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What a bunch of hype. Crist had nothing at all to do with the increases in property taxes. That system has been in place in the Florida Constitution for decades. When house values go up, property taxes go up, except for your own residence - capped at 3%/year. How can you blame that on Bush or Crist? Insurance rates went up because we got slammed by 4 hurricanes in 1 year, with extensive damage through out the state. Not because anything that Bush and Crist did or didn't do. What do you want your political leader to do - give everyone free property insurance? Dictate to insurance carriers that they can't charge more than $400/year for property insurance? I know many of you are tempted to say "they can stop insurance companies from selling auto insurance in the state if they don't provide home owner's insurance." Well, first you would be wrong - any candidate that says this is blatently breaking the US Constitution - Freedom to transact interstate commerce Article 1, Section 8. A bunch of wasted time, money and effort will be slammed down by the courts in a heartbeat. Also, if you could tie auto insurance to home owner's insurance, what do you think the insurance companies will do? RAISE AUTO AND HOMOEOWNER'S INSURANCE RATES!
The only viable answer is some sort of re-insurance fund, which is what Bush and Crist have, and should continue to pursue. But it will be a long time before they can build up enough funds to provide this service without drastically increasing our taxes.
Low paying wages are your problem, not the Governor's. This isn't a communist state, last time I checked. Any governor that promises to do something about "low paying wages" is either a lier or his last name is Chavez.
Increasing murders are a factor of increased population, illegal immigrants, and hurricane Katrina transplants. It might not be politically correct to say this, but it is the truth. And, you advocate giving away insurance, lowering taxes, increasing wages - SO MORE WELFARE CANDIDATES AND ILLEGAL ALIENS WILL FLOCK TO OUR STATE?
SunshineState, please, you weren't going to vote for a Republican candidate, simply because you are most likely a Democrat.
Prichard....I have been a voting Republican since I turned 18, so have both my parents, siblings, etc. I don't believe in "giving" away free insurance but since when does anyone BUT the insurance industry get to have 100% to 500% increases in their pay. And SORRY if I don't feel any pain for an industry that complains about loosing money due to the storms but BOASTS about RECORD profits and CEO's making 26 MILLION Dollars a year with 4 MILLION dollar bonus. The Florida Legislature IS responsible and the Governor IS responsible by making LAWS that permit the insurance industry to run this state why else would it have given 80 MILLION in contrabutions in the last 5 years?? You are right about one thing it isn't a communist state so I will make MY vote count and pray that things do NOT continue in the Jeb Bush tradition or else Florida will be lost!
Oh, and the reason Bush wants to trash talk Chavez is because he is sitting on a lot of oil over there that he refuses to negotiate. However, he did offer aid to our country post Katrina and Bush refused to take it.
You've got to be kidding! Get your facts right. I think if you do your research, you will find that it was Chavez that publically called Bush the Devil, and that Bush has never said anything close to this in regards to Chavez.
Also, I'm surprised that you, as an American would stick up for Chavez, just because of his phony little PR stunt. Chavez holds unconstitutional elections, where the process is not public, but secret. He rules by "decree", and has passed 49 decrees which allowed him to steal private land, bank accounts, and many businesses from many of his own citizens. The man is a brutal dictator who believes that he does not have to follow rules, laws, and can do and say whatever he wants because he is in power.
So, on your recomendation, someone who supports the brutal dictator Chavez, I should vote for Jim Davis or Linn?
Jim Davis is ON THE RECORD as supporting increase in taxes. Charlie Crist is ON THE RECORD as against higher taxes. Thank you, I'll take the guy that at least has a fighting chance of keeping our taxes down.
Charlie Crist has nothing to do with any war. He was attorney general for the State of Florida. Is your basis for not voting for Crist simply because you don't like a war that your Federal Government (Democrats and Republicans) is waging? Sounds a little "slippery-slopey" to me.
What is it about Jim Davis that you support? The fact that he can't seem to show up for work? The fact that he's completely innefective? The fact that he wants to tax us more? What's his plan to lower insurance rates - he talks a great deal about this, but what's his plan. I haven't heard Davis's plan at all, just attacks on Crist when he can't answer why he can't show up for work.
What is it about Jim Davis that you support? The fact that he can't seem to show up for work?
He made 97% of the votes before the campaign started, and 93% of the votes since then. The increased absences were the result of his campaigning, the same as Crist, except that there is no official way to measure how much actual work Crist has done since the campaign started. I laughed when I first saw the "empty chair" commercials, I thought, "Is Crist realy that desperate? Davis must be pretty good if that's the worst Crist can say..."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prichard
The fact that he's completely innefective?
Crist's ads say that Davis only managed to pass x number of bills in y number of years; I bet if anyone bothers to discover the truth, that's probably an excellent record for 1/435th of the House to get passed when the opposition controls the voting! Like most Republican messages, it sounds good as a sound bite, tbut there is no "there" there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prichard
The fact that he wants to tax us more?
Who is "us" -- the rich? Aren't you lucky to be part of that? Aren't you ashamed that you have gotten the great bulk of Republican tax cuts? Us "normal" folks never saw much in the way of lower taxes, but sure would like to see some of the legitimate purposes of government be fully funded, once again. I don't mind paying taxes when I can see the results.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prichard
What's his plan to lower insurance rates - he talks a great deal about this, but what's his plan. I haven't heard Davis's plan at all, just attacks on Crist when he can't answer why he can't show up for work.
He has answered the work question -- the numbers I quoted above were from his anwer in last night's debate. You must have had your fingers in your ears. What's Crist's plan for insurance? Crist is part of the reason why the insurance companies have gotten away with so much, so he has already proven he is totally ineffetive with them
He made 97% of the votes before the campaign started, and 93% of the votes since then. The increased absences were the result of his campaigning, the same as Crist, except that there is no official way to measure how much actual work Crist has done since the campaign started. I laughed when I first saw the "empty chair" commercials, I thought, "Is Crist realy that desperate? Davis must be pretty good if that's the worst Crist can say..."
Crist's ads say that Davis only managed to pass x number of bills in y number of years; I bet if anyone bothers to discover the truth, that's probably an excellent record for 1/435th of the House to get passed when the opposition controls the voting! Like most Republican messages, it sounds good as a sound bite, tbut there is no "there" there.
Who is "us" -- the rich? Aren't you lucky to be part of that? Aren't you ashamed that you have gotten the great bulk of Republican tax cuts? Us "normal" folks never saw much in the way of lower taxes, but sure would like to see some of the legitimate purposes of government be fully funded, once again. I don't mind paying taxes when I can see the results.
He has answered the work question -- the numbers I quoted above were from his anwer in last night's debate. You must have had your fingers in your ears. What's Crist's plan for insurance? Crist is part of the reason why the insurance companies have gotten away with so much, so he has already proven he is totally ineffetive with them
Next question?
Thank You pslOldTimer! You hit the nail right on the head on each point you made!!!!!!!!!!!!
People need to STOP watching all the Political ads and actually check out the facts!! Charlie Crist had 8 long years to help the people of this state and he has done nothing constructive! He says he helped lower our electric and phone bill.....not mine! Both have had large increases!
You've got to be kidding! Get your facts right. I think if you do your research, you will find that it was Chavez that publically called Bush the Devil, and that Bush has never said anything close to this in regards to Chavez.
Also, I'm surprised that you, as an American would stick up for Chavez, just because of his phony little PR stunt. Chavez holds unconstitutional elections, where the process is not public, but secret. He rules by "decree", and has passed 49 decrees which allowed him to steal private land, bank accounts, and many businesses from many of his own citizens. The man is a brutal dictator who believes that he does not have to follow rules, laws, and can do and say whatever he wants because he is in power.
So, on your recomendation, someone who supports the brutal dictator Chavez, I should vote for Jim Davis or Linn?
Jim Davis is ON THE RECORD as supporting increase in taxes. Charlie Crist is ON THE RECORD as against higher taxes. Thank you, I'll take the guy that at least has a fighting chance of keeping our taxes down.
Charlie Crist has nothing to do with any war. He was attorney general for the State of Florida. Is your basis for not voting for Crist simply because you don't like a war that your Federal Government (Democrats and Republicans) is waging? Sounds a little "slippery-slopey" to me.
What is it about Jim Davis that you support? The fact that he can't seem to show up for work? The fact that he's completely innefective? The fact that he wants to tax us more? What's his plan to lower insurance rates - he talks a great deal about this, but what's his plan. I haven't heard Davis's plan at all, just attacks on Crist when he can't answer why he can't show up for work.
I really don't want to continue steering the convo away from the original document but I want to implore you and anyone else to please look at the facts vs. propaganda.
Ah, well, the link doesn't work but just look up Chavez on wikipedia
Wikipedia, which I believe is rather unbiased in its information can give you a bit of info on how Venezuela is run by Chavez, not as a brutal dictator (once again, republican propaganda) but as democratic socialism. Sure, the guy is a controversial figure and not everybody here or in his country supports him. However, I see nothing to link him to the statements you are making which once again, sound a lot like soundbites you have probably heard from Bush and his cronies because they feel threatened by Chavez's anti imperialist ideas. I find the fact that Chavez called Bush "the devil" to be completely insignificant in so many ways. If it was a PR stunt as you put it, it seems like one that favors his critics, not his supporters, don't you think? Since Bush has just as many critics and protesters in our country as Chavez in his own (if not more) it seems irrelevant to me whether or not his entire populace embraces him or not.
The bottom line is that Bush has nothing spectacular over Chavez. In fact, many of his policies and rhetoric resembles a lot more of dictatorship and imperialist society than anything I've seen come from Chavez. Am I a Chavez supporter? Not necessarily. I don't live in Venezuela. However, I'm never ever quick to condemn anyone based on what Bush says. I prefer to look up the facts myself from reliable unbiased media sources.
Last edited by pixiewytch; 10-31-2006 at 09:09 AM..
Reason: link doesn't work
I find the fact that Chavez called Bush "the devil" to be completely insignificant ...
I was simply responding to your factually incorrect statement that "Oh, and the reason Bush wants to trash talk Chavez is because he is sitting on a lot of oil". I was only pointing that the "trash talk" was the other way around. You brought it up, not me, but now it appears that you think that "trash talking" Chavez is insignificant.
For what it's worth, I got most of my information from Wikipedia also - read about the 49 "decrees"; read about the unscheduled election - it's all in there.
From your own source, Wikipedia:
Quote:
In early and mid-2003, Súmate, an opposition-aligned volunteer civilian voter rights organization, began the process of collecting the millions of signatures needed to activate the presidential recall provision provided for in Chávez's 1999 Constitution. In August 2003, around 3.2 million signatures were presented, but these were rejected by the pro-Chávez majority in the Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE; "National Electoral Council") on the grounds that many had been collected before the mid-point of Chávez's presidential term.[48] Reports then began to emerge among opposition and international news outlets that Chávez had begun to act punitively against those who had signed the petition
Quote:
Credible anecdotal evidence emerged that Chávez and his allies were penalizing signers of the publicly posted petition by denying them government jobs and services
Quote:
Chavez "has made no secret of the fact that he is in favour of amending the constitution so that he can run again for president in 2012."[72] He has stated that he intends to retire from the Venezuelan presidency in the year 2021.
More information on the brutal dictator Chavez: Chavez used fast track legislative powers to decree 49 laws covering areas ranging from fishing to financial services. Under the new laws, banks are obliged to lend 15%, nearly double the previous amount, of their portfolios to small farmers. Chavez also enacted a coastal law which says the state now owns all land 80 metres above the high tide mark - an area equivalent to the size of Belgium. The government simply took all land and buisinesses in the most developed areas of Venezuela without any compensation. He has used threats of voilence to enforce his 49 decrees.
I haven't even touched all of the anti-american rhetoric of Chavez. Anyone who even gives Chavez the benefit of the doubt is NOT someone I would listen to when it comes to advice on who should run Florida.
Well, you know, there are just as many positive programs he has put into place to help his people and other latin american countries as well. Again, I'm not supporting him. I'm simply saying that you have to look at the good and the bad, not just be one sided about it or only pick out the pieces that appeal to your side, as you just did in your quotes. I mean, come on, should I break out every inhumane and unjust policy our own president has put into place? It wouldn't put him too far removed from Chavez's somewhat colorful history that you have portrayed.
As for voting, I don't think you should listen to me or anyone else. I think you should listen to your own heart and truth. The problem is that too many people are listening to the tv, the politicians, and other media which is paid for by corporations who pay the politicians they want you to vote for. I don't like my political views spoon fed to me and neither should you, whether you agree with my candidate choices or not.
Sunshine State, believe me, you are not the only one who is hurting from the insurance crisis. I may be a Republican, but I too HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES!!! I used to pay $700 / year, and now pay over $2,000! I can't afford to move to another house because my taxes would jump way up also.
But, how can I honestly put all of the blame on our elected officials for increased insurance cost? Did everybody forget that we got slammed with 4 hurricanes? Other than more state run subsidised insurance (which we already have for people who can't get insurance), what's the solution? Tell insurance companies that they have to offer insurance in Florida? Tell them that if they offer insurance in Florida it must be less than $1,000 / house?
The bottom line is that both Crist and Davis propose the exact same plan to deal with bringing down the cost of homeowner's insurance. Both plans revolve around one thing - having a state owned reinsurance fund for insurance companies to use, and making sure that the savings are passed along to homeonwers.
I have read Davis' plan. I have read Crist's plan. Quite frankly, Crist's plan is far more comprehensive on the details. FWIW, both plans are discussed on each candidate's blogs.
Sunshine State, believe me, you are not the only one who is hurting from the insurance crisis. I may be a Republican, but I too HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES!!! I used to pay $700 / year, and now pay over $2,000! I can't afford to move to another house because my taxes would jump way up also.
But, how can I honestly put all of the blame on our elected officials for increased insurance cost? Did everybody forget that we got slammed with 4 hurricanes? Other than more state run subsidised insurance (which we already have for people who can't get insurance), what's the solution? Tell insurance companies that they have to offer insurance in Florida? Tell them that if they offer insurance in Florida it must be less than $1,000 / house?
The bottom line is that both Crist and Davis propose the exact same plan to deal with bringing down the cost of homeowner's insurance. Both plans revolve around one thing - having a state owned reinsurance fund for insurance companies to use, and making sure that the savings are passed along to homeonwers.
I have read Davis' plan. I have read Crist's plan. Quite frankly, Crist's plan is far more comprehensive on the details. FWIW, both plans are discussed on each candidate's blogs.
Prichard, You should consider yourself fortunate as my mothers insurance went from $680 to $5800, my brothers went from $900 to $5300 and mine from $1600 to $4200 and none of us live on the water, nor have ever filed a claim. I have a friend who’s insurance has gone up 700%! We are all stuck in our homes. This is my second home I have owned in the same city and even though my first home was smaller than the one I have now my insurance use to be $850 a year and is now $3600 a year even with the Save Our Homes 3%.
As for putting all the blame on our elected officials I say yes 100% of the blame goes on them! They have created laws that are in place not for the good of the people or for our protection but to profit big business only. There are also as many loopholes in the current laws that allow BIG Money and BIG Business to prosper. An example of that is when the State Legislature Changed the Sinkhole laws that said you had to have clear evidence and proof of a sinkhole to file a claim and now it states that to file a claim all you need is the “possibility” there is a sinkhole. That has increased the sinkhole claims in “my” County from 4 claims in 1995 to now hundreds of claims a year. Because there is a group of Attorneys out there that are literally begging people to file claims of sinkholes. (There billboards are everywhere!) They get lots of money doing that. So my point is the law must be changed BACK to the way it use to be where only people with legitimate claims are paid. That is only ONE law that has been manipulated to favor big business (Lawyers) there are hundreds more. Another one is a law that is only in the state of Florida that allows for insurance companies to raise your rates prior to getting approval from the Office Of Insurance Regulations. Now who do you think that law was created to help…not you or me! I could go on and on as I have done my homework on this and am very informed on not only the laws but the candidates and what they stand for.
You mentioned the hurricanes we had in the last two years (not including this year which they predicted wrong!) but what about the 20 to 30 years of premiums the insurance industry collected with NO Hurricanes? They took the money and ran by canceling peoples policies and no longer writing in the state of Florida….another terrible law! If you have been collecting premiums for a policyholder for many years (5-10-20-30 years) without any claims, you just can’t cancel them and run with the money.
I have read the plan Jim Davis is offering but have searched high and low for ANY plan from Charlie Crist. After reading your post I went again to his website and looked for a plan and there is none! On his “On the Issues” tab he mentions nothing about the insurance crisis we are in. If you know of a plan he has I would love to see it! I agree that Davis does not have all the answers but there are two things I like about him. One he has taken the time to actually make a plan and two that he is willing to listen to what people need and want for changes.
He made 97% of the votes before the campaign started, and 93% of the votes since then. The increased absences were the result of his campaigning, the same as Crist, except that there is no official way to measure how much actual work Crist has done since the campaign started. I laughed when I first saw the "empty chair" commercials, I thought, "Is Crist realy that desperate? Davis must be pretty good if that's the worst Crist can say..."
Crist's ads say that Davis only managed to pass x number of bills in y number of years; I bet if anyone bothers to discover the truth, that's probably an excellent record for 1/435th of the House to get passed when the opposition controls the voting! Like most Republican messages, it sounds good as a sound bite, tbut there is no "there" there.
Who is "us" -- the rich? Aren't you lucky to be part of that? Aren't you ashamed that you have gotten the great bulk of Republican tax cuts? Us "normal" folks never saw much in the way of lower taxes, but sure would like to see some of the legitimate purposes of government be fully funded, once again. I don't mind paying taxes when I can see the results.
He has answered the work question -- the numbers I quoted above were from his anwer in last night's debate. You must have had your fingers in your ears. What's Crist's plan for insurance? Crist is part of the reason why the insurance companies have gotten away with so much, so he has already proven he is totally ineffetive with them
Next question?
AGREED AND RIGHT ON TARGET!! BTW I would love to vote for Max but fear that if I do it will only weaken Davis and help Crist. I’m a registered republican but cringe at the thought of Crist as governor. Best shot to keep him out is vote for Davis.
PS if you missed yesterday's debate http://www.tbo.com/video/xml/MGB1UC7KXTE.html (broken link)
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cringe at the thought of Crist as governor
