How about some reality here? Boy, I know I'm gonna catch flack on this one, but since it's my blog, I really don't care. It's not written from any point of view (liberal, conservative, left-wing, right-wing, chicken-wing, tea-party, or office party), but from just hard facts.
OK, jobs in Florida. Just what might they be? Florida's economy revolves around agriculture and hospitality/tourism. Both are very honorable ventures and support a ton of people. We are not a manufacturing state. Never have been and probably never will be. I know, South Carolina just landed a couple of auto plants and so did Georgia. Why can't we? We just aren't made for it. Our economy isn't set up to rely on the rigors that manufacturing demands on that scale. We dallied with high-tech, but the hard drive died. We weren't ready for that one either. Let's talk infrastructure. The most probable place for any larger scale high-tech or medium scale manufacturing would be along the I-4 corridor. It just makes logical sense. With that in mind...driven I-4 lately? Now you get the picture. We just aren't set up for the kind of commerce that we think we are. So I wonder what kind of jobs they propose to bring to Florida, and how much will they pay? Nobody seems to want to go out on that limb.
Now taxes. Civics lesson next boys and girls. What exactly are taxes? They are fees gathered on goods, services (some), and property, that help support services. In other words, money paid to the government for public purposes. Now let's take that as a given. Next point, and one I want to make very clear...I'm not for raising taxes, nor am I for cutting them more. I have no vested interest either way....just stating facts. During this last campaign season, I heard the statement that cutting taxes means smaller government. Oh no doubt...less police on the street, less maintenance of parks and recreation areas, shorter hours at government offices, less housing available for low-income, less road maintenance, layoffs at city and county offices.
Yep, smaller government. Already I'm hearing grumblings about potholes in the roads in North Pinellas and less maintenance at the parks, even the library had to reduce hours. Reality check here...how much more can we afford to cut taxes and still maintain a level of competent service? Cities and counties are becoming more fiscally astute when it comes to budget time, but is there a "low limit"? I heard some people talking at Starbucks the other day about the red light cameras that have been installed and the cost to buy and install them. Could it be they are taking the place of a few deputies that might be patrolling but for the fact that we can't afford them because taxes have been cut so close? The red light cameras just sit there and do their jobs. No food, no families, no beer for the football games, they just work 24/7.
Are we as citizens really, honestly prepared for this? Imagine blasting down US 19 at 5:00PM and unexpectedly you hit a pot hole that throws your car for just a moment, into another lane. Imagine the consequences. We go to turn from one major highway to another with a stop sign to regulate us, but we can't see around the corner because of tall weeds blocking our view. County parks that are only open three days a week because they have no operating funds to work with and we won't stand to pay an entrance fee. Public transportation that already is lacking, cutting routes and times. Non-profit hospitals turning away indigent care.
Friends, think long and hard before you wish for something...you may wind up getting it and regret it later!
Until next time...
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