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Something You Never Thought You'd Read in Time: How Florida's Government is Destroying Florida
Time magazine's Tim Padgett does something extraordinary with what should have been a standard "Florida women, minorities hardest hit as stimulus proves too small to jump-start local economy" story. He puts the blame for the Sunshine State's falling population, falling real estate values and falling everything else squarely on government:
There are many things public officials probably shouldn't do during a severe recession, but no one seems to have told the leaders in Florida about them. One thing, for instance, would be giving a dozen top aides hefty raises while urging a rise in property taxes, as the mayor of Miami-Dade County recently did. Or jacking up already exorbitant hurricane-insurance premiums, as Florida's government-run property insurer just did. Or sending an army of highly paid lobbyists to push for a steep hike in electricity rates, as South Florida's public utility is doing.
And you wonder why the Sunshine State is experiencing its first net emigration of people since World War II.
It's not a long piece, but it stays in this vein
throughout, and gives no quarter to the sad-but-wise
argument that, well children, politics being the art of the
possible, we just have no choice but to raise taxes in order to
close deficits:
Granted, most local governments often have to raise taxes when they're staring at fiscal craters like the $427 million shortfall in Miami-Dade's proposed $7.83 billion budget. But the less than sunny mood in Miami-Dade is made darker by the feeling among most residents that their fiscal jam is not just a result of falling revenue, but also years of profligate mismanagement.
What's going on here? Much of the focus of the piece is on local and county government screwups, and in the to-be-sure paragraph Padgett cites Gov. Charlie Crist for trying to throttle the "twin vampires" of "skyrocketing property taxes and hurricane-insurance premiums." So it could all be a good-government, Tallahassee-knows-best trojan. But it doesn't seem that way. And the directness of the logic -- when you make it harder to live and do business in a place, people really will leave -- is, well, something I'd like to see more of in Southern California. Welcome to the barricades, Tim.
Shannon Love|9.3.09 @ 4:38PM|#
Maybe it's because Florida is usually regarded as a red state?
After all, they might want to create a red state counterweight to
California's blue state disaster.
On the other hand, maybe they just woke up to economic reality.
|9.3.09 @ 4:40PM|#
Florida's problems--insurance aside--are generally local. The
state is actually in pretty good fiscal shape for the most part and
was saving money when most states were spending it like sailors in
a brothel. We really need to get insurance reform implemented here,
but I figure it's inevitable.
Still no income tax, which is a good thing.
Fluffy|9.3.09 @ 4:42PM|#
Or jacking up already exorbitant hurricane-insurance
premiums, as Florida's government-run property insurer just
did.
They aren't exorbitant if they're below market. The entire reason
the government-run plan exists is to offer a below market
rate.
Let the coastal homeowners bear the actual cost of their insurance
instead.
|9.3.09 @ 4:43PM|#
You know, when they "blew up"* the Spyder, I was very upset, and
then they got the Testarossa, and I said "what next, Sheena
Easton?" And I was right.
* that was some bad special effects; but I can't fault them for not
actually blowing up such a nice car.
Tim Cavanaugh|9.3.09 @ 4:46PM|#
They aren't exorbitant if they're below market. The entire
reason the government-run plan exists is to offer a below market
rate.
Yeah, that's a nuance I wanted to get into in the stuff about
Crist. But I'm trying to writer shorter.
|9.3.09 @ 4:49PM|#
Crist, incidentally, sucks. As surprising as it may sound, Jeb
Bush was a good governor (L'Affaire Schiavo
excepted).
Crist just appointed a nonentity client (in the patron-client
sense) of his to the vacant Senate seat. "Just keep the chair warm
for me, bitch."
|9.3.09 @ 4:51PM|#
So, did you wear pastels and white jackets back in the
day?
Yeah, Tim, answer the question.
|9.3.09 @ 4:55PM|#
And you know damned well the question was directed at you, Episiarch. Or should I say the former Mr. Melanie Griffith?
ed|9.3.09 @ 4:56PM|#
Miami-Dade's proposed $7.83 billion budget
I'm no award-winning genius like Paul Krugman, but a
county has a $7.83 billion budget? Methinks
perhaps there is an accounting/reporting error here somewhere.
|9.3.09 @ 4:59PM|#
Yeah, Tim, answer the question.
I'm going to get video of Tim in a white Miami Vice suit, asking
tough questions to those in power, and upload it to YouTube. My
holiday weekend is now planned.
|9.3.09 @ 5:01PM|#
Which Melanie Griffith, ProL? Night Moves Melanie or present Melanie? It matters.
|9.3.09 @ 5:04PM|#
Which Melanie Griffith, ProL? Night Moves Melanie or present
Melanie? It matters.
I'll say Body Double Melanie, but replaced with Craig
Wasson.
|9.3.09 @ 5:05PM|#
Well, unless you're Antonio Banderas, I guess we're talking the
younger version.
For the record, I've never found her very attractive. She's got
that trailer-trash skank thing going.
Spartacus|9.3.09 @ 5:05PM|#
As surprising as it may sound, Jeb Bush was a good governor
(L'Affaire Schiavo excepted).
I respectfully disagree.
And my understanding was that Citizen's was supposed to be an
insurer of last resort. Now that more insurance companies are
getting back into Florida, there is less and less reason for the
state to be an insurer, so they are raising premiums to try to get
people to get out and switch to a private provider.
|9.3.09 @ 5:08PM|#
I'll say Body Double Melanie, but replaced with Craig
Wasson.
You're a sick man, JW. Your horrible marriage has done horrible
things to your horrible brain.
|9.3.09 @ 5:12PM|#
What was wrong with Bush? He was generally good on fiscal issues--which is usually the most important thing in a governor--and he wasn't bad on many others. I think he can take some of the blame for the insurance nightmare, but there's no quick solution to that (other than real deregulation, which won't happen).
|9.3.09 @ 5:13PM|#
I think they're starting to figure this out in California. Jobs are leaving, tax revenues are falling. The socialist experiment that is California is a failure. People may not like it, but employers do leave to go where its cheaper and easier to do business. Even Hollywood has moved to Canada. Its a sad state of affairs when its cheaper to do business in Canada than in California.
|9.3.09 @ 5:14PM|#
He also HATES DC and has for a long time. Insiders are clear that he didn't take the Senate seat (which he would've easily won) because of his distaste for Washington politics. You've got to give him some serious props for that kind of attitude. That apparently predates his brother's election to president, too.
Spartacus|9.3.09 @ 5:14PM|#
People are leaving because the unemployment rate is a good 2%
higher than the rest of the country. One more thing to keep in mind
about "property tax rises": it is important to distinguish between
an increase in the millage rate assessed and an increase in overall
collections. A lot of counties here are trying to raise the rates,
because the assessed value of homes has fallen 50%, with the
corresponding loss of revenue.
But the less than sunny mood in Miami-Dade is made darker by the feeling among most residents that their fiscal jam is not just a result of falling revenue, but also years of profligate mismanagement.
He's probably right about that.
Russ 2000|9.3.09 @ 5:22PM|#
I'm no award-winning genius like Paul Krugman, but a county
has a $7.83 billion budget? Methinks perhaps there is an
accounting/reporting error here somewhere.
I think the city and the county are one and the same now. A
resident might know better than I do.
|9.3.09 @ 5:24PM|#
You're a sick man, JW. Your horrible marriage has done
horrible things to your horrible brain.
Ya know, I can't really argue with any of that statement. But to be
fair, I was pretty horrible even before marriage. It's only amped
it up more; lots more cynicism and a good helpng of black
humor.
My latest evasion tool for my wedded bliss are the first 3 seasons
of The Venture Brothers on DVD, which I finally got around to
getting. I'm having WAY too much fun with those.
Spartacus|9.3.09 @ 5:28PM|#
He also HATES DC and has for a long time. Insiders are clear that he didn't take the Senate seat (which he would've easily won) because of his distaste for Washington politics. You've got to give him some serious props for that kind of attitude. That apparently predates his brother's election to president, too.
I feel the same way about Tallahassee.
He (Jeb!) did have some good ideas, but he was notoriously deaf to
advice, especially from anyone who may have had a different
opinion. He doesn't like Washington politics because he might
actually have to deal with someone who sees the world differently
from him.
His ideas about outsourcing some operations were good, but were
rushed through in a half-assed manner. Ask any state employee about
Peoplesoft. The contract for upgrading the technology office was
awarded under shady circumstances to a convicted felon (embezzler
IIRC), and they eventually had to cancel the contract, at a
significant cost. The screwing around he did with the university
system is still being unwound in the courts. And finally, he didn't
kill Jonnie Byrd when he had the chance.
He's still better than Crist, I'll grant you that.
|9.3.09 @ 5:33PM|#
ProL, I have had it with you taking the name of The Man With the Eternal Tan in vain.
Mike M.|9.3.09 @ 5:35PM|#
I'm no award-winning genius like Paul Krugman, but a county
has a $7.83 billion budget? Methinks perhaps there is an
accounting/reporting error here somewhere.
New York City's budget for FY10 is somewhere in the neighborhood of
$59 billion, seven and a half times that of Miami-Dade County,
despite having only around three and a half times the
population.
Kind of makes Miami seem not so bad in comparison, huh?
SpongePaul|9.3.09 @ 5:46PM|#
The Only plus of FLA is it is the only state where you can legally pick pysclocib shrooms, you just cant dry them or eat them, but picking is legal!
|9.3.09 @ 5:46PM|#
Not at all. I believe in the Trinity of the Montalbán, the
Crist, and the Holy Hamilton.
Here's a picture
of the Anti-Crist, incidentally.
Spartacus,
You are being nice in referring to one of his good movies.
An Odd Pairing|9.3.09 @ 5:53PM|#
Body Double Melanie | September 3, 2009, 5:11pm | #
I won't shave my pussy.
----------------------------------------------
Pro Libertate | September 3, 2009, 5:12pm | #
What was wrong with Bush?
|9.3.09 @ 7:28PM|#
The hurricane insurance premiums annoy me. I live as far inland
(~15 miles) as one can live in South Florida (I'm practically in
the Everglades). I have accordion shutters on every window, and my
house is built to the strongest hurricane code standards the state
has. Yet my premiums are high... and to a large extent, it's to
subsidize the people who live on the coast.
Then again, my property taxes went up significantly from 2008 to
2009 despite a decrease in the assessed value. Though I guess I
can't complain too much, since I do like not having to pay state
income tax (enshrined in the state constitution!)
|9.3.09 @ 10:48PM|#
Possibly deserving of Kudos, but I'd have to see his starting viewpoint to know if I would agree. The article is kind of ambiguous in nature. He could have been talking about the need to limit government or he could have been leading in to a justification that increased federal control is necessary to prevent local corrupt hayseeds from screwing up. The article reads as a lead up to a point; so, I would reserve judgement until I hear the point. No welcome to the barricade from me, yet.
hmm|9.3.09 @ 11:31PM|#
The phallic imagery of the picture accompanying this story is
hilarious.
Oh god. I'm turning into a feminist.
|9.4.09 @ 1:14AM|#
The article does make one standard liberal jab (and in my mind,
serious error): "It was, until Florida's relentless and miserably
planned growth spawned problems that the peninsula is struggling to
handle, including skyrocketing property taxes and
hurricane-insurance premiums."
You might ask why growth causes property taxes to skyrocket or
insurance premiums to increase. Growth should cause taxes to drop,
unless you're a profligate local government raising taxes 20% a
year just because you can.
Franklin Harris|9.4.09 @ 2:47AM|#
Body Double Melanie | September 3, 2009, 5:11pm | #
I won't shave my pussy.
Pro Libertate | September 3, 2009, 5:12pm | #
What was wrong with Bush? ...
These two posts coming one right after the other seems appropriate,
until you realize that PL isn't talking about that kind of
bush.
misty|9.4.09 @ 11:12AM|#
Andrew S.-
We got a wind mitigation inspection that lowered our premium. You
may want to check with your insurance company to see if they are
already giving you the credits. If not, consider the
inspection.
I, on the other hand, need to learn how to burn my house down so I
can leave Florida. Our daughter was almost successful by putting
alkaline batteries in our rechargeable battery pack.
I get a tan just looking at Crist.
|9.4.09 @ 2:41PM|#
You might ask why growth causes property taxes to skyrocket
or insurance premiums to increase.
Growth should also cause insurance premiums to decrease, because
the insurance pool is being funded by a larger group of insureds.
At worst, they should stay level.
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