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[–] 312 points 2 years ago* (21 children)

Until there are some kind of real penalties for submitting unconstitutional legislation, we will not be able to stop these clowns from abusing our state legislatures.

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  • [–] 137 points 2 years ago (9 children)

    Seriously I’ve said it before if you’ve backed legislation found to be blatantly unconstitutional you should be removed from office.

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  • [–] 35 points 2 years ago (4 children)

    It really should have to pass some form of nonpartisan review before being able to be introduced. I hate that as a private citizen, I have to track possible legislation and make time during the day to tell them that it's clearly unconstitutional, have them pass it anyways, and then wait between 2-10 years for the courts to tell them (maybe).

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  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Informally, I believe this has been resolved by having the state attorney general sign off on most legislation as to its constitutionality. In my state, the attorney general is a shitheel. But, he has called out anti-gay legislation as blatantly unconstitutional and a waste of time and money. The lawmakers want headlines and ALEC money. They don't give two shits about it being lawful or costly or harmful.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    I'm not aware of any states where the attorney general can block introduction of legislation.

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago

    If I insinuated they could block it, that wasn't my intention. It is basically a check without teeth. They can make a stink about it and a recommendation to the governor before signing but they have no legislative power.

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  • [–] 28 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    I've been thinking along the same lines for a while. If I call 911 and submit a knowingly false report, I get charged with a crime. If I submit knowingly false paperwork to the government, I can be charged with a crime or at least infraction and fined.

    But these people we elect who have entire staffs that are for making sure they always have enough information are submitting blatantly unconstitutional laws just to get them passed through a majority congress to be again and again shot down at the judicial level should really face consequences.

    Though I don't know what that would be without it being used to easily punish political opponents. If there's a law that does this and gives the judiciary more power, how will it be used when conservatives control those 2 branches?

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  • [–] 11 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Until there are some kind of real penalties for submitting unconstitutional legislation

    Who Watches The Watchmen?

    Who gets to decide what constitutes "Unconstitutional Legislation" and dole out the penalties? The courts (stacked with conservatives)? The police (staffed with fascists)? The voters (caged until only the Republicans have a functional majority)?

    At some level, this is a popular movement of the Elect. It isn't just Ron going off on a limb. He's got enormous financial and social support from other like minded white supremacists.

    That's not something you can combat without an organized opposition.

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  • [–] 8 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Yes, this is the danger of fascism playing with language.

    They aren't trying to be logical or fair. They aren't here for debate. They're here to do what they want to do, period.

    Which is why they also inevitably fall apart, (eventually) they can't even have that conversation internal to the movement and agree on what it is they want to do.

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  • [–] 119 points 2 years ago* (4 children)

    Lawsuit time. BRB, gotta go donate to TST.

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  • [–] 110 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Ron DeSantis now judges what a religion is or isn't?

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  • [–] 104 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    In the article he says "Satan has no place in our schools" but what is Christianity without Satan?

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    [–] 94 points 2 years ago (4 children)

    I don’t believe Christianity is a real religion. Do I get to ban it from my business?

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  • [–] 18 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    My deeply held belief is that their is not now nor has their ever been any God in this reality, can churches please be removed from any street I drive down?

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  • [–] 84 points 2 years ago (4 children)

    Imo if you pass a clearly unconstitutional law you should maybe be liable for some of the court costs.

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  • [–] 69 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    DeSantis conveniently didn't mention Mosque leaders as teaching the kids. I wonder why that was. Does Florida not recognize Islam as a religion? Or did he just not want to point out that was a possibility...

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  • [–] 20 points 2 years ago

    Does Florida not recognize Islam as a religion?

    This is, unironically, an argument American conservatives are making

    Or did he just not want to point out that was a possibility…

    There's two prongs to this kind of assault. The "we're just opening the door to religion in schools" angle uses liberal egalitarianism to shoe horn in reactionary ideology. Then the "they're too dangerous to let near your kids" angle is used to pry rival ideologies away.

    What you end up with is a singular "safe" educational platform that just happens to be Ron's favorite flavor of white supremacy, with any other belief categorized as a form of subversive or derogatory hate speech.

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  • [–] 69 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    This is a textbook example of the "establishment of religion" prohibited by the First Amendment.

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  • [–] 40 points 2 years ago

    It's ironic because denying that Satan has followers would be considered blasphemy in many Christian denominations.

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  • [–] 36 points 2 years ago

    Florida loves dumping tax money into Miami law offices.

    I’m sure this has nothing to do with the obvious federal legal rodeo they’re creating.

    Sorry FloridaMan. Hey, at least you still have huge stockpiles of hydroxychloriquine! Mmmmm-mm! Good stuff.

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  • the TST is technically a religious institute so uh. Good luck have fun.

    I think the COS also is but fuck the COS the COS can eat dick.

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  • [–] 30 points 2 years ago

    If you’re not the proper government mandated religion, you’re not welcome in Florida.

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  • [–] 29 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    Oooook, that's legit not something Florida can rule on. Its in direct violation of their own state constitution.

    SECTION 3. Religious freedom.—There shall be no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting or penalizing the free exercise thereof. Religious freedom shall not justify practices inconsistent with public morals, peace or safety. No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.

    If belief in God is a religion the belief in their adversary ie. Satan must also be a religion. Ie. Either both are religions or neither are.

    Notably there's more evidence that by Floridas definition that Christianity isn't a religion given its support of violent prostilyzing, child rape, and incest.

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  • [+] 27 points 2 years ago* (last edited 1 year ago)
    [–] 25 points 2 years ago

    Lol. We've tried this before, DeSantis. Courts side with Satan.

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago

    Pastafarians, follow me!

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  • [–] 10 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    What about the Church of the Subgenius, the Discordians, and the Pastafarians?

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  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago

    Leftists: try and get these jobs and teach kids liberation theology, bonus points for smuggling Marxist critique into sermons

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