Florida is broken, and I live here....

[steve2470]

I don't think I need to explain why. We're pretty well known for Florida Man and Florida Woman exploits, as well as Governor Voldemort, callous Republicans, a weak Florida Democratic party, denial of the influence of global climate change/global warming upon Miami Beach, etc etc etc.

However...as Trof said about Alabama, it's home. Every state has its beauty and its not so wonderful things, and the same is true of Florida. There are intelligent, well-educated, compassionate and decent people here, and yes, the idiots too. The idiots tend to make the headlines. We decent people just do the best we can to be good to our neighbors and be good citizens.

At any rate, it's home. Heat, humidity, bugs, hurricanes and all, I love the state. We're growing even more purplish and hopefully in the next few years, we will be a BLUE state and not just purple.

Have a lovely summer day and thanks for reading

Steve

[JustAnotherGen]

1. A good read

I live in NJ and I totally totally get taking the good with the bad. On the one hand I have to deal with Christie - on the oter hand I have a diner in every corner!

[steve2470]

2. I'm sure you'd love to use your magic wand to get rid of Christie

Sarcasm of course. I'd love to poof Voldemort away, along with all the callous Republicans. Most people either don't vote or don't pay much attention to politics so, voila, we get people like Christie and Voldemort.

Best wishes with Christie and enjoy those diners ! We have a Starbucks on every corner LOL

[Unknown Beatle]

3. I can relate.

I live in Texas. We have a rich history of fantastic music in Texas, from Bach to rock. Not implying that Bach is from Texas, but you get the gist.

[steve2470]

4. I hear Austin, Dallas and Houston are great nt

[Shankapotomus]

5. He's from Florida, you guys

Let's just get away from him.

[Enthusiast]

6. A shadow has fallen over many states.

We hope to correct this condition. I would encourage all Democratic candidates and the party to embrace economic populism.

[steve2470]

7. We need it, badly

Florida's top industry is, tada, tourism. Number 2 is agriculture. Both industries are not famous for high income workers. We have numerous gated communities, and Palm Beach is the perfect stereotype of the 1%.

[Downwinder]

28. Social Security payments in Florida total $295,441,000

a month. Where does retirement rank as an industry?
http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/ssi_sc/2013/fl.html

[steve2470]

31. It's way up there, subsumed under service industries mostly and construction nt

[RockaFowler]

8. I love living in Florida, too

This has been my home on and off since 1974. I've stayed here permanently since 1986.

I have no smog, light traffic and a great job. I have a beautiful home with a pool where I can swim 11 months out of the year. And that 12th month - it gets to a low of 35 only. I have the beach (enough said). I have the Marlins, Heat and Dolphins. I can see turtles being born on the beach. I am only hours away from Orlando - I can make a day trip out of the parks and return home that night. Florida has some of the best nature walks and parks. I can fish from a dock in Ft Pierce and have food for dinner that night.

The good far outweighs the bad in this state.

[Lochloosa]

9. Born and raised here. I'll take the good over the bad any day. And you forgot one good thing.....

The Springs...

[steve2470]

11. yea the springs here are awesome !

I was also born and raised here, pre-Disney.

[DeSwiss]

15. Beautiful!

- But watch out for the sinkholes.

Homeowner loses home to sinkhole. Told to move out as strawberry fields start pumping again.

[TIMETOCHANGE]

26. Which springs are those, they look awesome?

Which springs are those. I'm only able to find Blue Springs (or is it Blue Rock Springs) and Wekiva Springs. Both are nice but I'm always looking for more. They can be more fun than the beach for the active swimmer. Oh and I love my state. I just wish we didn't have so many people from the Northeast living here that complain about how terrible our state is. They're real downers.

Yes Rick Scott is terrible. Yes he should have expanded Medicaid. But that didn't happen. Florida isn't broken, it's different than the Northeast or California. Folks from the south and the mid-west that have moved here tend to have kind things to say about the state. And there are some folks from the northeast who have come here and are happy.

Truth is we need more Democrats from the Mid-west.

[steve2470]

27. broken = way too much RW thinking, my definition nt

[TIMETOCHANGE]

34. Ok I can jive with that.

I can get why you feel that way. But that didn't really come out in your post as I saw it. There is still too much RW nastiness in Florida, that I can back. But folks like to harp on Florida when their own backyards aren't anything to look at or be proud of. So maybe I take it a little personal. If you don't like the politics, please make it clear you don't like the politics. Thank you.

[steve2470]

35. I've lived in Florida for 56 years, so, yea, I don't appreciate people trashing it nt

[Lochloosa]

39. This should keep you busy the rest of the summer...

http://www.floridasprings.org/visit/map/

[mcar]

32. The springs are wonderful

And I am lucky enough to live near some of the best. I love the lack of traffic and the natural beauty. Hate the politics and summer.

I have been here since 1992.

[Scuba]

10. I love Florida. Shallow water diving in the Keys and deeper in Pennekamp are da bomb!

[steve2470]

12. The Keys are the most beautiful part of the state, hands down nt

[bklyncowgirl]

19. Ahh the Keys--John Pennekamp and camping at Dry Tortugas under the walls of Fort Jefferson

The Everglades and Big Cypress and lots of great State Parks. Florida can be great indeed.

[L0oniX]

36. For me and the wife Pennekamp diving was like being in another universe.

[kdmorris]

13. Hey, there's a lot wrong with our state

But you can't beat 70 degree winters!! (or the Everglades... now there is something worth fighting for... If Voldemort has his way, it would become a massive housing development)

[Fuddnik]

14. Unfortunately, I think the ball-headed prick will be re-elected.

Charlie Crist is a Republican, after all, and he's running a very weak campaign.

The voting populace has a very weak memory.

[kdmorris]

18. Yeah, I agree

Sadly...

[TIMETOCHANGE]

29. Democrats need a stronger contender.

Cristie was something of a joke to most of us down here. Using a former Republican on the Democrat ticket is just....WTF. There were better picks that got pushed aside. Heck we need a women candidate for the Democratic ticket that's just left of center and we'll take Florida for the Governor's seat. That to me is the winning strategy. The path to victory is a journey, at some point you have to make that first step.

[DeSwiss]

16. Well, I can feel your pain.......

...and yet it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that I endorse the Bugs Bunny solution.

- It's for the best I'm sure......



K&R

[RandiFan1290]

17. Bring it on!

You guys can probably make up the electoral vote loss in Texas.

[Laffy Kat]

20. I agree, steve.

I spent most of June/July in north central Florida administering hospice care to my aunt. I love the biodiversity of the state along with the cultural and ethnic diversity of the residents. The Tallahassee area where I was visiting is quite progressive and conservation minded. But still, the bugs! My God.

[steve2470]

22. I admit, I loathe roaches. Pretty much impossible to avoid them here nt

[Laffy Kat]

24. Don't you call them Palmetto bugs down there?

They are huge flying roaches. But the little green frogs that would cover my outside door every night were absolutely adorable! I stayed close to the woods and all the different species of toads are frogs would begin to croak at dusk. It was both deafening and soothing. Frog orgies like clockwork every night right outside my door! I also saw deer, possums, several snakes, turkeys, coons, coyotes, foxes, and there was a small alligator and beavers in the pond.

[steve2470]

25. palmetto bugs, yes nt

[rurallib]

21. Maybe if all the seniors down there understood

what a threat to Social Security and Medicare the Republican Party is it would help change things around.
Iowa has a crazy King, the very right wing Terry Branstad for governor and the dumb fuck Grassley in the senate, but all those don't rolled up together don't even come close to Scott.

[steve2470]

23. excellent point nt

[ancianita]

42. They are catching on. Slowly.

[polichick]

30. Floriduh is my beloved home too! k&r

[L0oniX]

33. I'll be racing my S-27 sailboat on Tampabay this Friday evening again.

Sunsets at the end of the race can be spectacular. 1st place in non-spin class for the year is in the bag for the SPSA and SPYC series. The Keys ...wow ..if you haven't snorkeled in the reefs you've missed one of the wonders of life. Swimming with the dolphins in Key Largo ...one of the best times I've ever had. Withlacoochee camping and 45 mile bike tail ...perfect. Crystal River canoeing ...wow ...Manatees galore. Blue Springs ...bluest water you'll ever see. Key West at sunset ...what a great show. There's more plant varieties here than any other place. Birds? Too many to mention here. We got em all.

It's not what it used to be but it is still a wonderful place.

[onethatcares]

37. transplanted in 1977

where would I go? There is no state like this state.

[steve2470]

38. Hawai'i is the closest comparison I can think of nt

[RebelOne]

40. I lived in South Florida since the age of 6.

But I was sick of the heat, humidity, bugs and high crime due to drug trafficking. My sisters had moved to the Atlanta metro area and begged me to move up here. I moved to Georgia in 1989 and am happy I did. You can have Florida. At least, here in North Georgia, we have seasons and not just year-round summer.

[ancianita]

41. Glad you love it so. I grew up in Hollywood, attended FSU and 35 years later, winter in Sarasota.

I've got a whole new appreciation for the ecosystems of the state. I moved to Chicago to make a new life away all the problems you mention, and people who speak what I call the "Florida gruff," but in recent years I've realized that they're offset by all the natural beauties Loonix lists.

I'm grateful to have spent a third of my life enjoying its sunny Big Sky, sunsets, star-filled winter nights.