Florida! State Of Opportunity?
Tim Williams
February 14, 2011
Having been a resident of Tampa Bay for over 15 years now, I have come across some very disturbing and startling revaluations concerning this state. Whether purposely or not there continues to be programs and legislative measures coming out of our legislature that still keeps the majority of Floridians from achieving the economic growth and stability that is needed to keep cities and towns from experiencing the budget shortfalls that are currently plaguing all of Florida.
We now have Governor Scott's proposal in his attempt to rectify the states economic woes, one is to be to reform and reorganize the state's pension plans. There again major flaws emerge because the Governor has failed to, like chess, consider all the contingencies and ramifications involved. There are major drawbacks in his proposed changes not only in the pension overhaul but his other budget proposals as well that will affect every Floridian. To begin, with almost every state worker is continually underpaid compared to the actual cost of living. Contrary to what our legislature and the majority of business owners continue to say about our state. That being, living here is much less costly than in most other states. This is their main justification for continually keeping workers so impoverished. When in actuality the State of Florida is one of the highest cost of living states in the country. Not only are the majority of state workers feeling the pinch today, practically every person who is still employed are grossly underpaid as well.
In most sections of Florida as well as in other counties in every state the majority of wages offered by the too few employment opportunities available don't equate to the continually rising cost of living. With the real unemployment figures hovering at 20% and in some cases like Detroit they are much higher there is never going to be enough tax revenue coming in to fund all the expenditures that are now mandated by law. Consequently more budget shortfalls will occur and more layoffs will continue creating a downward domino effect all across communities all over America.
What is needed now instead of focusing on what many consider petty expenditures. Budget cuts, sure are necessary but they have to focus on whether those cuts will impact other industries in a way that will turn out reveling that they do more harm to local economies. In what Governor Scott's is proposing most likely the current unemployment rate will increase as a result. Granted the pension plan should be reformed but it should correspond with real authentic alternatives to make up individual worker salary shortcomings. Worker investment, real living wages, and infrastructure programs are most vital for the future of Florida and the for rest of the country.
One of the first steps toward a brighter future has to begin with our illustrious Governor. He must work closely with the President in securing the federal funding for high sped rail through-out the state. Also, we are very fortunate that this state already has one of the largest Solar farms in the country. With energy prices continually rising for every household it is crucial that this state expands immediately solar farming all across the state to augment the escalating electric bills that are one of the major obstacles toward securing more disposable individual incomes. Not only the expansion of solar farming has to be combined with wind technology. Wind farms are now more cost effective in harnessing and distribution which will yet add another alternative and reduce our fossil fuel consumption for the manufacture of household energy. With both new alternatives in producing lower cost energy every citizen will reap greater rewards. This is a step in regaining economic growth and stability.
Another major concern that has immediate impact on every living thing not only in this state but all across the country and has international implications is the availability of obtaining fresh water. Waste water and storm water runoff continue to leave our reservoirs high and dry. What we have now is 98% of all rain and storm water is flushed right into our ocean.The need is apparent that this waste has to stop if the state and the rest of the country ever expects to supply enough fresh water for all. This water runoff must be diverted into water treatment facilities so that enough fresh water will then be available to supply the demands for the public at lower costs for all involved. It is imperative that the sooner we start diverting this enormous waste the greater the positive economic impact will be.
In achieving these necessary initiatives a unilateral by partisan working relationship must begin now between the Governor and the White House. Differences aside, the infrastructure programs outlined are of vital importance for the economic growth of not only Florida but for the rest of the country. This is what the Governor has to do instead of targeting the some so-called wasteful spending that according to him and most of the Republican members of our legislature are the most dangerous things to hinder economic growth not only here in Florida but in most other states as well.
What happened when this state primarily the republican party in their zeal to criticize the President's economic policies became fixated with the allusion of what money can do in elections. Consequently when now Governor Scott flooded the states with television adds an election was bought while the rest of the residents of Florida were blind sided by the Republican party. All of this while not focusing on the real eminent danger to our current economic crisis.
To continue to critize rather than puting forth the effort to unite behind developing infrastructure programs every where the citizens of not only the State of Florida but all across the country will continue to wallow in economic depravation. We have the resources but the resolve that's the question.
We now have Governor Scott's proposal in his attempt to rectify the states economic woes, one is to be to reform and reorganize the state's pension plans. There again major flaws emerge because the Governor has failed to, like chess, consider all the contingencies and ramifications involved. There are major drawbacks in his proposed changes not only in the pension overhaul but his other budget proposals as well that will affect every Floridian. To begin, with almost every state worker is continually underpaid compared to the actual cost of living. Contrary to what our legislature and the majority of business owners continue to say about our state. That being, living here is much less costly than in most other states. This is their main justification for continually keeping workers so impoverished. When in actuality the State of Florida is one of the highest cost of living states in the country. Not only are the majority of state workers feeling the pinch today, practically every person who is still employed are grossly underpaid as well.
In most sections of Florida as well as in other counties in every state the majority of wages offered by the too few employment opportunities available don't equate to the continually rising cost of living. With the real unemployment figures hovering at 20% and in some cases like Detroit they are much higher there is never going to be enough tax revenue coming in to fund all the expenditures that are now mandated by law. Consequently more budget shortfalls will occur and more layoffs will continue creating a downward domino effect all across communities all over America.
What is needed now instead of focusing on what many consider petty expenditures. Budget cuts, sure are necessary but they have to focus on whether those cuts will impact other industries in a way that will turn out reveling that they do more harm to local economies. In what Governor Scott's is proposing most likely the current unemployment rate will increase as a result. Granted the pension plan should be reformed but it should correspond with real authentic alternatives to make up individual worker salary shortcomings. Worker investment, real living wages, and infrastructure programs are most vital for the future of Florida and the for rest of the country.
One of the first steps toward a brighter future has to begin with our illustrious Governor. He must work closely with the President in securing the federal funding for high sped rail through-out the state. Also, we are very fortunate that this state already has one of the largest Solar farms in the country. With energy prices continually rising for every household it is crucial that this state expands immediately solar farming all across the state to augment the escalating electric bills that are one of the major obstacles toward securing more disposable individual incomes. Not only the expansion of solar farming has to be combined with wind technology. Wind farms are now more cost effective in harnessing and distribution which will yet add another alternative and reduce our fossil fuel consumption for the manufacture of household energy. With both new alternatives in producing lower cost energy every citizen will reap greater rewards. This is a step in regaining economic growth and stability.
Another major concern that has immediate impact on every living thing not only in this state but all across the country and has international implications is the availability of obtaining fresh water. Waste water and storm water runoff continue to leave our reservoirs high and dry. What we have now is 98% of all rain and storm water is flushed right into our ocean.The need is apparent that this waste has to stop if the state and the rest of the country ever expects to supply enough fresh water for all. This water runoff must be diverted into water treatment facilities so that enough fresh water will then be available to supply the demands for the public at lower costs for all involved. It is imperative that the sooner we start diverting this enormous waste the greater the positive economic impact will be.
In achieving these necessary initiatives a unilateral by partisan working relationship must begin now between the Governor and the White House. Differences aside, the infrastructure programs outlined are of vital importance for the economic growth of not only Florida but for the rest of the country. This is what the Governor has to do instead of targeting the some so-called wasteful spending that according to him and most of the Republican members of our legislature are the most dangerous things to hinder economic growth not only here in Florida but in most other states as well.
What happened when this state primarily the republican party in their zeal to criticize the President's economic policies became fixated with the allusion of what money can do in elections. Consequently when now Governor Scott flooded the states with television adds an election was bought while the rest of the residents of Florida were blind sided by the Republican party. All of this while not focusing on the real eminent danger to our current economic crisis.
To continue to critize rather than puting forth the effort to unite behind developing infrastructure programs every where the citizens of not only the State of Florida but all across the country will continue to wallow in economic depravation. We have the resources but the resolve that's the question.
Print
Email
