The St.Pete Times, in this article it states "The move is one of a host of measures proposed by lawmakers to stimulate the state's economy by loosening the rules on construction permitting. Other proposals include eliminating impact fees designed to make developers pay for roads, sewers and schools needed for growth, and cutting in half the time allowed for reviewing permits for wiping out wetlands."

It's hard to imagine the thought process involved here. The same article claims "there are more than 300,000 houses sitting vacant throughout Florida" so the solution to all those empty houses...is to build more? Of course it is! How short sighted of me to not see that obvious answer. No wonder I never got elected to public office.

I gotta tell you though, I never would have came to that conclusion. I would have gone in a totally different direction. I've lived in this State for over 30 years. I've witnessed firsthand what the build, build, build mentality has done to a once beautiful natural area.

Remember when Florida was a TOURIST DESTINATION? Now ask yourself, why did they come here? Disney and the other theme parks in the Orlando area of course are a major draw.  But even more to the point, look at the contents of the advertising for Florida Tourism, all of these market beaches, white sands, picnics, pristine natural waterways, exotic animals, fishing, sunsets on the beach, lover's walking hand in hand through the woods. While the reality is we seek to destroy all those things in order to build more new homes that people don't want to buy. If truth in advertising existed, those Tourism Ads would reflect bulldozers, cranes, and the  destruction and deregulation of the natural environment.

The mindset needs to change, invest in renewable energy, it's a better investment than the Stock Market if nothing else. Solar panels virtually guarantee a ROI as does anyone really think oil will get cheaper in the future? A State program to install grid tie solar panels or solar bubbles on every school in the State would create jobs, electricity and stimulate the local economy. The absence of or decrease of an electric bill would help the individual schools purchase supplies for the students or computers, or books.  Battery banks could supply power to those schools that are also hurricane shelters.

How about a State sponsored cottage industry to convert old water heaters into passive solar water pre-heaters? The water heaters could be built in small local factories using old water heater tanks collected by the State and County run recycling services. Then they could be  distributed free or low cost to residents that would pay a local contractor to install them. Creates unskilled and skilled jobs, recycles throw away items, saves electricity, stimulates the local economy.

If you want to relax or remove any rules, let's look at the revising the ones that stop us from doing the sensible things.