The Legislature passed a proposed constitutional amendment that will go to voters Jan. 29. Together, the proposals would cut property taxes $1.4 billion in 2008-09 -- with about $204 million of that taken from schools. Lawmakers met in a 17-day special session that began with what was presented as a done deal and soon devolved into a series of different proposals. Here's where it ended Monday. WHAT'S IN
Portability. Homesteaders could take up to $500,000 of Save Our Homes protections to a new home purchase. Those who downsize would take a pro-rated portion of their tax protections. Applies to all property taxes. Senate staff estimates this would cut taxes, statewide, $302 million in 2008-09.
Double homestead exemption. Homesteaders get a second $25,000 exemption on the assessed value on the value of their homes over $50,000. It doesn't apply to school taxes. Senate staff estimates this would cut taxes, statewide, $$892 million in 2008-09.
Tangible personal property tax exemption. Businesses get a break on the taxes they pay on equipment. Applies to all property taxes. Senate staff estimates this would cut taxes, statewide, $179 million in 2008-09.
Assessment cap for non-homestead property. Property assessments could increase no more than 10 percent each year on non-homestead property. Senate staff estimates this would cut taxes, statewide, $51 million in 2009-10.

WHAT'S OUT
New-home buyers would have gotten a 25 percent break on assessments. The House estimated this would have cut taxes $65 million in 2008-09.

Those 65 or older, with household income under $23,604, would have been exempted from all homestead property taxes. The House estimated this would have cut taxes $629 million in 2008-09.

Tax breaks for affordable housing would have limited assessments to reflect rents paid. The House estimated it would have cut taxes $45 million in 2008-09.

Caps on millage rates local governments could set would have preserved reductions passed by the Legislature and approved by voters.

The Miami-Dade property appraiser would have become an elected position.

Non-homestead property owners would have had an easier way to challenge their tax assessments, under certain circumstances. House staff estimated taxes would have been cut $100 million in 2008-09.

A minimum homestead exemption equal to 40 percent of the median homestead price in each county.

Working waterfront property - like commercial fishing operations - would have gotten limits on assessments.

Politicians know most people have more important things on their minds than the actions of politicians. Politicians also know something else: they know that they have no choice but to find a way to grab voter's attention in preparation for the next election. One of the best attention-getters of all is FEAR...the politics of FEAR. (remember our definition of FEAR is (F)alse (E)vidence (A)ppearing (R)eal)

"Bipartisanship" has also become a dirty word but not for the reason most Americans have considered. Think about what it means--only two parties. The reluctance for Democrats and Republicans to work together is a big hoax perpetrated by them to make it appear that they are two parties who hate each other when in fact they're really one party who work great together. They have a few minor differences sometimes such as whether to increase spending by 6% or 4%, and some of them disagree on non-issues like abortion and gay marriage, but all in all, they are one unified party. The difference between Ds and Rs is about the same as the difference between Baptists and Methodists. They are both Christians...just like republicans and democrats are both politicians.

Meanwhile, they've rigged the elections by forbidding outright anyone other than Ds and Rs to appear on the primary ballot or else making it difficult for other parties and independents. They throw away any votes they don't approve of. They gerrymander the districts to assure themselves victory. So "bipartisanship" is a dirty word not because they never engage in it but because ONLY two parties are allowed to have any say in this country. How about some tri-partisanship, quadra-partisanship or deca-partisanship?

I've been reading many articles/blogs, etc. about Presidential Candidate Ron Paul. Some of them label him 'crazy.' Some of them label his ideas 'radical,' 'different,' and 'kooky.'

After I stop laughing, I think, 'Everything is upside down. Or maybe we've actually come full circle?' When the ideas of limited government, strict adherence to the Constitution, a free market, and fiscal responsibility are called radical, perhaps the truth is that the rest of the politicians have gone crazy and Ron Paul is really the sane one.

Many of the 2008 Presidential candidates from both parties are scripted media masterpieces who will promise you everything, and deliver little. They will change their position and say anything to get elected. After that, they will ignore you and do whatever they like. Why? Because it's all about them, not you. They never intended to serve the people. They just liked the idea of themselves and their party being in charge.

If Ron Paul is a radical statesman with revolutionary ideas, that's okay with me because I really like revolutionary ideas like freedom and abiding by the Constitution. When teenagers drag their parents to over to the computer to listen to web videos of a 71 year old man because Dr. Paul speaks of freedom and fiscal responsibility for the future, hey, that's cool with me.

I remember when we used to support candidates because we liked what they stood for. We thought that they were people of principle who wanted to help us make our country and our lives better.

Lately we seem to have been reduced to considering the lesser of all the evils on almost every issue...even locally. Well, I'm one person who is sick and tired of the lesser of evils, because the lesser of evils is still evil. Some politicians even talk of 'throwing away a vote.' Thomas Jefferson would roll over in his grave upon hearing that. We must always vote our conscience. We must always stand up for what is right, even if it isn't popular.

That's why it is soooooooo important to point out REAL and meaningful LEADERSHIP when it happens...and the Volusia County Council's vote on participating in the Commuter Rail projest through Central Florida is clearly taking a stand and voting for the future good of the community even in the face of widespread angst over government spending.

I also applaud Daytona City Commissioner Rick Shiver and the entire Daytona City Commission as they have grappled with effort of the Central Florida Cultural Endeavors (CFCE) and their request for funding of the Florida International Festival/London Symphony Orchestra's performances in Daytona Beach. Commissioner Shiver's recommendations to convert the proposed GRANT into a LOAN that will be forgiven ONLY in the event that ALL the provisions of the contract are fullfilled were a nice change that led the commission to a 5-2 vote moving the proposal to a second reading.

Maybe there IS hope and "Statesmenship" isnt dead afterall.

Body, Mind, Life balance... "A skilled martial artist knows that it is not your strength that will win a fight. It is the one that can use the imbalance of his opponent that will come out on top. Keep his over-confident momentum going, and he will become your prey.

At the same time, be true to your balance or the tides will change." Have you felt the tides change in your life? Did you lose balance?

Striking balance involves making choices and sometimes exercising discipline. Hold back too much...and your approach is ineffective. Over extend...and you risk falling on your face. Get it right, you find flow. Balance. Perfect Balance.

It's something we all instinctively seek. No wonder one of the first perfect scores in the history of olympic gymnastics was on the balance beam. Balance can be fleeting.

What may appear to be success to the outside world, can be an abject failure overall...particularly when all other areas of a person's life are sacrificed due to over emphasis in one.

How many times have we heard of the person who is wildly successful...business icons, actors, rock stars, even TV evangelists who lose balance and let the other areas of their life trip them up. At what price do we buy success? If you lose the ones you love, lose your freedom, or worse yet...lose your integrity...your very soul...is it worth it?

I ran into someone in the grocery store this morning, someone who I used to work with in a previous career. When she saw me she actually asked, "Do I know you?"...and then was wide eyed...and gave me a big hug. She had not seen me since the day I walked out the door as a very senior executive of a very large, nationally recognized real estate developer and hotel management company. During my tenure there, I had been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today, was highlighted as a feature interview on NPR's "All Things Considered", and landed cover stories in Lodging & Hospitality Magazine and Florida Monthly Magazine. I was widely recognized as being enormously successful. There was also alot of daily...almost hour by hour sttress that I realized I no longer wanted in my life. She didn't recognize me at first because within three months of leaving, I lost almost 50 pounds. My body had began finding balance again.

My health had suffered. I had gained alot of weight in those three years. My son was talking about moving back to Tampa to live with his mother. I hadn't seen my lifelong friends and had nearly stopped talking to them. I had stopped writing. Areas of my life that were enormously important to me had been put on hold for this so-called "enourmous success".

I had been burning the candle at both ends...and it had become a habit. The fuel for that fire was the rest of my life...everything else was being consumed by my job and the lifestyle that went with it. There was no balance. As soon as I brought my life back into balance...all the other areas improved...quickly and effortlessly.

The entire universe is comprised of energy and accompanying energy flows. Abundance...is a natural order, but only when there is balance. Like the air in a bellows, it is inexaustible when there is balanced flow. In...and out...in...and out. Giving...and taking...in balance.

Now, my focus is on balance...and I am happy.

Live in balance = live in abundance.

What do you think of the Hillary Clinton's Video introducing her "campaign song"...

Bill Clinton as Carmella Sopprano?? It's an interesting move...possibly to make Hillary Clinton more "approachable" and "hip" with an audiance that embraces a candidate's image.

Some applaud the move, others have knocked it...saying it makes the Clinton's look like the fictional organized crime family.

What is YOUR opinion? Watch the video and tell us in your own words...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9BEPcJlz2wE

A Taoist story tells of an old man who accidentally fell into the river rapids leading to a high and dangerous waterfall. Onlookers feared for his life. Miraculously, he came out alive and unharmed downstream at the bottom of the falls. People asked him how he managed to survive. "I didn't struggle," he said. "I accommodated myself to the water and just went with its flow."

Alternatively, Marco Rubio (the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives) said to me..."If you are not facing resistance, you are not making a difference."

The Question remains...To Flow or Not to Flow?

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun-lotion or a Band-Aid to a student - but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, It's His Fault, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

I am choosing to make a difference and bring common sense back...I don't believe common sense is dead...maybe sleeping...weary from attack. Let's revive and "Wake Up" common sense together.