John Whitehead says it well:
“Overregulation is just the other side of the coin to overcriminalization, that phenomenon in which everything is rendered illegal and everyone becomes a lawbreaker.
This is the mindset that tried to penalize a fisherman with 20 years’ jail time for throwing fish that were too small back into the water and subjected a 90-year-old man to arrest for violating an ordinance that prohibits feeding the homeless in public.
It’s no coincidence that both of these incidents—the fishing debacle and the homeless feeding arrest—happened in Florida.
Despite its pristine beaches and balmy temperatures, Florida is no less immune to the problems plaguing the rest of the nation in terms of overcriminalization, incarceration rates, bureaucracy, corruption, and police misconduct.
In fact, the Sunshine State has become a poster child for how a seemingly idyllic place can be transformed into a police state with very little effort. As such, it is representative of what is happening in every state across the nation, where a steady diet of bread and circuses has given rise to an oblivious, inactive citizenry content to be ruled over by an inflexible and highly bureaucratic regime.
Just a few years back, in fact, Florida officials authorized police raids on barber shops in minority communities, resulting in barbers being handcuffed in front of customers, and their shops searched without warrants. All of this was purportedly done in an effort to make sure that the barbers’ licensing paperwork was up to snuff.
As if criminalizing fishing, charity, parenting decisions, and haircuts wasn’t bad enough, you could also find yourself passing time in a Florida slammer for such inane activities as singing in a public place while wearing a swimsuit, breaking more than three dishes per day, farting in a public place after 6 pm on a Thursday, and skateboarding without a license.
This transformation of the United States from being a beacon of freedom to a locked down nation illustrates perfectly what songwriter Joni Mitchell was referring to when she wailed, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
Only in our case, sold on the idea that safety, security and material comforts are preferable to freedom, we’ve allowed the government to pave over the Constitution in order to erect a concentration camp.”
Just running a little plant nursery put me at all kinds of weird risks, including managing a labyrinthine set of interstate shipping laws, possible lawsuits from visitors to the food forest and potentially being raided for growing various edible plants (a fellow nursery owner told me multiple nurseries in Florida had been raided for growing unapproved yams. Yams!). I was even told by a government inspector that I could go to jail for keeping citrus in pots without a special license. Eventually I decided to walk away and I haven’t regretted it. When you’re an employee, sometimes you might miss the regulatory burden – but when you try to run your own business, you realize just how huge governmental overreach has become.
I love my home state but it’s just too much pressure. It’s not perfect anywhere, but the yoke is often lighter.
Plus, the beaches here are awesome.
24 responses to “Why did I leave?”
I agree totally with you about Florida. I am a native living in Dania Beach. I have lived on my property for 70 of my 72 years. I can’t have chickens, let my grass get above a certain height, been cited for my gravel driveway ( with a potential $100 per day fine) seen my elderly neighbor evicted from his home and the home sold because of the daily fines amassed because he couldn’t care for his yard. Terrible stuff! If I were younger, I’d be gone. Glad you made the break. I watch every one of your videos and love your sense of humor. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Betty Jean. It really is crazy.
I did the only thing left for a native Floridian….. I left
How bout the guy got locked up for 5 years for using paper, not plastic; in shipping commerce to Jamaica or one of those countries down there. Not sure about the details, but something like that.
Yikes.
I feel like they would fine you for a papaya tree growing way too high like in eatyourbackyard’s hawaiian papaya video. Great work david are you going to do a video on name root if you come across one.
Hi David! I also am over this place. Any ideas on good countries to go to, that aren’t really messed up? I (kind of) know someone who moved to Costa Rica, and he seems pretty happy there. But he said they DEFINITELY will REALLY rip off Americans there (living OR visiting). Did you have any real problems getting into your country (moving there, I mean)? I have just retired, and am looking to relocate, so that sounds kind of interesting. This whole country is turning into the 4th Reich. (Or already is!)
Yeah, the situation isn’t much better in most places. And locals will rip you off, and ex-pat neighborhoods are expensive.
Some options: Chile, Italy, Dominica. I’ve also looked at Bulgaria and Croatia, but the language barrier is higher. Belize is good in some spots, not great in others. Idaho, Alaska and New Hampshire are okay as US states go.
I lived in Croatia for the past year and a half. Gorgeous, amazing seafood, culture of farming their own food, and relatively inexpensive. Recently, it has joined the EU, so there are many more restrictions than there once were. I have heard many positive things about Poland, but EU again (but they seem to be fighting more). Also, there was talk of the EU banning personal gardens and trying to tax wild asparagus. It hasn’t happened yet, but the entire world has ridiculous concepts of control and trying to monetize everything. Some friends recently moved to the country of Georgia. They are doing many positive things to attract immigration.
The world is a crazy and imperfect place, but it is still a beautiful and dangerous place. Still a good place. Government folks do try to pass new laws as sources of revenue imagined while on break. I believe it is up to us (voting citizens) to support like minded candidates for office and volunteer for citizen boards at a local level and influence policy.
The local level is very important – I totally agree.
I disagree that the world is a good place, though – I think it’s an evil place, and we have to fight the evil as best as we can. People carry evil inside them and are unable to always rein it in. Once they get together in big government, it really becomes bad for those of us trying to just live our lives.
It is WAY scarey! Between the fluroide and the chemtrails and the GMOS and glyphosphate and all the poisons that are being shot at us from all directions in our clothes and food and cleaners and everything we buy, and then the being dictated to on how to raise our families and how to talk and how to collect our rainwater and all the other things covered in this article it is flat out just scarey. And everytime you turn around, we’re needed to sign petitions for some monstrous stuff going on; it’s just overwhelming. And even when you try to stay under the radar, it’s like that’s worse than being out at the forefront. This beautiful world SHOULD be a good place. And there are parts of it that are. But it’s gotten to the point where our whole lives are spent fighting, trying to keep from being chewed up and spit out.
First I want to say that suscribing and reading David’s posts has changed my life. I am very excietd to be growing trees and small foods in my limited growing spaces in Orlando. I put something into the ground everyday, and am planning for a Florida Food Forest (yes, my wife bought me the book and I have read it 4 times). I am engaging grandkids and hoping they will want to grow their own foods.We are builders and plumbers for the state of Florida, our primary market is the aged and disabled. We help people live in their own homes till they die, and not go to a facility. We work with legal immigrants (and second and third and fourth generation, these guys are just like us) on a regular basis. These are folks who desire a sence of community, who are hard workers and loyal. These are folks (subcontractors) that provide building services for us. Without exception, these fellows are so grateful to the USA for providing an opportunity to ‘get up early, put on their boots, and work 16 hours’. These guys will send for their relatives in South America, or Eastern Europe, or Africa and put them to work and create an atmosphere of excellence. This is how all of us were till we got used to easy living and achieved an expectation of entitlement. I hear stories of problems in the old countries. Strong and immoral men that take what they want. huge corruption, lack of resourses, hospitals that do not have medicines. These immigrant fellows can not believe how easy it is to live here. If you want something, go to the store and get it. This is not how it is in undeveloped countries. Of course, the over-regulations, face recognician cameras and lack of respect/community/love that have come with our new society create problems. We have lots of people help us , very capable and loving folks that try to keep us out of too much trouble. Anyways, we love you David and your family and thrilled to introduce you to excellent folks here in the Orlando area.
The World is a Beautiful and Good Place ….The Government is Evil….and of course some People who put $$$$ ahead of others are evil.
Hi David, my first comment. I have read most of your books, while listening to the audio book. I like your sense of humour. Both Gary Donaldson and Rob Bob live here in South East Queensland Australia in the semi-tropics. What country did you escape to and are you and your family happy there? Do you plan on staying permanently? Did you purchase your own house and land and about how much land do you have to grow food in now? Any other info would be appreciated. (so many questions……so little time)
I sympathise with you just wanting to get on with your life without big government wanting to oversee and interfere in every decision and action you take. Cheers and good luck with it.
Hi Andrew,
I haven’t given away my exact location, but we’re in Central America. Yes, we are happy here and plan on staying long term. Permanently is hard to say. I like Eastern Europe and Italy and have thought about moving somewhere over there. We haven’t been able to buy a house or land yet, so we are renting. We have a 1/4 acre lot we borrow for gardening.
The biggest hurdle to leaving is fear, followed by finances. Most people don’t want to make the jump because it’s scary. Or they’d like to make the jump but they can’t afford it. I worked like crazy to make my income location independent and enough to live on, so I knocked out the second hurdle. The first one, fear, I overcame with a little push from God out the door.
A couple years ago Russia had come out saying that if someone would work their land for 5 years, they would give it to them. I think it was like 2 hectares, or something like that. They were wanting organic growers, and were letting people from other countries come in and do it (not limited to Russians I mean). It was only in certain areas that were not very well populated. But for someone that could deal with wilds and with cold, it was very interesting! And for someone with homesteading experience, especially in the north, would probably be a snap! OK, just found something. Apparently it was one hectare (2.5 acres). This shows the regions it was in. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3573199/Russia-offers-person-FREE-land-long-frozen-wastelands-country-s-Far-East.html
I have lived on and off in Costa Rica since the 70’s between Florida and Costa Rica….I got fined 500. a day in Florida for having a wooden rental shed one of those things you see on the side of the road ( this in an ag area and zoned ag and licensed plant nursery)….for not having a building permit even tho one is not required for a rented shed that was made in Tennessee. The level of corruption is criminal but always has been and sadly no end in site…there you go 60,000 fine for nothing plus an inordinate amount of harassment and of course a real estate developer was behind it. Costa Rica is also on the rise targeting foreigners ….you develop something they want …too bad they take it away. Then boot you out for one thing or another. I had 5 Abogados in Costa Rica and 4 in Florida all = 0 robbed of everything I ever achieved. And all legit agriculture enterprises.
Yes, there is a problem with building in Latin America, then getting it yanked from you. You’ve been on both sides for a longer time now and would have a better idea than me of the pitfalls.
I remember reading an economics guy, I think it was Doug Casey, who wrote something like “for maximum freedom, have your home in one country, your money in another and your citizenship in a third.”
Lawrence, could you please tell me what county in Florida fined you that way? I’ll make SURE I don’t move there, as I’m looking to move, and I’m looking for an agricultural area. I would not want to live where they acted like that. Thanks! (What’s the old quote? Good guys always finish last? Looks like you have lived it!)
Hi David the grate
Thanks for all the garden tips
Love biochar
Would like to team up and work the land together
My claim to fame is
Farmer Joe cbs news
On YouTube
It would be nice to jam too
Home grown tomatoes (song
Happy to meet you, Joe. Wherabouts are you located?
Glad to have you here in Alabama now I live in Semmes, just north of Mobile. I’m hoping to catch your next plant sale or visit your nursery once you open to the public ! Blessings !
We will have a plant sale this Saturday! See here: https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxCwP6teJkTzW1iE1dwRHqs65kOYB0e-ZN