So I finally decided to read through all of the amendments and see what a few newspapers, sites, organizations were saying about them.

 

http://www.collinscenter.org/page/FL_Amend_Home

 

This website has pretty lengthy and detailed descriptions of each Amendment. I recommend that everyone read it.

 

Here's what I'm probably going to vote on election day:

 

Amendment 1 (Repeal of public campaign financing requirement): No

Amendment 2 (Homestead ad valorem tax credit for deployed military personnel): Yes

Amendment 4 (Referenda required for adoption and amendment of local government comprehensive land use plans): No

Amendments 5 and 6 (Standards for Legislature to follow in legislative redistricting): Yes

Amendment 8 (Revision of the class size requirements for public schools): Yes (maybe no, still a bit iffy on that - although I'm leaning to yes)

 

and yes on that Advisory Referendum about the balanced budget, although I don't really think we should go as far as to include it in our constitution lol.

 

So what are your opinions on these. Share how you'll be voting if you wish. Also, please don't come at me for some of these if all you've done is watch the commercials.

So I finally decided to read through all of the amendments and see what a few newspapers, sites, organizations were saying about them.

 

http://www.collinsce...e/FL_Amend_Home

 

This website has pretty lengthy and detailed descriptions of each Amendment. I recommend that everyone read it.

 

Here's what I'm probably going to vote on election day:

 

Amendment 1 (Repeal of public campaign financing requirement): No

Amendment 2 (Homestead ad valorem tax credit for deployed military personnel): Yes

Amendment 4 (Referenda required for adoption and amendment of local government comprehensive land use plans): No

Amendments 5 and 6 (Standards for Legislature to follow in legislative redistricting): Yes

Amendment 8 (Revision of the class size requirements for public schools): Yes (maybe no, still a bit iffy on that - although I'm leaning to yes)

 

and yes on that Advisory Referendum about the balanced budget, although I don't really think we should go as far as to include it in our constitution lol.

 

So what are your opinions on these. Share how you'll be voting if you wish. Also, please don't come at me for some of these if all you've done is watch the commercials.

 

 

 

 

You mind me asking why yes for Amendment 2 (Homestead ad valorem tax credit for deployed military personnel)?You don't think they get compensated enough? Just curious, I have two cousins in the military (Army/Marines).

So I finally decided to read through all of the amendments and see what a few newspapers, sites, organizations were saying about them.

 

http://www.collinsce...e/FL_Amend_Home

 

This website has pretty lengthy and detailed descriptions of each Amendment. I recommend that everyone read it.

 

Here's what I'm probably going to vote on election day:

 

Amendment 1 (Repeal of public campaign financing requirement): No

Amendment 2 (Homestead ad valorem tax credit for deployed military personnel): Yes

Amendment 4 (Referenda required for adoption and amendment of local government comprehensive land use plans): No

Amendments 5 and 6 (Standards for Legislature to follow in legislative redistricting): Yes

Amendment 8 (Revision of the class size requirements for public schools): Yes (maybe no, still a bit iffy on that - although I'm leaning to yes)

 

and yes on that Advisory Referendum about the balanced budget, although I don't really think we should go as far as to include it in our constitution lol.

 

So what are your opinions on these. Share how you'll be voting if you wish. Also, please don't come at me for some of these if all you've done is watch the commercials.

 

 

 

 

You mind me asking why yes for Amendment 2 (Homestead ad valorem tax credit for deployed military personnel)?You don't think they get compensated enough? Just curious, I have two cousins in the military (Army/Marines).

 

I know the cliche response is something along the lines of 'they risk their lives, anything we give them will never be enough,' but I honestly don't think this is going to bankrupt the country and it further adds incentives to join the Military. What people sometimes forget is that the military provides a way for those not suited for higher education to provide an above average life for themselves and their future children. I really respect that and there isn't much that I'd vote against that helps those in the military.

Good post. BTW, I'd like to mention that we're actually voting the same way on everything. I'm voting on Amendment 2 for the same reason.

Good post. BTW, I'd like to mention that we're actually voting the same way on everything. I'm voting on Amendment 2 for the same reason.

 

 

:thumbup Glad to hear!

Actually, scratch that, I'm not voting on that useless political tool of a nonbinding resolution.

Actually, scratch that, I'm not voting on that useless political tool of a nonbinding resolution.

 

 

Then technically we're still voting the same. We're just 'not voting' differently.

Heh, you have a point.

 

But yeah, it's nothing but a political tool for the right, it doesn't actually mean anything.

I just voted today and I had the same responses as the OP.

 

The nonbinding resolution thing should never have made it on the ballot. It's so slanted the way it's written. Would not shock me if it passed, though.

I know the cliche response is something along the lines of 'they risk their lives, anything we give them will never be enough,' but I honestly don't think this is going to bankrupt the country and it further adds incentives to join the Military. What people sometimes forget is that the military provides a way for those not suited for higher education to provide an above average life for themselves and their future children. I really respect that and there isn't much that I'd vote against that helps those in the military.

 

 

But correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the majority of our national deficit the military's? Just trying to play devils advocate here.

I know the cliche response is something along the lines of 'they risk their lives, anything we give them will never be enough,' but I honestly don't think this is going to bankrupt the country and it further adds incentives to join the Military. What people sometimes forget is that the military provides a way for those not suited for higher education to provide an above average life for themselves and their future children. I really respect that and there isn't much that I'd vote against that helps those in the military.

 

 

But correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the majority of our national deficit the military's? Just trying to play devils advocate here.

 

Even if that's so, it has nothing to do with those serving in the military. They work for the military (they ARE the military) but only a small portion of them have a say in what goes on.

Most of military expenditures go to weapons, not soldiers.

National defense is one of a few real reasons for federal government. They can spend as they need imo.

 

 

So you think there should be no checks on military spending?

National defense is one of a few real reasons for federal government. They can spend as they need imo.

 

I can't get behind the idea of unlimited spending, not when our country's education system is at the bottom of the 1st world in just about every category.

 

Northrup Grumman can survive by selling a few less smart bombs this year, IMO.

"Spend as they need" kind of implies a blank check.

still torn on the class size amendment.

National defense is one of a few real reasons for federal government. They can spend as they need imo.

 

I can't get behind the idea of unlimited spending, not when our country's education system is at the bottom of the 1st world in just about every category.

It seems as if you feel we should spend more on education so I'm surprised you voted Yes on Amendment 8

"Spend as they need" kind of implies a blank check.

 

Seems like you are being obnoxiously nitpicky. I imagine one could readily discern a difference between spending as they "need" and spending as they "want," which was probably what that original poster was driving at there.

 

But there are serious questions about the size of our budget, and particularly how much we spend on defense. I would argue that there need to be serious cuts to the defense budget to streamline it, so there are certainly different ideas on what they need. There are plenty of people who feel the military should spend as they want, because whatever they want is what they need, and I was trying to see if that's what he felt. What the military needs differs depending on who you talk to.

National defense is one of a few real reasons for federal government. They can spend as they need imo.

 

I can't get behind the idea of unlimited spending, not when our country's education system is at the bottom of the 1st world in just about every category.

It seems as if you feel we should spend more on education so I'm surprised you voted Yes on Amendment 8

The issue is more complicated than that. My understanding from research since the class size amendment was passed ages ago was that because of the mandate, schools were trimming important things out of the budget to meet the requirements. So the whole thing isn't black and white.

 

While I agree with the idea of smaller classes, if it's going to kill a lot of other educational programs (due to the fact the state of Florida always cuts education funds during recessions first) to have the class size amendment in place, it should just be repealed.

still torn on the class size amendment.

 

I was too but in the end up voted for it for the same reason FutureGM stated in his last post.

Here's the final vote on these various FL ballot initiatives (#'s 3 and 7 do not exist):

 

1. Repealing public financing of elections: No (had a majority but not 60%)

 

2. Additional Homestead exemption for active-duty military homeowners: Yes

 

4. Land use bill: No

 

5. New standards for Congressional redistricting: Yes

 

6. New standards for State House redistricting: Yes

 

8. Relax the previously passed 'class size amendment' rules: No (had a majority but not 60%)

 

Nonbinding federal balanced budget amendment: Yes

Most of military expenditures go to weapons, not soldiers.

 

And training.