live here.

[Takket]

10. VERY well said. Excellent letter. I hope Florida Today is not retaliated against by DeathSantis

for publishing it.

[hay rick]

12. I have been watching a steady activist exodus on the Treasure Coast.

Especially women. Especially mothers. Especially mothers with daughters.

[Pacifist Patriot]

24. That's tragic for progressives. The two families I know...

who left were very active in the Brevard county Democrats. One was the chair for awhile and her husband ran for the US House when I ran (abortively) for the Florida House. The other was the woman who recruited me to run and was briefly my Comms Director.

It's not just a brain drain. It is a heart and soul drain.

[hay rick]

33. SP was fabulous. I wondered why she wasn't in this year's FDP Chair conversation.

In Martin and St. Lucie we lost our three most capable female leaders in the last year. Two withdrew from leadership and one moved out of state.

[Pacifist Patriot]

34. Breaks my heart.

[yardwork]

13. I like your use of "discord."

"Bigotry and discord" sums up both the points you make throughout your excellent letter.

Brava! I wish that I could write a letter to the editor. My employer has cautioned us not to do so. (It's interesting to think about the number of Americans whose work is now directly impacted by this wide swath of hateful laws. Our employers don't want us speaking publicly about the laws because of litigation and public relations. In essence, millions of us are muzzled.)

[Pacifist Patriot]

25. I thought about that when I encouraged people to submit letters.

A lot of people are effectively muzzled for a variety of reasons.

My employer would applaud me. My husband wondered if we should get an alarm system on our home first. It is sad that his question isn't rooted in paranoia, but the reality of our community.

[mgardener]

14. Great letter

Well written.

[jmbar2]

16. Great letter - thanks so much for speaking up!

I am a substitute in Oregon for special ed high schoolers. Out of 14 students in my class, one is trans and two were adopted by Lesbian couples who raised them with abundant love. Both of those kids lost BOTH moms in the past two years.

Even though we are far from Florida, these kids are aware of, and deeply affected by the hatefulness being spewed by fascist politicians. I cannot imagine not being able to acknowledge and discuss openly what's going on in their lives.

You spoke for many more today than you can even imagine.

Much gratitude!

One other note - our bathrooms are unisex, so there are no issues about who goes where.

[Pacifist Patriot]

26. Thank you. What other states do affect all Americans.

The most vulnerable know this all too well.

[Joinfortmill]

18. You rocked it.

[JustinBulletin]

19. Well written.

I think your choice of "discord" was apt without appearing hyperbolic.

[LoisB]

20. Excellent!

[CaptainTruth]

21. Excellent! Thanks for sharing!

[Spazito]

22. Excellent letter!

[JudyM]

23. Excellent letter, given the reception it deserves.

We need a lot more of that combo.

[FakeNoose]

27. Love this, and congratulations

Isn't it great to get a positive response to something that you put a lot of time and effort on?

Reporters and editors feel the same way when we respond to their hard work too. So it works both ways.

Great job, and thanks for sharing this.

[AmBlue]

28. Great letter!!

As a fellow sorely disgusted Floridian, I cannot thank you enough.

[Cha]

29. Well Done Pacific Patriot.. Ty!

[ProfessorGAC]

30. Excellent Letter

Very well written.
I've had a few LTTEs printed. I know your feeling.

[Blue Owl]

31. K&R

[sheshe2]

32. Well said, Pacifist Patriot.

Keep them coming.

[MLAA]

37. Fantastic! Very well done.

[fierywoman]

38. Beautifully written! & congrats that it got published. Use "oppression"

in the next letter you write that they will publish.

[Cha]

39. Kick TY!!

[Cha]

40. Kick TY!!