From a reading of or listening to our traditional media, one gets the impression that European governments are models to be emulated, and their citizens are thrilled; whereas the U.S. is hopelessly flawed. Perhaps a more accurate view is that we all have shortcomings, but the preferred media attitude - as well as that of the United Nations, a hopeless failure itself - is to find fault with the U.S. ...more

February 2, 2008

Florida needs to rethink its drawn-out system of voting for two weeks prior to an election day. ...more

January 29, 2008

SEBRING — With the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries going off today, partisan voters in Highlands County and all of Florida have two questions to answer: u Who do they want to become their party's nominee, and u Do they want to approve a constitutional amendment that makes Save Our Homes portable while doubling the homestead exemption for homeowners whose house's assessed value is at least $75,000? The Supervisor of Elections Office reported that 6,672 voted early, while 898 absentee ballots were received by Saturday, well above what supervisor Joe Campbell said he predicted. Campbell declined to provide an estimate for today's turnout. As far as presidential candidates go, former Massachusetts governor and Republican candidate Mitt Romney is Sebring builder James Matthews' pick. ...more

January 29, 2008

Thousands of people in Highlands County, apparently in record numbers, took advantage of early voting and cast their ballots. That's good because it reduces the number of people who show up on election day, which reduces congestion at the precincts. The Presidential Preference Primary Election is Tuesday. Democrats and Republicans are choosing their party's nominee. All citizens can vote for or against a constitutional amendment for a property tax cut. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ...more

January 27, 2008

Only 51 percent of likely voters said this week that they plan to vote for Amendment 1, 9 percentage points short of the threshold for passing it. ...more

January 26, 2008

TEMPLE TERRACE – City officials are inviting residents to a town hall meeting on Thursday to address the property tax proposal Florida voters will be asked to consider on the presidential primary ballot this month. Mayor Joe Affronti, city council members and City Manager Kim Leinbach are scheduled to attend the 7 p.m. meeting at the Lightfoot Recreation Center, 10901 N. 56th St. ...more

January 21, 2008

Early voting for the Florida primary starts today. This election has important issues not just for registered Democrats and Republicans but also Independents. For partisan voters, from today until Jan. 29, is the opportunity to decide the party nominee for president. While registered Independents in Florida bypass that option, this year, they will have the chance –– like other voters –– to cast their ballot on whether the state should adopt property tax changes to address runaway ad valorem taxes. The property tax referendum seeks to double existing $25,000 homestead exemption for homes valued at more than $50,000 but only for non-school taxes. It also would let homeowners take their Save Our Homes benefits along with they move. Other provisions would give businesses a break on taxes they pay on equipment and other personal property, and put a 10 percent cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties. The ballot provision is more far-reaching than just the doubling of the homestead exemption for some voters. If passed, homeowners will be able to use their existing 3 percent cap on the appraised value of their home, on a new house they might buy. There are also benefits for businesses along with a 10 percent cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties, although average increases in taxable value of such homes have been less than 10 percent. ...more

January 14, 2008

With nomination contests in lily-white Iowa and New Hampshire settled, minority voting power now moves into the spotlight. ...more

January 13, 2008

Sen. Hillary Clinton is not inevitable after all, and Mitt Romney, with all his money and vaunted organization, couldn't pull off a victory. ...more

January 5, 2008

It's Government Intrusion Or Not John Boyle's simplistic and hyper-partisan view of the world is that Democrats are evil and Republicans are responsible for everything good. He makes the absurd assertion that the Democratic Party deserves no credit for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I think that even he would concede that President John F. Kennedy, whose administration first put forth the bill, was a Democrat, as was his successor, Lyndon Johnson. ...more

January 2, 2008