I received the following in an email from Bart Bibler, a former employee of DEP who in was reportedly fired by the Scott administration for using the words "climate change" or "global warming" during a department meeting. DEP officials later denied the allegation. (See the St. Petersburg Times report HERE.)
His words here are relevant and worth your time. It supports Andrew Gillum for Governor and I agree. And, remember, I'm a Republican. -Sandspur
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Labeling is an old Republican tactic. Tie it into Venezuela; he’ll give everything away; the next step is Communism; etc.
Instead, he is trying to move us away from Extreme Capitalism, toward Cooperative Capitalism.
A Capitalism that cares about everyone, that cares about the environment, that recognizes that there are responsibilities, and not just rights. That understands that we must work together to find solutions to gun safety, to address the climate change and water quality crises, to provide health care access and a living wage, to provide quality public education for all, to create job opportunities for all, to reform our criminal justice system and restore dignity, productivity, and voting rights, and so much more.
Rick Scott and Donald Trump are the poster children of Extreme Capitalism, both buying their positions with money made from unscrupulous business and exploitation, and willing to do anything to win. They have destroyed any semblance of trust; the concept that a deal is a bond. And Ron DeSantis is their clone and proxy. Their policies are for the wealthy, because they are wealthy and they are the party of business over people and the environment, the party for the richest one percent. They are both personally getting wealthier due to the policies that they have put in place, for their businesses that they continue to benefit from. For their donors, they have dismantled our growth management, energy management, and environmental protection agencies. They have eliminated access to healthcare for millions here in Florida, and sabotaged the public hospitals and health insurance system. They’ve privatized our prisons, which are packed with black non-violent offenders. They have encouraged the shifting of public funds to private charter schools, while public schools and teacher wages are eroded, and additional testing and gun safety requirements are added to their burden. And women’s rights or LGBTQ rights – forget about it.
Andrew Gillum is a man who has overcome family challenges, economic challenges, and racial challenges. Instead of becoming angry, mean and greedy, he became driven to lead positive change. He did that through education and elected public service. He has moved our great city forward on a number of important issues: discussion and improvement of race relations; enhancement of community policing and body cameras; reduction of our carbon emissions and construction of a 120-acre, 20 megawatt solar farm; challenging state laws enacted for the NRA restricting local gun control ordinances; declaring that Tallahassee would accept and welcome immigrants; promoting entrepreneurialism, job creation and jobs for felons that have served their time; funding major improvements in our infrastructure, including stormwater, advanced wastewater treatment and septic tank-to-sewer projects to improve water quality; restoration of Gulf Coast Amtrak Passenger Rail Service; etc.
I am proud to have Andrew Gillum representing our city, while leading the way for positive change for all of Florida and the nation. Make no mistake about it, this is a Climate Change Crisis Showdown. This is a Gun Control Showdown. This is a Race Relations Showdown. This is a Religious Diversity and Tolerance Showdown. This is a Public Education Showdown. This is a Women’s Rights and LGBTQ Rights Showdown. This is a Toxic Algae, Land Conservation and Environmental Protection Showdown.
But overall - this is a Showdown of Extreme Capitalism versus Cooperative Capitalism.
The eyes of the world are on us.
Bart Bibler, Tallahassee
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