>

Lol.  Nice thought.
All of Disney’s bonds then get passed on to the new governance model, adding over $1b to the area’s debt.
Disney’s response?  Make my day. >

Exactly. This makes zero sense for Florida.  
Florida hotels and restaurants are struggling to find people willing to change sheets and buss dishes.  30% of the job openings are not getting filled.  So many businesses are cutting back hours and services. Others are going out of business.  
What’s Desantis’s response?  Run for President. >

What’s the people response? Vote him to office. >

I tried to stop him but as a democrat I was only allowed one vote. >

You are lucky you are even allowed that as a democrat in Florida >

Give it time.
Eventually you will have to bring in 10 people to verify who you are and none of the 10 will be allowed to vote. >

Florida is holding a special legislative session to punish corporation for not supporting views held by the state. >

not only that but they're going to have to pay out to Disney to punish them. I don't think it's the type of agreement between Disney and Florida that can be unilaterally dissolved. And this is on top of the local government footing a lot of new municipal costs and debts in the Orlando area. >

I think this is all Republican saber rattling. Their agreement had this kind of liquidation clause to protect themselves from lunatics like DeSantis. You break it, you buy it.
Ancillary to this, what kind of message does this send to other large corporations that might consider operating in Florida if Florida while not honor its agreements over a petty "king's" decision for revenge over nothing more than that a-hole's current political ginning up of his base. 
I think long term, this is very bad for Florida. Corporations like safe investments in states that honor their agreements. >

It's these investments that made Florida in the first place. Nothing would've been built in central Florida without huge incentives like these self-governing agreements.  I just don't understand Florida, a state that depends so much on tourism, going after one of it's biggest tourist arractions. It'd be like Texas banning oil derricks or Maine saying "fuck lobsters" >


Maine saying "fuck lobsters"

Obviously, they would never say that. It would be "fuck lobstahs." >

Please do not fuck the lobstahs >

Rock that lobstah >

Iraq lobstah! >

Trump may have ushered in a new era of using the power of the state to further his own political interests and punish those he didn't like, but DeSantis is turning it into a fucking art form.
You'd think Republicans would lose their fucking minds at the idea of the state punishing private, corporate no less, speech criticizing the state, but it's okay because it's their team. >

They’re authoritarians now, and they’re not even trying to hide it. There’s no consistency in their logic or morals. They’re all Victor Orbans, and they want a dictatorship. >


There’s no consistency in their logic or morals.

White supremacy and militarist fascism are very consistent. >

My point is that they say they’re small government, but they do the opposite when it means they can consolidate power. They say they’re pro-freedom, but they actively take away the freedom of people who don’t look or act like them and people they don’t like. I keep hearing people say things like “but I thought they’re for less government oversight,” as if these people care about being consistent and actually have standards and morals. They don’t. They just want power and punishment. >

Right, they lie all the time about what their principles are. But their principles are actually quite consistent if you look at their actions. Exactly, they don't have standards. Just a very consistent principle of will to power. >

Florida is like the septic tank for the republican toilet. >

And it's leaking. >

So if anybody hasn't figured it out, DeSantis is gearing up for his presidential run by essentially becoming Trump 2.0, hoping to become the GOP's dream candidate of having all of Trump's ideology but none of his baggage.  You know the question of "How much damage could Trump have done if he was a competent politician trying to enact his policies"?  DeSantis's goal is to answer that.  And he has a non-zero chance of getting his wish.  
He's showing the rest of the world how Trumpy he is.  If the Democrats want something, he not only opposes it, but goes as far to the right as he possibly can in his opposition in order to make a political point.  He openly lashes out and seeks political and legislative revenge against anyone who even openly criticizes his agenda.  It's not only good enough to oppose things in the modern GOP, you must now also actively act like they are the enemy and invoke policy accordingly.   It's no longer enough to be opposed to trans rights.  You now have to also be in favor of taking away whatever rights they already have.  It's no longer enough to be opposed to discussions of sexuality in the classroom.  You now have to also be against kids being taught about sexuality at all.   This is what DeSantis is all about.  Not only must you oppose "the left", you need to send the left back by a hundred years or so.  If you want to know what the bastard lovechild of Trump and Mitch McConnell would be, DeSantis is pretty much it.  
Of course, the problem with all of this is that it will be years before Florida starts really seeing the effects of all of this.  He's going to make his run based on not being "woke", setting race relations back to the stone age, and being the man who "stands up to corporations" who don't march in lockstep with the state.  The problem is that the people won't see the effects of these policies until long after his run is over, and probably not even until after his term is over should he win.  
The people who vote for him will vote because he's "not woke".   They'll vote against LGBTs and brown people.  They'll cheer him on for "taking on Disney".   In 2023 and 2024.  The problem is that these same people are also going to wonder why the quality of their overall education system took a nosedive, or why tax revenue from companies like Disney have shrunk, or why companies will start not coming to Florida because of their discriminatory policies.   Of course, this will be years after DeSantis is long gone because the effects of bad policy sometimes take years to manifest.  And of course, they'll somehow blame Democrats.  Because of course they will. >

DeSantis oversaw the tortured of people in Guantanamo bay and made the torture more cruel. He also loves Wall Street billionaires, like Ken Griffin. There’s some baggage there. >

These are positive things for his supporters. >

Nah, I don’t think a single person likes Ken Griffen. Maybe his wife. Definitely Desantis but his humanity is in question. >

oh i know a bunch of idiots in FLA who love Kenny G. Sure they all make less than 6 figs a year but man they love him for some odd fucking reason. >

Well I mean his smooth jazz is OK. He's no Duke Silver, but you know some people really get into that. >

DeSantis gets whatever he wants in Florida or he ruins the political career of any GOP congressman who would dare to disagree with him. >

The Senate did not want to pass his Congressional map but he strong-armed them.
Now DeSantis wants to get rid of Reddy Creek but Disney doesnt.
So its gonna be interesting to see who has a stronger arm - Disney or DeSantis. >

If the state takes over Reddy Creek, they will take on A LOT of debt that the mouse took on in its name. >

But just think how valuable it will be for his Presidential campaign! He can say he defeated wokism in Florida. >


wokism

workism >

Well...
Last August, the FL Lt Gov said that they were going to bus Cuban migrants to Delaware.
She later mumbled a quick clarification/apology but Cuban-Americans didnt freak out like I thought they would.
The world has changed down here. >

The Cubans already here are the "good ones" they bear no fucks for newcomers >

Nothing screams Freedom like absolute Authoritarianism >

I think they want freedumb >

This state has been shit since Jeb helped steal the 2000 election wheres everyone been at? >

I was considering transferring my job to another state some years ago. Florida was on the list of states where we have offices. 
My kid who was about fifteen at the time told me not to do it he said "I don't want to move down there. Florida is the worst state ever."
Mind you, this kid doesn't even watch local news. If he knew, it had to be bad lol. >

“I’m not a state! I’m a monster!” >

Did they already give up on the Gas Stove thing? >

Nope. DeSantis’ proposed budget has a sales tax exemption for gas stoves. Which is beneficial to something like 10% of Floridians. >

which is a really strange number because the actual report said roughly, "poor indoor air quality from gas stoves contributes to a 12% increase in childhood asthma."
so 1 out of 8 kids will get asthma, while 1 out of 10 stoves in florida gets a subsidy. >

The GOP's thing is kind of to subsidize or support things that kill kids. >

i disagree- i think that is an unintended consequence but it still doesn't bother them.
they're for 3 things:  more fossil fuels, less workers rights, less environmental protections.  (essentially, all their natural resource extraction businesses and related products.)  every other thing they do is to keep their voters voting for them.  how do you get a poor person in WV who drinks poisoned water, breathes poisoned air, and isn't allowed to join a union voting for the GOP?  tell them their sons will be turned into drag queen soyboy environmentalists (code for gay) liberals (code for smart and gay) living in cities (code for POC).
that's it- when you look at GOP politics through that lens, every single political decision makes perfect sense. >

They are such slime balls. >

God I hope Disney relocates and removes any reason I might have to travel to Florida >

Florida holding a special legislative session to show the rest of the country what early stage fascism would look like in the United States. >

*looks like >

The right wing nut jobs at work are eating this shit up. They think it's fantastic.  And then, I'm serious here, he started telling me how a bunch of cowboys had their picture taken with a pterodactyl and he believes it's real. I couldn't make that shit up if I wanted to >

GOP just won't be happy until they own the means of production. >

Including procreation. >

Scythe is a fantastic game! >

I just wonder how stupid a person has to be to think they will win a fight against Disney. There is no battleground where Disney is weak. Politically, economically, socially, Disney has the lawyers, money, and audience to crush anyone that wants to play make believe that they are the real power. 
Let's be clear, I don't like how much of a towering monopoly the Mouse is, but I will smile when Ron Dipshit realizes that his base likes nostalgia more than they like him. >


There is no battleground where Disney is weak.

Well, I mean, Pepsi has a bigger navy, so there's that. >

Not anymore. They just played middle man to scrapping the ships in Norway. With Disney cruise lines 5 cruise ships though, has them tied at 110th of 145 countries with Mauritania for naval fleet size worldwide. >

Gotta own them libs and hate them gays so all the red voters gloss over the homeowner's crisis, the electricity crisis, the property value crisis, and the environmental crisis.  
Just give up everything as long as they can still hate them dirty gays. >

I mean Disney World brings in 90 billion a year to Florida, if Duh-Santis wants to fuck that up with his made up social war... Then so be it. >

Never interrupt an enemy making a mistake >

Unfortunately Flori-duh doesn't think it's an issue.  Then again, they are more than happy to expose themselves to a deadly contagion as a freedom issue. >

person: "Hey guys, you know our cow? Yeah, the cash cow. Don't you think they look a little... funny? Gay, maybe?"
mob: "gross! let's kill it. what can go wrong?" >

Governor Ron DeSatan is punishing Florida businesses that do not agree with him.  Doing anything controversial to try and increase his media time and help him in the next election.  Could care less about the good folks of Florida.  
Ron DeSatan, 2024 Make America Hate Again. >

He also wrongfully removed a duly elected government official because they made statements that were in opposition to DeSantis' political positions/base of voters. >

Nice, he has chased out teachers, culture warred the free spirits, guess it's time to get rid of the jobs, reduce the tourists, and, raise the property taxes. All those bonds for infrastructure around Disney communities will fall to the state " property taxes".  Please do not make America, "florida". >

Lifelong Florida resident. 
We don’t have a lot going for us. Our national image is that we’re meth snorting alligator punchers…not even Mississippi style yokels or Oklahoma opioid addicts…just insane, face eating nuts who actively ruin everything.
It’s not a great image…but those of us who live here know the three greatest assets we bring to the table that make us great:


Our university and state college (community college) system. We have a surprisingly strong system, largely self governing and affordable compared to other states…we’ve kept tuition (relatively) low for residents. UF, FSU, UCF…nationally recognized (not just for football…go Knights). New College brought interesting liberal arts studies. And our community colleges ain’t half bad. Miami Dade College, Broward College, Valencia College…they’re among the largest in the nation and generally recognized as leaders in the community college system.


Disney World. Self explanatory…no one is packing the family in and traveling 2,000 miles to see St. Augustine (they should…it’s beautiful and has great food). Disney is Central Florida. We aren’t completely fucked without it…but if we fuck around with Disney, it can cause serious trouble since they’re a major employer and contributor to the area. 


Diversity. Florida is every state and several countries. We have a diverse population that isn’t fairly represented in the media or popular culture. 


DeSantis is fucking with all three. It’s like he wants Florida to fail. >

For the longest time, Florida has been "the South" with an asterisk.  A lot of the problems of the Southern states were problems to a lesser degree in Florida because it's politics were more moderate and the role of the Southern Baptist Church in the state government was less.  Florida, being much larger in population and with a larger economic than say, Alabama or Tennessee, helped it stand out.
DeSantis wants to change that and make it like every other Southern state. >

Create a new government agency and expand government under the. GOP? That violates the principles of small government… oh wait, they only do this for show and their own interests and profit >

This guy needs to forever fuck off. >

If Disney had balls they’d just come out and call this asshole out for turning FL into a fascist state >

Why the hell has Disney not just buried this guy yet? >

So far it's likely been better for them to play it pretty neutral and wait it out, dangling some bags of money at Florida state House and Senate members to keep them inline.
If they manage to get strongarmed by DeSantis, I fully expect the weight of the Mouse to come down on them. You'll see torrents of financial donations to opposition candidates willing to give Disney back their special status and ads/media portrayals demonizing the GOP until they get what they want.
The Mouse always wins and DeSantis is playing a very dangerous game. But he doesn't plan on still being governor of Florida when the damage is done. >

I'm not sure Disney loses whatever the outcome.  
If they keep their special self-governing status, then it's status quo.   
If they don't, then they supposedly get to dump like a billion dollars in debt on the Florida taxpayers.  
I think though, just as a show of force, a lot of Florida Democrats are going to get very large donations from Disney in 2024. >

Disney wants to keep their shit in house because they don't want the county and state governments handling critical infrastructure that their park relies on. Reedy Creek, despite being a little shady in "a company has its own carved out government," is actually majorly beneficial for both Disney and the government. Without it, taxpayers are on the hook for all of the infrastructure Disney uses like road maintenance sewage, fire, and EMS and Disney can't maintain their extremely high standard that they rely on to be an international destination. The immediate dissolving will also result in taxpayers having about a billion dollar tax liability. >

I fully expect that if it was dissolved, Disney would likely pick up sticks and move to a state more conducive to their particular desires. Texas, maybe... Abbott is on the "anti-woke" train, but unlike DeSantis he'd be willing to look the other way once Disney starts signing checks. >

"We promise that we'll have enough power from October to April for you to run a small city of hotels, restaurants and entertainment. We've already had our once in a lifetime shutdowns! We're good for another century!" >

Ehh, power isn't an issue. Disney would create their own power grid if need be. Slap down a nuclear power plant like 30m away downwind. Way cheaper than billions of dollars.
Would be hilarious to say that you split uranium atoms for the Mouse though. >

Nuclear power plant for under a billion? The EPA would love to meet yoh >

Still waiting to see some sort of plan on what he is going to do with the billions of dollars in municipal bonds issued by Reedy Creek.  That debt doesn’t evaporate.  Who pays?
US Supreme Court, Florida Constitution, and Florida legislature have all previously said the tax district cannot be dissolved before paying the bonds issued.
Fitch has already issued a Negative Watch on Reedy Creek’s bond rating.  Florida state government bond ratings are poised to be downgraded, impacting access and cost to future borrowing. >

I wish Disney would come out and say something along the lines of the free market and government overstepping . I would love the irony. >

I can't believe they are actually letting this guy get away with everything he has gotten away with. >

Going to war with the business that drives so much of Florida’s economy.  I’d love to see Disney give FL the finger and relocate to another state. >

I'd love to see Iger come out and just announce they are closing. In 6 months. Watch the cockroaches run >

Intruding the privacy of individual and businesses. This reminds me of the CCP's requirement of private companies in China over certain size to have party branch. 
When would GOP realize they are becoming the communist party of America? >

Anyone else find it odd that they are all about capitalism, but are then attacking the capitalist utopia that they previously strived for??? >

Yes they are are not just targeting Disney. They Target Microsoft, M&Ms, Potato Heads...... They have attacked almost every major business in the country..... Pro Business my A$$. >

I got in an argument with a conservative family member over this last week. He claimed blue states have more migrants because immigrants know they can go “live off the welfare system there”.
To which I responded by pointing out that Red States like Texas and Florida are notorious for bussing those migrants into blue states and cities. 
He straight up didn’t believe me.
So I asked how he figures they got to the blue states if that isn’t the case? He legitimately believes that displaced homeless people come in across the border, and then proceed to walk by foot or hitchhike the entire way to cities like Chicago, Boston, and New York City rather than stay in the first place they can get to. Wholeheartedly believed that accounted for all of them. >

Disney should just buy out Murdoch (fox news) and burn the whole thing to the ground. >

Make its shows and radio networks slowly become more centrist and liberal. Slowly remove the violently rhetoric and get the Republican Base to simmer down. >

Waited years for grandkids to be old enough to experience Orlando, Disney/ Universal. 
Will never take them anywhere in Florida now.
California will now be our family reunion destination. Not just Disney, but parks, beaches and natural areas.
Note:  we are not overly political or religious; we just believe in setting an example of tolerance, and acceptance of differences for our family and others. >

I've been looking into this Disney thing and ultimately, to me, this actually seems like a huge bailout to Disney.  It costs Disney millions to maintain the infrastructure of Reedy Creek, mostly financed through bonds it sells for Reedy Creek.  If the state moves in and takes it over, all that bond debt, all that infrastructure expense will all be the state's responsibility instead of Disney.  Disney stands to save millions upon millions of dollars a year in expenses.  Police, fire departments, utilities (water, sewage, trash removal) will all become the responsibility of the state.  As well as the state having to settle the bond debt that bond-holders have taken out on Reedy Creek.
Add to this to the fact that DeSantis approved hundreds of millions in tax breaks to Disney a few years ago, tax breaks that he has NOT rescinded.  That means even more money Disney stands to save.  Its also a PR win for Disney who now looks like a martyr, valiantly standing up to a despotic governor to protect its LGBT fans and employees.  And the governor looks like a hero to his extremist right-wing fanatics drooling over sticking it to a "lib" company.
But ultimately, the only one I see benefitting from this is Disney itself.  Hundreds of millions in expenses they get to save plus looking like a hero to millions of people.  While Florida and its residents get stuck with over a billion in debt, and a bill for hundreds of millions in additional infrastructure costs to maintain the Disney properties.
I think Florida is getting scammed by its governor and Floridians are walking right into it. >

The downside is that Disney also uses this district to effectively build out their parks. For example, they have to file permits for construction they do, which their own local government handles. With a partisan government running the show, they could effectively block Disney from any major construction. >

Disney has operated in Florida for over 50 years.  They have deep connections across the state and especially in Orange/Orlando.  The local government already has special carve-outs to deal with Disney special committees just for Disney.  I don't see anything changing.  Disney owns central Florida. >

I'm skeptical given how much of Florida DeSantis seems to get under his thumb, but I'd be happy to see that be the case. My wife and I drive down to Disney World a few times a year and it would be a shame if political fuckery ruins a good place. >

The only thing DeSantis cares about is money.  Thats his motivation for everything he does. >

The only thing DeSantis cares about is ~~money~~ power >

Doesn't FL have to pay like a few billion to get all of the Disney bonded debt paid off immediately? >

Florida seems like a great place for cold-weather blue-state governors to send their state’s homeless. >

Lmao I fucking love it. Even tho just shipping homeless people around is shitty in itself. >

That article didn’t even mention the billion dollar elephant in the room. 
If the legislature wants to dissolve the district, they have to assume the debts of the district, which totaled over $1 billion. I think it equates to about $5000 in additional taxes per person in the counties that would incorporate it. >

Yeah, but those counties tend to vote blue so DeSantis doesn't care. >

Didn't he try this already once and was told "it was a stupid idea?" >

I feel like this is a losing fight for DeathSantis. His fascist base loves it though. They are afraid of their own shadow. >

Gotta love when this takes priority over every other issue impacting Florida. Hope this is what you guys wanted, rather than having actual problems being solved. >

annnnd Disney moves to a private island.  fu Florida.  the sunshine state is now a military base >

Disney has brought a lot of commerce to Florida for many years. Now, Florida wants to change the rules simply because Disney isn’t hateful enough toward gay and transgender people. If Florida does this, Disney should immediately sell its Florida parks to Saudis or maybe a Russian oligarch. >

Sell it to a nonprofit that works to provide gender-affirming care & therapy
[and underwrite the financing too]