Posted on December 1 at 10:53 a.m.

Former Republican Senator Phil Gramm and others kept market forces from working by making it easy and legal for investment groups to not disclose facts on risky investment "packages" and among other things, under-funding SEC. So financial wizards were allowed to sell garbage financial products to investors. Credit card companies also learned to do the same thing with their customer debt packages.

It was a follow-through on the Regan philosopy that government was the problem and that de-regulation was vital. Most of us--including myself--bought into that garbage.

Now look who's saving the big bad capitalists! Can't wait for the underfunded pension plans crisis to hit the fan.

On AP review: Bush administration backed off calls to crack down on high-risk loans

Posted on December 1 at 4:35 a.m.

Sowell complains about union worker's pay but says it's ok for a CEO to rape a company out of tens of millions.

That's a contadiction, I believe.

On Thomas Sowell: Demonizing CEOs’ salaries: It’s Ivan and Boris, all over again

Posted on December 1 at 4:30 a.m.

Hope the committee looks at impact fee waivers and deferments. Any nonprofit with an annual budget of over $500,000 can afford to pay its share of county impact fees.

In addition, though exempted from local property taxes, all nonprofits should pay a fee for schools and county taxes.

It's time for taxpayers to stop completely subsidizing these muti-million dollar nonprofits.

On Collier commissioners put impact fee problem in hands of county’s Productivity Committee

Posted on November 30 at 4:36 a.m.

With reduced state control college tuition will skyrocket, and even more students will need taxpayer-funded scholarships. That, of course, will mean tax hikes for all, which is exactly what those running Florida's higher education institutions want. It allows them to avoid living within a budget and sticking to their core mission.

On Editorial: Local control mustn’t be tied to state funding cuts

Posted on November 28 at 4:30 a.m.

The U.S. Constitution has protections for the rights of minorities, even against majority will to suppress them.

I think amendment 2 did us all a favor in that it now officially codifies bad policy and has awakened many to the injustice being done in the name of "Christian Values."

This fight isn't over and will certainly be heard in the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Guest Commentary: What about tolerance for traditional American values?

Posted on November 28 at 4:24 a.m.

This article was published a few weeks ago. Why the rerun?

On Study: FGCU worth $389 million yearly to region’s economy

Posted on November 26 at 1:29 p.m.

Hmmm, where to start?

How about eliminating the practice of retiring teachers receiving lifetime accumulated unused sick time and vacation day payouts? That averages out to about $50k for each one.

How about eliminating NFL farmteams at Florida Universities? That's worth a few millions.

I'd like to see Collier County's ministry of propaganda (AKA: Communications department) gone and just leave the camera on for meetings of Commissioners and advisory board members.

CCPS has one too. Other than being able to view school board meetings, the rest (especially Story Time) I could do without.

Then there are Collier County boondoggles such as the $55 million Regional Park with its Water Park which I'm told is eating up all the county's impact fees.

The Library Headquarters, complete with coffee shop and in-house auditorium/theater (only for library funcitons!) could be trimmed back considerably.

There is so much more. That would make a great contest: Cut the Budget!

Oh! Here's another: The head of Miami-Dade public school's dropout prevention program earns over $100,000 a year from the school district. But Fredericka Wilson is also a State Senator and is rarely at her job in Miami. Her school position could be cut.

On Already unprecedented bad budget outlook gets even worse; revenue estimates cut by another $1.4 billion this year, $2.3 billion next year

Posted on November 26 at 4:30 a.m.

There really are a few private activities that manage to do quite well on their own without government regulation or permission or interference.

On In the Know: Why is private airpark allowed to operate?

Posted on November 26 at 4:23 a.m.

Watch how all government agencies raise taxes anyway with more "user fees."

On Already unprecedented bad budget outlook gets even worse; revenue estimates cut by another $1.4 billion this year, $2.3 billion next year

Posted on November 24 at 10:33 a.m.

It's a shame that the Conservancy of SW Florida, with its more than $12 million in assets, or another eco-nonprofit did not buy the land when it was available.

On Airboat tour business buys swampland in Collier