On Life guards & "Federal" money - Andy Anderson's got it all wrong on the life guard issue.  He needs to get into the Obama spirit by getting Brevard's share of the federal "stimulus" bucks to hire people to swim, thus justifying the lifeguard's continued employment.  To protect the swimmer's health on the chilly days, additional stimulus funds could be obtained to purchase wet suits, thus stimulating the wet suit manufacturing industry.  We're ignoring a truly golden opportunity for prosperity here!

On a similar note, mention was made about Florida not getting it's "fair share" of federal money, thus relegating us to net contributors to the federal fisc, rather than net beneficiaries.  Carrying that point to its logical conclusion, a person might rationalize that, since he's been paying into his medical insurance plan for several years and hasn't been sick for a long time, it would be to his best interest to get his arm broken so he could avail himself of the treatment he's entitled to.  Or, considering that part of his property taxes go to ensure that the fire department is standing by, he should set his house on fire so that he's able to get his money's worth.  I believe the concept is referred to as "reductio ad absurdum."  God Bless, Skip

Some people argue that the 401(k) plan is for supplemental income when you retire.  If you are able to withdraw the entire amount to invest in a new home  or refurbish an older home, it would create thousands of jobs.  As far as having money for retirement, the homeowner can take out a reverse mortgage.  This would also help the person that is on a limited income.  By having a substantial down payment, the monthly payment would be a lot lower. One big problem, the government would have To keep their hands out of it

Dean

Another program cut.

 We have a lot of money invested in EELs properties and I would hate to see 20 years of taxpayer investments in land and species preservation wasted, did somebody go cover the endangered plant species to make sure the frost didn't kill them, and bring the scrub jays in from the extreme cold?

Seriously, wasn't EELs suppose to be a 10 year program and where is the data to show the program works?   It has been 20 years and the fact that we still need the program proves to me the program is a failure.

My theory is that if it were a successful program, these lands and species would no longer be endangered and we should now know how to prevent them from becoming endangered without quarantining areas.

They could save a lot more money if they cut the code enforcement patrolling.  I wonder how many miles each vehicle logs at over $3 a gallon.

Any complaint Code Enforcement receives that is NOT an immediate health or safety hazard to the PUBLIC, (not persons visiting or trespassing on the private property as this is not public), should be charged to the complainant. These charges would include code enforcement's mileage at $2.00 a mile (price of gas at $3.00 a gallon in a 16 gallon tank divided by 28 mpg comes out about $1.71 a mile so add 0.29 for vehicle maintenance). 

Penny