Florida's Anti-Christ...

Nicely done. You captured it all - for now anyway.

Lol. That whole state will be a moot point once all the glaciers melt:)

I have a childhood friend who continues to make a fortune selling waterfront real estate in Miami. A lot of powerful denial going on.

Ironically enough, it was at my rehab job when I realized that denial isn't only a substance abuse issue, and should be considered as a political and cultural phenomenon as well.

Can't blame her for loving that lifestyle though, and she's gonna need that money to relocate to higher ground.

Weirder still is my older brother whose career at the United States Geological Survey as a hydrological technician hasn't put him off of a lifelong devotion to The Old Testament.

People. Go figure:)

I am embarrassed daily by the truly awful, despicable and basically nonsensical idiotic BS that is supposed to pass as governance of the state in which I happen to reside. I firmly believe there will eventually be a time where the majority of the good and decent folks (the ones who don't ever usually vote for whatever reason) that live in this state with me, get so sick and effing tired of this extreme pos women hating, civil rights trampling, LGBTQIA+ fear mongering bunch of trump loyalists who try to impersonate politicians with their hateful agendas, that they take to the voting booths in droves. Pushing people too far never works in one party's own interest.
Until then, it feels utterly sickening to me when seeing and experiencing the reality of who is (supposedly) directing the ship currently. Stomach churning...

Yes, this penile shaped peninsula (so apropos) will definitely be defunct when the waters rise to swallow us whole!!.. lol... Deservedly so! 😭

Excellent excellent poeting, MS
Thank you for sharing your sage wisdom.
🌹-x

It's interesting how many folks use the vote to channel their social and cultural frustrations into a political power that winds up not being very people friendly, and the reason that gets under your skin so much is because of how savvy you are to the entire social scene. You are able to see the social counterproductivity that is hardwired into a conservative vote, and I see it the same way, which is why I have to stop every now and then to remind myself that it's not their fault. The MAGA folks are being terribly misinformed by the DeSantis types. Indeed, you are fortunate to possess the sort of big picture thinking that lets you see the situation as clearly as you do.

I have to remind myself that it takes all kinds. For example, I have a long time neighbor right across the street from me who has always been a gracious and cheerful chap in spite of being a MAGA dude, which is mostly due to the constant influence of all his motorhead buddies. On a personal level, he's quite friendly, even when drunk (which is always) but I'm sure he votes MAGA because he thinks so and so will keep the price of gasoline as low as possible. Conservatives tend to vote on household budget issues. I'm sure his social and cultural education doesn't go too far beyond what his peer group is saying, which is mostly a monocultural (church) and tech (motors) oriented message, which doesn't necessarily include hatred, but often does. I think that will start to change when the slow creep of the calendar starts picking off more and more politically persuasive white boomers, who have always been an anomalously oversized demographic due to the lingering effects of world war two. Hey, who knew all those old peace loving doper hippies from the 60's would turn out to be such idiotically racist hard asses. I suspect a lot of them are undiagnosed LSD permafry.  

All of us always have the right to ask anybody..."hey, who are you trying to help with our tax dollar?", and that ought to be the starting place for all political discussions, because even the ancient Greeks understood that the political arena should always be about what's best for ourselves, AND our neighbors...whoever they may be.  

Don't be too embarrassed, Blue. I mean, I'm super glad to be a resident of Washington state, and for political reasons, but It's not like the Evergreen state is perfect.

Our beaches are way too cold.

It's incredibly difficult to not claim embarrassment and outrage when the only thing people see of where you come from is hate and cruelty aimed at those who should be protected and a school system that's being torn apart piece by piece by those so very ignorant, that more schooling is exactly what they need.

I can understand your very fine points about having differences politically with folks, which has always been the usual operating procedure but living in this state at this time, is different. I've lived here for almost 40 years and that's saying a lot, considering Florida... Yet it's absolutely what is happening. In all honesty, it's really unnerving.  

I'd be glad and proud to be resident of Washington state, too. I understand that nowhere is perfect and that there are issues with every part of the county but it's a sad state of today's reality and an extremely harsh truth when I feel like there's a powder keg ready at any moment to explode and it'll be the most sensative hearts that get destroyed. Wondering not if but when something will be said or done that's scary or unwanted when your and your friends are walking down the street When not feeling included or valued in the society in which you reside is more common place than ever before. It's changed here in Florida, and not for the better... not by a long shot.

but our beaches are still halfway decent, some even breathtaking! ... ;)

Thanks for taking the time with me, my friend
-it's valued deeply.
🌹 💙

I will always question the judgement of anyone who wouldn't want to take some time with you, and I couldn't agree more that the overall tenor of the whole country has changed due to the 2016 electoral enabling of violent ideation and instigation in general, and especially toward the more vulnerable demographics. Where I come from that's called bully behavior, and January 6th, 2020 made it clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that the primary responsibility for the violence rests squarely on the shoulders of the Republican party in general, and The National Rifle Association and conservatism more specifically. The denial of this from those portions of the electorate will be difficult to overcome, and many more lives will be sacrificed before the citizenry will wise up as a whole, and start to make people friendly laws again, instead of the conservative laws that prioritize the property rights of the super rich over environmental ones. The laws of humanity need to be in accordance with the laws of nature, mercy, and egalitarianism in order for our planet to thrive.

I cite the Three Musketeers as my main influence.

All for one and one for all:)