Bitchin Dave's newsletter

I'm amazed at how a certain segment of the population doesn't believe in science.  In particular, I'm astounded at how vaccines became a bad thing.  From the dunderhead who currently heads up health and human services on down to the trolls who "do their own research," for some reason vaccines are to be avoided and shouldn't even be in the public purview because .... reasons!  But yet, these same folks clamor for drugs that are presented as some kind of miracle for reasons that make no sense - like ivermectin as a cure all, despite it having never been tested for efficacy for anything, really. Or these drugs you see advertised on TV that may treat some thing (often rare), but which also list possible death as side effect.  They are widely accepted and people clamor for them.  And things like Ozempic, which causes weight loss *for as long as you take it* as a true side effect of what the drug is intended for, makes people want it as a miracle weight loss drug. W...

Three stories out of Florida for your consideration. First, there's a bill that has already been submitted (the legislative session starts in January, by the way) that would eliminate property taxes in Florida, so that Flori-duh could be the freest of the free states, and some wealthy property owners can save a few dollars on their taxes. The property tax pays for schools, police, fire fighters, a lot of infrastructure, and assorted things we might actually use as citizens.  But don't worry! The bill also includes raising the hotel tax on non-residents by an additional 5% (which would push it over 20%, I believe).  It would add an additional 3-5 cent state sales tax for everyone (and remember that last year, they actually attempted to lower it! How regressive to pass this along).  And the state would impose a 5% tax on all property sold.   See, they would fix it! And cities that would no longer get their "fair share?" Well, sucks to be you. Second, the state wants to ...

You may have seen a week or so ago that Jair Bolsonaro (former president of Brazil) was convicted of plotting a coup, and sentenced to prison.  What I find interesting about it is that this is a modern story about a 1st world nation, where the former president plotted a means to regain control of the office. He hadn't actually taken many tangible steps, but there was enough to convict him and prevent him from going at it again.  While in our (supposed) 1st world nation here in the US, we had a former president actually stage a coup.  It started to happen, but got thwarted.  And yes, there was supporting evidence that this was all planned by him and he started it in motion. A coup. In the US. That people shrugged at.  But our government failed to actually do anything about it. He wasn't charged. He wasn't held accountable. And then, he managed to win another election and has now subverted the government, effectively finalizing the coup, after a 4 year gap.  Why in the world ...