'Big Brother' in Florida: Republicans File Bill to Take Away Blogger Rights!

Since Gov. DeSantis has continued his assault on democracy in Florida by threatening people's First Amendment. 

The state is looking like a scene from George Orwell's 1984.

Sparing no one DeSantis has made it his mission to attack citizens personal rights in institutions like colleges, libraries and elementary schools.

His war on woke has been a campaign of terror in the state where he's gone after the LGBTQ community, women's rights, and enacted voter suppression legislation in order to rig the next election in favor of Republicans.

Now the sick bastard (I hope you read this DeSantis) is looking at approving a bill mandating that anyone blogging about DeSantis must register with the state! 

This bill (S.B. 1316) is just the latest effort to censor his critics through intimation.

It threatens bloggers who do not register (after mentioning the snowflake governor) within five days of posting or they'll suffer up to a $2,500 fine.

The bill was introduced on Feb. 28 and requires bloggers to register with the state ethics commissioner (?) of the Florida Office of Legislative Services.

Apparently the First Amendment means squat to the Republican controlled House, Senate, and governor.

The craziness doesn't end there, however. 

Citizen bloggers will be required to register with the state if they write anything about Florida's lieutenant governor, a cabinet officer, or any other member of the Florida legislature.

If a blogger happens to make money on their site, he/she will have to submit monthly reports about their work if they write about elected figures, including how much payment they received for their articles, rounded to the nearest $10, and the name of the "individual or entity" who paid them.

I'm almost wordless.

Florida has become DeSantis's testing ground for what he wants to do if he gets elected president in 2024.

The irony of DeSantis's messaging that Florida should have as much freedom as possible is obviously lost on DeSantis and his willing minions. 

I can't help laughing at DeSantis's fundraising page where he's hawking gold "Freedom Team Membership Cards." The irony is as thick as a brick.

The bottom line is the bill hasn't been put up for a vote... yet. If they do vote and pass this foul tactic, it will be challenged by every real (as opposed to Trump lawyers) lawyer in the land.

It's a clear case of violating people's First Amendment rights.

The fact that DeSantis has turned Florida into his personal realm that operates like a mob boss's domain is a sure sign of things to come if he ever gets elected president.

I've been blogging for over 20 years, and I have to admit this is the first time I saw right-wingers threatening to censor citizen bloggers. 

I won't be surprised to see more attempts made in other Republican controlled states in the future.

As it stands, I see multiple threats to our democracy daily. We must not allow conservatives to tear our republic apart and transform our government into a fascist state right out of 1984.