Essential human-curated Florida Keys news, all in one place.
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Failed experiments. For the near entirety of known human existence, individuals have had little or no say in choosing those who make life and death decisions for them. Then, the so-called "American Experiment" arrived with the well-intentioned and novel ideal that the choice of leaders should be in the hands of those led rather than by use of force or parentage. Although far from perfect, the American Experiment demonstrated the potential for societal evolution aimed at ensuring basic rights and opportunities for all. Some nations emulated the ideal, as imperfectly as our own example. And while admirable progress was made, much work remained, and success was never guaranteed.
We now begin the era of American Fascism, which despite the ineptitude of its leaders, will likely inflict irreparable, if not fatal harm to the experiment. We have regressed to the norm of human existence. The ideal of America may not be dead, but it is on life support, and under the care of those who would gleefully hasten its end.
Key West Voices was born of a group of community minded residents in an Old Town backyard in the spring of 2023, with the intent to bring vital news and opinion from multiple sources to those who might not otherwise engage with it. Anticipating the local elections now just past, the hypothesis was that a better informed electorate could slow the relentless march of commerce, greed, and exploitation that are no less a threat to our beloved Keys than sea level rise, and changing our lives far more quickly. But all the candidates who represented thoughtful restraint lost to those who will accelerate our surrender. The experiment that was KWV failed too.
As a news junkie, your curator would normally read about a thousand headlines a week to pluck out the dozen or so mostly local stories that were essential and relevant in order to share them with you here. While the number of KWV subscribers increased steadily but slowly, we never reached the critical mass that might have had an effect on the election outcome. And we never attracted other curators to elaborate and evolve the purpose of this modest publication.
I plucked no headlines this week, and barely had the stomach to even read them. I don't expect my appetite to improve anytime soon. So in the absence of its founding sense of purpose, I've arrived at the decision to put KWV on hiatus. And while the subscriber list and technology mechanisms to publish remain in place, this is the last issue of KWV you'll likely see for the foreseeable future.
I'm grateful for those who've subscribed, read, and occasionally commented on what was done here. I will personally and confidentially respond to any thoughts you'd like to share by email at keywestvoices@gmail.com.
Where do we go from here? Linda Cunningham answered this tough question with her usual wisdom and wit. I so appreciate her contribution to KWV, and hope you'll continue to read her weekly column.
Our Eyes
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| A hermit crab on Garden Key - 11-10-24 - Phil Dodderidge |
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