I recommend that you read Ryan Grim's piece in the Intercept today about The Villages. You will recall The Villages as the gigantic retirement community in Florida frequented by conservative political candidates, but it turns out to be more than that. Apparently it's run about like corrupt small Southern towns were run a hundred years ago: Don't cross the folks in charge unless you want to end up in some serious hurt.
Here's a little taste. It comes after three dissidents have gotten themselves elected to the county commission in order to kill a tax plan supported by the owners of The Villages. One of the three was a retiree named Gary Search:
A top official with The Villages made clear to the commissioners how rough a road they were about to go down, Search later told a meeting of the Property Owners’ Association. The day he was elected, he said, “I had a higher-up here at The Villages put his finger in my face and say, ‘Search, just remember one thing: I’m a big person, you’re a little person. I can squash you anytime I want.’”
....The higher-up was Gary Lester, vice president of community relations for The Villages, Search separately told at least four other Villagers. Lester has been appointed to numerous boards by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and served on the commission that vets judicial nominations....Lester told Search that he had the personal phone number for DeSantis, telling him he could get the governor on the horn at any moment.
One of the others, a 72-year old man named Oren Miller, ended up in jail. The whole piece is long but worth your time. Just don't read it if you have a sensitive stomach.
I thought The Villages was just a quiet little refuge from lives unpleasantness, where like-minded seniors can submit fraudulent ballots for Trump and swap STIs
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The Villages: The worst thing that ever happened to Florida. And a lot of bad things have afflicted the state.
So, I read the article. I always wondered why Republicans seem to support Putin. Now I realize that it’s because they actually think like him. Putin’s Russia is the world they want to live in. Corrupt and heartless.
I listened to podcast recently from an international relations expert that said roughly the same thing. Thuggish leadership, commitment to one religion only, being gay can be a death sentence, no abortion. It's a Republican paradise.
They also mentioned a lot of older people around the globe are really unhappy with the direction the young people are going in and want someone to clamp down on them, hard. The rise of authoritarianism has been going on for 20 years or so, much of it driven by the instability brought on by globalism, refugees, migration, and societal changes.
The is is the future Republicans envision for America.
Why am I not shocked? Put together thousands of semi-fascists in one place and let them create their own ideal community. What could go wrong?
Florida gets what Florida deserves. Sr. maganuts, hurricans and desantis included.
In local Michigan news….the anti vax crazy caucus will be out in force (supposedly).
PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Members of the Michigan State legislature, Michigan for Vaccine Choice, the Grand New Party PAC, the Michigan Conservative Coalition, and other groups will hold a rally Monday at the Pfizer plant in Kalamazoo Monday.
The groups claim that Pfizer is conducting experiments on COVID-19 variants to strengthen and mutate the virus so they can develop more vaccines “to stick into the bodies of unsuspecting individuals to bolster their obscene profits.” They point to a video showing apparently showing a Pfizer executive saying the company was conducting the experiments.
A letter from State Representative Brad Paquette of Berrien Springs and signed by a number of other legislators was sent to the CEO and Chairman of Pfizer demanding the company “hold itself accountable to restore trust in the integrity of the company and its employees.”
This is what the people voted for.
The best ruse has a bit of truth -- the pharmaceutical industry 𝒊𝒔 a corrupt cesspool and we shouldn't forget it just because they magnanimously took our money so they could sell the IP back to us.
This is that place where numerous residents have been caught voting several times for trump, right? The place that holds all those "golf cart parades" and "boat parades" with all their trumpy regalia flying?
I wonder if the grandchildren visit often...
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Meh. Florida’s gonna Florida. I keep hearing that decent people still live there, but their numbers seem to be declining rapidly. Eventually you just gotta help those that want sanity to escape an abusive situation, and leave the rest of it go to hell.
Well yes cousin Joan passed on about ten years ago but Monty is still going strong amazingly. Joan and Monty were smart enough to move away from Naples right before the real estate crash in the oughts and bought a cheaper place in The Villages to be inland - Joan was sick and tired of dealing with hurricanes. His daughter moved down from NYC a few years ago. So at least 2 good people left?
Sea level rise and sink holes.
Well, that is one long complicated story -- that can be told much more simply, I think.
Anyway, I hope someone at 60 Minutes is sharp enough to pick up an angle lurking inside that story: try to lower your *property taxes* (of all things) by complaining in Ron DeSantis's "free speech paradise" and DeSantis's pals will throw you in jail for talking to your wife.
"Not for the weak of heart" is right. Good lord! that last line where the judge sentences him to serve community service time in the "landfill" was obscene in it's implications and so obviously retribution.
The Village Idiots……
People are constantly corrupted by the power they obtain, especially when they feel their goals are righteous.
Should do well for the resale value of their homes: “your property taxes can go up by 25% or more at any time, and if you try to object to it, we’ll throw you in jail.” Makes me want to buy a place in the Villages for my retirement.
Resale value and water tables are their kids' problem
That was a pretty amazing article. Florida corruption in action. It’s hard to feel bad for them… they are all republicans.
Anybody who voluntarily goes to live in Florida deserves what they get. That includes Disney.