So what’s new in DuhSantistan?

currently being propped up by high interest rates stopping people from selling. used home inventory is very low as people don't want to have to pay higher rates for new loans

 

I just texted my wife that if the market survives the season, we will sell and pocket the equity. Hate to give up my yard and my beautiful trees, and they still have elderly pets, but I don't seem way of avoiding. It may already be too late

 

He's a 21st century Italian fascist....Il Douchy

 

I'm on the board of directors for my office condominium complex. We just had to raise our monthly assessment to cover a 43% increase in our insurance premiums. Zero claims.

 

Man I'm so glad I sold my condo in Florida a few months ago.

 

You don’t think Florida’s insurance costs are set by the hazards the state faces from hurricanes?

If not then how would you lower rates with the same risks?

I’m all ears.

 

I did the same. I was on the Gulf in Redington Shores and watched gorgeous sunsets from my living room for 4.5 years. Got tired of worrying about hurricanes and storm surge. I bought for 385K put 140K into the remodel, and sold for 790K.

Moved inland aways from the coast. Bought a home for $512.500. My insurance is through Tower Hill Insurance Group in Gainesville. My yearly premium is $1587.16.

I don’t think that’s a lot for homeowners insurance in Florida.

 

Are hurricanes that much worse than they used to be? Why are are rates skyrocketing? Why are those of us who don’t live in a flood zone paying so much more than we used to pay?

 

Thankfully, Desantis is all over this. Oh wait...

 

I'm told you can obtain a State discount if you call your agent and in the discussion... say woke at least four times.

 

I have said numerous times on this board that the property insurance problem is a difficult one for any Governor/Legislature subject to address, for the reasons you state. The insurance problem comes primarily from the changing conditions of climate change and the resultant risk.

I don't blame current leadership for not solving the problem. I do blame them for not trying. Here are a few things that could've been done by a responsible forward thinking leader willing to use some of his immense political capital after the 60% of the vote for something other than personal advancement.

1. Begin rhetorically preparing the populace for the fact that insurance rates are not something that can be easily solved and that there will be increases in the future. I acknowledge no politician wants this role. It's not popular. But in continually promoting the Florida miracle, or whatever he calls it in terms of our economic situation, without pointing out this risk, is not being a responsible leader. And I would argue that he's been a bit worse than comparable politicians because he so fixated on the presidency. He doesn't want a word about it,
2. Start trying to work the legal standards for rebuilding and building in density on the coasts. I acknowledge the tremendous difficulty of this message. Florida was built on the opposite. I'm not even saying he needs to publicly proclaim. It can be started sub silentio with rule making. Studies can be started to set up the administrative record that you will need to enact future changes against what will likely be organized political opposition, likely under a successor. A lot of this can be done before announcing hard standards.
3. Further restrict building standards and provide budget support for aggressive inspections. Not only has he failed in leadership for storm related issues, they never did too much with the condo issue in South Florida. That's another ticking time bomb. It may not be as politically explosive to just start more aggressive inspections although it would increase Association/common area rates, which can be politically precarious. But it needs to be done. Limited inspections were ordered, but too much was left to individual Associations with all the wrong incentives
4. Use some of your surpluses to supplement the reserves for Citizens and take other measures to try to increase those reserves through appropriate assessments or taxes on transactions, making the doc stamp.
5. Consider trying to join into a shared risk pool with other coastal states like South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, Alabama, to try to work through reinsurance for state run insurers of last resort on a broader basis.
6. Try to consider other benefits insurers like State Farm that book property-casualty and other areas like auto, to try to make Florida more attractive. This is an area I think about generally; I admit I have no expertise. But the largest insurers often handle multiple lines, and you can provide incentives in other lines.
7. Consider getting the state more involved in the adjustment process. It will increase consumer confidence, and increase payouts but will also lower some administrative aspects of it and resulting greater consistency, which could overall lower costs.

These are just some off the top of the head ideas, many of which may make no sense to those with specific property and casualty risk experience. But you don't need industry-specific experience to state that responsible leaders begin at least preparing the groundwork for future difficult reforms. And preparing the early groundwork is often not as politically painful. But you're making it easier for future leaders. It's something you do if you actually care about the state and its citizens as something more than a path to higher personal power.

 

If what DeSantis has done qualifies as "book banning," every single state in the country is complicit without exception.

 

Does that mean you agree or disagree with Politifact’s conclusion that DeSantis’ claim was false?

 

Disagree.

 

Just trying to protect children, prohibiting adult trans care

 

Great overview of why Desantis’ catch phrase of “Make America Florida” isn’t at all the slogan he should be running with. Most outsiders view Florida as a joke. In before lazy “But everyone is moving here!” retort from the Desantisphiles.

 

Somebody from GC needs to pin a medal on G8trGr8t!

Fox, CNN, MSN, UPI, The Guardian -

Forget about em, just come to GC and read G8tr's links!

Thank you - I am so impressed with your linking us to so many timely subjects and current events.

Appreciate it fellow Gator!!!!!!

 

Interestingly I read a statistic that 9% of all American males identify themselves in some fashion as living an LGBTQ lifestyle.

Consider this statistic for a moment. Your talking about big numbers. Over 10 million Americans.

While I do not live that lifestyle, and in many (most) respects don't agree with it, who am I to deny that many people a lifestyle choice?

We, as a nation are confronted with so many issues. I do sympathize with straight folk not wanting to "embrace" that culture, and I think the Democrats "blew-it" in regards as to how to handle this issue.

Be that as it may, I find it appalling that the GOP wants to reverse recently passed legislation protecting these people.

For a party that identifies as christian and "forgiving" all I see is extreme hostility toward that group.

And if one really looks at:

Proposed GOP legislation
Passed GOP legislation
Implemented GOP legislation

What do we see:

Hostility to persons of color
Hostility to persons with immigrant status
Hostility to the LBGTQ community
Hostility to the "Academic Community"
Hostility to Environmental Causes
Hostility to Womens reproductive rights
Hostility to Public Secondary School Education
Hostility to Medicine and Vaccines
Hostility to the American voting and electorial process
Hostility to traditional American alliances (NATO)

Which SHOULD lead to the average voter asking themselves what the heck these folks agenda is really all about? Perpetuation of post Roman religous ideologies and adherence to outlandish consumerism and energy consumption?

While I am not unsympathetic to many conservative causes, IMO, 2016 revealed many truths about our society, not the least of which is the quality of legislator the American electorate is currently supporting for office.

And while GOP supporters may view this as a "hit" post, just read the legislative bills, votes and what is passed by the GOP and what is not. Those are facts that are inescapable.

 

Solid

 

Why, exactly?

DeSantis said not a single book was banned in Florida. But, as Politifact points out: