Are we '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. They key word here is major - not every little detail. Due to last years' amendment they now need a "super majority" or 60 percent vice the original 50 percent 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.

Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, John Thrasher, has recently sent an "extremely urgent" letter 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. His letter however fails to mention that 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. The same St Joe company that donated 2,000 acres of wetland to be used in Panama City with the promise that they would "save" 9,000 acres next to it for their new airport. The old airport (12,500 waterfront acres) by the way will be "preserved" by a Philadelphia developer.

Gschwind

He and his supporters have the scare philosophy and tactic down pat. Supporters will be responsible for increased crime, unemployment and of course probably more hurricanes and....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 only 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.