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    Sep28

    Florida ballot amendment 8

    by joyce on September 28, 2012 at 5:07 pm
    Posted In: Uncategorized

    NO. 8
    CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE I, SECTION 3
    Religious Freedom
    Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution providing that no individual or entity may be denied, on the basis of  religious identity or belief, governmental benefits, funding or other support, except
    as required by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and deleting the prohibition against using revenues from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.

     

    Sounds good to begin with, no discrimination on the basis of religion from government benefits, BUT the last part opens the door to government funding of PRIVATE, RELIGIOUS schools, etc.

    No on this one.

     Comment 
    Sep21

    Florida Ballot Amendment 3

    by joyce on September 21, 2012 at 5:32 pm
    Posted In: Uncategorized

    CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
    ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 1 and 19 ARTICLE XII, SECTION 32
    State Government Revenue Limitation
    This proposed amendment to the State Constitution replaces the existing state revenue limitation based
    on Florida personal income growth with a new state revenue limitation based on inflation and population
    changes. Under the amendment, state revenues, as defined in the amendment, collected in excess of the
    revenue limitation must be deposited into the budget stabilization fund until the fund reaches its maximum balance, and thereafter shall be used for the support and maintenance of public schools by reducing the minimum financial effort required from school districts for participation in a state-funded education finance program, or, if the minimum financial effort is no longer required, returned to
    the taxpayers. The Legislature may increase the state revenue limitation through a bill approved by a super majority vote of each house of the Legislature. The Legislature may also submit a proposed increase in the state revenue limitation to the voters. The Legislature must implement this proposed amendment by general law. The amendment will take effect upon approval by the electors and will first apply to the 2014-2015 state fiscal year.

     

    This one I am tending to favor because of the provision to fund public schools.  More if I find out more information.

     Comment 
    Sep20

    Florida Ballot Amendment 2

    by joyce on September 20, 2012 at 7:24 pm
    Posted In: Uncategorized

    NO. 2
    CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
    ARTICLE VII, SECTION 6 ARTICLE XII, SECTION 32
    Veterans Disabled Due to Combat  Injury; Homestead Property Tax  Discount
    Proposing an amendment to Section 6 of  Article VII and the creation of Section 32 of
    Article XII of the State Constitution to expand the availability of the property
    discount on the homesteads of veterans who became disabled as the result of a
    combat injury to include those who were not Florida residents when they entered
    the military and schedule the amendment to take effect January 1, 2013.

     

    This ballot initiative looks like it provides a close for the veterans who were combat injured, now live in Florida, but were not Florida residents when they went into the service.  So repair the problem and let these veterans have the same benefit of property tax discount as other veterans in Florida.  I approve and will vote yes on this one.

     Comment 
    Sep18

    Florida Election Ballot discussions Amendment 1

    by joyce on September 18, 2012 at 9:16 pm
    Posted In: Uncategorized

    The following is the opening on the ballot for Amendment 1.

    CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
    ARTICLE I, SECTION 28
    Health Care Services
    Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to prohibit laws or rules from
    compelling any person or employer to purchase, obtain, or otherwise provide for
    health care coverage; permit a person or an employer to purchase lawful health
    care services directly from a health care provider; permit a health care provider to
    accept direct payment from a person or an employer for lawful health care services;
    exempt persons, employers, and health care providers from penalties and taxes
    for paying directly or accepting direct payment for lawful health care services;
    and prohibit laws or rules from abolishing the private market for health care coverage of any lawful health care coverage.

     

    So, lets analyze this.  It seems to me that this is an attempt to preempt any federal requirements under the PPACA (Affordable Care Act) that would require the purchase of health insurance.  It also seems to be a preemptive strike at insurance pools and at ANY attempt on the part of the state or the federal government to institute a Medicare for all plan or any single payer plan.

    At this point, unless I can be persuaded that this is not the case, I will vote no on this change to Florida’s constitution.

     Comment 
    Aug22

    crisis point coming

    by joyce on August 22, 2012 at 11:32 pm
    Posted In: Uncategorized

    I have observed and voted in many elections.  Some, I don’t think which candidate won would have changed history very much; some it would have greatly affected the world.  For example, I really do not think Eisenhower v Stevenson (both times) would have altered the trajectory of civil rights greatly.  Both would have upheld the Supreme Court’s ruling on school desegregation.  Stevenson would not have appointed Warren, probably, but a more liberal from the outset would have effectively done the same.

    The place I wonder about with those two is Vietnam.  But I know from my history studies that the first “advisers” in Vietnam were sent in under Truman and the first American casualty from that was in 1949.  So Republican or Democrat, we were so determined on one level to stop the spread of communism that we would have been in that.  After all, it was Johnson that escalated and Nixon who despite his “secret plan to end the war’ that invaded Cambodia.

    The place where things could have changed, I believe, is the 1972 Nixon/McGovern election.  Nixon, with his fears, set up Watergate and the subsequent pardon by Ford guaranteed that the powers that be would never really be held accountable, leading up to Iran/Contra and the clear crimes of the Reagan/Bush administration.

    Reagan, however, is a different situation.  I do not know the veracity of the secretary I heard tell the story of that campaign’s deal with the Iranians to hold the hostages to insure the defeat of Carter.  I do think it perfectly possible.  I do hold him responsible for the demonization of minorities.  His “welfare queen” code talk that I am hearing thirty years later. He was a better actor than I was crediting him.

    The appointment of George W. Bush by the Supreme Court followed in less than a year by the tragedy of Sept 11 set up the destruction of the Constitution that I had known, loved, and taught.  The expansion of the military/security/homeland espionage network has eroded any real civil rights.

    The use of social issues to frighten people who are afraid enough of the modern world erodes again more rights.  We now heard how only victims of ‘legitimate’ rape deserve the opportunity to have an abortion.  And yet, I can guarantee, that the powers that be will use every medical opportunity to guarantee that their daughters and granddaughters do not have be bear unwanted children.

    Frightened seniors are being deluded into thinking the Affordable Care Act had cut their Medicare benefits when it has only cut payments to hospitals and has increased the prescription benefit.  They hear that the Ryan plan will not affect them, yet the cuts to Medicaid will cause many seniors to have to either leave long term care facilities or use less desirable ones.

    If these fanatics win in November, I seriously want my children and grandchildren to emigrate to somewhere that women are considered full human beings, that medical care is a right not a priviledge, where education is focused on High Order Thinking Skills and not biblical superstition.

     Comment 
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