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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.

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.