Florida should learn from its past to chart recovery

Property values in Florida plummeted, speculators fled for parts unknown, and the state's economy went into a free-fall. The image of Florida as a place of opportunity and renewed hope was quickly transformed ...

[Gloom and Doom]

Is Florida doomed to having a third-world economy. That's what we have always had. No group is considering approaches that would offer the state and its citizens a better future. That's par for the course for our buffoon leaders. Our school drop-out rate is the highest in the nation. Can't really blame the kids for leaving those crappy socialist government schools. We have one of the largest prison populations in the nation. That's where all the drop outs wind up. Don't get your hopes up. The coming of World War III will not rescue Florida either. It's all over folks. Just a matter of time.

[change agent]

Gloom and Doom wrote:

Is Florida doomed to having a third-world economy.That's what we have always had.

that would mean we would be a predominately agrarian society... we won't be that again - ever

Gloom and Doom wrote:

No group is considering approaches that would offer the state and its citizens a better future. That's par for the course for our buffoon leaders. Our school drop-out rate is the highest in the nation. Can't really blame the kids for leaving those crappy socialist government schools. We have one of the largest prison populations in the nation. That's where all the drop outs wind up. Don't get your hopes up. The coming of World War III will not rescue Florida either. It's all over folks. Just a matter of time.

well, nothing like a complaint that doesn't offer up a solution. how about it?

[sarah]

Where we need to take a close look is at Tallahassee...at the elected officials and the regime that crippled a state. They knew, the benefitted, and they sold us out.

Now we need to get them out. The old guard needs to be investigated by the federal government, brought up on corruption charges, and removed.

Start with Crist & his cabinet and move backwards to Bush where it all began.

[change agent]

sarah wrote:

Where we need to take a close look is at Tallahassee...at the elected officials and the regime that crippled a state. They knew, the benefitted, and they sold us out.
Now we need to get them out. The old guard needs to be investigated by the federal government, brought up on corruption charges, and removed.
Start with Crist & his cabinet and move backwards to Bush where it all began.

they "knew" ? "knew" what? what did they know? how could they know? how could WE NOT know if THEY knew?

what would be the corruption charges?

why aren't those who took out mortgages they couldn't afford to blame? if your mortgage payment is scheduled to balloon up to a particular figure on a particular date - you see it coming... and of course, they signed an agreement where all that is spelled out in the first place.

yes, there are many corrupt politicans... gov "bogo" in illinois for one and we've seen many on both sides of the political spectrum. but i am really tired of generalized blame being leveraged by a parroting public against "politicians", "the rich" and "corporations" without any details of what exactly the criminal activity is and what charges would be brought against them.

the author suggests that the only jobs created by growth are in the services industry. the services industry is tourism, restaurants, retail, etc. however growth also spurs a need for jobs in construction, healthcare, utilities, etc. additionally, tallahassee has worked hard to attract other industry - look at the tech corridor, UCF's Med SChool and the related indnustries they attract.

we are in an economic cycle exacerbated by the real estate crises - primarily due to an unrealistic belief by homeowners, buyers and sellers, that the skyrocketing values were sustainable. of course reliance on consumer and as corporate credit that requires borrowing money to pay bills is just insane. who doesnt' know that you don't buy what you cannot afford. i don't care if its your neighbor who just brought home a big boat, or a company who has to make payroll by extending their line of credit.

in florida, consumers bought homes they couldn't afford or took out equity loans they could not afford based on a value that wasn't real. now they owe more on their house than it is worth. as a result, houses are being foreclosed upon and the state and municipalities can't collect the revenue that funds state and local programs like education. a reduction in sales due to less disposable income means less tax revenue as well. its both trickle up and down.

to levy the blame on the legislature without acknowledging the other contributors - such as residents who made very bad decisions is simplistic. but that is the role of democrats, to convince the constituency they are victims.

[Dale]

I just read an article about the strong economy in Kentucky due to the Toyota auto plant. Other southeastern states have foreign auto plants as well which are providing their citizens with good jobs.

Here is the bottom line...alligators are more important to Tallahassee than the needs of Florida's people. I'm 38 years old and I have asked this question for 20 years. Why can't our state leaders understand that working-age people in Florida need to have opportunities to make a good wage. If you can't afford to go to college to become a lawyer, doctor, dentist, pharmacist, nurse, engineer or you don't want to be a real estate agent or home builder, then you WON'T make a good living in Florida.

It's time that we tell Tallahassee Florida is not only tourists. There are REAL people here with needs.

[change agent]

Dale wrote:

I just read an article about the strong economy in Kentucky due to the Toyota auto plant. Other southeastern states have foreign auto plants as well which are providing their citizens with good jobs.
Here is the bottom line...alligators are more important to Tallahassee than the needs of Florida's people. I'm 38 years old and I have asked this question for 20 years. Why can't our state leaders understand that working-age people in Florida need to have opportunities to make a good wage. If you can't afford to go to college to become a lawyer, doctor, dentist, pharmacist, nurse, engineer or you don't want to be a real estate agent or home builder, then you WON'T make a good living in Florida.
It's time that we tell Tallahassee Florida is not only tourists. There are REAL people here with needs.

are you sayng that state lawmakers are prohibiting auto manufacturers from establishing an operations in the state of florida? i don't think so.