I'm back

Not that many folks look at this blog but it seems like time to start setting out
some thoughts and observations here; no where else seems to get any traction.
In many areas that I have been involved with over the last few years on my
own or with others, we seem to be odd man out; we cannot make a point. Whether
it is before the NRC, the PSC, the Florida legislature, the Miami-Dade County
Commission, the Miami Herald, our elected representatives, the Democratic Party,
we are always on the outside looking in. So, perhaps by setting out the issues and the
potential consequences of not addressing in this blog, perhaps we can call attention
to them. If any agrees with what I post, and has had similar experiences, love to hear about them. And, if I hit any balls, tell others about my blog.  The only way we can change anything is by working together, as Margaret Mead taught us.  Maybe you can join Stay tuned.

Greece, Headed For Rough Times

Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it. So it is with the Greeks

who want to leave the Euro. If they lose the financial support of Germany
and others who are keeping Greece afloat, think the world in 1929.  The
Greeks have little or nothing to sell to the rest of the world. They have no
work or saving ethic and expect to retire at 55. They want everything the
Germans have but do not want to pay taxes or to work like the Germans.
Not possible. They are in for more hardship and suffering for the first three

to five years after leaving the Euro than they can ever imagine. But, it looks
like that will be the only way for them to understand that their failure to
assume individual and community responsibility for Greece's economic
well being and viability is irrational and that there are not sufficient
economic resources to provide for its people. They will have to hit bottom
before they fully understand their situation; and they will hit it hard. The
question will be how long the world will stand by and watch them suffer.
Basic needs and sustenance will be lacking; even medicine, health
and sanitation could become disastrously problematical.

Will the Greek businesses respond to the soon to become critical
need for them to modernize and to aggressively develop the economy
just to feed and support their own people? Tough love but it seems
inevitable.

Such a lovely country, and so nice to visit. But, last May when we
were there walking among the protesters, they only blamed the
government for their problems, never themselves. We did not

even try to discuss this with them; too dangerous and too pointless.
Sometimes you just have to let the child touch the stove for it to
learn that it is hot and that it can burn you. Looks likes that is where
they are headed. Pity.

To Feel Content, Just Take a Stand

By RealAge

Has something in the news gotten your ire up? Taking a stand on it could boost your quality of life.

New research shows that not just believing in a cause, but actively supporting it, tends to translate into a happier, more contented life.

Power Beyond the Pen
In a series of studies, researchers surveyed over 1,000 adults to find out if they considered themselves to be activists for any particular issue, from supporting antiwar politics to championing human rights. And the researchers found that the stronger a person's activism, the better that person felt -- as long as his or her activities weren't extreme. Specifically, the highly engaged activists reported experiencing more positive emotions, feeling more satisfied with their lives, and feeling more connected to others. (Here's another get-happy strategy that will help you feel more satisfied every day.)

The Good in Do-Gooding
Investing yourself in issues that are important to you helps strengthen your sense of self and fosters personal feelings of purpose -- both of which can help get you through tough or stressful times. So whether you write letters to Congress or start a nonprofit, take an active stand on the things you believe in. And here are just a few more ways that doing good for others does your own life some major good:

• It can keep your mind from slowing down.
• It can boost longevity.

RealAge Benefit:

Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger.

References

Published on 06/04/2010

Some benefits of being an activist: measuring activism and its role in psychological well-being. Malte, K., Kasser, T., Political Psychology 2009 Jul 24;30(5):755-777.

FL Department of Community Affairs Demise

In Not Reauthorizing DCA, Legislature Widens Debate on Amendment 4

Published Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:15 am

by Dennis Maley

BRADENTON -- In the final days of its recent legislative session, the Florida House of Representativesdeclined to hear a routine bill to reauthorize the Department of Community Affairs. The DCA is Florida's land planning and community development agency. It ensures that new growth complies with the state's vital growth management laws and oversees requests to make changes to local comprehensive plans.

Failing to reauthorize the department is seen by many as an attack intended to reduce its influence and has given proponents of Amendment 4 fresh ammunition for this fall's vote. The Hometown Democracy Amendment seeks to add a vital step to the current process of changing comprehensive land plans. If passed, the local commission would still study, hold hearings and vote on proposed changes, but citizen's would be able to approve or veto such changes by way of referendum at the next regularly scheduled election.

Florida Hometown Democracy is a political action committee focused on promoting the amendment. Its founder, Lesley Blackner, feels the slight to the DCA makes their argument that much stronger.

"The Legislature makes the case for why we need to pass Amendment 4 on Election Day this fall,” said Blackner. “Politicians rubber stamped so many developments for Big Business that they crashed our economy with over-building. Now they want to eliminate the state agency that oversees growth.”

Blackner stresses the idea that no special elections would be required and that it would only apply to changes to the overall master plan and not routine zoning issues already authorized by the plan in place.

“We voters need a seat at the table so we can have some oversight on this “pay-to-play” politics – especially if the legislature plans to do away with the state’s land planning agency. What we’re saying with Amendment 4 is – since we, the existing residents, pay our tax dollars to extend fire, police, roads, water, sewer, and school services to these new, sprawling developments; we should get to weigh in. We should get a vote before we’re forced to pay.”

Florida legislature lets DCA die

Read it and weep. What now? The developers got what they wanted:
the DCA gone and the PSC emasculated. Buy stock in concrete
and asphalt companies because they will be paving over the Everglades
and the Big Cypress. No way to stop them. Even with Amendment 4 it
will be difficult and cumbersome to control growth. Maybe its time for me
to move back to Missouri.

A nation, a state, a county without regulation

To whom it probably does not concern: A nation, a state, a county without regulation. Does anyone not see a pattern here?. Our nation is in an economic crisis because of deregulation. Our state just killed the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) the only effective state agency regulating growth. And our county leaders do everything in their power to remove regulations from government and business. Human beings without limitations and structure wind up in mental hospitals or in jail; nations wind up covered in oil or broke, some speaking Greek. States and counties wind up looking like Broward orCollier Counties marching over the Everglades and Big Cypress as though they never existed when the function of the DCA is removed. And not a word in the Miami Herald about that; wonder why. When we allow lobbyists to populate our halls and offices of government, putting them closer to the people who make and administer our laws and rules than the people who live under them, what else can we expect? Due to apathy and disinterest or through misguided active support of such policies, we are too late to realize that no one is really flying the plane. We have lost control of our children through deregulation of them, abandoning them to raise each other instead of providing the traditional values and principles of our culture for them. They wind up in Congress shouting out to our president as the speaks. We can blame the Republicans whose platform and mission are deregulation and zero taxes, but they could not have achieved this dysfunctional level alone. Every elected official and every citizen who acquiesced along the road to our present state of affairs is culpable. What happened to campaign finance reform?; too painful a pill to swallow? If you don't take your medicine, you'll stay sick We didn't, and we are. Maybe I should write these words on a tenement wall so others can look back like we can to Simon and Garfunkle and Dylan's words warning us that we would be where we are now, without the morals or values to recognize when our major financial institutions have perpetrated an unregulated multi-trillion dollar derivative market swindle for their own benefit. And the 9/11 hi-jackers were able to pull off their disgusting attack because they knew no one was watching the store; it was full of a swiss cheese of regulation and administration. No one was watching the store. That is how those who would see us fail will succeed; they will facilitate our lack of control, whether inside or outside of our great but stumbling nation. Time for a reality check my friends. The piper will be paid.

Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan

Mazel Tov. She'll be fine, but it is a lot of work and a demanding schedule. Maybe some light reading might be in order. Like the South Beach diet or the Weight Watchers handbook. I don't think we pay by the pound, or the number of chins. If we are looking for forty years out of her, slim and trim will stand a better chance. And give us a better work day. Maybe she can trade zaftig for svelte. And a little walk each day would be nice. All the best to her.