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OUT 2 OPINION
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Check Out These Statistics
There are actually two messages here. The 1st is very interesting, but the 2nd is absolutely astounding - and explains a lot.
A recent "Investor's Business Daily" article provided very interesting statistics from a survey by the United Nations International Health Organization.
Percentage of men and women who survived a cancer five years after diagnosis:
U.S. 65%
England 46%
Canada 42%
Percentage of patients diagnosed with diabetes who received treatment within six months:
U.S. 93%
England 15%
Canada 43%
Percentage of seniors needing hip replacement who received it within six months:
U.S. 90%
England 15%
Canada 43%
Percentage referred to a medical specialist who see one within one month:
U.S. 77%
England 40%
Canada 43%
Number of MRI scanners (a prime diagnostic tool) per million people:
U.S. 71
England 14
Canada 18
Percentage of seniors (65+), with low income, who say they are in "excellent health":
U.S. 12%
England 2%
Canada 6%
And now for the last statistic:
National Health Insurance?
U.S. NO
England YES
Canada YES
Check this last set of statistics!!
The percentage of each past president's cabinet who had worked in the private business sector prior to their appointment to the cabinet. You know what the private business sector is…a real-life business, not a government job. Here are the percentages.
T. Roosevelt................... 38%
Taft.................................. 40%
Wilson............................. 52%
Harding........................... 49%
Coolidge......................... 48%
Hoover............................. 42%
F. Roosevelt.................... 50%
Truman............................. 50%
Eisenhower...................... 57%
Kennedy........................... 30%
Johnson............................ 47%
Nixon................................. 53%
Ford................................... 42%
Carter................................ 32%
Reagan............................. 56%
GH Bush............................ 51%
Clinton............................... 39%
GW Bush........................... 55%
Obama................................. 8%
This helps to explain the incompetence of this administration: only 8% of them have ever worked in private business!
That's right! Only eight percent---the least, by far, of the last 19 presidents! And these people are trying to tell our big corporations how to run their business?
How can the president of a major nation and society, the one with the most successful economic system in world history, stand and talk about business when he's never worked for one? Or about jobs when he has never really had one? And when it's the same for 92% of his senior staff and closest advisers? They've spent most of their time in academia, government and/or non-profit jobs or as "community organizers." They should have been in an employment line.
Out 2 Question of The Day
Question: What do think is the biggest obstacle facing young professionals wanting to open their own business?
Amber Ducuote
Answer: "Competition"
Out 2 Question of The Day
Question: What do think is the biggest obstacle facing young professionals wanting to open their own business?
Bill Carson from Forward Electric, Stuart
Answer: General condition of the economy
Out 2 Question of The Day
Question: What do think is the biggest obstacle facing young professionals wanting to open their own business?
Alissa Collins, Plastridge Insurance, Stuart
Answer: Lack of influential contacts
Out 2 Question of The Day
Question: What do think is the biggest obstacle facing young professionals wanting to open their own business?
Ike Crumpler, Upstairs Communications International, Tampa,
Answer: Motivation
Out 2 Question of The Day
Question: What do think is the biggest obstacle facing young professionals wanting to open their own business?
Richard Martiniuk, Flagler Insurance and Risk Management
Answer: Getting to the influential spheres of influence that control business in any location and start-up capital
Out 2 Question of The Day
Question: What do think is the biggest obstacle facing young professionals wanting to open their own business?
Crystal Styles from The Martin County Business Development Board, Palm City
Answer: Access to financing
Out 2 Question of The Day
Question: What do think is the biggest obstacle facing young professionals wanting to open their own business?
Ken Baker from Insights, Inc., Stuart
Answer: Start-up capital
Readers Respond to “Feisty Exchange”
The publication of letters in “Feisty exchange between builder and editor” [DEFENDER No. 223] provoked some strong reader comments. The focus was the defiant re-statement by builder Jeff Bowers of what had been said in an anonymous release by the Future Group: “Those who only want to complain … [should] go back to where they came from.”
This is not an unusual attitude among advocates of Comp Plan changes that allow overdevelopment. Nor is it that uncommon among big development supporters of Gang of 3 Commissioners Smith, Ciampi and Hayes.
Here is a representative sampling of unsolicited reader comments, overwhelmingly against “go back to where they come from”:
WHO SHOULD PACK UP AND SKEEDADDLE?
Re: Feisty... The builder guy with the all too-typical criticism that spews from the mentally-impaired and too many developers is just that... typical complaining, whining and sniping (to use his choice of language) of those who don't share the view that more development + sprawl is preferable. I'd guess more than half the state's population does not share his views. Hmmm. Maybe it is HE that should pack up and skeedaddle to.... Broward... or Dade, the land of entrenched corruption. – Reader SG
HOW THEY CHANGE
As someone who met Jeff Bowers when he moved here -- I can say he sure has forgotten A LOT!!!! When Jeff moved here, his family lived right next door to a flower farm -- which should serve as a reminder that at one time Martin County survived off agriculture and tourism. And we still can if we play our cards right -- but we are paving over Mother Nature instead of enhancing her! - Reader X
SO TO THE POINT
Your response to Jeff Bowers was so eloquent and so to the point. Yea Al. – Reader LH
QUALITY OF LIFE? WHAT QUALITY OF LIFE?
You seem to pander to some of your readers but show little respect to Jeff. His last paragraph is completely disregarded in your flippant response. You offer no discussion of "thoughtful, creative input". What "quality of life" are you suggesting we preserve? To even suggest Jeff proposes "exploiting the land" is as irresponsible as others "Browardization" theme. – Reader JD
IF YOU DISAGREE, DON’T SAY GO HOME
Regarding Mr, Bowers comments, while I agree that "development" is necessary, that we should be fairly free to use our property as we wish, and that "IT" will occur in any case, I waste my time listening to any viewpoint, no matter how rational, that is connected to "go home if you don't like Martin County!" Are we still in grade schooI? I am home and my viewpoints are entitled to respect. If you don't agree with my speech, I ask you, as a fellow American, to defend my right to hold it and say it. – Reader DM
THE ALMIGHTY $
Why does Jeff Bowers think everyone who is anti growth is from somewhere else??? While I was born in WPB, I have been in Martin 23 years and a fourth generation Floridian by birth. Why does the fact that most of us don't want everything developed always fall on deaf ears? The almighty $? The only commissioners who will listen to anything anyone has to say are Heard and Fielding. Unfortunately most of the time they are outvoted. Makes me sick.- Reader SM
Gang of 3 Commissioners kill move to require zoning and land use applicants to reveal who is behind their request
At the May 24, 2011 Commission meeting, staff reported that 9 of 29 counties surveyed required applicants requesting zoning and land use changes to disclose who is behind the development application. Martin is behind the curve. Commissioners Fielding and Heard proposed that Martin adopt a similar requirement in the interest of transparency. A public speaker, Attorney Bob Matheson, stated “the public has a right to know.”
That is obviously true. The applicant wants something from government – a change in the rules for the applicant’s benefit – and that is public business.
Commissioner Doug Smith led the charge against having such information revealed. He noted that Broward does not have such a requirement, and that it “would be used against business,” though he introduced no evidence to support that contention.
In the end, secrecy-oriented Gang of 3 Commissioners Smith, Hayes and Ciampi voted against letting the public see who is behind development applications. We expect (and the Gang of 3 knows) that developers, large landowners and those who feed off land use manipulation are likely to be thankfully generous when election campaign time comes around.
Is County Attorney keeping commissioners in dark about settling Sherlock BDB lawsuit?
Readers will recall our report in DEFENDER No.163 that on May 21, 2010, Attorney Ginny Sherlock filed suit against the Business Development Board (BDB) to make BDB comply with the state’s Sunshine and Open Records laws. After spending six figures of tax money to defend the indefensible, BDB finally agreed to open its meetings and records. Is that not tacit admission that their secrecy was not legal?
In addition to BDB, Martin County was added as a defendant. Even after the settlement with BDB, the suit against the County would continue. One among the lawsuit complaints against the County focused on its passage of an ordinance which was (to quote the amended complaint filed with the court) “discussed, developed, drafted, and approved for presentation to the Board of County Commissioners by the Defendant BDB, its officers, agents and executive director, in meetings which were not duly noticed or open to the public.”
In a subsequent filing, plaintiff Sherlock clarified this point: “The adopted ordinances and resolutions are invalid, null, and void ab initio, because of the non-public activities of the Business Development Board in conceiving and formulating the Job Creation Toolkit ‘in the dark’.” This is all public record.
In other words, Commission decisions based on such illegally secret meetings should be declared void. It’s what legal circles sometimes refer to as “fruit of the poisoned tree.”
Do You Wish You Were There?
Wish I could have seen the expression on OBL's mug when he saw these guys coming through the door.
Dave Kuiper
Bringing Broward to Hobe Sound
Developers are determined to tuck approvals under their belt for massive developments that will forever change the character of Martin County – for the worse. They will shout the false rallying cry of “jobs, jobs, jobs” knowing that they have no intent to do anything for years or decades to come. Getting early approvals greatly increases the property’s value in anticipation of the distant time when there may be a market for their projects. [See above item: 14,232 current vacant housing units, a suffocating 18% or all units.]
Consider the area west of I-95 around Bridge Road in Hobe Sound. There are four large developments planned, two of them such large Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) that they would be ruinous to the quality of life enjoyed by current residents.
There is the Hobe Sound Polo Club, 1,757 acres with 121 units. There is Canobus Sound, 3,081 acres with 270 units. That may seem tolerable. But there is also Harmony DRI, 2,716 acres with 4,000 units and 2,065,000 sq. ft. non-residential planned. And there is the monstrous Hobe Grove DRI, 2,823 acres with 4,300 units and 4,550,000 sq. ft.
It’s development mania gone wild. Will certain toady commissioners approve these developers’ wet dreams when they come up for vote, probably end of the year? Meanwhile, we’re all treated to publicity hogwash in the Stuart News, one glowing report written by an uninformed part-time correspondent who interviewed only advocates of these gargantuan developments to produce a one-sided puff piece.
County and Jupiter Island Commissions meet on Inlet Plan and Hobe Sound development
In response to concerns expressed by the Town of Jupiter Island (JI) over issues arising in southeast Martin County, the Commissions of the two jurisdictions met on May 10 at the Jupiter Island Town Hall. The room was packed, one of the largest audiences ever assembled there. Commissioner Ed Ciampi referred to the citizens in attendance as “They’re all my enemies … just joking.” Hmmmmm.
Two of the main agenda items at the joint meeting focused on: St. Lucie Inlet Master Plan, and Western Hobe Sound Development. [See above reports.] We were particularly interested in how the commissioners approached the challenge for funding inlet dredging, and how well they understood the threat of the two massive DRI developments.
Inlet Dredging Forum offers information and alternatives, but no conclusions
Commission Chairman Ed Ciampi arranged a forum at the Blake Library on 4/26/11 to explore problems and solutions related to shoaling (sand filling the channel) of the St. Lucie Inlet. The public was invited to attend and to submit written questions to a diverse, informed panel of 13 citizens. County and town commissioners, and some constitutional officers, were in attendance (but not on the panel) to answer questions within their purview.
We applaud Ciampi for setting up this forum. The more residents are involved in major challenges facing the county, and the more open the discussion, the better. The meeting was well attended, and also televised on MCTV. The two-hour session basically covered two major issues: (1) How to cope with 173,000 cubic yards of sand that clog the inlet every year, making the channel not navigable; (2) How to pay for the dredging cost now that the feds are an uncertain funding source.
The general consensus, in which we concur, is that the inlet must be dredged. However, we differ with those who equated paying for dredging with paying for schools. That is, though one may not have a boat or a school child, all should pay equally. We disagree. A clogged inlet does not rise to the communal importance of no education. Primary beneficiaries of dredging should contribute, along with the general public.
KEEPING THE INLET NAVIGABLE
The county’s coastal engineer made an excellent presentation that explained, even to the uninitiated, what is happening physically at the inlet. The history, maintenance and strategies used over the years to keep the inlet navigable were discussed.
Many facts, ideas and opinions were floated. For example, the sand that moves south into the inlet is too coarse for beach renourishment. One of the few original ideas was to reconfigure the inlet for a long term solution. It would entail having a narrow, self-cleaning configuration in which natural flow would keep the channel open. This would be a major initial expense, but may be worth consideration. Mostly the focus was short term.
WHO PAYS FOR THE DREDGING – AND HOW?
There was general agreement about two financial matters. A sales surtax of 0.5% would have to be added to the basic state sales tax of 6.0%. Since this added tax would be subject to voter approval of a referendum, it would have to be made clear that the tax would be used exclusively for inlet dredging. This latter view grew out of concern on “how to sell the tax package to voters” during the current anti-tax mood. A short-term tax of one year would further assure voters.
The county administrator outlined five possible sources of funds, and the problems each of them pose.
THE NATURAL INLET
While on the subject of inlet dredging, we’re starting to get letters that say the County should be looking at Mother Nature’s original inlet for a permanent dredging solution. Here’s a representative note from Reader BN:
“I reject the idea of a 0.5% sales tax on everyone to pay for the much needed dredging of the St. Lucie Inlet, as well as drainage and other services. How about thinking about using the NATURAL Peck's Lake area that was the original inlet?.”
We would welcome detailed comments on the Peck’s Lake alternative from readers who are well informed about its possibilities.
Marine Industries promotes Witham Custom facility (while being economical with the truth)
Michele Miller, Executive Director, Marine Industries Association of Florida, has stated the following about having a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at Witham Airport:
“it is a priority for US Customs and Border Protection is homeland security. Establishing a fee-based customs in Martin County at Witham Field Airport will enhance managing, securing and controlling the nation’s border.”
We know of no finding by CBP or Homeland Security stating that a Witham CBP facility is a “priority.” If anyone has such a finding, please send us a copy so we can apologize and issue a correction. Otherwise, stop claiming it’s a security issue.
Miller is also confident such a facility will be self-supporting: “This type customs facility is supported by user fees--not governmental funds. The analysis of both Marine and Aviation traffic indicates it will be economically subsistent.”
Ms. Miller, if you are confident in your claim, and believe it is not just promotional puffery, we have a deal for you: Have the Marine Association of Florida sign a binding agreement with Martin County that it will pay for any revenue shortfall. If you do, we’ll support your effort.
NOTE: Joe Catrambone, President of Stuart/Martin Chamber of Commerce, has made the identical statement to the Commission as Ms. Miller. We extend the same offer to the CofC if it will guarantee against any loss by the County. (We’re not holding our breath.)
“Taxivores” – Tax-and-Spend Commissioners
“Taxivores” – Tax-and-spend Commissioners
We’ve been observing with some dismay the determination of Commissioners Smith, Ciampi and Hayes to impose a 0.5% sales tax on everyone to pay for the much needed dredging of the St. Lucie Inlet, as well as drainage and other services. It’s like a knee jerk reaction with them – we need funding, so slap another tax on everyone. What can we call officials like that?
One is tempted to call them RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) because their tax-and-spend approach is not in harmony with prudent Republican principles. However, this trio may always support the Republican ticket, so maybe there is a better word.
We were thinking about carnivores that eat meat and herbivores that feast on veggies. Eureka! Smith, Ciampi and Hayes gobble up tax money, so how about “taxivore”? It’s a word we coined a minute ago, but it seems to fit. (Apologies to anyone, unknown to us, who patented the word 20 years ago.)
Of course, we could have used the appellation “taxaholic” (but that might be curable); or “taxophile” (what’s love got to do with it?); or tax-junkie (too pejorative). No, we prefer a word suggesting that the propensity to tax is in that person’s political DNA.
It has been there for some time. Back in 2009, the Gang of 3 Taxivores wanted to impose a fee (never call it a tax) on everyone for the same drainage use as the 0.5% sales tax. But politics conquered their principled preference. They decided not to do so unless all five commissioners supported it. The taxivores did not want to shoulder the blame alone, and Smith even said so. So it died then, but comes back to haunt us now.
Now the taxivores will not even consider doing what most Martin residents want: Have the dredging cost shared with the public by the direct beneficiaries of dredging - the marine industry and boaters - if the feds refuse to pony up. They prefer for the public alone to be burdened by a tax that produces four times as much revenue as dredging requires.
Concern about not implementing the CR714 approach to Indian Street Bridge
In a letter to the County, also published in the Stuart News, Palm City resident Hal Agar has expressed a valid concern about moving forward with upgrading the CR714 approach from the Turnpike to the Indian Street Bridge. He said in part:
School Board Member David Anderson Faces May Ethics Hearing
By Al Forman
The wheels of justice grind slowly. On July 27, 2010, Palm City resident Rick Bell filed a complaint with the Florida Election Commission against School Board member David “Doc” Anderson. On May 13, 2011, the Florida Ethics Commission will hold a probable cause hearing in Tallahassee on this complaint.
The complaint alleges, in part, that a named secretary to former Superintendent Sara Wilcox made the following statement in an interview:
“that during the last month of Anderson's 2008 re-election campaign (while Dr. Sara Wilcox (Wilcox) was still the Superintendent of Schools for MCSD), Anderson, a long serving School Board Member, came into her office and asked her for the Morganti Group's telephone number. Anderson then used a Martin County School District telephone in her office to call a representative of the Morganti Group to find out where his checks were for his 2008 re-election campaign.
“Evidently the Morganti Group, a Construction Management firm located in Palm Beach County and one which has built over $100 million in school work in Martin County, was collecting campaign contributions from various subcontractors/suppliers to turn over to Anderson's campaign. Several Morganti subcontractors/suppliers, from outside Martin County, contributed to Anderson's re-election campaign in August 2008 according to the supervisor of elections records.
“ there is Anderson campaign material currently stored on a Martin County School Board computer located in her office that had been emailed there by Wilcox, sent from Wilcox's e-mail address to another School District Secretary.
“Existence of the Wilcox e-mails were not discovered until July 2009 as part of a lawsuit filed against the School District by Florida Mechanical Corp. Nancy Kline, the new Superintendent of Schools (elected 2008) and her staff were unaware the Wilcox e-mails and Anderson's campaign literature was stored in Superintendent Wilcox's secretary's computer. information stored on the hard drive. The computers in the superintendent's office are highly restricted
“Wilcox's e-mail indicates Anderson's campaign information was being stored on School District computer equipment and School District personnel were knowingly being used by Anderson to assist him with his re-election campaign. Anderson used Martin County school board personnel and facilities to aid him in his reelection campaign. Anderson knew or should have known using Martin County School District Offices, equipment and personnel for his personal campaign purposes was a willful disregard of the requirements of Florida Statutes.
“When asked what he intended to do about the revelations after the interview with the School District Secretary on April 13, 2010, Doug Griffin, the School Board Attorney, stated it was not his job to turn in his bosses for using School District office equipment.”
Supporting documents
In addition to further elaboration of the above, the complaint attaches a suggested campaign letter from Wilcox to Anderson with the following concluding paragraph:
“Once again, I am asking for your support. I need your vote on August ,2008! I also need your active support and participation in my campaign. Please help me to continue to serve the students and taxpayers of Martin County by making a financial contribution to my campaign and joining our team.”
Copies of Anderson’s campaign treasurer report were also attached. It listed numerous construction contractor contributions. We have expressed concern earlier about this cozy relationship between companies that build schools and various School Board members, not just Anderson.
GHOSTS OF LABOR HISTORY HOVER OVER TODAY’S CHALLENGES
Early in the 20th century, the push and pull between capital and labor was often one sided and brutal. Corporations had the advantage of money, government influence, and strike-breaking thugs. Workers formed unions to increase their negotiating power, but many employers refused to recognize them.
A paradigm changing event was the passage of the federal Wagner Act of 1935. Its provisions included:
SEC. 7. Employees shall have the right of self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in concerted activities, for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.
SEC. 8. It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer-
(1) To interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in section 7.
(2) To dominate or interfere with the formation or administration of any labor organization or contribute financial or other support to it: Provided, That... an employer shall not be prohibited from permitting employees to confer with him during working hours without loss of time or pay.
(3) By discrimination in regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment to encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization: Provided, That nothing in this Act or in any other statute of the United States, shall preclude an employer from making an agreement with a labor organization (not established, maintained, or assisted by any action defined in this Act as an unfair labor practice) to require as a condition of employment membership therein, if such labor organization is the representative of the employees in the appropriate collective bargaining unit covered by such agreement when made.
(4) To discharge or otherwise discriminate against an employee because he has filed charges or given testimony under this Act.
(5) To refuse to bargain collectively with the representatives of his employees.
This law applied to the private sector. Not only was there no provision for public employee unions, but such famous labor union supporters as President Franklin D. Roosevelt, New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, and even the great AFL-CIO leader George Meany opposed having public employee unions.
Eventually public unions were allowed with limitations. In 1955, Congress made such strikes punishable by fines or a one-year jail term — a law the Supreme Court upheld in 1971. On Aug. 3, 1981, some 13,000 members of a union that seemed to have the nation by the throat, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, went on strike.
Strikers demanded $10,000 raises (a lot of money 30 years ago), and reduction of the 5-day 40-hour week to 32 hours over 4 days. President Reagan said he would fire any controller who did not return to work in 48 hours. Two days later, he fired 11,000 PATCO members who refused to return to work.
In 1960, 31.9% of the private workforce belonged to a union, but only 10.8% of government workers. By 2010 the number more than reversed, with 36.2% of public workers in unions, but only 6.9% in the private economy. Public employees earn 33% more per hour, plus benefits, than private sector workers, and are only 33% as likely to quit or suffer layoff.
Recently, President Obama chided Wisconsin officials who want to remove some union “rights” in order to balance the state’s budget. His federal employees do not have those rights. It has been noted that unions contributed many man-hours, plus $400 million to Democratic campaigns that swept Obama and his party into office in 2008.
Save Money at the Pump and More!
By: Jeannie Ferarra
Stuart, FL – Now with gas prices creeping up again, many of us are remembering what the $4 per gallon prices did to our local economy. As the world is in the state it is in, I am quite confident that our finances cannot endure a repeat of those repercussions.
I am sure all of you have been receiving the e-mails about boycotting gas stations, and the information about Middle Eastern oil profits from such high gas prices. Furthermore, I am sure you are like me, and really "feeling the pain," not only in the transportation budget, but the "trickle down effects" that high oil prices are creating devastating economic effects to the general cost of living.
My intention here is to educate and share my research, bear in mind this does not address the higher food prices derived from the (didn't any tell them it was a bad idea?) corn crops now being used for ethanol production driving the cost of all food (that is from corn products) through the roof! For our purposes here, let's stick with gas......To begin, we all want to save $, {the almighty dollar is the greatest motivator for environmental conservation, is it not?} Let us begin with some gas saving tips, move on toward which United States (US) gas stations do not import their oil from the Middle East and Persian Gulf, then proceed to where the US oil fields are located, which US companies are participating in Green Initiatives and finally some thoughts regarding boycotting.
Here are some tips on saving Gas: (anonymous e-mail)
"I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are also paying higher, up to $4.00 per gallon. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon. Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.
1. Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in 2. When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.
3. One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.
4. Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money. DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS! (anonymous e-mail)"
This is where the "anonymous e-mail" went in to opinionated commentary; I chose to edit the text and try to be a little more informative. Gas rationing in the 80's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! However, let us explore the realities, every time you fill up the car, you can put more money into the coffers of US Gas Companies that don't import their oil from the Middle East, and are researching alternative fuel sources for us.
Please bear in mind that this information is subject to change, due to the volatility of the current market conditions, and also depending on the global crude oil market condition at the time, the price difference between heavy and light crude oils varies, thus changing the economic dynamics for different refineries. Therefore, many factors determine the source of a company's crude oil imports.
Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil: (information from the anonymous e-mail corrected).
Economics 102 – public and private jobs
What percent of the workforce is employed by government? Well, it depends on the definition of government employee. Direct employees receive a government paycheck. Indirect employees work for companies and organizations that are paid by government. Focusing on direct federal, state and local employees, it’s on the order of 15% of the workforce. Florida state and local, as well as Martin County, are roughly in the 10% range, with education a big part of it.
So it is certainly a point of public interest to compare the pay and benefits. Here is the U.S. Department of Labor national analysis for full time state and local employees compared with those in the private sector:
HOURLY WAGES: Private $19.68; State & Local $26.25
RETIREMENT BENEFIT COVERAGE: Private 74%; State & Local 99%
MEDICAL BENEFIT COVERAGE: Private 86%; State & Local 99%
MEDICAL PREMIUM % PAID BY EMPLOYEE: Private 20%; State & Local 11%
PAID SICK LEAVE COVERAGE: Private 74%; State & Local 98%
DAYS OF PAID HOLIDAYS: Private 8; State & Local 11
How this came about relates to some unions taking advantage of politician irresponsibility, a topic for another time. But at this time when governments large and small do not have the revenue to balance their budgets, it makes sense to modify some of the above items. The mob turmoil we see on TV news from Athens, Greece to Madison, Wisconsin is basically about changing or retaining an unsustainable status quo. The public employee haves on TV apparently do not want change, though taxpayers do. 2011 debt of all state and municipal governments: $2.4 trillion.
Job puffery greases skids for more ag land conversions to office and residential
Don’t say you weren’t warned. When King Ranch was pitching the conversion of 1,717 acres of Sunrise Groves from agricultural to office/industrial, they promised it would bring 8,000 more jobs. So an obedient and gullible Commission majority approved the creation of a new land use category in Western Palm City called AgTec. This greatly increased the value of the land, but no jobs are in sight.
We warned that it would establish a precedent to encourage more land use changes using the phantom carrot of “more jobs.” Sure enough, Becker is now proposing to convert 2,832 of groves in Hobe Sound to a monster development. It would contain 4,300 homes, 650,000 sq ft of commercial, and 3.9 million sq ft of offices. To impress the easily bedazzled on the Commission, it is said to offer “the potential to support more than 11,000 new high-quality jobs.” Been there, heard that.
How about the developer posting a series of bonds that would be forfeit if new jobs do not meet an agreed schedule?
Correcting the public relations “dictionary”
Impact fees – “This is not tax dollars. This is money set aside by developers for beautifications.” – Tom McNicholas, public relations counsel to the Arts Council.
Correction: Technically correct to the extent that mandatory fees are not classified as taxes, though the effect is the same. Those affected must pay. It’s not a voluntarily “set aside.” Impact fees are imposed on developers to pay for additional infrastructure (roads, schools, law enforcement, fire/rescue, libraries, etc.) that are required because of new development. Temporary “beautifications” are not a proper use of impact fees, and the impact fee revenue should not be a slush fund for Stuart Commissioners to pay for inside deals.
State growth management laws of ’72, ’75, ’85
“The basic premises: Make developers pay for infrastructure costs associated with growth; protect Florida’s most significant natural areas from inappropriate development; avoid sprawl development to protect natural areas; coordinate among local governments, so that those in one jurisdiction are not harmed by poor planning decisions in another; provide citizens with meaningful participation in their community’s planning; and have state review of changes to local plans to ensure that they meet these goals.
“Gov. Scott’s proposed budget would decimate the land-planning process.”
- Charles Pattison, President of 1000 Friends of Florida
Deputy needs to learn about sound law
A resident on Sago Drive in Jensen Beach complained to Commissioners about loud, disruptive music coming from a bar. She said that a Sheriff’s Deputy told her the noise law was unenforceable without special measuring equipment. Wrong! County Attorney Steve Frey clarified the matter in a later statement:
“The ordinance (Section 67.305.K) simply requires a determination by the deputy that he can hear the sound (using only his ears) coming from the commercial establishment at a distance of 150 feet from that establishment during the times described in Section 67.305.K.”
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