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Tuesday, March 31st, 2015

Florida’s Climate Denial Could Cause Catastrophic Recession

Author:     Joe Romm
Source:     Think Progress
Publication Date:     March 30, 2015 at 12:52 pm
 Link: Florida’s Climate Denial Could Cause Catastrophic Recession
Stephan:   Here is a report describing exactly what I have been predicting since 2000. I have just returned from Virginia Beach and Norfolk Virginia where this story would also apply. The collapse of the high end coastal real estate market, and the migration away from the coastal low lying areas is going to radically change our economy. This report describes what I mean. The corporatist Theocratic Right, with its fact-free view of the world, and its fear based social manipulations is on track to destroy America. I consider it, as I have said before, to be the most toxic social force in the world. I am much more concerned about Republican governors like Rick Scott, Mike Pence, Scott Walker, Sam Brownback then I am some middle eastern ISIS fanatics. And beneath that I believe is the growing ignorance, fanaticism, fear, and hate driving Theocratic Rightist voters.
Miami streets see heavy flooding from rain in September 2014. Some neighborhoods flood regularly during deluges or extreme high tides. Credit: AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Miami streets see heavy flooding from rain in September 2014. Some neighborhoods flood regularly during deluges or extreme high tides.
Credit: AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Governor Rick Scott (R-FL) has made Florida the punchline for countless jokes since we learned in early March he barred state officials from using the term “climate change.” As Jon Stewart joked last week holding a copy of “Roget’s Denial Thesaurus,” Florida is headed toward “statewide jacuzzification,” and “It appears by 2020, Miami will be involved in a surprise pool party.”

But the joke is on all of us: Florida has led the way in all but ignoring the growing twin threats created by human-caused climate change — sea level rise and superstorm surge — thereby creating a trillion-dollar real-estate bubble in coastal property. When the next superstorm like Katrina or Sandy makes its target Florida and bursts that bubble, the state can declare bankruptcy. So too could […]

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