Top Three Takeaways – November 18th, 2021

Top Three Takeaways – November 18th, 2021

1. Grossly irresponsible. The words Kenosha Wisconsin Judge Bruce Schroeder used to describe the media’s handling of the case. Not only is he right, in many respects, it’s understated. Would there even be a Rittenhouse case if not for grossly irresponsible news media’s handling of last year’s BLM riots? From unlawful assemblies to arson and looting, news media was grossly irresponsible. For months they downplayed the unlawful behavior of rioters, fanned the flames of racial tensions, refused to report on the Marxist origins of the movement which culminated in widespread defunding of police. What happened in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 25th, three months into the summer of riots became what it became in large part because of a grossly irresponsible news media. It’s only fitting that they’d continue to fail the justice system and the country generally as the jury deliberates. The grossly irresponsible news media is also why the American people didn’t get to see what Joe Biden is really all about until he was president which they now overwhelmingly reject. The grossly irresponsible news media comes in two forms. The intentional omitting of the truth and furthering their political narratives through what they do choose to cover. Both were in force last summer which led to where we are in the first place. That’s true of Kyle Rittenhouse, the jurors, Judge Schroeder and all of us under this administration. The more encouraging news in real-time is that whether it’s a judge in Kenosha or the average South Floridian, eyes are now open and increasingly people realize who they can and can’t trust for facts and the truth. Speaking of grossly irresponsible things that aren’t related to our news media...
2. Lake O’ Discharges. Yesterday we reached a sad milestone that’s apropos for the timing of the Army Corp of Engineers announcement of changes to their operating manual impacting future discharges. 1,000 manatees have now died in Florida. Actually, it’s 1,003 and counting which is remarkable considering we’d never lost more than 830 in a year before. The primary cause of the record manatee deaths is starvation which only makes the sad story sadder and of course the primary reason for the mass starvation of our manatees...years upon years of discharges, often including toxic algae, out of Lake Okeechobee. It’s important to remember that the problem, independent of algal blooms, isn’t isolated to manatees. If its starving manatees imagine all of the other smaller,less visible creatures,which are negatively impacted. On that note, it’s frustrating that any eastern discharges from Lake O’ will be making their way into our waterways - which remains the case with the Army Corps new LOSOM plan. That said,there is meaningful progress. As part of today’s Q&A I breakdown what specifically would have been different over the past year along with view of the possible. The net-net of it is that generally we’re looking at 2.5 times less water being discharged into Florida’s eastern waterways. That’s progress, though it won’t save the manatees or anything else today or really for well over a year tocome a minimum. And there’s more work to do. 
3. They Kept Florida Free. This week’s Special Legislative Session, dubbed “Keep Florida Free”, was nothing if not efficient. The Legislature went into this week with four bills to consider aimed primarily at protecting the rights of Floridians in the face of government mandates. By the end of the day Wednesday, they delivered. The bills on the way to Governor DeSantis’ desk provide a whole host of new protections to Floridians. These include expanding parental rights in the classroom and protecting employees from COVID-19 vaccine mandates – both from employers and the government. Additionally, there’s protection against employer retribution for those who use religious or medical exemptions and there’s the prevention of the state’s Surgeon General being able to order forced vaccinations. Finally, you have the framework to begin to decouple the state from OSHA which is the weaponized federal agency attempting to end the careers of the 1.68 million Floridians who currently work for companies with 100 or more employees and are unvaccinated. Now, this is being spun by the left, aka Florida’s elected Democrats and their allies in news media, as political theater. But let me ask you. Do you believe 1.68 million Floridians, or 16% of Florida’s current workforce should be fired over personal choice? I guarantee you they don’t view this as political theater. Do you believe in parental choice over what happens with your children once they go to school or do you believe the school districts should solely control what happens with them? Do you believe a government official should ever force you or any other resident of this state to be vaccinated or do you think you have your own choice? This isn’t complicated and it isn’t political theater. Florida’s Democrats confirmed once again that the only time they believe in “choice” is when it means killing unborn babies. Kudos to our state’s majority who voted to Keep Florida Free.