Check
the new WhoseFlorida for
updates
WhoseFlorida is a loosely knit band of individuals. Our thoughts about why we're doing this will appear here
from time to time
2/17/04
"Once again Whose Florida? has been chosen by our
panel of progressive writers and distinguished readers as an outstanding
democratic, independent media. We are pleased to send you the 2004
Democratic Media Award...
http://www.goodwriters.net/dmr2.html
Your award implies no obligation other than your
continued commitment to serving the public interest and your recognition
that a truly free press is the indispensable water that keeps the Tree
of Democracy growing and alive..."
10/27/03
"WhoseFlorida.com is the
result of a collaborative effort of many people, perhaps like yourself,
who work, live and play in our beautiful state. We would love to be able
to just get on with our lives and live happily ever after, but we can't
avoid the disturbing feeling that all is not well - in paradise.
On every front, it seems,
our well being is under attack: jobs lost, schools suffering, healthcare
costs through the roof, pensions dwindling, housing/insurance costs
outrageous, wetlands and wild lands disappearing - Florida is being paved
over, and now the big boys want to sell our water. Big business runs the
whole show. Politics is all big money...
So what to do? First find
out what is going on! Then organize and work to make it better! "They"
can only do this if "we" let them - and they rely on us knowing nothing,
and doing nothing.
Since February 2001,
WhoseFlorida has helped provide alternative perspectives to the news and
linked people together. Help us help Florida. Send us your ideas, your
stories, your news and photos, edit one of our sections -- help however
you can..."
We're thinking of this text
(or something like this for our new intro page that you can access at:
http://www.whoseflorida.com/newdesign.htm It will be
database driven with the right hand column showing news clips relevant to
the topic of the center section... still developing, so if you have any
ideas please send them along...
(.... more
on support)
8/16/03
We're busy working on a new format for WhoseFlorida. We
hope to roll it out in October/ November, and we think it will be easier to
read and navigate. In time we hope to move all the existing
pages to the new format. The new format will be data base driven
and easier to maintain. We're also looking to expand our
regional pages, and to get more reporters in Tallahassee and around
the state - but more on this later.
Thanks for hanging in
there with us over the last year and helping us through some rough
spots with your donations, and for continuing to send us your
stories and reports.
"Once again Whose Florida? has been chosen by
our panel of progressive writers and distinguished readers as an
outstanding democratic, independent media. We are pleased to send you the
2003 Democratic Media Award."
"With more than half of the U.S.
population using the Internet, public awareness of the importance of
independent media such as yours is increasing. By prominently displaying
your award, you help build public awareness of the global movement for
integrity in reporting. We encourage you also to link your sunflower
award symbol to the one of the best Independent Media Resource rosters,
where your publication appears as an esteemed member..." 1/22/03
WhoseFlorida selected the Political Site of the Day for 3/7/02
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Dear Friend,
In the new special media issue of The Nation, we asked Nation
readers to tell us about their favorite media outlets. We
published the results in an incomplete, unscientific survey in our
pages and on our website.
We wanted to let you know that your publication is among this fine
group of magazines, websites, radio programs and periodicals
highly touted by our readers. You can find the plug at the
following URL:
... congratulations on your inclusion in our very finicky reader's
list.
Happy Holidays,
Peter Rothberg
Associate Publisher, The Nation
P.S. You can find the rest of our special media material,
including a dramatic visual representation of the vast holdings of
the "Big Ten" media giants, currently at:
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Why WhoseFlorida?
So much has happened since February 2001 when WhoseFlorida.com went on line.
Jeb had already told us that his Florida was going to be all about business and most of the state employees knew Florida was in trouble.
Some of us knew because we’d been witnesses to the dismantling of the infrastructure of our state government for several years. Some of us had already lost our jobs. Some of us had spent the last year and a half wondering if we would have a job the following
week.
Predictably, the job cuts and the effects of the zero-based budget began to take its toll. We had been working in crisis mode for too long, and we knew it wasn’t going to get better any time
soon. The problem was already system wide, but most of us didn’t know it. We all thought it was just happening in our agency and maybe a few others. There wasn’t a lot of talk about
it.
There wasn’t a lot of press about it either. The breakup of the Department of Labor, the layoffs at
several of the other agencies, and the 25% workforce reduction "exercise" were being discussed but the big picture was largely
ignored.
Jeb was asking the workers for feedback, but his plan was already in place. We were asked not to speak about what we saw happening, so for the most part we didn’t. Those of us who had been with
our agency for a while felt that to speak out would be disloyal. We would remain "good employees" to the
end.
That was 6 months ago.
Since then, the legislature has come and gone leaving a plan called "Service First", another big tax cut for the folks who don’t need one, a reduction in social programs, a scaling back of environmental protections, a cement plant on the Itchetucknee River, and increased powers for the Governor to make more changes like this in the
future...
Affirmative action of course, fell in the first year of Jeb’s rule – "One Florida" in its place. The message that we could "trust Jeb to do the right thing" was not at all
reassuring.
There is a certain Orwellian cruelty in the names they have chosen. "Service First" is really less service, and "One Florida" is clearly two Florida’s - one for the rich and one for the
poor.
The State website was renamed "myflorida.com" – a dot com business designation for the official state website – a trademark logo instead of the Great
Seal.
And now there are oil rigs coming to the Gulf, the Everglades restoration is set for compromise, and the St. Joe / Arvida companies are poised to sell off North Florida.
Not a pretty picture, for most of us at least.
But Jeb’s happy I guess – he sees his image reflected everywhere around him… new marinas, golf courses, gated estates, super highways, big hotels, shiny billboards, lots of business, lots of banks with lots of money, and of course a few theme parks and trailer estates for the
mob.
I wince when I picture this. This sure isn’t my Florida – but hell, I was only born
here. It’s not a Florida anyone I know, or even could imagine knowing, would
want.
So Why Whose Florida? Because I sort of like Florida the way I see it – and I want to have a say in how it goes. No one else is speaking for me – so I will. I suggest you all do the
same.
(I'm a native Floridian. I've worked for the State for over 10 years. I did not vote for Jeb, but not because of his party affiliation. It was/is because he seems to have no idea what it is to live a life without privilege. During his first campaign, Jeb was asked what he would do for the Black community. He said "Probably nothing." Everyone should have
listened to what he said that day - he was speaking to us all.)
Independence Day, July 4 2001 Tallahassee, Fl
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Our Mission?
To give opportunity for the TRUTH to be discovered by all
of Florida's citizenry.
Every Floridian has the fundamental right to know the real
impact of the policies and laws adopted by the ruling authorities.
Good public relations disguises snake oil salespersons as modern day
miracle workers. The general public does not know the real truth.
The goal of this site is to educate us all. This
will be accomplished through an anonymous forum designed for government
employees who see the effects of government first hand to send in their
experiences and for other taxpayers around the state to describe how
cutting services is effecting their lives.
This is a monumental task, but it is do-able with YOUR
help. Please
respond.
Who Are We?
We are government workers who reside in Florida and know
how cutting government services will hurt the people of Florida. We
chose to be government workers because we wanted to make a difference.
We are highly educated and could move to the private
sector at will. We love our jobs, believe in the work we do and
sacrifice higher salaries for safety of career service.
We are employees who know that privatizing is neither
cheaper or more efficient. We are employees who are against reform for the
sake of reform.
We are employees sick of hearing that the Wal-Mart approach
is best. In our jobs we serve the public better than Sam Walton
could have ever conceived.
For the record, we do not all belong to the same political
party and we do not see eye to eye on all the issues. We do however
want the very best for Florida and this has not been forthcoming from our
governor, his appointed agency heads, his cohort in the legislature,
and his point of presence on the Web - "MyFlorida.Com".
Whose Florida?
It's JEB's Florida for sure, as long as we remain
silent.
... (I am a native Floridian, and have worked for the the
State for 11 years. I campaigned for JEB. I believed that he
would do good things for Florida - many of us did. WhoseFlorida for
me is not about attacking JEB, it is about educating him, informing him,
informing us all.) ...Posted 4/30/01
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