The State of Florida is The Big Prize in The 2012 Election

Florida is the largest of the "swing" states in America , and it is the biggest prize in the 2012 election. Obama won Florida in 2008 , but Republican "Tea" party candidate Rick Scott was elected Governor in 2010. Republicans are pouring money into election campaigns, and The Republican National Committee is counting on their upcoming convention in Tampa to assure The Republican Party carries The State in The 2012 Election.

"We've got to win Florida to save this country and beat Barack Obama. There's no other way around it, " says The Republican National Committee Chairman.

Meanwhile , President Obama and his campaign advisers see Florida as the key to his re -election.

So it seems The State of Florida is "Ground Zero" in the crucial upcoming elections. In a state which leads the nation in bankruptcies and foreclosures, the economy is going to be the main issue. "I can't see how Barack Obama can possibly win Florida in 2012 given the fact that our economy is in a ditch and he drove it in the ditch," claims The Republican National Committee Chairman , echoing the falsehood put forth by FOX News, "Talk" Radio, & Koch Industries; but blaming Bush probably won't play well with Florida voters at this point in Obama's administration either. Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz , hand picked by the president to run The Democratic National Committee , says, " That's a bold statement coming from the chair of a party working to end Medicare as we know it and slash Social Security" ; a statement which should get the attention of Florida's legion of retired seniors - even those inclined to vote Republican.

Republicans even hope to defeat Democratic Senator Bill Nelson and gain even more seats in The House of Representatives. The first African-American Republican Congressman from Florida since 1876 , who was endorsed by Sarah Palin , was elected in 2010. Congressman Allen West , supported by The "Tea" Party Republicans , was quick to point to his campaign as a rebuttal to accusations Tea Bag Republicans are inherently racist. Congressman West became a member of The Congressional "Tea" Party Caucus in 2011 , and has made frequent appearances on FOX News.

West manages to stay a focus of national news for his absurd "comments" which are cheered on by "Tea" Party Republican extremists. The latest involves an ongoing "feud" he has with Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz.

Despite having a Democratic majority of registered voters , Republicans dominate elections in Florida. Republicans solidified their dominance state-wide by winning the governor's mansion and maintained firm majorities in both houses of the state legislature. It would seem the only prayer Democratic candidates have in Florida to protect citizens from further exploitation and oppression from The "Tea" Party Republican Machine is to counter the propaganda with facts ,organize , and get out the votes. Like in 2000 , the future of The United States of America may depend on which way voters "swing" in Florida.

Democracy is the only way to promote smart growth in Florida.

What the upcoming Mid -term elections are really all about may be epitomized by The State of Florida's Proposition 4 Ballot initiative.
The Question is whether to allow voters to approve changes on how a piece of land in a locality is used.

If approved, Amendment 4 would require counties and cities put to a popular vote only amendments to local government’s so-called comprehensive plans. Voters would get to decide whether to approve large-scale developments or land-use changes.
The Battle is brewing between environmentalists and developers on Proposition 4.
In Florida there are already vacant Mall spaces, empty or unused condos, and numerous houses already being foreclosed on, yet The Banks and Big Business still want more development. Many residents of The State are concerned about sprawl and envoronmental damage, as well as hurting Florida's number one "industry" which is tourism.Florida is coming off a spree of massive overbuilding which made the state the nation’s prime example of overdevelopment and the worst state for foreclosures, with Flagler County and Palm Coast at or near the top of the state’s economic "crash" list.There are over 300,000 homes in Florida sitting empty already.

A "YES" vote is one to extend Democracy & empower individual voters. It will save the environment and provide stability for housing prices. A "NO" vote surrenders the community's will to Banks & Corporations who are able to exert undue influence on local commissioners. As with the national election, the issues surrounding Amendment 4 have been prone to misinformation and exaggeration. Big Business and multinational corporations have spent a fortune on fearmongering advertisements designed to scare voters into voting against the democratic amendment,but it is time the voice of the people, not corporations, to be heard in Florida, and around The United States of America.