Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Hunter Crenian
The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, talked about economic challenges in the US at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City. A government-managed, centralized digital currency would have an impact on inhabitants and provide them additional ways to “exercise their agenda,” he added, adding that he would not want that to happen.
DeSantis stated that in order to shield Floridians from economic or financial snooping, the state of Florida would be asking the legislature to specifically restrict the use of centralized bank digital currencies in the state’s commercial code.
“As we’ve come to learn, any way they can get into society to exercise their agenda, they will do it,” DeSantis said. “So what the central bank digital currency is about is surveilling Americans and controlling the behavior of Americans.”
This, he claimed, was well known because of instances like those in other nations. DeSantis claimed that using centralized digital currency was a technique to increase government control over the public. He gave examples of how such systems function in China, Nigeria, and the Bahamas.
“I don’t even need to think here, what are they gonna do? These ESG factors, you go and buy gasoline, if you bought too much gasoline, they just won’t allow you to use this to make a transaction,” DeSantis said. “Who knows whether they would let you buy a firearm or things they disapprove of, so you’re opening up a can of worms and handing a central bank huge amounts of power.”
DeSantis claimed that giving the bank more authority would enable them to use their influence to carry out a plan, noting that government action has taken place without congressional consent.
Regarding DeSantis’ assumption on the effects of a centralized currency in the U.S., he offered no evidence to support his worries, instead asserting that the changes would be made for political reasons by a “politically connected” central bank.
Miya Marcano’s father testifies against a Florida Senate measure.
Conceptually speaking, DeSantis urged other states to join him in the strategy to prevent the centralized currency.
Other speakers were presented by the governor, and they spoke about opposing the use of monetary policy to discriminate against what DeSantis has called marginalized groups, bringing up political and religious ties.
The governor remarked when he came back to the stage that the financial agendas or policies were being employed because environmental, social, and governance concerns “would not win at the voting box.”
According to a statement from the governor’s office, the measure aims to:
- The Florida Uniform Commercial Law expressly forbids using a central bank digital currency that has been adopted by the federal government as money (UCC).
- Putting in place safeguards against a single global currency by outlawing CBDCs issued by foreign reserves or central banks that have received international approval.
- Urging other states to join Florida in enacting such restrictions in their own commercial codes to push back against this idea nationally.
DeSantis was questioned on the possibility of an indictment and criminal charges being brought against former president Donald Trump during the question-and-answer period.
“So, I’ve seen rumors swirl, I have not seen any facts yet so I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do know this, that the Manhattan District Attorney is a Soros-funded prosecutor,” DeSantis said. “So, he like other Soros-funded prosecutors, weaponize their office to impose a political agenda on society at the expense of the rule of law and public safety.”
While he couldn’t comment specifically on the Trump situation, DeSantis claimed that the Manhattan district attorney had made decisions that reduced arrests and penalties and that the prosecutor was “ignoring crimes happening every single day.” He also claimed that going back in time to “use porn star hush money” to indict someone was improper and had a political motivation. He claimed that “reckless political ambitions” from “Soros-funded DAs” had hurt regular New Yorkers and Americans.
“I’m just glad that I’m the only governor in the country that’s removed one from office during my tenure,” DeSantis said.
About the prospective Trump-specific indictment, DeSantis declared that Florida will not take part in a “spectacle” of politics.
Another query centered more on the extradition of Trump and asked DeSantis whether he was aware of any discussions between law enforcement in the two states on how to charge the former president. DeSantis asserted that he was not currently aware of any such plot.
In response to a query regarding the fall of Silicon Valley Bank, DeSantis stated that it “shouldn’t be a surprise” given it was a bank frequented by venture capitalists and other “high-powered” people. He claimed that despite the bank’s speedy growth and the COVID deposit policies, it failed due to mismanagement and sharply rising interest rates.
Make sure you are staying up-to-date with the latest and most important Florida news with Florida Insider. Whether you are interested in business, education, government, history, sports, real estate, nature, weather, or travel: we have something for everyone. Follow along for the best stories in the Sunshine State.
Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
