If Florida is a microcosm of America are we in serious trouble? by Robert Melaccio, sr

Florida at one time was a state many wanted to come to and many wanted to live here. It was one of the fastest growing states in the nation and people were enjoying decent living and some were making real moneywhile others just getting along. Yet, you could live and enjoy it here. Yes, that was then and not now. Of course they blame hurricanes. Well Ok, just when has Florida ever not had Hurricanes?

So, take a hard look at Florida if you want to see the demise of a once rock solid state economy and get a sample of what is happening all a cross America. Yes a state that "once upon a time" average people could come, work for less and still survive. That is in my opinion until we got another member of the Bush family who is a champion of the free market ideology and business approach, which I feel had a direct impact on this state.

Take a look at the composition of Florida's people and we will see many young and retired families, migrant workers and many affluent people. Those average, migrant and low income along with a good share and of a growing number of middle Americans struggling each day to survive. Good decent people who struggle but could once make a way. That way is no longer and in my opinion the path is growing darker.

In saying that and once again if you care to look you will see those average young and elderly retired who do not get nor have anything to fall back on like the sweet city retirement plans many of the haves got. Hey nothing wrong with those people having that. I’m just giving you the facts. Yes like the retired cop working a job someone else could have and who has a wife working as well and both making a combined over $70,000 a year in pensions and as he complains that he is only making $17,000 a year while she slaves at a job for $15,000 a year. Yes this job he is taking from someone who needs it. Yes and he is upset about paying taxes.

In my opinion today this state belongs to those who have. Those like the above. The operation of the state and businesses are for them. While the state leaders brag about job creation they never mention much about the types of jobs average people work in this At Will State, with so many problems and new ones cropping up every day. It’s a fact they really never discuss because in reality it really doesn’t effect them. The construction, trucking, retail jobs of hard working families are gone and we are left with, well in my opinion the exploiters.

Yes lets talk about that $17,000 a year mentioned above. Could you live off of that today and raise a familiy? Working "shifts", weekends, nights, etc and they say we have other social problems? Broken homes, children on the streets. How real does one have to get? The impact to the haves is not as significant. Yes, of course they feel the pinch but they my friends are not losing their homes, missing their vacations, losing their cars and are not hounded everyday by collectors, health care bills, credit and other types whose only goal is dollars. It is not about people or their plight. Please get them off the phone so I can move to the next one.

An example, I recently talked to a state representative about real Consumer Protection. Yes, real protection not the facade that is in place. If he wants to save money do away with these powerless arbitrators. Can you arbitrate with anyone who does not care to? Do you know he offered "have you tried this agency, that agency the Federal agency, the Better Business Bureau". I said Sir, you missed the entire point. If they were effective we would not be talking. However, that reply was the answer to why we have our problems. A nice man with no answers.

Now you would think being a southern state and in the Bible belt this would be a Christian state with Christian vales. Is it not professed by many of these leaders and candidates? You see me and mine have lived and worked in this state and I defy anyone to talk to me about the facts of how this state operates. So the churches are full. Just what does that mean? No, in my opinion based on those experiences this is a state that is all about business and money and to think otherwise is to, well sadly, play the fool. Yes a lot of professors my friends. Worthless talk when placed next to their works.

Our example. Our Governor, another free market man, always smiling and optimistic. Yes he too hopes. Rhetorically, is he going to tell you things are scary? Hey what can he do with what he got? He’s just trying to hold what he was handed together. Just go about and ask the average man on the street, no not those retired, or business owners, or the affluent who come here for La Dolce Vita and have the dollars. No not those who move down with their big city pensions and who have sold their $15,000 cape Cod for ½ a million. No certainly not them. No ask the real average family who is still working two low paid jobs how they are doing.

Foreclosures way up there among the top numbers in the nation. Real earning power for workers in this state has been negligible for years if it ever kept pace. Industry, where? Technology, who? Education for who? Have you heard about FCAT by the way? A slow down in the numbers of people moving to Florida while those moving out exceeded those coming in. Why wouldn’t that be? Cuts on elderly care, child care, low social services and unemployment on an already hard pressed labor force. Homeowners insurance, taxes, costs to live and survive for average Americans just isn’t here. Even to be treated by a doctor or care facility many are now required to sign away their rights to sue. Legal yes, ethical, well what do you think?

Now when see all the other issues all over this nation, we understand that this is not unique to Florida. It is just that Florida was "the retirement place". You remember that American Dream? Have that little home in the sun, paid and live the ‘Golden years" out. Yes like the haves do.

Well my fellow average Americans wake up. Am I right or wrong when they talk job growth what jobs, doing what, for how much and who will do them? No time frame, no substance yes no nothing but hype. Hype that in my opinion many call hope. Pessimism, please give us a break. Just when does reality set in? No, its not Sunny in the Darkness State for average Americans and like I said I’ll go head to head with any of them.

No there is something going on in Florida and all across this land that goes beyond the situation. These are educated people and if not then close every darn school they ever went to. They walk, talk and sup with the most powerful in the world. To say they did not know or understand the ramifications of their actions of what they did or didn’t do, or it was someone else is beyond comprehension. To say there is more to this then meets the eye is starting to make many wonder.

Now remember, when I write I always leave out the haves, the ones who have, got it, understand. They are not part of the equation or impact to average Americans other then a cause. No I talk to the average family people all over this land. Just how, and I could really scream that out when asking, just how does anyone place their hope in these people? Just how do your children who attend college do likewise? How can you, when you look at what they have done or failed to do want to elect them? Just what have they done to you and for you?

Well like I said. This is no longer an election of the people but an election of the haves and for the haves. They have given us their candidates wrapped in the media for consumption by average Americans. The common man, well what can one say. If this is the best America can do then this is what America evidently wants and what America will get.

So I have already gotten rid of my cable and put in an antenna. What good is cable if I can’t afford to eat? What good is a cell phone or for that matter a new car or any frills that go onto plastic anyway. Yes unsecured debt that they take your first born if they want them. There is no assigned risk any longer. I talked to my friendly banker who added $400.00 in fees and charges plus my regular payment to my credit card bill and doubled my rate and monthly payment and they want to work it out. Please give me a break, ethics, morality, honor and they get to smell like roses. They're the good guys.

So this is where Florida is and in my opinion anywhere USA. Will America come out of it? Only time will tell. Will average Americans come out of it? In my opinion many will be destroyed and cast aside only to be taken over by a new bunch. Yes, here is a tip. Buy cardboard now before the banks get a hold on it and you will need that 30 year mortgage to buy one large enough for your family. Oh and yes, stay off of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, its hard walking past so many.