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DeSantis is right on Disney: Republicans bellyaching about a lost investment need to get a grip
American Thinker ^ | 05/23/2023 | Russ McSwain

Posted on 05/23/2023 7:37:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

There are many pixels being spent to make it appear that Florida and Governor DeSantis are being unfair to Disney and, as a result, have lost an investment opportunity. Neither assertion is true. None of the claims by politicians will make them true. It's understandable that Democrats make these claims. It's neither understandable nor forgivable that Republicans like Pence, Haley, and Trump join in.

To understand the situation, it's best to start at the beginning. In the 1960s Florida granted Disney local government control over 27,000 acres of land that straddles Orange and Osceola counties. The area was called the Reedy Creek Development District.

Nobody paid much attention to this sweetheart deal until 2022. The Legislature passed a law prohibiting schools from teaching sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. The prohibition has been upgraded to include all grade levels. Disney aggressively opposed the law and was prominent in slurring it as the "Don't Say Gay law."

Governor DeSantis made two observations:

1. Disney has the right to free speech, but Florida shouldn't subsidize that speech.

2. It is not anti-business to treat Disney as other companies are treated.

DeSantis then took legal steps to put Disney's special fiefdom under state control.  Disney keeps trying to frustrate this move.  None of Disney's legal maneuvers will defeat the State of Florida.  If you doubt this claim, spend five minutes listening to Jonathan Turley destroy Disney's Hail Mickey lawsuit.  Those of us who grow up watching Disney's nature programs recognize the behavior.  It is prey helplessly failing to avoid the inevitable.  The inevitable is that Disney's competitors — more accurately described as friends in the same business — will not be disadvantaged compared to Disney.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: 0000001desantis2024; desantis; desantis2024; disney; florida; jobs; lawfare; nevernegotiated; rinotrump; wrong
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And for those bellyaching about restricting free speech.... IT's NOT EVEN AN ISSUE.

  Disney will retain the right to free speech, but that speech will not be subsidized.

1 posted on 05/23/2023 7:37:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
As for the business side of things....

Critics of Florida and specifically Governor DeSantis seize on Disney's decision to cancel a long delayed Florida investment of $1 billion that would have moved 2,000 jobs to Orlando. Previously, Disney management had planned to move a division that "imagineered" movies into theme park rides. The investment would have been 20 miles outside the special Disney district. To be clear, any changes in the special district would have zero effect on this investment — no effect in any way.

The decision that Bob Iger, the reinstalled CEO, made was to keep the two halves of the ride creation division, the movie-makers and the ride-creators, in one location. It also defers spending $1 billion. Given the financial setbacks facing Disney, it's difficult to argue with his decision. The loss of this project is overwhelmingly mitigated by Iger's commitment to invest $17 billion over the next decade within the special district. We can all hope that Disney has the funds to keep that commitment.

We can see that the wraggle over his personal fiefdom isn't affecting Iger's investments within the district, even with the loss of its preferred status. Incidentally, Iger needs to invest that money just to compete with Universal.

By focusing on what critics claim is DeSantis's failure to secure 2,000 jobs and $1 billion, they shine a spotlight on DeSantis's triumphs. Florida is gaining over 1,000 new residents per day!! These new Forida migrants make it clear that they are here precisely because of the policies of Florida's governor. Over the course of a single year, the jobs Disney would have added are just the first of two rounding errors.

Sure, $1 billion is a lot of wealth.  On the other hand, Florida's new residents keep bringing more wealth.  In 2020, the most recent statistical year available, the income added to Florida was $23.5 billion.  Texas was second with about $6 billion.  The trend continues year over year so that yes, a one-time investment of $1 billion is a rounding error.  Here is one of hundreds of more current examples: Ken Griffin, Chicago's richest man (worth over $28 billion), is moving to Miami.  He brings along his company, Citadel Securities, with about 1,000 employees.  He is making the move in spite of the fact that he sides with Disney about "don't say gay."  His decision is based on the economic opportunities and the low crime rate that DeSantis has instilled in Florida.
2 posted on 05/23/2023 7:42:23 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Support8ng Disney ar this point is no different than support8ng say a genocidal group who- it amounts to selling one’s soul in order to profit.

So etimes the right thing to do is turn away from evil and say no to th3 money. God will bless in the long run if they do. Getting short term gain $$ is detrimental to the soul. Disney has let it be known that they are pushing a sick vile evil agenda of pedophilia and lgbtq support. They have let it be known bluntly- desanstis is correct to refuse to be party to,such a blatantly vile company, even if Florida loses some revenue in the process.

(Yes, there are many companies that support evil, but Disney is on another level, proving that they themselves are fully engaged in, and supportive of the moral destruction of the nation. They are almost fuly aligned with the evil one.

We have to “be In the world, but not “of” the world” (ie work with u saved people and co panties etc) for sure, but there are lines that get crossed where Christians need to take a stand agaisnt the evil. Disney crossed that line a long time ago.


3 posted on 05/23/2023 7:56:54 AM PDT by Bob434 (question )
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To: SeekAndFind

The only republicans bellyaching are the Chamber of Commerce Rockefeller Rinosaurs and the Trumpers who attack DeSantis on anything just because they’re butthurt over his perceived lack of loyalty.


4 posted on 05/23/2023 8:06:22 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines (A strong leader isn’t supposed to whine about what other people have done to him.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Many conservatives, including a lot of citizens, are willing to push aside their beliefs if it means their investments will gain in value. Modern day conservatism seems to stop at one’s own front door. What happens to others is not their problem, so long as they themselves are getting richer.


5 posted on 05/23/2023 8:12:43 AM PDT by CatOwner (Don't expect anyone, even conservatives, to have your back when the SHTF in 2021 and beyond.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Any Republican who takes Disney's side is not someone I can support. That includes Trump.

Disney is the enemy and funds the enemy. If you're not conscious enough to see that, I don't need to waste my time supporting you.
6 posted on 05/23/2023 8:16:26 AM PDT by Antoninus (Republicans are all honorable men.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Good post.

I really don’t welcome people from blue states that are drug unwillingly to Florida by their company. Many, if not most, will be essentially invaders that will bring the dysfunctional thinking of the state they left. The 2000 that Disney was going to bring from CA didn’t want to leave the state anyway, so I expect they would have a negative impact on our freedoms. They belong in CA.

I welcome those that come here of their own volition to escape Dimocrat hellholes. They essentially are refugees. The majority will likely be among the most pro-freedom citizens in the state.

Florida is going just fine and that Disney $1 billion won’t be missed at all.


7 posted on 05/23/2023 8:24:04 AM PDT by chickenlips (Make America Florida)
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To: SeekAndFind

Its about time Conservatives didn’t just roll over and do what Capitalists want them to do.

Unrestrained Capitalism is Liberal Capitalism.

Maybe its time for Conservative brakes to be applied to the whims of Corporate entities.


8 posted on 05/23/2023 8:39:18 AM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERBODY'S BUSINESS-REMEMBER PASTOR NIEMOLLER)
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Too many Republicans have made too many deals with Disney and Bud Light. Friends of conservatism indeed.


9 posted on 05/23/2023 9:10:26 AM PDT by proust (All posts made under this handle are, for the intents and purposes of the author, considered satire.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Disney can pack up and leave anytime, other companies will take their place.


10 posted on 05/23/2023 9:17:31 AM PDT by Colo9250 ( )
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To: Colo9250

Universal Studios is thriving in FL. Disney has stiff competition.


11 posted on 05/23/2023 9:21:03 AM PDT by proust (All posts made under this handle are, for the intents and purposes of the author, considered satire.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Disney is taking a huge financial hit as a result of its decision to be a social justice warrior attacking family values and moral standards. It deserves every bit of the fallout that it’s getting now.


12 posted on 05/23/2023 9:24:34 AM PDT by windsorknot
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To: SeekAndFind

The best chance for the ‘rats to escape the Sinking State of California has passed.

Our real estate prices here in Florida are now sky high.


13 posted on 05/23/2023 9:56:25 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: SeekAndFind

“Nobody paid much attention to this sweetheart deal until 2022.”

In an age of incessant demands for “equality” it rankled badly.

And I’m not happy that Walmart got a $130000 fee waiver about 20 years ago in my county.


14 posted on 05/23/2023 10:00:06 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: SeekAndFind

And don’t forget about the half-cent sales tax stadium deal in Hillsborough County

and the Buffalo, NY stadium taxpayer fleecing.


15 posted on 05/23/2023 10:03:07 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: windsorknot

Every family taking their kids to see people in rodent costumes takes a financial hit.

Disney knows how to dig deeply into wallets and purses.


16 posted on 05/23/2023 10:05:29 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: SeekAndFind

“$1 billion that would have moved 2,000 jobs to Orlando.”

While at the same time it could be said...

“Disney to take billion dollar investment and 2000 jobs out of California.”


17 posted on 05/23/2023 10:16:22 AM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: SeekAndFind

Well, yahsee, that is why they are so bent. Commie trash need others to pay for their crappola.


18 posted on 05/23/2023 10:16:34 AM PDT by bobbo666 (Baizuo)
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To: SeekAndFind

I don’t agree with Disney, but I’m not sure he’s handling this right.


19 posted on 05/23/2023 11:21:56 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Guess what? you don’t matter. It’s Florida and DeSantis is solving a tax burden problem


20 posted on 05/23/2023 11:33:25 AM PDT by bert ( (KWE. NP. N.C. +12) Juneteenth is inequality day )
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