This is Carl Hiaasen's last column

[Sancho]

https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2021/03/15/this-is-carl-hiaasens-last-column-column/?

Reubin Askew was governor, and a harmless fellow named Gerald Ford was president only because the paranoid criminal who preceded him had been forced to resign, and the criminal president’s criminal vice president had also quit after getting busted for taking bribes.

Nobody becomes a journalist because they yearn for mass adoration. Donald Trump didn’t turn the public against the mainstream media; the news business has never been popular. We’re tasked with delivering information that some readers don’t want to hear, and will claim not to believe.

The internet has made it easier to wage war on the truth. Yet, as shown by the Capitol uprising of selfie-snapping Trump rioters, social media also serves to lure the dumb, deluded and dangerous into the open. Seeing them all offers important, if unsettling, clarity.

As you read these words, some scrofulous tunnel rat in public office is busy selling your best interests down the road. It might be happening at your town council, zoning board, water district, or county commission — but it is happening.

It's worth reading the whole article...

[CrispyQ]

1. +1

Retail corruption is now a breeze, since newspapers and other media can no longer afford enough reporters to cover all the key government meetings. You wake up one day, and they’re bulldozing 20 acres of pines at the end of your block to put up a Costco. Your kids ask what’s going on, and you can’t tell them because you don’t have a clue.

That’s what happens when hometown journalism fades — neighborhood stories don’t get reported until it’s too late, after the deal’s gone down. Most local papers are gasping for life, and if they die it will be their readers who lose the most.

[Paladin]

2. Take a few minutes to read the whole thing.

Genuinely inspiring.

Looking forward to many additional novels from Hiaasen.

[PJMcK]

3. He's one of my favorite writers

His columns are scathing, honest and passionate.

His novels are brilliant, clever and they leap off the pages of Miami's newspapers.

His book about his life with golf, "The Downhill Lie," is hysterical and personal at the same time.

He's a wonderful writer. I'll miss his regular columns.

Thanks for the post, Sancho.

[sheshe2]

4. I have read his books, always liked him.

He has a way with words.

Good read thanks for posting, Sancho.

[bahboo]

5. damn...one of my all time favs...

his columns were must reading when I lived in South Florida during the 80's. Hope to hell he keeps writing his novels, which have so many layers of funny, weird, infuriating and just ooze Florida.

[SergeStorms]

6. Love Carl Hiaasen's work.

I'm a New Yorker, so I came to Hiaasen's work through Dave Barry's syndicated column back in the 90s. I started reading Barry's column and books, and was familiar enough with Florida that they had a "home town" feel for me. Then he mentioned this guy named 'Carl Hiaasen', and I decided to give him a look see. This guy was nuts! He was as crazy, or crazier, than Dave Barry. That led to other Florida writers; Elmore, MacDonald, Buchanan, Dorsey (one of my favorites) Hendricks, Crews, and the list goes on and on. There's a whole nest of them down there, and the world is a far better place for them.

I'll continue to buy and enjoy Carl's books, because there's just too much Florida weird, and I'd hate to miss out. You had a fantastic newspaper career, Carl, and enjoy your semi-retired Florida life. You made me smile so many, many times.

[bahboo]

9. I can see by your name you're a big Tim Dorsey fan...

yep, Florida crime fiction is a genre on to itself. Laurence Shames is another fun one, more centered on Key West. But man, so much to explore. May check out some of the names on your list.

[Hela]

7. Scrofulous!

Man, I'll miss his columns, but I'm glad he'll still be writing books.

[XanaDUer2]

8. Met him at the Miami book fair

way back.

[MustLoveBeagles]

11. K&R

[Sedona]

12. This Hurricane Andrew refugee has been reading Carls columns forever

Left SoFlo in 1993 and the internet brought him back into my life a few years later.

He will be missed. Two more key paragraphs

Retail corruption is now a breeze, since newspapers and other media can no longer afford enough reporters to cover all the key government meetings. You wake up one day, and they’re bulldozing 20 acres of pines at the end of your block to put up a Costco. Your kids ask what’s going on, and you can’t tell them because you don’t have a clue.

That’s what happens when hometown journalism fades — neighborhood stories don’t get reported until it’s too late, after the deal’s gone down. Most local papers are gasping for life, and if they die it will be their readers who lose the most.

[Baitball Blogger]

13. I haven't read one of his articles, and now I know what a mistake that was.

He was writing about all the things I needed to know before buying a house in Florida.