Florida
Related: About this forumWhy I have to break up with Florida
Last edited Wed May 20, 2020, 10:11 AM - Edit history (1)
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/498683-why-i-have-to-break-up-with-floridaTheHill.com
Why I have to break up with Florida
By Steve Israel, opinion contributor 05/20/20 08:00 AM EDT
Breaking up is hard to do, but another man has come between us. It was going so well: that overpowering desire to see you when that first flake of snow wafted in a stiff December wind; those moonlit jogs on the Miami Beach Boardwalk; the butterflies in our stomachs when we committed to spend the rest of our lives with you in retirement homes in Boca, Kissimmee and Naples.
But now, your United States senator, Rick Scott, is opposing federal aid to New York and other states impacted by the Covid-19 virus. In fact, he recently blocked legislation by a fellow Republican, Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, that would give states more flexibility on how they use these emergency funds.
Scott argues that Congress should not help any blue state that is, in his estimation, ill-managed. He even flaunted his argument in a letter to the editor of the deep-blue-state New York Times: Its not fair to Florida citizens to send their tax dollars to bail out liberal politicians in states like New York for their unwillingness to make tough and responsible choices.
snip//
Do New Yorks leaders whine about it? Do they hold up vital emergency relief bills when hurricanes, tropical storms, excessive rains, floods, and wind impact your communities? No. We support these things because we believe that when you do well, Florida, we all do well.
By the way, its not just blue-state, do-gooder, liberal altruism. Were New Yorkers, and we expect youll hold up your end of the bargain when we need help. We have been the epicenter of the pandemic. As I write this, the latest numbers are heartbreaking: 348,192 total cases and 27,617 coronavirus related deaths in New York. This virus is our Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne, Irma, Rita and Katrina all packed into one devastating wallop.
I think were better off as friends, Florida. Maybe were just not ready for the kind of commitment that comes with being, you know, the United States of America. Maybe we both need more me time: When the next crisis hits, you take care of yourselves, and well take care of ourselves. Its not you, its your senator. But if at some point you start missing our tax dollars and subsidies, well be waiting with open arms. Just dont bring us flowers. Bring us federal aid.
Sincerely,
New York
Steve Israel represented New York in Congress for 16 years and was the chairman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015. He is now the director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at Cornell University. You can find him on Twitter @RepSteveIsrael.
raccoon
(31,127 posts)Then, Senator, If thats how you feel, maybe Florida needs to SECEDE.
Mopar151
(10,003 posts)Tough and responsible choices? Like not building high-rise developments on top of swamp? Or paying attention to theose pesky "Public Health" people.
Metro135
(359 posts)Just give us back the money we give to the Federal government every year. We'll take that.
Aviation Pro
(12,202 posts)We'll take care of this bald-headed shitstain in 2024.
Historic NY
(37,454 posts)that is all.
KS Toronado
(17,372 posts)IronLionZion
(45,563 posts)since he's that much of an asshole.
ron dawson
(19 posts)Scott talking about mismanagement?! Someone should remind him about his "legacy" as Florida's gov. It's no model for anything other than a RWNJ playbook for how to run a state into the ground and abuse as many minorities as possible. He would have been an excellent gov. had he been here before the Civil War. With that in mind, I have what I think would be a winning campaign slogan for him:
SCOTT!!
VOTE LIKE IT'S 1850!!
Ligyron
(7,639 posts)By the time you're ready to retire, Florida will be blue.
Although by then we may be out of potable, fresh water.
I hope Bat Boy Scott gets eaten by a python, who's a much better citizen of this state than you, ya snake.
Brother Mythos
(1,442 posts)to create a fund to pay for their own emergency relief. Our Blue State representatives should make this a requirement before authorizing any more of our tax dollars to bail out those whiny hypocrites.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,914 posts)than it pays in taxes?
AllaN01Bear
(18,534 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,962 posts)elleng
(131,201 posts)Initech
(100,108 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,769 posts)Just listen to us who have lived here. We keep asking for help for the political overreaches that we see here. But crickets.
And I know why. The local Democratic circles that should be helping us are too busy protecting their relationships with hard right Republicans through the social business circles. And those Democrats provide big cash donations to federal level politicians, which silences our voices.