Judd Legum asks why, when Publix was selling just as many opioid prescriptions in Florida as CVS, two successive state attorney generals, both Republicans, went after CVS, Walgreen's, and Walmart for selling opioids, but not Publix.
Answer: follow the money. Publix is a "money hose" for Republicans. The heiress to Publix's fortune Julia Jenkins Fancelli is a major donor to Trump and donated hundreds of thousands to his insurrection bid.
@moondad@wdlindsy As every informed person knows, all of these corporations donate to Republicans. That’s not the point that Judd Legum is making. His point is the disparity in the treatment of Publix when “between 2016 and 2022, Publix has doled out $10.6 million to Florida politicians, most of which has gone to Republicans, including $125,000 directly to [Ashley] Moody.”
@wdlindsy reminds me how “tough on crime” Rudy Giuliani went after the Italian mafia which conveniently allowed Russian and Ukrainian mobsters to move in
@wdlindsy It's nice to get the AG to clear the competition off their corners so you have the market to yourself. Usually, it's corrupt beat cops who do that.
@wdlindsy
Never a bad time to bring up Publix's labor record, either. This farm worker advocacy group was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Obama for freeing slaves in modern America's fields. CIW's Fair Food Program is a model for guaranteeing farm workers' basic human rights, at the cost of just a penny per pound of tomatoes. Even Wal-Mart has signed on to Fair Food. Publix will not. It's pretty bad when you lag Wal-Mart.
@MaryAustinBooks I can well imagine. I lived in Florida for a part of two miserable years and shopped at Publix, because it was the grocery store nearest my house. I always had the weird feeling when I stepped into its doors that I was stepping back into the 1950s, into some carnival-house version of a Republican club. The atmosphere was creepy.
@wdlindsy
I am from a red state and know exactly the feeling you're talking about. Everything seems peaceful. But the hair still stands up on the back of your neck because you know you're welcome... only because you're white.