Who Goes There?

R.I.P. Scottsmoor – Man Versus EELs

Scottsmoor, the last little community in very north Brevard, Florida, will gasp its final breath and be laid to rest August 5, 2008 if the County Commission approves the vast Scottsmoor EEL purchases. The dreams of any future small business and jobs in Scottsmoor will be dead on arrival as a result of the Board’s actions. Read more

You Have The Power

Your votes this year will have a massive impact on the direction our community takes going forward.

I have been telling you how much of an impact you are going to be able to have in the upcoming election. It is becoming more apparent all the time. There is a real opportunity to make positive change in our government at all levels. Read more

Brevard County Faces Dramatic Decrease in Property Tax Revenue

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Years ago, as the real estate bubble was expanding, we were all introduced to the “subprime mortgage.” It was a mortgage issued to someone of less than prime credit rating and, like the prime mortgages, it allowed for an adjustable interest rate beginning with extremely low teaser rates, interest only loans, and other exotic financing arrangements. Consider the following chart regarding mortgage interest resets and notice the amount of subprime mortgage resets in 2008. Read more

End the Fast Food Ban

Irvine, CA

The Los Angeles City Council approved a one-year moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in South Los Angeles. The first ban of its kind, its aim is to address America’s alleged obesity epidemic. “This moratorium will do nothing to make people lose weight,” said Don Watkins , a writer at the Ayn Rand Institute. “But it will expand the government’s control over our lives.” Read more

Let Mergers Take Place

By David Holcberg
Ayn Rand Institute
Originally published in USA Today

The government has no business interfering in mergers such as the one between Sirius and XM Satellite Radio, which was approved Friday. Mergers are a legitimate business strategy to gain customers, increase sales, raise productivity and boost profit (”Sirius-XM radio deal closes in on FCC approval,” Money, Thursday).

When government limits the ability of media companies to publish or broadcast their content, it violates their free speech rights protected under the First Amendment. Such limits do not protect free speech. They infringe on it. All companies have a moral right–and should have the legal right–to decide whether to merge and should be free to act on, and profit from, this decision.

Bizarre Budget Inquisition and Math Challenges

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During a small discussion last Thursday at the County Budget Meeting discussion of the Clerk’s budget request over the issue of insurance and why we are forced to go to bid over the cost of the county insurance, an amiable discussion suddenly sidetracked into the Twilight Zone about the Clerk’s request.

Completely unfounded allegations were made that the Clerk’s Office came in year after year requesting increases, Read more

Iraq Benchmarks

Five Dollar Democrats… And Other Liars

Democrat Senators Barack Obama and Harry Reid, as well as other five dollar Democrat politicians and environmentalists, are liars when it comes to oil and gas prices and our national energy policy.

In responding to President Bush’s announcement to lift the executive order banning off-shore oil exploration on Monday, Senator Barack Obama released a statement through his spokesman in which he said, “. . . It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for thirty years.” That cannot even be characterized as a legitimate opinion or difference of opinion – it is simply a lie. Read more

It’s a supply problem alright…

“Whereas the prices of oil and wheat measured in dollars have soared over the course of this decade, they have, on the other hand, been remarkably stable when measured in terms of gold – gold having been the foundation of the world’s monetary system until 1971. It is, therefore, reasonable to conclude not that we are a experiencing a commodities bubble, but, rather, the end of what might usefully be termed a ‘currency bubble.’”
-Dr. Benn Steil
Council on Foreign Relations

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