This may need to become a regular feature
By Will Collette
Like his long-running plan to get Rhode Island to drop out of the Eastern Time zone and hook up with Canada's Atlantic Maritime time zone, because in Flip's opinion, daylight savings time is bad.
Being out there on this issue gives Flip two chances a year - each time we change the clocks - to get some national and even international coverage on his secessionist plan to hook Rhode Island up with Canada. Not that I have anything against Canada, eh?
Last week, I reported on a couple of issues that got Flip worked up. This week, I'll cover three more.
Last week, Flip was outraged at a bill that would automatically list you as an organ donor when you renew your license, requiring you to opt out rather than the current system where you have to opt in. A sensible way to increase available donor organs but an outrage to the Flipper.
He was also outraged at a proposal to make bus rides free to promote ridership and help wean us from cars. He said this was an insult to his rural constituents who don't have bus service. He's talking about Charlestown, because Westerly and South Kingstown do have RIPTA service (and Block Island has its ferries).
The problem is Flip forgot to consult his Charlestown rural constituency, the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) who give him his victory margin in each election. The CCA just ramrodded through a Comprehensive Plan that explicitly states Charlestown doesn't want bus service (Plan, §8, p. 3). Flip, you and Ruthie need to talk.
This week, Flip is outraged that the state just designated a state coral (see below). How dare they do this before he had a chance to do something like it to get the publicity.
As Flip tweeted:
Rhode Island did that quite successfully by designating fried calamari, Rhode Island-style, as the official state appetizer.
Rhode Island catches more squid than most other states and we want to sell that catch. The official appetizer schtick worked wonders.
But Flip is not amused, especially since he didn't come up with it.
On to the next outrage.
Flip joined with fellow Trumplican Brian Newberry to express outrage that the RI General Assembly has not yet moved sessions back to the State House.
In their opinion, the House should conduct its business without masks, plexiglass shields or any other COVID prevention measures because something.
Most COVID restrictions have indeed been lifted by our over-eager accidental Governor Dan McKee BUT that only applies to those who have been fully vaccinated. And McKee has no jurisdiction over the General Assembly.
The trick about reopening is knowing who has been vaccinated.
By the numbers, less than 50% of Rhode Islanders have been fully vaccinated. Trumplicans are far less likely to be vaccinated, especially ones like Flip's close colleague Rep. Justin Price who also apparently missed getting his rabies shots.
Flip will not say if he's been vaccinated. Indeed, that was another thing he was very outraged about, saying that such information is deeply private and how dare anyone even ask. So Flip won't say.
His soulmate, Klan Mom US Representative Marjorie Taylor Green (Q-Anon-GA) even claimed protection under federal privacy law, as she tweeted:
"Vax records, along with ALL medical records are private due to HIPPA [sic] rights."
She means HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and she's wrong. HIPAA only applies to health-related entities like your doctor, insurance company or other medical providers. It does NOT apply to anyone else, including yourself.Well, yeah, Flip. That's kinda the point. If there's a one-holer for public use, it would be designated as unisex. Lots of restaurants made that switch years ago without triggering the end of the world. If you've ever stood in line waiting for the person of your gender to get the hell out of the restroom designated for your gender, you'll see the wisdom (and efficiency) in the unisex approach.
And it will not cause the end of the world.