In the latest episode of the great American migration saga, Florida finds itself being the runaway favorite for those seeking a slice of common sense, away from the chaotic management style of places like New York City. With Florida’s real estate market becoming hotter than a July day in Miami, local residents are scrambling to secure their dream homes before a wave of newcomers from the north descends like a flock of migrating birds. One would think there’s been a rush at Disney World, but it’s simply the allure of a well-governed state.
Ron DeSantis, the outspoken Governor of Florida, finds a peculiar irony in this. He implies that New York City voters have thrown their own city under the bus by embracing policies reminiscent of what otherwise might be mistaken for a vintage handbook titled “How to Ruin a City in Five Easy Steps.” DeSantis recalls his visit to Miami on the occasion of the Victims of Communism Day—a holiday that cynically mirrors the failed promises of yesteryear’s notorious leaders in Fidel Castro and others who promised utopia but delivered, well, something else entirely.
In the wise words of those who fled such regimes, these proclaimed solutions often end up exacerbating the very problems they aim to solve. From affordability issues to spiraling education costs, government meddling seems to leave behind a trail of headaches. DeSantis boasts that in Florida, they’ve managed to keep in-state tuition rates untouched at bargain prices compared to their sky-high private university counterparts. The lesson here? Letting the free market and local policymakers do their job often proves more beneficial than any top-down directive that Washington, D.C., can cook up.
But it’s not just affordable living that Florida offers; it’s a sanctuary of safety for many fleeing crime-riddled urban jungles. As DeSantis observes, folks from cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles aren’t just running toward sunshine and palm trees—they’re sprinting away from places that have allowed their public safety to crumble like a house of cards. Policies that aim to defund law enforcement seem more like they’re auditioning for a disaster movie rather than addressing the real concerns of constituents.
In a world where young people are being told that socialism might just be the ticket to equity, DeSantis cautions against this utopian daydream. He argues that the misrepresentation of capitalism—thanks to bailouts and cronyism—might be what’s turning heads towards socialism. He firmly believes that the sensible endeavor is to champion free enterprise, reduce government overreach, and stand up for market economics. After all, the allure of “free” things has its price, and history isn’t all too shy to remind those who bother to listen.
Governor DeSantis, however, finds humor in the talk of building a border wall around Florida to keep out the incoming waves—an idea floated amidst jest but carrying a kernel of seriousness for some weary Floridians. Yet, as DeSantis concedes, America is a nation of movement, and in this great country, people have the freedom to pack up their troubles and head to sunnier pastures. He’s hopeful that cities like New York and Chicago can pull themselves up by their bootstraps, recognizing that seeing these storied places succeed ought to be part of America’s triumph, even if it means the folks down south get to enjoy a little less foot traffic and a tad more elbow room.
