March 30th, 2008
The proposal to teach intelligent design in Florida public schools would require that a religious belief be taught along with evolution. This belief, unlike evolution is absolute. It says that ultimately a supernatural entity began everything. This type of belief ends all inquiry into the origins of creation. Evolution is fluid and requires inquiry. If intelligent design had been taught in public schools in the 1900s, we would not have had the scientific advances we have today. People would still believe that wind, rain and snow did not evolve from a progression of events taking place in the universe, which can be proven, but were made by a God, which can not be proven. Inquiry must be fostered in our public schools, not suppressed.
Jean - Bradenton
March 25th, 2008
The Rays couldn't have picked a worse time to ask Pinellas County
taxpayers for a new stadium. The value of Tropicana Field as a
redevelopment site isn't what it would have been in 2005 or '06, when
the real estate market was crazy hot. They should revisit this idea
someday when the economy and Rays are both performing better, and at the
same time!
Carl - Tampa
March 24th, 2008
I just wanted to comment about the failure of the DNC to count the
primary results from January 29th. I have been a loyal Democrat for
over 30 years but I am going to join the 25% of Democratic voters that
stated they will vote Republican in the general election if my vote is
not counted and our delegates are not seated at the convention. I would
also like to ask where is Jimmy Carter in this. He travels all over the
world to monitor elections to make sure that every vote is counted as
cast but he has not uttered a word in support of the voters in Florida.
I also have a suggestion. In the primaries held in the 2012 presidential
season, why not pass a bill in the legislature that requires that the
DNC post and indemnity bond of half the cost of holding the primaries
and state in that bill that the bond will be forfeited if they fail to
count our votes. I know it will not happen but it sure would be nice to
see wouldn't it?
Leslie - Plant City
March 9th, 2008
Today on Florida This Week, one of your guests, while discussing
Florida teaching evolution in schools, gave the ultimate insult to
people of faith, with his remark referring to God as, the wizard in the
sky. I can accept that not everyone believes in a creator but I do not
believe that gives him the right, on public Television to make such a
insult with out the possibility of a response.
Ronald - Bradenton
February 15th, 2008
While the intent of the "Save our homes amendment" was good. The run up
in home values a couple of years ago revealed the unintended inequities
inherent in it.
It should be scrapped. Better names for it would be the Save our
waterfront homes amendment or Trap us in our homes amendment. Because it
also created a large disincentive to purchase homes.
What was really needed was simply to increase the homestead exemption,
period. The $25,000 exemption used to actually save home ownership when
the average property tax assessment was around $50,000. As property
values soared and assessments did likewise, low and moderate value homes
were seeing much higher increases, as a percentage, than more elaborate
properties. Perhaps a larger fixed exemption plus 10 percent of
assessment would be the only fix needed to bring a more progressive but
also a more fair property tax system.
David - Bradenton
February 1st, 2008
As a 63 year old who has been a registered Republican in Florida since
1965 (long before it was in) and as one who has not been able to bring
himself to vote for any "Bush" since George Sr. in 1992 (and I would
again) I was glad to hear Dr. McManus say during the 2/2 show that
"moderate" Republicans are returning to power. I didn't vote for Gov.
Crist but based on what I've seen to date he's got my vote next
time.(and I voted against the tax amendment)
Bob - Land O' Lakes
January 11th, 2008
I have just received a sample ballot for the January primary and I am flabbergasted by the constitutional amendment that I am expected to read ,understand and cast an intelligent vote for or against.
This double speak is confusing and by making it unintelligible to the voter, a travesty of our election system.
I hope that you will speak to this issue on one of your Friday night programs prior to the election.
Anne - Sarasota
December 9th, 2007
In my opinion few address reality or address the truth. If you really
want on to Hernando County. Do you want to discuss home sales [5000 or
so] or foreclosure come to Hernando County. Want to talk low wages, no
benefits, young and old struggling and two separate societies, the haves
and have not, come to Hernando County. Want to talk illegal immigration,
what immigration, since when did they go through any legal immigration
process? Undocumented, give us a break. Undocumented, want to find them
go to any government social sevice office, school, or bank and find them
and those that employ them, they know where they are. By the way is
stealing ID still a felony? So in 2008 here is our answer, since you
talk about "voters" but not the 60% who rarely vote but only reference
those registered Democrats or Republicans who in my opinion gave us this
mess, here is one for you to discuss along with all the rest. What if
the rest of us who don't vote turn out in 2008 to vote out every single
incumbent regardless of their party and vote third party whenever
possible? Lets here some talk about that along with the 31% interst fees
on credit cards for "low lifes" who just happen to be unemployed because
their job went to Mexico or offshore. Is any of this moral or is it
Selective Application or Ethical Relativity at work? Does morality even
count when it comes to money? So can you discuss and explain explain to
us who are at the edge just why these aspects always seem to be
overlooked?
Robert - Spring Hill
December 7th, 2007
How dare you raise the subject of classroom science, declare it a battle between Evolution vs Intelligent Design, and totally snub the
Flying Spaghetti Monster!! Pastafarians have every bit as much right to be in the science classroom as Intelligent Designers!
As to Jeb Bush "coincidentally" getting a job with an outfit to which he gave major tax credits, what else is a crooked politician supposed to do once out of politics?? That's the way Republicans do things, right Julia Rettig?
“Squidlee”
November 2nd, 2007
FTW's discussion's of the presidential race is just a handicapping of
the contenders. It does not compare and contrast the candidates'
positions nor does it fault the candidates for not stating their
positions clearly or critiquing them.
I have decided no longer to vote. Though I am a native born American, I
think our system of government, under our Constitution, is the worst of
the Western democracies'. If the dollar had not collapsed, I would
emigrate. There is little for an American to be proud of. We are a
deadbeat, warmongering nation that tortures and ignores international
law. Thanks to the irresponsible policies of our federal government,
Americans no longer have any buying power overseas. Our dollar is
despised in currency markets. Only the poorest, most uneducated people
would want to come to American. I feel sorry for future generations
that will have to pay off our trillions in government debt.
Allan - Saint Petersburg
Sept. 27th, 2007
I would like to know, under what constitutional authority can the legislature creat and insurance company (citizens) and when it goes belly up, make the taxpayers underwrite its losses? remember, it was the legislatures past and present that created these problems. remember the aruguments regarding the definition of "wetlands." the insurance carriers did not want any part of the panhandle(from perdido key to panaman city) insuring construction on the beaches but it was mandated.
Ali
Sept. 24th, 2007
I am in favor of Las Vegas Hotel and Caseno type gaming. They should be located in or near the following cities. Miami, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville. The tax money received from the gaming facilities should be use to provide care for Florida seigniors. In home care, Assistant living facilities and Nursing Home care. With the advent of the baby boomers retiring, the need for assistance will grow along with the cost. Who is opposed to this idea and Why???
Ronald Zarn - Hernando
Sept. 23rd , 2007
The present property tax system is unfair and obsolete. It should be replaced by a fair tax, a sales tax. If you better your home it increases the value and the taxes. If we allow the property to fall into disrepair the value is reduced along with taxes. The present system encurages slums and gettos. One of your guest said it was loony to go to a sales tax. His views are obsolete and without thought. If a sales tax can not be implemented, then change the method of evaluating property from dollar value to livable square feet.
Ronald Zarn - Hernando
Sept. 21st , 2007
On tonite's show (9/21/07), the tazering of a student was touched upon ever so lightly. A professor said he had students he would have liked to tazer. Another spewed a lot of empty words dodging the topic almost entirely. Based upon your show, it seems Floridians are more interested in having low taxes than in having freedom of speech? Since the citizens of Floridoh! no longer has the right to vote due to the use of programmable voting machines, guess the loss of free speech is no big deal!
Dana - Pinellas Park
Sept. 16th , 2007
There has been a lot of talk and analysis about the Super Exemption but very little, if any, about the petition to get "Homestead Portability" on the ballot. This appears to be a viable compromise for those wishing to move or "trade up", that will not jeopardize the much needed "save our homes" cap. I hope you will have a show in the future to further explain how the formula for figuring the portability would work and hopefully revive some interest in it. Thank you!
Marie Tommassello
Sept. 8th , 2007
While I am a regular and appreciative listener/watcher of PBS and WEDU, especially of news programs, I rather consistently am disappointed by "Florida This Week". I have adopted a channel switching reaction to my otherwise Friday night attachment to WEDU when this program comes on. Possibly the surrounding programs on Friday nights establish too high standards that "Florida This Week" cannot meet.
Unfortunately, an excerpt from one of the most objectionable programs that was broadcast has been selected to advertise the program, heralding "the opinionated people" often on the program. What a turn off! Listening to opinions is worthwhile when they are backed up with information, but without rational thinking and information emotional displays on a program that purports to disseminate information wear thin unless the verbal banter in itself is entertaining. The McClaughlin Group often tests the limits but manages to be of interest most of the time because the participants are well informed. Many times the participants of "Florida This Week" appear to talk around the topic under discussion rather than debate it or present alternative views. The practice of identifying one participant as a Republican and another as a Democrat seems to pave the way for the superficial discussions that typically follow. This might have merit if a debate followed along political lines, as often occurs in the McClaughlin Group, but not merely when political labels are tossed at one another.
There is a clear need for discussion of Florida news in the media. Perhaps the program would be of greater value if well-informed participants about specific topics were selected. By well-informed, I mean people who have investigated or worked with a topic sufficiently to present and discuss information that goes beyond what is presented in the news. There are many topics in Florida that warrant investigation and dissemination that could be pursued to assist the public's understanding and decision making. At times I have felt that part of the problem with the program is that it has too strong a Tampa bias. Florida is a big state with lots of problems and the provincial outlook of participants is likely to have limited appeal.
I hope my reactions are helpful in improving this program.
Walter Katkovsky - Winter Haven, FL
[Producer’s response: “Florida This Week” panelists donate their time. Naturally, we accommodate many busy schedules and must book commentators days before knowing the week’s topics. Therefore, we regularly turn to knowledgeable generalists, and single-topic experts are seen most frequently on specially-focused panels. ]
Sept. 7th , 2007
I really like the diverse panel that Florida This Week has been having as guests. It gives us a chance to hear a wide range of analysis and opinions that seem to be lacking in most of today's newspapers and radio and tv stations. I especially like that young reporter from Sarasota who kept us informed on Katherine Harris' activities.
Jay Kapusta - Brandon
Sept. 7th , 2007
Three men and one woman? Women are 51 percent of the population. When will your guest list reflect this fact?
Lee Drury de Cesare - Madeira Beach lee_decesare@yahoo.com
October 6th, 2007
On last week’s show, it was interesting to hear,a local Democratic leader express the hope that the eventual candidate would “restore” the votes of Florida Democrats. Florida changed its primary date so we would matter for a change. In reaction, the DNC voided all of our votes, so we don’t matter.
Getting our votes back after the candidate is chosen–when, again, we won’t matter, is nothing positive.
We need laws to ensure if primaries are held the votes will be counted. If we don’t matter to them, they don’t need to matter to us.
Doug Bevins - Pasco County
