Has the Republican Party become a radical movement?

Until recently, the current showdown between Disney and the state of Florida seemed unthinkable.

Florida Republicans’ Attacks on Entertainment Giant Will Hurt State’s Economy, Possibly Seriously; they reflect a sudden jump in intolerance in a country that seems to be growing increasingly more tolerant; and the accusations against Disney are, in a word, insane.

But what’s happening in Florida makes sense when you realize what Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies have nothing to do with politics or even politics in the common sense.

Instead, what we see are symptoms of the Republican Party’s transformation from a normal political party to a radical movement based on theories of conspiracy and intimidation.

About the economy:

Just a few months ago, The Tallahassee Democrat, a local newspaper, ran an article titled “The Mouse That Doesn’t Need to Roar,” arguing that the massive role of DisneyWorld the Florida economy gave him a political influence almost indisputable.

More directly, Disney World is in a 25,000-acre “special district” where the company provides basic public services even while paying local property taxes.

However, last week, DeSantis signed that law delete that districtwhich would leave local taxpayers in bondage and reportedly put them more than a billion dollars in debt.

What’s more, the resort, in addition to employing a large number of people, attracts millions of visitors each year, visitors spending money driving Florida’s economy as a whole.

And in less visible ways, Disney World has certainly contributed to Florida’s image as a place. desirable to visit and live.

The state’s entertainment and hospitality industry is huge, and Disney World is an important reason.

However, all of this was put in jeopardy when Florida passed its “Don’t Say Gay” bill that not only restricted what schools could say about gender, but also severely limited their ability to advise gay people. students without parental consent and opened the door to parental lawsuits alleging violations of vaguely defined rules.

Disney has nothing to say about this law as it passes.

But an entertainment company whose business depends in part on its public image may not seem too out of line with existing social norms.

And American society as a whole has become more open than ever about LGBTQ issues:

same-sex marriage approval rose from 27% in 1996 to 70% last year.

That evening, after the bill was passed in the Legislature, Disney’s CEO finally declared that his company was opposed.

The Republican response has been extreme, but these days it’s always been that way.

Not so long ago, using state power to impose financial penalties on corporations for expressing political views you don’t like would be considered unacceptable.

In fact, it may be unconstitutional.

But the attack on Disney was more than financial revenge:

Suddenly, Mickey Mouse is part of a great conspiracy.

The Florida lieutenant governor accused Newsmax and Disney of “indoctrinating” and “sexualizing children” on its “unsecret agenda.”

If it sounds crazy, where it is, it is also increasingly the republican standards.

I don’t think the political reports have reached how complete QAnonized that the Republican Party has become.

As I mentioned the other day, about half of Republicans believe that “leading Democrats are involved in select child sex trafficking rings.”

Here’s a more impressive figure: 66% of Republicans accept the “theory of white replacement”, And they fully or partially agree with the statement that“ the Democratic Party is trying to replace the current electorate of voters from the poorest countries in the world ”.

Because of this mindset, ambitious Republican politicians naturally advocate policies designed to play on base paranoia and accuse anyone who opposes these policies as part of an evil conspiracy.

And the bizarre nature of the Disney attacks doesn’t just drive the Republican base madness.

The sheer ignorance of the attacks is also a message of intimidation directed at the business world.

It says: “No matter how you conduct your business, how clean your conduct is.

If you criticize our actions or fail to show loyalty to our cause in any way, we will find a way to punish you. “

The obvious pattern here is Hungary’s Victor Orbánwhere the Conservative Political Action Conference will be held next month.

As a recent report from House of Freedomin Hungary “entrepreneurs whose activities are not in line with the financial or political interests of the government are likely to encounter harassment and intimidationand is subject to increasing administrative pressure for a potential acquisition. ”

So the battle with Disney is really a symptom of a broader and disturbing development: QAnonization and Orbanization of one of America’s major political parties, which puts our democracy in jeopardy.

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