For those of you unfamiliar with current hot topics in Florida, you should know that many of them reflect what is going on in several other states. Not long ago, the United States Congress passed a law (signed by the president) allowing subsidizes for flood insurance to expire. In line with his party's philosophy of cutting subsidies that help people (rather than corporations), Sarasota GOP Congressman Vern Buchanan voted to end the subsidies. Once the ramifications leading to sky high flood insurance premiums for residents living along coastal waters (like many in Sarasota) became apparent, Rep. Buchanan has engaged in a classic "political two-step." Why the dance? Because Buchanan followed the lead of his party without heeding the immediate needs of his constituents. His response? "We passed it with the idea that they were going to do an affordability study....they didn't do the study, they just raised the rates." (see http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20131108/article/131109655?template=printpicart). Gee Mr. Buchanan, you voted for a measure without reading it? You can imagine how hard he is now back-pedaling on this issue.
Which gets me to the point of this blog. Reading bills and reports seems to no longer be expected from our elected officials - and we complain about students doing poorly on exams for failing to pay attention when reading questions? From the Bi-Partisan Senate report on Benghazi revealing there was no cover-up by the Obama Administration to the recent Congressional Budget Office ("CBO") indicating that the cost of the ACA will actually be less than originally expected, pundits on both sides of the political aisle selectively "cut and paste" so that they can use the report to manipulate the public into believing their respective talking points and narratives. How else can it be when the GOP claims 52% of Americans want ObamaCare repealed? Although 52% disapprove of the law, 13% of those disapproving do not favor its repeal - they disapprove because it did not go far enough. They preferred the "Single Payer Option" versus the sell out made to appease the health insurance lobby. So in reality, although 52% disapprove of ObamaCare, it is intentionally misleading to advertise that a majority of Americans therefore want ObamaCare repealed. In reality, only 37% of Americans polled want the health care law repealed. So why all of the "misdirection?"
Now that the Florida Supreme Court has ruled the proposed Constitutional Amendment allowing for the use of Medicinal Marijuana is not vague and therefore legitimate to be on the November ballot, opponents are flooding local newspapers claiming the measure is bad for the state. Their rationale? The initiative is vague and will lead to wide-spread use of marijuana. But the Order of the Supreme Court specifically ruled the measure is not vague, so why have facts gotten in the way? Again, why read something when elected officials can simply "tell us instead?"
The problems we face in our country are many, but distorting facts to suit any ideology certainly is no way to bring citizens together to solve them. As President John Adams once said; "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." Have a great week!
Which gets me to the point of this blog. Reading bills and reports seems to no longer be expected from our elected officials - and we complain about students doing poorly on exams for failing to pay attention when reading questions? From the Bi-Partisan Senate report on Benghazi revealing there was no cover-up by the Obama Administration to the recent Congressional Budget Office ("CBO") indicating that the cost of the ACA will actually be less than originally expected, pundits on both sides of the political aisle selectively "cut and paste" so that they can use the report to manipulate the public into believing their respective talking points and narratives. How else can it be when the GOP claims 52% of Americans want ObamaCare repealed? Although 52% disapprove of the law, 13% of those disapproving do not favor its repeal - they disapprove because it did not go far enough. They preferred the "Single Payer Option" versus the sell out made to appease the health insurance lobby. So in reality, although 52% disapprove of ObamaCare, it is intentionally misleading to advertise that a majority of Americans therefore want ObamaCare repealed. In reality, only 37% of Americans polled want the health care law repealed. So why all of the "misdirection?"
Now that the Florida Supreme Court has ruled the proposed Constitutional Amendment allowing for the use of Medicinal Marijuana is not vague and therefore legitimate to be on the November ballot, opponents are flooding local newspapers claiming the measure is bad for the state. Their rationale? The initiative is vague and will lead to wide-spread use of marijuana. But the Order of the Supreme Court specifically ruled the measure is not vague, so why have facts gotten in the way? Again, why read something when elected officials can simply "tell us instead?"
The problems we face in our country are many, but distorting facts to suit any ideology certainly is no way to bring citizens together to solve them. As President John Adams once said; "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." Have a great week!
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