Here’s why we can’t let bullies and fear-mongers have their way this election

Commentary on the news from Florida for all Americans

By J.C. Bruce

Tropic Press

As early voting begins and Election Day looms, our inboxes are being bombarded with political messaging.

Amid that blizzard of words, two thought-provoking and inspiring letters arrived this weekend—one from the chair of the local Democratic Party urging us not to get trapped by divisiveness, and the other from the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.

The emails arrived as State Rep. Angie Nixon’s campaign—while still behind in the polls—seems to be creeping up on Ashley Moody in the race for U.S. Senate. The latest University of North Florida survey shows Nixon has cut her deficit in half and now trails Moody by only 5 points.

Moody has refused to debate Nixon and, instead, has resorted to Red Scare name-calling from the 1950s. And Vice President J.D. Vance, in support of Moody, has said she should “get the hell out of” America.

Nixon, for her part, is disinclined to follow Vance’s advice, and Jane Schlechtweg, chair of the Collier County Democratic Party, tells us why we shouldn't let ourselves be bullied.

Here then, without further ado, are these two missives for your reading enjoyment. As always, please share with your friends by forwarding this email or restacking this post on Substack.

From Jane Schlechtweg

Communism. Socialism.

To some, those are scary words.

But I’ll tell you what scares me: fascism, theocracy, oligarchy.

I fear a government that demands loyalty to a leader over the Constitution. One that imposes the same religious beliefs on everyone. A country where extraordinary wealth buys extraordinary power while ordinary people struggle to be heard.

Fascism concentrates power in an authoritarian leader and treats opposition as an enemy. Theocracy places the government under religious authority. Oligarchy puts power in the hands of a privileged few.

Each threatens our freedom and democracy.

There is a lot being said in television attack ads and mailers warning about communism and socialism. The sole purpose is to make you afraid.

Policies such as higher taxes on the wealthy, expanded Medicare, or stronger worker protections can operate within capitalism. They do not, by themselves, move the country towards communism. More government programs that benefit us all do not automatically mean socialism and the loss of capitalism.

We can disagree about taxes and government spending. But frightening labels don’t tell us whether policies help people.

Instead, ask better questions. Know who and what you are voting for.

Does this policy protect our freedom? Treat people equally? Hold government accountable? Who benefits, and whose voice is ignored?

What scares me most is becoming so accustomed to cruelty, intimidation, and abuses of power that we stop objecting. That we shrug and say, “That’s just how things are now.”

We decide what becomes acceptable.

Fear turns neighbors into enemies. I want us focused on the country, Florida, and Collier County we are building—and insisting that freedom, dignity, and a voice in government belong to every one of us.

From Angie Nixon

The Vice President of the United States flew into Florida and told a cheering crowd that I don’t belong in America.

Let that sit for a second. The Vice President, standing on a tarmac in my home state, telling a Black woman whose ancestors helped build this country with their own hands that she should get out.

I don’t need JD Vance’s permission to belong here.

My family has been in Florida for generations. We built this country. We bled for it. We worked the land, raised the children, and did the jobs nobody else wanted to do, all while being told at every turn that we didn’t quite belong.

And now, a man who has never had to prove he belongs anywhere is lecturing me about America while standing next to a senator who was never even elected to the seat she holds.

Let’s be clear about what that was really about: it was a distraction, and a desperate one.

When you can’t defend record-high insurance premiums, skyrocketing rent, and a healthcare system that bankrupts working families, the easiest thing to do is make the conversation about anything else. So they flew in a Vice President to do their dirty work.

I’m not interested in being anyone’s distraction.

I’m running for U.S. Senate to deliver lower costs, accessible healthcare, and an economy that works for the people actually doing the work in Florida, not corporate-backed politicians.

I’m not going anywhere, and neither is this campaign.

Thanks for your support

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Our goal is to reach as many voters as possible to increase engagement in the political process and, hopefully, raise interest in voting this coming November. We do that through original reporting and by sharing stories like these today.

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Regardless, every person you share this with is one more potential vote for change.

Please share — and restack— and help us make Florida — and America — better for all of us.

Thanks.

J.C. Bruce

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