Check the new WhoseFlorida for updates ENRON scandal is like Nixon years revisitedHey WF, I know its been awhile since my last e-mail. I, like most everyone else, have been sitting back waiting for all the smoke to clear from an incredible year. The Media is comparing the Enron scandal to Clinton's Whitewater. Personally I believe it is the Nixon years revisited, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I think that it is going to be more Like Nixon's Watergate.I wonder if this will wake people up, and see that "Government like a business" is more like "Government run by business". Enron was not handing out donations, the contribution list reads more like a payroll, handing out untaxable paychecks! What should we call this scandal, Enron's White Water Gate. Just trying to be politically correct and BI-partisan of coarse! Gee, I wonder how deep their fingers extend into Florida's political pockets.
The Rebellious Republican
Citrus
Canker decision upcoming in legislative committee
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From what I understand, displaced workers will be the only
state employees allowed to use the tuition voucher program (or
whatever it is now) to attend state universities.
Additionally, the displaced workers are to be assisted by the
Agency for Workforce Innovation in finding new jobs.
In this day of outsourcing state government functions, the
displaced workers may or may not be allowed to re-apply for
their jobs. It's a great American tragedy.
A change will come in this election year. It will take a
lot of effort from citizens as a collective body to foster the
change. We have to stand strong and united against the
political forces. Fight fire with fire. We can't
just blow off steam, but must present factual, analytical
information to the legislature. We must show the
lawmakers the errors of their ways.
...Florida Government Insider, 12/28
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This column brought to you by . . .
Pardon me, but weren't government and business two separate entities
not that long ago? Not only were they separate, but they were even
frequently at odds, over everything from regulation to tax breaks, in
particular which business should get the least of the former and the
most of the latter.---
But not anymore. Now, all around us are public-private
partnerships. Run government like a business, they say, but most times
they mean by a business. What's conveniently forgotten is that most
businesses fail in their first four years.---
Another often overlooked fact: There's a reason government does the
low-margin work such as helping the state's neediest citizens get a
break in life. Businesses exist to make a profit. Government, at least
at the state level, is merely expected to come out even. The federal
government doesn't even have to do that.... (More)
7 million shares of Enron purchased by Florida Retirement fund. Who made the decision to invest?
...sdehart, 15/15
(WF - just waiting on you guys to send in some info - We'll start it off here though - see Pension Fund)
(Top)
Thank you Governor, will you
ever have to look into these peoples' eyes?
A journal note from a worker at Dep't of Juvenile Justice today. The firing has begun:
"The day seems endless. Everyone in our unit has been told. Lots of grieving, even in those who already knew. It is very quiet, most have just left. We all are shaken anytime anyone walks by, thinking its our turn. I went downstairs... If you don't have your security badge, they are very officially and somewhat aggressively, with no note of explanation, barking orders that you must "display it" or get a temporary one. .... I thought it was a joke at first...Just a very scary experience, totalitarianism.
They need to get this over with, so people can start processing, making decisions, and not have to drive home at 5pm having just been told. An office near me is dark, don't know what that means. The stress is horrible, will we ever really laugh again here? ... once, we were all such a united unit, and I actually loved coming to work. Hard to believe...
... from my journal... anonymous, Friday 12/7/01
FLORIDA GREENS CALL ON STATE EDUCATION SECRETARY HORNE TO RESIGN
(Top)
Let us eat cake
Governor Bush insulted us again. (See the letter that follows) Not only are we expected to be grateful that our whopping 2.5% raise was not taken back, we should show "special appreciation" to the Governor and the other folks in management earning over $90,000 a year for "sacrificing" their raises. "Sacrificing"?? Am I reading this letter right?
$90,000 a year and under is what he calls the "modest salary class?"
That's 3-4 times our average salary, Governor.
And Governor, please stop blaming our shortfall on 9/11 without admitting your part in mismanaging our surplus and giving it all away.
You take from the poor to give to rich, and tell us
- how lucky we are and
- what a privilege it is for you to serve us (?), and
- how you value our hard work and dedication
We're losing our jobs, our insurance is costing us more, the services we have worked hard to provide to the citizens of Florida are falling apart. You're sabotaging our children's futures. Daycare costs a fortune. We are so short staffed and overworked we can barely get through the day. And you have the nerve to tell us you value our "hard work and dedication"!!
Don't come out here with your sweet words, big smile, and voice dripping with concern and be thinking that's going to make everything just fine and dandy.
The Plantation days be gone in Florida, Governor.
... Joe and Bet, 11/30/01
Letter from JEB to State Employees 11/30/01
(Top)
Florida is becoming a penal colony
How convenient it will be for the state and private prison industries after a large number of the state's probation officers lose their jobs. The number of offenders in violation of their conditions will increase because of the inability of officers to manage double caseloads of 130 to 150. Judges will be left with no options for offenders other than prison, where education and other programs are being reduced or cut.Florida has the potential to become a giant penal colony, with
taxpayers funding the exorbitant costs and industries getting the tax
breaks. Sadly, it seems our laws are developing to ensure public safety,
which becomes the measure of our humanity rather than our ability to
reach citizens before they get too far down the road.
...JACOB LERNER,11/23
(Top)
Let's get back to "Whose Florida is it Anyway?"
...LB, 11/20/01
(Note: LB's post was in response to an email query that went out about whether Whose Florida should shift the recent flurry of posts about the national and international events to another website. The general consensus has been to do that, so we are. Look for this information to appear on www.whitecloud.com within the next week or so and for WhoseFlorida to return to essentially Florida issues)
Bill's only `stimulus' is to incomes of rich
Using the tragedy of Sept. 11 as an excuse, congressional Republicans voted to give billions in taxpayers' money to their masters -- large corporations. Without a single dissenting House Republican vote, and joined by 10 spineless Democrats, the House passed an "emergency bill" to help our crumbling economy.
Unable to find money to ensure health insurance for citizens, unable to find money to lessen the crushing burden of prescription drugs for our elderly, they found $100 billion in tax refunds for: IBM, Ford, General Motors, General Electric, Chevron and Kmart.
These companies will receive this bounty while downsizing in the United States, with little, if any, restrictions on how this huge gift of taxpayers' money can be used.
The same Republicans want capital gains taxes reduced or repealed. The profits garnered by the top officials of companies providing low-cost stock options will be free of taxes -- while earned income for the ordinary worker will be taxed.
ROBERT H. MONZ, West Palm Beach
African Americans have a close understanding of terrorism
By Wilbert HobbsThis wisdom was lost on Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal when, shortly after Sept. 11, he said that America's foreign policy had something to do with the terrorists' attacks.
I certainly understand that the Saudi prince spoke what he felt to be the truth. As a Muslim, he was obliged to follow the Quran's dictate to "cover not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth when ye know (what it is)."
My grandmother used to say that the truth hurts but it does not have to be brutal. The timing of the Saudi prince's statement was brutal. However, to many African Americans, his words were truthful.
America must address the root problems that cause human beings to feel such hate for us as a government, that they would sacrifice their life to make the point. Mind you, I did not say hate us as a people. It's our government policies, both domestic and foreign, that must be looked at in terms of their humaneness.
In "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community," Martin Luther King Jr. wrote: "Among the moral imperatives of our time, we are challenged to work all over the world with unshakable determination to wipe out the last vestiges of racism. As early as 1906, W. E. B. DuBois prophesied that 'the problem of the twentieth century will be the problem of the color line.'
"Now we know full well that racism is still that hound of hell that dogs the tracks of our civilization. Racism is no mere American phenomenon. Its vicious grasp knows no geographical boundaries," King said, adding that racism and its perennial ally, economic exploitation, explain most of the international complications of this generation.
Yet in the year 2001, the key to understanding these complications has not changed.
Martin wrote these words more than 30 years ago when a second wave of "terrorism" was being committed on our "soil." The first had to do with the treatment of people of color, whether Indian or Negro, from the beginning of this nation.
The second wave came with the response of those who no longer believed that America respected a nonviolent, peaceful approach to eradicating racism. In the 1960s, many of us agreed with those who hated our government's policies. We began to understand why they were willing to sacrifice their lives to change things.
It's clear that, after grieving, we must re-examine our government policies as they relate to racism and economic exploitation here and abroad. I am encouraged that President Bush - whether by providence of God or the insistence of Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell - was persuaded to put his gun back in his holster before making America react as the Lone Ranger. Maybe, just maybe, diplomacy and humaneness with a military response will help us bring forth a world that understands violence begets violence.
Maybe, just maybe, we can understand that we cannot wrap ourselves in a flag or religious ideology that protects us from those who are racially and economically oppressed and have no options. Maybe, just maybe, our government and you and I can learn that oppressed people without options will listen to anyone who gives them options.
God bless America, please.
Wilbert Hobbs, pastor of Saint Paul AME Church in Chaires, is a Tallahassee Democrat contributing columnist. email- woh19@polaris.net
The number of offenders in violation of their conditions will increase due to the inability of officers to manage doubled case loads of at least 130 to 150.
Judges will be left with no options for offenders other than prison, where education and other programs are being reduced or cut. (This also is true for juveniles who, for less serious crimes, are being committed in higher numbers to deep-end youth prisons.)
Florida has the potential to become a giant penal colony, with taxpayers funding the exorbitant costs and industries getting the tax breaks.
Sadly, the more it seems that our laws are created - and our resources diverted - to ensure that "public safety" becomes the measure of our humanity, rather than our ability to meet the needs of our citizens.
Is this what Floridians (Americans) really want?
(Top)
Embarrassed by the special session
Re: "Session becomes political fodder" (Tall.Dem, Nov. 1).Huh? The story is not that there aren't enough statewide politically powerful Democrats to challenge Bush. That is old news. The story is not that Florida GOP Chairman Al Cardenas doesn't think that the Democrats can take advantage of a flawed special session. I could have told your reporter that.
If there is a political story here, it is about one party only. How about the lack of leadership, direction and planning from three leaders who are all from the same party? How about the irony that a state party leadership that wants to run government like a business responds to the current crisis the same way as current failing businesses - with further layoffs and cuts in services?
How about the contrasting challenges faced by a government during a peaceful strong economic era versus. a time of national crisis? It appears that even within a single party, to actually have to build and create something such as a budget during tough economic times is much harder than simply hacking away at the budget year after year during times of plenty.
As a longtime Floridian, I was embarrassed by the special session.
Despite Cardenas' rosy political outlook, I am very concerned. I fault the
Florida Republican and Democratic parties alike for not providing us with
politicians who can provide strong leadership.
...MATT,11/7
(Top)
Bush brothers are bankrupting Florida
Obviously John Anderson (“State government should be efficient and cost-effective,” Letters, Oct. 18) believes Jeb's semantics, though they confuse "layoffs" with "efficiency and cost-effectiveness." I challenge Mr. Anderson to find any state employee who can point to anything that has become more efficient and cost-effective during Jeb's term.If it weren't for gullible voters like Anderson, Jeb would not be
slashing state jobs to boost his image before the next election. Jeb and
George W. are bankrupting this state and country by slashing taxes during
a recession. There will be few reserves left to weather hard times like
the economic aftermath of the Sept. 11 attack and the war on
terrorism.
...S. JONES, 10/29 letter to the Tallahassee Democrat
(Top)
Very Special
Session
... Mr.SES,10/27
THE CITRUS CANKER ERADICATION PROGRAM IS HURTING THE TOURIST INDUSTRY
The majority of growers who are producing juice are not affected by the disease.
Tourists, many of them staying in places surrounded by private gardens, choose to be among palm trees, picking oranges and grapefruits from trees on these private properties. These same visitors very much enjoy the fragrance of citrus blossoms.
....Peter Harsany,10/24
America's Workers Can't Spend Praise
Jeb's Proclamation
I was appalled, as lifelong Republican, when I saw
the Governor’s proclamation to convene a special legislative session.
He used the WTC tragedy as the sole reason for this special session.
That was just the bullet in the head, Florida was in a serious economic
downward spiral long before Sept.11th. Legislators from both parties
were calling for a special session prior to this horrible act of
terrorism. This was truly an obscene gesture in an attempt to hide his
poor management of Florida State government .He would have gained my
loyalty and respect by simply saying that he made a mistake and we are
going to fix it, a little humility goes a long way. I would like to
apologize to the family and friends of the victims, for our Governors
morale bankruptcy. For those that care to see the proclamation in his
own words go to MyFlorida.com, Governor’s Office, Laws, Exec. Orders
or see this direct link. http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/eog_new/eog/orders/2001/october
.... larry,10/22
Do we need to listen more?
Florida - and Jeb - are Bankrupt but contemporary wisdom says it's "unpatriotic to challenge his governorship"
"Some prophets wait a lifetime or longer to be vindicated. For Larry Fuchs, Florida's former chief tax collector, it took merely two years. Fuchs said in the summer of 1999 that Florida was 'functionally bankrupt' and that the next inevitable recession would swiftly prove it. Though some leaders listened, it was mostly to laugh -- none more raucously than Florida's new governor, Jeb Bush, who boasted just a few months ago that he and the Legislature were on track to cutting taxes by a cumulative $6-billion before the end of his term... Now the Legislature must return to Tallahassee to cut this year's already lean budget by at least $1-billion, with even greater reductions looming for fiscal 2003." So writes a stinging editorial in the St. Petersburg Times.Meanwhile, in an editorial in the 10/6/01 Miami Herald:
"...Bob Butterworth, attorney general of Florida, former sheriff of Broward County, and former mayor of Sunrise. The man with the silver hair and the solid record.
Thursday evening he attended a fundraiser at -- where else? -- the Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, for his wannabe successor, Sen. Buddy Dyer, D-Orlando. Then he hosted a Democratic fundraising powwow at his Hollywood home...
They strategized about raising soft money for the Florida Democratic Party, but the usual enthusiasm for going after the green wasn't quite there.
Here's why:...The Sept. 11 attacks have made politics seem frivolous and challenging the governor seem unpatriotic..."
...Quixote, 10/6Rapacious banking industry is conning us into spending
Re: " Shop till you drop - but buy for others, too" by Bill Berlow (Tallahassee Democrat column, Oct. 5).One of the major problems in America is that we have been conditioned and raised to be conspicuous consumers. Americans, who comprise a mere 5 percent of the world's population, consume one-fourth of its oil and cause one-fourth of its pollution. It's no wonder we are despised in much of the world.
There is currently a new law before Congress - written for the exclusive benefit of the banking industry - that will make indentured servants out of most Americans who file for debt relief. Do you suppose the nice bankruptcy judge will accept the excuse of trying to spend your way into prosperity for the sake of the country?
I have six credit cards in my wallet. The Fed has reduced interest rates six times this year. Guess how many of the nice banks have reduced the interest rates on my credit cards? That's right, none! The greedy banking industry keeps the profits that should be passed on to consumers while encouraging us to spend, spend, spend.
It's time to get smart and understand the difference between true patriotism and sheer stupidity!
GALEN O. BALLARD, Marianna, in Tallahassee Democrat
TERRORISM: Reflect upon a lesson from history
As Congress considers anti-terrorism legislation, which may grant the federal government greater rights to detain persons suspected of assisting terrorists, and the right to monitor Internet use and e-mail letters without first obtaining a warrant, it needs to reflect upon a lesson from history. On Feb. 28, 1933, prior to the National Socialist German Workers' party taking power, a Dutch Communist, possibly working alone but more likely working with the assistance of others, set fire to Germany's capitol building known as the Reichstag, destroying it in the process. In the following weeks, arsonists began fires in 28 other buildings.
In order to combat domestic terrorism, an "emergency decree against arson and terrorist acts" was proposed and adopted by the democratically elected German cabinet, using a constitutional provision that authorized such measures in cases of emergency.
Under the emergency decree, the federal government suspended portions of the constitution. Federal law enforcement officials were granted the power to place suspected terrorists and their sympathizers in custody and to temporarily restrict the right of "privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications."
Those arrested were indefinitely detained by the German federal police unless they agreed to emigrate to another country. When the prisons could no longer hold them, internment camps were established in rural areas. The cost of maintaining those camps soon became an excessive burden on taxpayers.
The detainees were put to work in prison industries. Since the camps were a concentration of members of the Communist Party, Jews and gypsies, the camps became known as concentration camps. Ten years later, six camps in neighboring Poland were equipped with gas chambers.
Perhaps it could never happen here. However, the point of the story is that malevolent governments are sometimes democratically empowered in times of crisis when well-meaning people voluntarily surrender their freedoms in the pursuit of security. The lesson from the past is that those who would surrender their freedom for peace shall have neither.
ROD SULLIVAN, in Florida Times Union, 10/1(Top)
Radio censorship wrong step in America
All the reports and stories that have followed the tragic events of Sept. 11 have been frightening, but none more so than the Sept. 19 article by Thom Smith, "Radio censors decree: Nothing makes waves -- unless it's the flag."
We haven't begun to fight the war, and already we are surrendering to the terrorists. If we ban music, as the article says radio programmers are suggesting, next comes books, speech and ultimately thought; then, America no longer exists.
Patriotism has been revived after many years of unpopularity. Since Sept. 11, flying the flag and singing the Star Spangled Banner have become daily events, even in Grand Central Station during rush hour. Let's not display our love for this country while we chisel away at the very core of its greatness. What we need is not censorship, but the kind of freedom we have always enjoyed: the freedom to disagree, to think unpopular thoughts, to speak unpopular ideas, and to sing songs that express our feelings.
...PHYLLIS K. (letter Palm Beach Post 9/27)Why Did Jeb Warn of Terrorism in Florida on September 7?
On September 7 - 4 days before Florida-based terrorists attacked the US - Jeb Bush issued an unusual executive order. "Based on the potential massive damage to life and property that may result from an act of terrorism at a Florida port, the necessity to protect life and property from such acts of terrorism, and inhibiting the smuggling of illegal drugs into the State of Florida, the use of the Florida National Guard to support FDLE in accomplishing port security training and inspections is 'extraordinary support to law enforcement' as used in Section 250.06(4), Florida Statutes." Did Jeb know something the rest of us didn't know then - and still don't know now? http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/eog_new/eog/orders/ 2001/
... demdailynews, 9/25Thank you Cantor Fitzgerald!
WF, here is a letter that I sent to Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, George Bush, Dick Cheney, Jeb Bush, Frank Brogan, John McKay,Tom Feeney and several newspapers. ... I do not know if you saw the interview with Howard Lutnick, it was one of many with the WTC coverage. Larry Busby
As with every tragedy, I try to find the good that can come of it. In the case of the world trade towers, It came in the form of Howard Lutnick the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald. His company was literally on top of the world. They were housed on the top floors of the tallest building in a city considered to be the center of trade for the world. He was the apex of the most profitable company in that building.I watched him being interviewed on world news, as he broke down in tears. Here was a very wealthy man who had everything a person could wish for. Numbers were his life, 700 employees were lost in the blink of an eye. He no longer sat at the top of the world, he no longer had 700 employees, and all his wealth no longer mattered, the bottom line seemed so unimportant. He had what some might call an epiphany.
He made the statement that he and his four surviving employees were going to rebuild the business. However this time he would do it differently. He vowed that he was going to put emphasis on taking care of the people that work for him. Why do you suppose he made this statement, I believe he had come to realize that a business cannot function without people, let alone become profitable. I truly hope he lives up to this noble promise.
In these times of corporate cutbacks and bottom lines I have watched as companies have forgotten about the human element. It has been a generation since companies have shown loyalty to their employees, which in turn as caused employees not to show any loyalty in return.
There is no such thing as a career employee anymore. By the time an employee learns how to do their job, they are let go, so that a company does not have to pay higher wages and benefits. Or the employee moves on to another company that might offer better wages. Many companies have gone to using part time employees, why, its considered more profitable to have two employees that work less than forty hours a week with low wages and no benefits rather than have one person earning higher wages and receiving benefits.
Companies have many ways of increasing the bottom line, another such way is to cut staffing all the while increasing their workload. If they do not perform, they are simply let go. Hey there are always some other eager beavers waiting in line to be chewed up and spit out.
As a result of this CEO bottom line thinking, American workers are perceived as lazy and uncaring. Products and services in this country have taken a back seat to the bottom line. This typical CEO mentality has infiltrated into all aspects of our lives.
CEO politicians are starting to do the same in state and federal governments, who will suffer as the result. Do you suppose the President may be rethinking some of his cutback thinking now, there are some Governors that have been doing the same to their states as well, look at Florida as an example. A Company or a government is only as good as the people who do the work.
Yes, this was a very tragic event, unfortunately it often takes tragedies to bring about change. I am one American that prays that other CEO’s and CEO politicians take stock of the people that work for them. Thank you Cantor Fitzgerald for realizing the importance of the people that work for you. With this new found philosophy I believe that your company will come back stronger than the steel and concrete that used to house your company.
.... Larry Busby, 9/18/01
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There are doubtless many steps that could be taken to enhance
security in the air. Such steps might include, for example,
enhancing the job status, motivation, training and supervision of
ground personnel who are responsible for passenger and cargo
security. However, even if such steps were effective in
preventing a recurrence of today's disasters, these steps would be
of no benefit against the myriad other potential forms of terrorism,
from the release of chemical and biological agents to attacks on
nuclear reactors.
The following are some steps we could take to reduce the likelihood
of terrorist attacks in general:
1. Begin working now to end our dependence on petroleum.
A considerable portion of oil reserves lies in countries with
unstable and autocratic political regimes. Both the
leaders of those regimes (like Saddam Hussein) and those who rebel
against them (like Osama bin Laden) are likely to engage in
violence, and they have the resources to do significant damage.
Reducing dependence on petroleum- through conservation and the
development of solar energy- will reduce the revenues of these
regimes while reducing global warming and enhancing the quality of
life of everyone from the world's wealthiest to its poorest people.
2. Condition support for Israel on its immediate withdrawal
from the occupied territories and implementation of an effective
right of return (including a right of appeal to an international
tribunal) for those Palestinians who have been forced out of their
homes and off their land. Continuation of the current U.S. policy of
virtually unconditional financial (at least $3 billion per year) and
diplomatic support for Israel will almost inevitably continue to
antagonize large segments of the Arab and Islamic world.
3. Reform the international banking system to eliminate havens
for criminals. The United States recently withdrew its support
for efforts (initiated by the European Community) to eliminate such
havens. The current system makes it too easy for terrorists
and their sponsors to maintain anonymous accounts in limitless
amounts.
4. Osama bin Laden was trained to be a terrorist by the CIA,
as were a number of other well-known terrorists. The Taliban
regime that shelters him is also the product of U.S. intervention in
Afghanistan during the last days of the Cold War. We should
end our training of terrorists and all other unilateral violent
interventions abroad. We should also end arms sales, which
feed violence and drain resources away from basic needs.
5. Most important, we should conduct our foreign policy in
such a way as to reduce the number of people in the world who
are alienated to the point of murder and martyrdom, and who are
likely to see us as a major source of their problems. That
means taking the side of those who are impoverished, subjugated and
exploited, rather than of those who oppress them.
It is commonly assumed that the rules of morality change at the
water's edge, and that our role in the world should be determined by
some version of "national interest" in which violence is
acceptable as long as it is practiced by us, or by those we support.
However, we live in a world in which our borders no longer insulate
us from outside threats, whether those threats take the form of
pollution, climate change, the exhaustion of fisheries and other
natural resources, infectious diseases or terrorist attacks.
In this new world, the traditional approach will not work any
longer.
Our true national interest is in a peaceful world. However, in
the absence of justice, there can be no true or lasting peace, and
no real security. By placing ourselves on the side of justice,
we will slowly make the world a better and safer place for all who
live in it, including ourselves and our children.
...Santiago G. Leon
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WHY
INSPIRE HATRED?
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"At this time, let us in the the pro-democracy movement give
ourselves to the heart of democracy -- by sharing our best selves
with those in pain, in need, in emergencies, and in unfathomable
grief. Let us focus in the immediate on the spirit, the deeper soul
and body of our nation -- to address, with loving hearts, minds and
hands, our physical, moral and spiritual wounds, which wounds are so
deep and many tonight. We are all suffering tonight, but others
suffer more than we do. Let us help them. Let us suspend our
grievances for a brief time, to focus on the well-being of our
fellow human beings." So writes Michael Rectenwald, Founder of
Citizens for Legitimate Government.
(Top) | ||||||||||||
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President Bush supports the polluters' wish listThe Bush energy plan as passed by the House gives away $27 billion in taxpayer subsidies and tax breaks to the fossil fuel, auto and nuclear industries. The House bill would open the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling. At the same time, the House rejected an amendment to increase fuel economy standards for SUVs and light trucks, which would have conserved more than twice the amount that could ever be drilled in the Arctic Refuge. President Bush is also considering repealing a key element of the Clean Air Act that forces old and dirty power plants to meet modern pollution standards. In Florida, these old plants produce one-third of all smog-forming pollution and are responsible for 1,740 premature deaths. Without strict government standards, polluting power plants will have no incentive to upgrade their facilities. Sens. Graham and Nelson should oppose the polluters' wish list passed by the House and instead support energy policies that promote clean, renewable energy and increased energy efficiency. DAPHNE SORENSEN, Field Organizer, Florida PIRG
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Did the Administration Violate Laws?
Gov. Bush allowed his former Chief Technology Officer, the one
arrested by the Leon County Sheriff's Office, to remain on paid
leave (administrative leave) for a period that exceeded the 20
calendar days allowed by Chapter 60K, Florida Administrative Code.
This violation is all too typical in this administration, where the apparent belief system allows those in power to accept, or reject, those laws and rules they choose. Another example is the recent "laundering" of state computer equipment offered for sale to select DEP employees. This equipment was "donated" to the United Way (whose director later was appointed as director of parks for DEP) and then the same equipment was "auctioned" off to select DEP employees, without the public being given an opportunity to participate in the auction. Chapter 60L, Florida Administrative Code is supposed to
regulate such improper transfers, but in this current
administration, no one seems to care about laws or rules.
Where's the so-called "investigative reporters" out
there? Are these folks blind? Who enforces the laws when the
Executive Office blatantly violates them? (Top) | ||||||||||||
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We get the government we deserve!Everyone knew what the Republican agenda was before the election. No spending for social services of any kind, with everybody on their own in the myth of the "rugged American individualism," and the rejection of any sort of "government interference" in individual lives, which Americans so naively accept.
Why did we elect Jeb Bush? Was it his cute face? Was it
his political slogans of "JEB!" and "Protect Freedom,
elect Bush!" They must have appealed to the electorate, and
they demonstrate the intellectual and political maturity of the
voters. I know poor people, sick people, and even State
Employees who voted for him! We get the government we deserve! Kaare
B. Host, 8/29/01
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Katherine
Harris' overseas spending
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Cotterell's analysis: mostly fluff, little substance
By Abe Schestopol
But governors in Florida are not elected by either fluff or style.
They are elected by quantitative results as promulgated by the Florida
secretary of state. Nowhere in his article does Cotterell address any
quantitative considerations whatsoever.
Here are some quantitative considerations that he fails to take
into account:
Registered voters: There are thousands more registered Democrats in Florida than Republicans. If the Democratic officials in the state do their part, as they did in the recent presidential election against a "young, vigorous" opponent, the incumbent will not be elected.
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Editorial: Two scoops of audacityThe Palm Beach Post Sunday, August 19, 2001 The acronym is DROP, which is appropriate, because Florida taxpayers' jaws must drop when they hear about it. Several years ago, in an attempt to encourage early retirement among state employees, the Legislature created the Deferred Retirement Option Program. State workers who had 30 years' experience or were at least 62 could sign up and receive a lump-sum payout followed by a monthly pension. The catch was that the employee had to quit five years after signing up. Though the public doesn't always think of them that way, elected officials also are state employees. And this year, the Legislature changed DROP to eliminate the retire-after-five-years rule -- but the change applies only to elected officials, not to prison guards, teachers or health inspectors. The change allows politicians who meet the requirements to double dip in the most audacious way. They can collect retirement while still on the job. As The Post reported last week, Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene could collect about $350,000 in 2006 if she signs up this year and wins reelection in 2004. She's been on the state payroll for more than three decades. Her colleague, Burt Aaronson, also up for reelection in three years, could get $86,000 in one pop and $1,500 monthly in retirement pay for the job from which he would not have retired. They are Democrats, but to show just how bipartisan the issue is, the change was sponsored by Sen. Locke Burt, a Republican who is running for attorney general. Commissioner Greene says she would be "stupid" to pass up such a deal. The public, which is paying for such a deal, might think it's not only "stupid" but greedy for such a deal to exist. The state should take it back.
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| Re:
"In politics, style often beats substance" by Bill
Cotterell (Capital Curmudgeon, Aug. 16).
He says that despite the Republican Party's approach, it will win because the public doesn't want substance. I think Bill needs to understand that we, the public, make our decisions about what we want based on the information we get from the press and TV. And what's fed to us is Republican propaganda from Republican-big-business-controlled media. Bill is right: Mondale, Dukakis and Gore lost the media battle. They had to because it was so one-sided. But when George's cocaine days were brought up, the issue was put away when he refused to talk about it. And his failures in businesses, including bankruptcies, were hardly mentioned. So once again, here are our media - in the form of Republican Bill - telling us not to bother, Jeb's going to win anyway. Bill doesn't want to mention that most of the black and Hispanics this state are not going to vote for Jeb. Nor are most of the teachers. Plus, a huge number of the 600,000 state employees and their families and their friends. But it was a nice try, Bill. You should be getting a check from Jeb
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Gov. Bush's annoyance is misdirected, it appearsA story in The Gainesville Sun and other state newspapers (Aug. 1) noted that Gov. Jeb Bush is "annoyed" at "liberals" who criticized his tax cuts because they want expansion of state programs, and just "would have spent" the money anyway had the cuts not been imposed. May I urgently remind the governor of three points: One, some of the most significant increases in the state budget, especially in education and other social services, in Florida history took place during the first years of his tenure Two, conservative Republicans in the House and moderate Republicans in the Senate, not liberals, have been firmly in control of the Legislature - the ultimate arbiter of the state budget - since he assumed office Three, some of the earliest and most vigorous critics of his tax cuts during this past legislative session were Republicans, not liberals; most especially Senate President John McKay. It appears that Gov. Bush's annoyance is misdirected. ...Richard K. Scher, Gainesville, 8/11/01 (letter to Gainesville Sun)
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School Voucher Movement is Fueled by Handful of Ultra-Wealthy Donors and Conservative Front Groups
If anyone has the idea that the push for school vouchers represents
some sort of "grass roots" movement, think again. A new
report by the
American Assoc. of School Administrators finds that just three
bigshot donors and 9 foundations (many of them conservative agenda
front groups, like the Scaife Foundation) are behind the movement.
The report concludes: "The public ballot initiatives for
publicly-
supported private school vouchers are financed primarily by a
handful
of very wealthy individual donors." Funds are channeled mostly
into
the foundations, "each of which advocates for the voucher cause
and
spreads its message via the Internet, media campaigns, listserves,
court challenges and action networks. Given the wealth behind each
voucher group, we can expect the voucher movement to continue to
prosper." At the expense, of course, of the average American
child.
http://www.aasa.org/government_relations
from demdailynews 8/5/01
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Media front pages = opinion as News, and headlines don't always tell the storyFriday's Tallahassee Democrat should finally put to rest any thoughts anyone had about the newspaper being part of the typical liberal media. On the front page, the Democrat published an article about President Bush's "victories." The best part is that this isn't even news, it's analysis. That's right folks, it's somebody's opinion. But we're trying to help out the Republican cause here, so it's OK to put it on the front page with all the other extremely important news such as the unending saga of poor Rudy Maloy's travails. What, no Condit news? Then the local section has two great articles favoring the Republican cause, one about Gov. Bush gaining ground in popularity. At the end, we read "Overall, Bush's job performance declined slightly since the last poll in February." But for the people who just read headlines, you've done your job. Best of all is the article about the Health agency losing key top
leaders. Nowhere in this article is the truth even hinted at, and
that's where it favors the Republican cause. The truth is that all
these people are leaving because they are either being eliminated by
Service First or they're going to be in the near future.
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