Similar to many people, having gone to Florida for winter vacations, one of the offshoots was to go on a boat cruise into the everglades and see alligators. One of the shows on TV was hunting alligators which because of the teeth and music of the show made the hunt exciting to watch. In addition, the University of Florida teams has the gator for a mascot. Being in the northeast, fortunately we do not deal with alligators. In the summer reading came across a book called Gator Country by Rebecca Renner, published by Flatiron Books, NY, 2023.

The book is both a description of the Florida everglades and a story about a sting operation about trying to protect the alligators from poachers. With every issue, there are rarely lines where people do not cross.

One of the reasons why people from the northeast go to Florida is for the weather, there is no snow in the winter. However, to accommodate the tourists and potential new residents, swamp land in Florida has been and continues to be changed to housing developments and golf courses. Often times alligators are a nuisance in these areas. In the protected areas of the Everglades National Park, the alligators exist as they have always existed. When the tourists come, they like things relatively simple like roads which lead to the Army Corp of Engineers trying to ensure roads could be built which meant diverting water. This changes the habitant of the Everglades which meant the locals had to adjust, but would they? do they really change?

When the Army Corp changed the habitant, the animals moved but when they moved the scientists noted fewer animals which they believed would lead to extinction. This leads to enforcement and the story in the book, what is good for the animals and good for people?

Linking to dividend paying stocks, all these companies do good because they sell products people want to buy and contribute to their communities and distribute dividends. Sometimes decisions that are made benefit the companies to a greater deal than the consumers, is that good? perspective matters and as a shareholder you say yes as long as the company can be profitable and pay their dividends.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.