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So, wait, let me try and get my head around something...

DeSantis, he vowed to defund school districts that impose mask mandates, right?

But, didn't he vow to punish (with defunding) any municipality that threatened to "defund" police? (The calls for defunding the police were in response to alleged police brutality aimed at protesters.)

Yeah he did. Either he is an unashamed hypocrite (probably), or maybe he is just REALLY cheap.

I know this is nothing to joke about, but it does seem like he is completely out of touch with the reality that people in his state are getting sick and dying at alarming rates, he has the ability to do something about it, and yet he is looking ahead to the next election by toting the GOP banner past the graveyard.

I really feel bad for our fellow Americans that are under his "care."

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The heroes in this are the school superintendents defying deSantis in order to save lives. Let's hope their sanity is contagious.

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And even more so the teachers that are masked and, in the classroom, defy anyone their responsibility to keeping children safe. And refuse to gather in meetings where social distancing and masks are not present.

And, in some cases like Sarasota, school board members that have governance over superintendents and that order a mask mandate over a reluctant superintendent’s desire to do so.

And mayors such as NYC deBlasio ordering all Dept of Educ staff to be vaccinated by September 27th.

Whatever it takes.

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I was just thinking about that mandate. Cuomo would have said it was not the mayor’s wheelhouse, and would have pushed back the date by a few weeks. What a relief that pettiness is over.

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Not. Cuomo is one of the strongest proponents of mandated vaccinations.

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Well, Cuomo was a proponent of smacking down deBlasio at every opportunity, just to show he was boss, even if he agreed with the proposal. His delaying the shut down in NYC likely cost thousands of lives.

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Grace, do you live in NYC (and understand our situation...we are 5 generation NYCers)? Cuomo asserted himself to reign in our Mayor who insisted on closing all bridges and tunnels into NYC and the ensuing disaster. He certainly did not agree with the Mayor's proposal (and saying he did and spitefully disagreed to show off his power is false). Please stick to factual comments about something we here know to be different.

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My little sister is a special ed teacher in NW Florida. At 57 she has serious chronic health problems but has too many years in to walk away and forfit her retirement. Sanitizing is left up to individual teachers. She must move from classroom to classroom daily to serve her students, no way she can keep her work spaces 'clean.' She's surrounded by a faculty of Trumpsters, all maskless, not following safe distance guidelines. She is hanging on by a thread, taking it one day at a time. I fear for her health, both mental and physical.

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How fortunate her students are. How can we help?

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Cathy, I will think on it. I appreciate your concern.

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Maybe a letter campaign to red state school admins about teaching the Golden Rule right now?

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Thank you Penelope. I have worked on letter writing campaigns before but none so focused. Maybe letters to the Santa Rosa School System superintendent or school board members would help.

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This is abuse and torture of teachers. This is criminal. Do their unions have any power? Or, more basically, does Florida allow teachers to unionize? Your sister may benefit from checking to see if she is eligible for disability. It is almost always a long process, but my friends who have needed it and been approved, have found ways to manage on it, plus whatever  retirement benefits they qualify for at that point. This is just heartbreaking. All the Best.

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Mary Pat, thanks for your thoughtful suggestions. I will encourage her to go ahead and apply for disability. The treatment of teachers for learning disabled students in this school has been shameful for years. With Covid it has become so much worse. And of course not being one of the Red Pack singles her out for special 'treatment.'

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We should send THEM thank you postcards, or grocery gift cards so they can order food when they get home exhausted

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Great idea, Cathy! And let's fly planes over their towns with banners thanking them for masking, etc.

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Now you are talking!

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Patrick, DeSantis is obviously an expert in opening his mouth and changing feet.

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First he has to pull his head out of his ass.

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Sorry, this is one article about the anti defund police statements. It contains a post of his official statement. To be honest, the scariest part of this old news is section III, subsection C. It gives a glimpse into his regime-mind. All of it is nuts, but it goes to character.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2020/09/21/ron-desantis-any-municipality-that-defunds-police-will-lose-state-funding/

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The excessive number of Covid19 infections and deaths in some States is directly proportional to the number of their unvaccinated residents. I hope some will now get vaccinated but because of the gullibility of these people, I wouldn't overestimate that number. Even with FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, many of them will find another reason to remain unvaccinated. The ignorance of these people is unbelievable, especially here in Floriduh where It is perfectly respectable for them to advocate insane right wing positions. That's why the Trump family has moved here, why Newsmax is based here, and why DeSantis will probably get re-elected next year.

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Repel the entire Trump mafia, Newsmax, and DeSantis. Also all of Florida and everyone resisting vaccination. For your own health and welfare.

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Daniel, I get your point but I am part of Florida and do not wish to be "repelled"!

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OK, just not visited. For our own health and welfare. Good luck with your fellow Floridians.

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Here in Missouri the only law to defund the police came from the "Republican" legislature, which passed a law to defund any police department that dared to enforce Federal gun laws. Which, of course, was good news for gun nuts, street gangs, militias, and similar groups of lawless thugs.

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We've essentially done the same in NH-R Gov, and legislature. Even worse ,he and it passed a law for open carry Anywhere, INCLUDING SCHOOLS!

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Agreed. He is a monster...

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