Florida Corruption, Making Mexico look Better By The Day

[fightingquaker13]

I woke up this morning to two headlines in our local paper describing a level of corruption that amazed even me. And folks, as a Florida native, that takes some doing.
The first is from our new Governor Rick Scott who took office vowing to "bring business practices to government". Well, he didn't lie, he just didn't mention that he'd be having government help HIS business.  Our fearless leader has vowed that he will make all state employees and welfare recipients be drug tested across the board. Not for cause or in certain jobs, but everybody. Damn the costs and privacy issues, it's for the children damnit! Or is it? Turns out the Governor founded an urgent care provider named Solantic. Their most lucrative division? Drug testing. He of course divested himef of his majority share when he became governor as required. Of coure, he divested his controlling shares to a trust in his wife's name. Give me a break.

Closer to home, in the wake of local corruption scandals, the Director of the South Florida Water Management District announced that she'd hired an inspector general to audit the district's huge budget. Good for her! Oh, wait, it turns out the guy she hired has no auditing experience and is, wait for it.....her freaking boyfriend!

Welcome to life in the iguana lattitudes.
FQ13 who needs a drink, Sabbath or no Sabbath  

[twyacht]

Ah yes, the "I'm above it all" entitlement mentality of the public sector employees.  Private sector folks have to pee in a cup 17 ways from Sunday, to get a job, "if" they can find one.

Welfare folks have Blackberry's, cable TV, microwaves, gov't subsidized electrical/water/rent paid for by guess who?

And the Judge that ruled in another state, (TN)? can't remember,.... regarding the exclusivity of "public vs. private" was turned over on appeal.

Gov. Scott also wants anyone receiving unemployment benefits to volunteer a few hours a week, doing something. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, a book read at the library for after school programs, help out at a public funded indigent nursing home.

Not just watch TV, and collect taxdollars. Imagine that. He's not doing it for the money,....he's got enough....Sounds like everything else he did with his wife and majority shares IS LEGAL!!!!!

Now for the Water Mgt.  I would be happy if Dade, Broward, and PB counties, recalled EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM...and fired the rest.

Where's the reset button when you need it?

[Hazcat]

My thoughts exactly, TW.  Hell I think any one on welfare should lose their voter privileges!

[mkm]

I can't speak on the details of the Florida situation because it's not my state and I don't know the specifics.  However, is there such a thing as an honest politician?

As to the drug tests for welfare recipients, I am all for it.  Get caught using illegal drugs and you don't get paid.  Tobacco and alcohol should be included on the list of items that will at least get you a warning (get caught again and you start losing money).  I've lived and worked in places that would shut down without welfare.  They don't work, don't want to work, and still have better cars/toys than I do working seven days a week.  Breeding is the best way to get a "raise" because the government will give them more money for each new kid.  You get behind them at the grocery store and all they have is a cart full junk food which they pay for with our money.  Some how they have a few dollars to also buy some cigarettes.

I also think it would be a good plan to put welfare folks to work doing something.  Make them clean up the roads and neighborhoods that they so willingly and unapologetically trash.  I know some folks honestly need the help, but for too many it has become a way to get paid for nothing.

Random drug tests are a part of many jobs. Why not government jobs?

[fightingquaker13]

Um, guys, reread my post. Its not about the piss test. Its about the fact that the Governor, or actually his wife, will make boatloads of tax payer money off of a program he ordered. Haz, TW, step away from the GOP Koolaid and ask yourself if there is a problem with this picture.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

I'm not shocked...

[tombogan03884]

Welcome to the rel world FQ.
The only reason your pissed is because some individual benefits.

[Pathfinder]

Um, guys, reread my post. Its not about the piss test. Its about the fact that the Governor, or actually his wife, will make boatloads of tax payer money off of a program he ordered. Haz, TW, step away from the GOP Koolaid and ask yourself if there is a problem with this picture.
FQ13

They're pikers, FQ, amateurs. Move to Chicago, this is a daily (or would that be Daley?) occurrence. This is pure bush-league corruption.

[fightingquaker13]

Welcome to the rel world FQ.
The only reason your pissed is because some individual benefits.

With my money. Hell yes I'm pissed. "Billionaire politician subsidizes wife with taxpayer funds". Does that not piss you off? Would it help if he were a Democrat? This isn't about party, its about straight up theft. If he and or his wife (or anyother hanger on) sell shares in the drug testing firm, then its just a policy dispute and that's fine. As it is, its about tax money and that's not fine. I shouldn't need to tell you this Tom. What happened to get a rope? I figured that in the spirit of all politics is local we should start with the water manageent district, then drive to Tallahassee. You can set up a hot tar stand, I've got dibs on the feathers and rails.
FQ13

[mkm]

Call me jaded.  Call me wrong.  But I am willing to accept the sketchy practices of a governor's wife making money off of drug tests for welfare recipients if they can successfully implement them.  Is it wrong that she get the bid:  maybe, probably.  Is it a step in the right direction: in my opinion, you dang right.

The water district example is nepotism at its finest.  That should probably be dealt with.