So the sample ballot has I think seven amendments listed. Anyone researched theses? Let's talk about the amendments here, what's your thoughts why are you supporting or opposing any of the amendments?

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No to all.

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“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

No to all.

Interesting why?

Amendment one increases homestead exemptions, Amebdment two limits or caps tax increases at the state level both of those seem like a yes to me.

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Right now here's what I'm planning:

Amendment 1 yes
I always support tax cuts, I'll support them in any form every dollar not sent to taxes is better used in the private sector

Amendment 2 yes
Anything that limits or makes it harder to increase future taxs I support.

Amendment 3 no
This seems like an amendment that makes it harder for some businesses to ooperate and others easier to stay in business with less competition. I'm not a gambler but I don't see the need for one type of gambling to be favored over another. I also don't like how the advertisements you see are missleading it's pitched as a power to the people amendment when it's really a restriction on new gambling amendment.

Amendment 4 yes
I believe in 2nd chances, a felon has served their time and paid their debt I support allowing them to reintigrate with society and being able to voice their opinion through voting. Even if I don't think the vast majority of them will vote the same as me.

Amendment 5 yes
I absolutely support an amendment that requires 2/3rds vote not just a simple majority to raise taxes.

Amendment 6 no for now?
I don't fully understand this one so for now I default to no. I want to know what is victims rights? Why do they want to raise the judges retirement age? And what do they mean by administrative interpretation? Rule of thumb if you try and saueez multiple issues into one law your trying to pull a fast one somewhere so I default to no.

Amendment 7 no
I do not support expanding state payments for death benefits. I also do not see the need to classify state schools differently? What's the reason behind that sounds like a way to get more state funding to community colleges?

Amendment 9 no
Forget the drilling offshore on state water that's a not issue. Deep water is federal land no one is drilling on state land anyways. I think the real reason for this amendment is the restriction of ecigs indoors. That's a private business choice to me so I say no let the free market decide.

Amendment 10 no
Counties should be free to point or elect officials as they see fit. That's a local issue I don't need the state dictating one size fits all government on the local counties. I also don't support creating another state law enforcement agency it's redundant.

Amendment 11 no
Why would i support allowing non-citzens to own land in Florida?

Amendment 12 yes
I support more restrictions on public officials prohibiting them from using their influence and power for private gain. Seems like a no brainier to me

Amendment 13 no?
I see the demonization of dog racing I don't know if that's real or not? I defualt to no since the only argument I've seen is it's mean and only people that hate dogs support it. Give me a real argument why I should support banning an entire industry or I just vote no.

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Right now here's what I'm planning:

Amendment 1 yes
I always support tax cuts, I'll support them in any form every dollar not sent to taxes is better used in the private sector

Amendment 1 is not a tax cut.
most of the cities and counties will increase the millage to make up the difference.
In fact most counties, Duval included, will have to start sending money to the so-called "fiscally constrained" counties that this amendment will birth into existence. They will want to raise taxes to cover that new liability. You can look it up on ballotpedia.
I would vote no on one.

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My fellow southpaw Mark Brunell will probably always be my favorite Jaguar.

No to all.

Interesting why?

Amendment one increases homestead exemptions, Amebdment two limits or caps tax increases at the state level both of those seem like a yes to me.

I don't favor new laws, and Amendments always intend to benefit one special interest or another. If it's tax related it's just shifting the burden, if it's regulatory someone is making tax money off it.

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“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

No to all.

Well.... Usually I'm with ya on this.


I think I would vote yes on 2, 5, 12, and 13...
But I'll need to look into them more. I've gotten a basic idea of them, and I know who supports them which is usually a good inkling of if I want to support it or not.

If the amendment is supported by some crazy left wing group or a group of career politicians, its probably bad.
If it is supported and/or proposed by the citizens of the state and/or country, it's worth a listen at least.

Amendment 1 won't help about 75% of all property owners

Amendment 3 is a sham lol
"Put the power in the voters hands"
You mean put the power in Disney's hands -- this actually will make it harder to expand gambling in the state if they wish to do so. Disney doesn't want anything to compete with them.
Also opposed by the native Americans who own any casino action in the state


Amendment 4 should be re-worded before being passed. It still include numerous violent criminals that could get their voting rights restored. And personally, there's some people that don't deserve to make decisions that affect others when they have made such poor life decisions. IMO... violent offenders are lucky to see daylight again. And too many non-violent offenders spend too much time in... but I digress.

Some of the other amendments combine different issues... so it's all or nothing on those, and that means someone is trying to slip something through. No to anything that "combines" or "bundles"


On the ones I say yes to.

Amendment 2 is a good break for small business and rental property owners. I tend to trust Florida Tax Watch when it comes to things like this. (They oppose Amendment 1)

Amendment 5 makes it harder for the state government to raise taxes. (does not apply to local county type tax increases)

Amendment 12 helps keep our state government less swampy

Amendment 13 bans dog racing.
I'm pretty much against animal races of all sorts, but especially dog races as many of them are not properly cared for.
It's the liberal in me coming out I guess. 
Most of the opponents to 13 say the language doesn't clear up that these tracks can still have video gambling, and card games, etc.
But that doesn't really matter. If you remain open for business and advertise, people will know.
Stop racing dogs.

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Amendment 13 no?
I see the demonization of dog racing I don't know if that's real or not? I defualt to no since the only argument I've seen is it's mean and only people that hate dogs support it. Give me a real argument why I should support banning an entire industry or I just vote no.

I don't want to get preachy on this subject...
but dog racing is a dying thing. It is allowed in fewer states than marijuana use. If you've ever been to a dog track you can see they are not well maintained (most of them) and the dogs are often mistreated.
Many dogs suffer injuries and a lot of these dogs that are tossed away after they are longer useful have been found to have steroids and cocaine and other drugs.

It isn't just "mean" it's cruel.
It's one of these things that as humans we should be evolving away from. And if you look around the country, we are... its time to get with it, imo.
Plenty of other ways to get entertainment and gamble lol

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I also think Amendment 5 is a bad idea.
We have low taxes in Florida already. I don't believe in trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.
Also note that California has had this type of 2/3 requirement since 1978. And theirs is stricter than this. It doesn't actually work to lower taxes!

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My fellow southpaw Mark Brunell will probably always be my favorite Jaguar.

Amendment 1 - No. This will just result in cities and counties raising other taxes to pick up the difference.

Amendment 2 - No. Don't give investors from out of state a permanent tax break at the expense of those of us who live here.

Amendment 3 - Leaning yes. Not completely certain about that, though.

Amendment 4 - Yes. Not just yes, hell yes. Once your debts are paid, your rights should be restored.

Amendment 5 - Yes. Require a supermajority to raise taxes and prohibit tax increases from being hidden in other bills? I'm all for it.

Amendment 6 - F no. For one, it shifts a lot of duties to the courts unnecessarily. Two, innocent until proven guilty. "Victim's rights" that override the rights of those who haven't been convicted of any crime are [BLEEP], in my humble opinion, and it's my belief that this state constitution amendment violates a few federal Constitutional amendments.

Amendment 7 - Yes.

Amendment 9 - Yes.

Amendment 10 - Yes. I think the counter-terrorism mandate is idiotic, but I do like the idea of forcing little mom 'n pop counties to hold elections instead of just keeping the same few people in power, unopposed, for decades.

Amendment 11 - Undecided. Not really even leaning. I see the pluses and minuses to both sides.

Amendment 12 - Yes.

Amendment 13 - Hell yes. Racing greyhounds live through constant animal abuse and neglect, and the animal racing industry as a whole is (again, imo) repulsive and should be chased out of American society one way or another.

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Amendment 10 - Yes. I think the counter-terrorism mandate is idiotic, but I do like the idea of forcing little mom 'n pop counties to hold elections instead of just keeping the same few people in power, unopposed, for decades.

Only eight counties would be affected by Amendment 10, and none of them are "little" counties.  Duval and Clay would be affected.  
https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Amendmen...Background

The same few people running unopposed is exactly what the 8 counties are trying to stop.  Duval County, for instance, has term limits for these offices.  So does Orange.  Those term limits would go away if this amendment passes.

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My fellow southpaw Mark Brunell will probably always be my favorite Jaguar.

Not sure why offshore drilling and indoor vaping are tied to the same amendment.

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Not sure why offshore drilling and indoor vaping are tied to the same amendment.

Because the constitutional commission does stupid things when given the opportunity to merge propositions. And possibly because they want certain amendments to fail. Think about it. Who opposes offshore drilling? And who's more likely to vape indoors: Cletus the Confederate flag-waving GOP faithful, or a hipster liberal?

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Not sure why offshore drilling and indoor vaping are tied to the same amendment.

Because the constitutional commission does stupid things when given the opportunity to merge propositions. And possibly because they want certain amendments to fail. Think about it. Who opposes offshore drilling? And who's more likely to vape indoors: Cletus the Confederate flag-waving GOP faithful, or a hipster liberal?

I'll take hipster liberal for $100 Alex.

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There are 10 kinds of people in this world.  Those who understand binary and those who don't.

No to all.

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"You do your own thing in your own time. You should be proud."

No to all, because tyranny of the majority is crap. We're either a representative republic, or we are not. The entire ballot amendment process should die the horrible death it deserves. I guess I'd be in a jam, though, if there was a ballot amendment to stop ballot amendments.

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Because the constitutional commission does stupid things when given the opportunity to merge propositions. And possibly because they want certain amendments to fail. Think about it. Who opposes offshore drilling? And who's more likely to vape indoors: Cletus the Confederate flag-waving GOP faithful, or a hipster liberal?

I'll take hipster liberal for $100 Alex.

Bingo. Hipster liberals are predictable. Tell them that a yes vote saves the whales, they'll vote yes. But if you tell them that voting to save the whales means they'll have to give up their iPhart X, they'll let the whales die. Same sort of dynamic is going on with that amendment, which explains how offshore drilling and indoor vaping ended up on the same line item.

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Not sure why offshore drilling and indoor vaping are tied to the same amendment.

Well.... if you want to get something passed people don't agree with, tie it to something almost everyone wants done and try to sneak it through.

Gov'ment! woo!

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I'm curious why more people aren't behind ending dog racing?

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Right now here's what I'm planning:

Amendment 1 yes
I always support tax cuts, I'll support them in any form every dollar not sent to taxes is better used in the private sector

Amendment 2 yes
Anything that limits or makes it harder to increase future taxs I support.

Amendment 3 no
This seems like an amendment that makes it harder for some businesses to ooperate and others easier to stay in business with less competition. I'm not a gambler but I don't see the need for one type of gambling to be favored over another. I also don't like how the advertisements you see are missleading it's pitched as a power to the people amendment when it's really a restriction on new gambling amendment.

Amendment 4 yes
I believe in 2nd chances, a felon has served their time and paid their debt I support allowing them to reintigrate with society and being able to voice their opinion through voting. Even if I don't think the vast majority of them will vote the same as me.

Amendment 5 yes
I absolutely support an amendment that requires 2/3rds vote not just a simple majority to raise taxes.

Amendment 6 no for now?
I don't fully understand this one so for now I default to no. I want to know what is victims rights? Why do they want to raise the judges retirement age? And what do they mean by administrative interpretation? Rule of thumb if you try and saueez multiple issues into one law your trying to pull a fast one somewhere so I default to no.

Amendment 7 no
I do not support expanding state payments for death benefits. I also do not see the need to classify state schools differently? What's the reason behind that sounds like a way to get more state funding to community colleges?

Amendment 9 no
Forget the drilling offshore on state water that's a not issue. Deep water is federal land no one is drilling on state land anyways. I think the real reason for this amendment is the restriction of ecigs indoors. That's a private business choice to me so I say no let the free market decide.

Amendment 10 no
Counties should be free to point or elect officials as they see fit. That's a local issue I don't need the state dictating one size fits all government on the local counties. I also don't support creating another state law enforcement agency it's redundant.

Amendment 11 no
Why would i support allowing non-citzens to own land in Florida?

Amendment 12 yes
I support more restrictions on public officials prohibiting them from using their influence and power for private gain. Seems like a no brainier to me

Amendment 13 no?
I see the demonization of dog racing I don't know if that's real or not? I defualt to no since the only argument I've seen is it's mean and only people that hate dogs support it. Give me a real argument why I should support banning an entire industry or I just vote no.

Great Analysis.  I don't understand your NO response to #11.  In the global society that we live in where people like Donald Trump purchases land in other countries, why would we restrict global tycoons from purchasing penthouses in Miami or restrict people like Greg Norman from building a golf course in Jupiter Florida.

IMO, opening up the investment population increases the value of our homes, etc.

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Most every bill on the back of the ballot a lot of bundling garbage and should get an automatic no on principle.

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Right now here's what I'm planning:

Amendment 1 yes
I always support tax cuts, I'll support them in any form every dollar not sent to taxes is better used in the private sector

Amendment 2 yes
Anything that limits or makes it harder to increase future taxs I support.

Amendment 3 no
This seems like an amendment that makes it harder for some businesses to ooperate and others easier to stay in business with less competition. I'm not a gambler but I don't see the need for one type of gambling to be favored over another. I also don't like how the advertisements you see are missleading it's pitched as a power to the people amendment when it's really a restriction on new gambling amendment.

Amendment 4 yes
I believe in 2nd chances, a felon has served their time and paid their debt I support allowing them to reintigrate with society and being able to voice their opinion through voting. Even if I don't think the vast majority of them will vote the same as me.

Amendment 5 yes
I absolutely support an amendment that requires 2/3rds vote not just a simple majority to raise taxes.

Amendment 6 no for now?
I don't fully understand this one so for now I default to no. I want to know what is victims rights? Why do they want to raise the judges retirement age? And what do they mean by administrative interpretation? Rule of thumb if you try and saueez multiple issues into one law your trying to pull a fast one somewhere so I default to no.

Amendment 7 no
I do not support expanding state payments for death benefits. I also do not see the need to classify state schools differently? What's the reason behind that sounds like a way to get more state funding to community colleges?

Amendment 9 no
Forget the drilling offshore on state water that's a not issue. Deep water is federal land no one is drilling on state land anyways. I think the real reason for this amendment is the restriction of ecigs indoors. That's a private business choice to me so I say no let the free market decide.

Amendment 10 no
Counties should be free to point or elect officials as they see fit. That's a local issue I don't need the state dictating one size fits all government on the local counties. I also don't support creating another state law enforcement agency it's redundant.

Amendment 11 no
Why would i support allowing non-citzens to own land in Florida?

Amendment 12 yes
I support more restrictions on public officials prohibiting them from using their influence and power for private gain. Seems like a no brainier to me

Amendment 13 no?
I see the demonization of dog racing I don't know if that's real or not? I defualt to no since the only argument I've seen is it's mean and only people that hate dogs support it. Give me a real argument why I should support banning an entire industry or I just vote no.

Great Analysis.  I don't understand your NO response to #11.  In the global society that we live in where people like Donald Trump purchases land in other countries, why would we restrict global tycoons from purchasing penthouses in Miami or restrict people like Greg Norman from building a golf course in Jupiter Florida.

IMO, opening up the investment population increases the value of our homes, etc.

Didn't think about it like that. You have a point it's a global economy and non-citzens buy and develop land all over the world. I should look closer at this one my first impression might be wrong.

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