Pushback

So far in 2021 we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly on display by state governors, members of Congress, the Vice-President and the President. The news media has taken regularly to praising bad leaders who don’t deserve it (e.g. Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York) and vilifying good leaders who are genuinely praiseworthy (Governor Greg Abbott of Texas). Amidst all the bad and the ugly, there is an ongoing example of truly great leadership in this country – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Working closely with the Florida state legislature, local municipalities, and medical professionals, Governor DeSantis has deftly managed Florida’s response to COVID-19. He set the standard for a responsible, professionally researched, and common-sense approach to the pandemic. Florida has the largest percentage of senior citizens of any state in the country, and thus the largest percentage of those most vulnerable to COVID-19. Florida is also the 3^rd most populous state overall. Yet, Florida has been the least impacted by the totality of consequences from the pandemic.¹ This is not just because of the warm weather. It is because of well thought out logical decision-making that matches the true characteristics of the virus. The measures taken to combat COVID-19 by Governor DeSantis were a near perfect balance between limiting the spread of the virus (especially to the older population) and preserving the livelihoods of businesses and citizens. At the same time, the Governor kept Florida free from the senseless racial violence, destruction and lawlessness engulfing places like Portland, Seattle, New York, San Francisco, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and others.

When you look under the hood in Florida, you will find not just a pile of executive orders, but a series of laws passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor in 2021 that sets Florida apart. A few of those state laws are purely defensive in nature and have unfortunately become necessary to protect against COVID related tyranny and associated socialist overreaches of the new Biden administration. Others are necessary to protect our culture, historical artifacts, and social norms. Below are summaries of seven new Florida laws passed this year. As you read them, it is painfully obvious just how destructively the progressive/woke left is invading traditional American society.

1. (H1) Protects local municipalities from rogue local officials who attempt to “defund” the law enforcement budget.
2. (H1) Sets out strict penalties for rioting in Florida cities and also for destruction caused to Historic sites and Memorials in the state of Florida.
3. (S90) Strengthens voting laws, including strong identification requirements in the application process to register to vote.
4. (S1884) Allows for civil claims to be brought against any entity who acts to “preempt” the sale or regulation of firearms in the state.
5. (S7072) Penalizes social media companies for “de-platforming” political candidates.
6. (S2006) Prevents state government offices and private business from requiring “proof” of vaccination in any form in order to enter a building or conduct business.
7. (S1028) Requires that only biological females are able to compete in woman’s sporting events in the state. Transgender females may not compete in woman’s sports.

These are just some of the new laws in Florida designed to keep the state as free as possible from the societal decay gripping other parts of the country.

It is not just Florida taking the initiative in this defense. The state of Texas is almost singlehandedly having to defend its southern border from massive numbers of illegal immigrants. The Biden Administration is not only refusing to provide the necessary re-enforcements to prevent, or at least control, the recent flood of illegal border crossings, they will not even admit there is a problem.

As a result, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is filling that federal leadership void by managing the US border between Texas and Mexico himself. Abbott is committing a billion dollars of Texas money to continue the construction of new portions of the border wall begun by President Trump. He is also enabling Texas state troopers to patrol overrun parts of the border where federal agents can’t or won’t assist. The most fundamental duty of the federal government, as written in the first paragraph of the Constitution, is “to provide for the common defense”. This obviously includes protecting our borders. It is amazing that in our lifetime we would be witness to an Administration that shirks this duty.

Florida and Texas are showing us what pushback looks like in the defense of American spirit, culture, homeland, and way of life. Try as they might, the progressives in the Biden Administration can’t defeat this spirit. There are simply too many people living and thriving in this country willing to support and defend our culture. The very reason we are separate from China, Russia, India, or any of the European or South American, or Middle Eastern countries is that we have our own traditions, culture, morals, and societal norms. Leaders like Ron DeSantis and Gregg Abbott are doing their best to preserve those fundamental precepts upon which our country was founded. Bravo to them both.

¹ Florida was one of the first states last year to end lockdowns and reopen schools, government services, and local businesses. The Governor reopened beaches on April 18, 2020, long before other states were even considering relaxing their lockdown orders. While Democrats and the media maligned Governor DeSantis for being irresponsible, the numbers tell a different story. As of February of this year, Florida was below the national average number of COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people and ranked 25^th among the 50 states in that category. That’s doubly impressive considering that Florida has the highest risk population in the nation (more seniors than any other state). By contrast, New Jersey, the worst state at combating COVID-19, had nearly twice Florida’s death rate.