The start of a conversation...

This link
click here - is to BallotPedia, a website started by a few people from all over, etc... the entity is funded by a non-profit organization in Wisconsin. There's also JudgePedia, by the same. The articles that I have read have been fully supported by Newspaper website links and discussion of differences in opinions, sources, etc.

This link
click here - is to the FloridaInCommon forum site where the Legislative Amendments to the Constitution of the State of Florida, featured in the 2012 General Election Ballot (the op uses ballotpedia as sources), are being what might loosely be called "discussed."

*note if you put a website link on your profile when signing up on www.forum.floridaincommon.com your posts will likely be deleted before they are noticed. We're the "work smarter, not harder" crowd that took easy for smart.


Here's the post: It copied in color but I don't think the links work,

• No. 1 - Constitutional Amendment - Article I, Section 28
Prohibits Healthcare Mandates in the State. If you support health care for all, vote no. Or whatever really, it only matters if the State succeeds from the Union (which seems ridiculous to type in 2012). This matter was already settled on a Federal level by all three branches of government.

• No. 2 - Constitutional Amendment - Article VII, Section 6-Article XII, Section 32
Here's a link to something called BallotPedia (kinda like wikipedia for laws, etc.) 
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/F ... nt_2_(2012)
Vote your own way on this one (or don't). I probably wont touch it (or I'll vote "no") just because I completely distrust the state legislature ldo.

• No. 3 - Constitutional Amendment - Article VII, Sections 1 and 19-Article XII, Section 32
I'm voting "No" simply because I don't feel as though the State Legislature ought to be telling citizens or City and County Governments much of anything unless citizens or City and County Governments have asked them to do something. Coupled with Amendment 5, this State Legislature is asking quite a bit from where I sit.

• No. 4 - Constitutional Amendment - Article VII, Sections 4, 6 [and] Article XII, Sections 27, 32, 33
What's non-homestead real property? Well ianal but I think it's safe to say they're 2nd or "Rental" Homes, Farms, Businesses, and other "productive" properties. Just value (I think, and ianar (i am not a realtor) either) is the market value as determined by a number of variables including comparable home sales. Assessed value (again, I think) is the recorded value according to county property appraisal records. This amendment cuts in half (from 10% to 5%) the maximum rate a property's taxes may be raised (in a single year?). This is despite market conditions, allows 5 years for interests to establish a productive property by not taxing (by exemption) the property for that term (the taxes may be raised by more if the property is sold to a new owner). The Amendment provides a 4 year extension of lowered taxes on current non-homestead property. Amendments used to be limited (and petition driven ballots amendments may still be) 75 words by law for a reason. WTF is gonna even read this ffs?! Besides, I have no non-homestead real property to speak of.

• No. 5 - Constitutional Amendment - Article V, Sections 2, 11, And 12
Voting No. This pretty much does away with the separation of powers (wikipedia) in the state. Requires only a 50% plus 1 majority to overturn Supreme Court decisions on Legislative Action (among other things), a pathway to bad governance since the 1700s (don't just take my word for it, look it up).

• No. 6 - Constitutional Amendment - Article I, Section 28
I will vote "No." If the "State Constitution may not be interpretted to create broader right to an abortion than those contained in the United States Constitution," does that mean it should also then be read (interpretted) to limit those rights? It's not my place to judge people for making complex real life decisions, and I don't believe any other man or woman can judge anyone else for making complex real life decisions. We all make complex real life decisions from time to time. 

• No. 8 - Constitutional Amendment - Article I, Section 3
Voting "No." This is clearly an attempt to violate the separation of church and state, a fundamental clause in the effort of good governance imo. Ideas like this always seem to end up being "Government Pork" given or coerced by "Pet Sects" within a community. I mean, the fights are happening irl today all over the world! This is a slippery slope.

• No. 9 - Constitutional Amendment - Article VII, Section 6-Article XII, Section 32
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/F ... nt_9_(2012) Vote your own way imo.

• No. 10 - Constitutional Amendment - Article VII, Section 3-Article XII, Section 32
meh, possible economic generator, but I'm voting "no" because I think it's a trap.

• No. 11 - Constitutional Amendment - Article VII, Section 6
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/F ... t_11_(2012) imo

• No. 12 - Constitutional Amendment - Article IX, Section 7
I just plain don't trust the intentions or abilities of the Legislature of this State... each one is not entirely bad to be sure, but the conversation has be terribly hijacked and taken to the right imo. http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/F ... t_12_(2012)