Who Decides Your Rights?

    For many years several conservative Republicans have gotten off track by deciding what Americans can do if it agrees with their narrow philosophy or can’t do if it doesn’t agree. Their quest to make American into their image has caused their leaders to swerve towards authoritarianism. The Governors of Florida and Texas are great examples of increasing power to dominate their people. Both Governors have total control of the legislative and judicial branches so they can pass any laws they want.

      Governor Ron DeSantis took away the authority given to Disney to locate in Florida because it disagreed with his executive orders to continue to allow life styles he disagreed with. Other companies have found governmental problems in Florida if they don’t fund his campaigns or if they fund his opponents.

      Now the “Red States” have decided any abortion is illegal even if a resident of their state gets one in another state. Twenty-three of those states are trying to restrict the sale by a drugstore or reception by mail of a safe abortion pill that has been used for decades. Texas is trying to make the drug illegal in all fifty states!

        What happened to individual rights as a major plank in the Republican platform?

        Republican Governor of Florida is Ronald Dion DeSantis with aspirations to be President of the United States. Said during a speech in Las Vegas, “We do not want an authoritarian to be President. We want someone who listens to the people and will do away with the “Woke culture.”

I see two conflicts with his campaign talk to engage the right wing of his party. One is Florida has never had a more authoritarian governor. If any Floridian of either party spoke against him or his policies he makes them suffer. Disney World is only the most famous example. He has gone after schools for what a teacher has done, libraries for books he didn’t like, Democratic voting areas by reducing the number of polling sites causing long lines and then closing them before those in line could vote.

Another conflict is the majority of Americans like “woke” – whatever than encompasses. Most Americans believe in science over stupidity and lies. Most Americans feel schools should be secular and teach truth independent of government. DeSantis just specified all schools teach the evils of communism one day each year. They are also restricted from teaching any subject he doesn’t like or deems immoral. Those who fail to comply with his demands will be punished.

I guess being an Authoritarian means being a dictator to some and a father figure to others. A minority wants the former and may vote for him but the majority fear government morality controls and won’t vote for him. It will be interesting to see how much money he gets from Big Business which does not want to reverse their plans.