“Stupid, ignorant voters?”

Hometown Democracy is a citizen campaign to change our state Constitution in the 2008 election. The idea is for local voters, not elected officials, to make major growth decisions.   Due to last years’ amendment they now need a “super majority” or 60% vice the original 50% they needed prior to the Florida Developers and Chamber of Commerce campaign to change that requirement, mainly in response to the threat the Florida Hometown Democracy movement posed to business in Florida.  They are just under 100,000 out of 650,000 left to go on this last push to get on the ballot and the opposition is getting frantic.

So what is going on with former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, John Thrasher and his “extremely urgent” letter that he has sent to thousands of Florida voters who have previously signed the Florida Hometown Democracy Petition?

The letter in question tries to scare petition signers into changing their minds. It bears the letterhead and signature of John Thrasher, a former speaker of the state House.

The Thrasher letter however fails to mention that since leaving the Florida legislature he is a lobbyist now with the Southern Strategy Group which represents such large development and business groups as Disney and Associated Industries of Florida (the outfit running this signature revocation drive) and the St. Joe Co.

Yes, the same St Joe company that recently donated land for the proposed $330 million airport northwest of Panama City that governor Charlie Crist hailed by stating it will “attract new businesses and jobs to grow and diversify the local economy”.  The old airport will be sold to a Pittsburgh developer who will “preserve” the approx 12,500 feet of valuable waterfront by building condos on it.  The St Joe company promised to make up for destroying the 2,000 acres of wetlands for the airport by not to destroying another 9,000 acres closeby.  The Army Corps of Engineers is involved in this deal also and lets face it, the developers won’t be paying for this, it will be funded by all of us taxpayers.

Now back to Thrasher's letter which states, the voter is stupid or a sucker for signing the petition, fooled by "deceptive" tactics and that hometown democracy movement is dominated by “special interests”.

That's correct. The lobbyist for growth are saying that people who want to restrict growth are a "special interest."   Well let me tell you that this is indeed true but they missed the mark by neglecting to tell you that the “special interest” group is the common voter who they don’t trust at all to make proper decisions on the fate of their own communities.

Mr Thrasher states in his letter:

“If you read their proposed constitutional amendment ... you will also notice that it turns all power over use of Florida's land to certain "electors”."

You should know right now that in reality the word "Electors" means "the voters."

Mr Thrasher and others of his ilk only desire to scare people instead. Let's tell 'em taxes will go up, their kids will hate them, and more hurricanes will hit. This is a normal tactic when normal debate and discourse is abandoned and is designed to get voters out against an issue through untruths and other scare tactics.  The proof of the matter is that they are getting desperate and running scared themselves to protect their own interests as evidenced by tactics such as this.  They are counting on what they consider voter stupidity and ignorance to stem the popular tide.

Oh, and let's also tell 'em that an evil, mysterious group known as the "electors" will be running Florida. Surely they won't stand for that.

In the end if Thrasher and his clients win this one, we all lose even smaller developers who actually care for their communities and want “smart growth” and not a haphazard free-for-all.

Local politics in Florida has become dominated by local and state government in Florida whose purpose is to help build something on every vacant piece of land in this state as long as there is a dollar to be made.  Face it, this state is “FOR SALE”!

Is this what you truly want?  Let your voices be heard and ignore Thrashers panicked and absurd threats in his letter. In fact “x” through it and send it back in the self addressed envelope that they are paying for (they can afford it!). Download and sign the petition now and don’t let him or anyone else tell you that you are foolish “stupid or ignorant” for doing so.

v/r Jim Gschwind

USN/sw ret

Concerned Citizens of Santa Rosa supports this initiative and its’ goals of “smart” taxpayer led growth.

http://ccbgsantarosa.org

HELP SAVE WHAT'S LEFT OF  FLORIDA...
LET THE PEOPLE VOTE to control growth! 

Help put HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY on the 2008 ballot

Please download and SIGN THE PETITION  ! 

http://www.FloridaHometownDemocracy.com

PO Box 636, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170-0636.