And The Title Goes To...

This is a perverse matchup between two States

With the title going to the one that fails its citizens the most.

In one corner, Florida – Miami’s pulsing Latin beat,

Panhandle”s Old South slant, end pieces to

The Land of the Mouse, oscillating

Between Democrat and Republican allegiance.

In the other corner, Arizona – unmatched scenic beauty,

Jazz-infused sanctuary city Tucson,

Rouge County sheriff on a mission, and

Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly unbowed. 

The judges are two displaced NE liberals,

Who spiraled through space-time

To begin the next phase of their lives

In these strange and unsettling lands.

Round 1: Here’s To Your Good Health

The fight is over the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare

To help millions of low-income people with health care

That can reduce suffering and save their lives.

But States can opt out of the program.

FL quickly knocks AZ to the mat with its annual refusal

To take the Federal dollars despite beleaguered hospital pleas.

AZ’s Republic Governor puts people before politics

And brings more than a million people into the system.

Round 2: Cruel and Unusual

With 92 executions since 1976, FL easily outpunches

AZ with a total of 37.

Texas remains unchallenged in the Heavy Weight class,

Weighing in with 531.

Round 3: Sun Packs a Punch

AZ is ranked in the top 10 states

For harnessing the power of the Sun.

With investor-owned utilities laying out the fight strategy,

FL, the Sunshine State, lags behind without a trace of irony.

And the title goes to FL – Worse State.

Arms raised in triumph, FL prances around the ring

As lobbyists and power brokers cheer in the arena.

Ordinary citizens watch on monitors

Out in the cold.