Orlando Local

Want to make Florida a better state? Send your ideas to 100ideas.org [link now defunct]. The Florida House of Representatives plans to meet in Orlando on August 10th & 11th for a statewide policy summit. The idea is to give legislators the opportunity to discuss issues and develop policy for the book entitled “100 Innovative Ideas for Florida’s Future”. The lawmakers have an opportunity to share their knowledge and experiences with each other, as well as hear from citizens throughout the state.

Some of the ideas are informative and useful. Others…well, let’s list some of the others on the 100ideas page:

• I would like the actual start times posted for movies. I went to see a movie yesterday. I got there when the start time in the newspaper was listed and sat through 20 full minutes of commercials and then 10 minutes of previews. Not only are they lying about the start times, but I paid to see a movie not ads. If they sell ads, then reduce my admission fee. Regardless, this is misrepresentation. They advertise that the start time of the movie is such but what they are really doing is starting the commercials at that time. This has been talked about for 25 years but the chains never do anything. It just gets worse and worse. What I’d like to see is the state getting together with the chains to voluntarily come up with a solution. We don’t need more laws unless there is no other way. Give them options and see if a compromise can be made.
• Require all gas stations to post in letters the same size as the price per gallon the country or countries of origin of the crude oil used in the gasoline. Give our citizens the information necessary to choose to buy Texas Alaska or Gulf of Mexico gas instead of Saudi Arabia.
• Credit card companies should not be allowed to issue more than one credit card account to an individual. For example if I own a Visa Card via one bank it should be illegal for Visa to mail me applications for another card via another bank. It is far too easy to acquire credit cards.
• Basic insurance coverage liability of at least $50000-$100000 should be mandatory and should be purchased by everyone driving in Florida by adding the cost on to the price of Gasoline and Diesel fuel. Yes gas is costly and adding to the cost will not be popular at first but in the long term every Floridian will save money by not having to purchase expensive PIP and uninsured motorist coverage. The cost of insurance would be tied to the number of miles driven and the efficiency of the vehicle. Large vehicles with poor gas mileage would pay more than hybrids. Those who drive more would pay more than those who just go to church on Sunday. Every tourist from another state who drives into Florida would be automatically ‘covered’ as soon as gas is purchased. Extra coverage collision comprehensive etc. would be optional. Since the States regulate insurance the coverage could be spread around to various companies such as those writing homeowners windstorm and other unpopular or less profitable lines.
• Every school in the state of Florida should have the same dates for vacations so families with children at different schools can all go away on break together.
• [My personal favorite] The State of Florida, as part of the Space Initiative Legislation signed into law this session, should make a priority consideration for Asteroid defense of planet Earth. It is no secret that there are hundreds of thousands of planet killing rocks in outer space which could end human civilization once and for all. Who cares if the roads of Florida are clogged, if my children or grandchildren could be wiped off the face of the earth? Please fellow citizens, I beg of you, do not laugh off this threat.