Rallies spread across Florida as legislative session begins

[Hugabear]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-demonstrators-opening-day-20110308,0,2231852.story

<snip>
Hundreds of activists converged on the state Capitol today — some to protest deep spending cuts promised by Republican leaders and others to urge them on — as the Florida Legislature opened its 2011 session.

Protests began in the morning as liberal activists, union workers and public employees lined up across the street from Tallahassee's Capitol complex, waving signs with messages such as "Fully Fund Education" and "I support state workers."

But a little more than an hour later, conservative activists and tea party demonstrators gathered across the street on the lawn of the city's historic old Capitol, brandishing their owns signs reading "Support taxpayers" and "Parasite Pensions."

Fueling the confrontation: The state's nearly $4 billion budget deficit, which Republican Gov. Rick Scott and GOP legislative leaders have vowed to overcome with sweeping spending cuts expected to target everything from public schools to public employee pensions and healthcare.
<snip>

Makes me proud to see people standing up to these assholes

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. An hour response time. "Impressive."

"But a little more than an hour later, conservative activists and tea party demonstrators gathered across the street..."


A Foiler (:tinfoilhat:) would equate that to a kindler/gentler way of bringing out the "troops." Not the National Guard, just faces you can put on the TV.

[gratuitous]

2. According to the story

Well, isn't that strange? No estimates of crowd size, or who had more people. I should think that would be a very important little bit of information that the reader would like to know. And no photos; very odd. Usually crowd shots are obligatory: Colorful, impactful, and convey easily a thousand words of copy, particularly where the story itself has such a paucity of information. If I was the editor, I can't say I'd have run this story in quite the same way. Unless, of course, there's a certain (ahem) angle that the paper would like to play up and a certain other angle it would like to avoid.

[Hugabear]

3. To be fair, many of these rallies are just getting underway

I'm sure there will be photos later on

[gratuitous]

8. Oh, I HATE being fair!

But you're probably right; early reports are often a bit sketchy with the details. Still, it seems odd the reporter didn't even give a comparison of crowd size. I'd bet a shiny nickel the Tea Baggers, late to the party, were outnumbered badly.

[Better Believe It]

4. And President Obama was dead silent regarding this attack on public education during his visit to Fl

[Not Me]

5. I am continually amazed at FL residents...

I moved to Orlando about 8 years ago (job) from the Northeast. Immediately, it hit me that the people here want everything, and want to pay for nothing.
There is no personal income tax, the combined sales tax in Orlando is 6.5%, property taxes are ridiculously low for residents claiming Homestead and "Save our Homes." The corporate income tax is one of the lowest in the country at 5.5%, and Scott wants to drop it to 3%.

Tourism taxes have carried this state for years, and people here seem to think that they are being overtaxed.

Unbelievable.

[aquart]

6. You've got snakes, alligators, and flying cockroaches.

Nothing about Florida would surprise me.

[HockeyMom]

9. You are right

They live in another world in Florida. Personally, I think the sun fries their brains here. If I hear one more person say PARADISE, I will vomit.

[Bandit]

7. Scott wants to cut 1.75 billion from Education while at the same time

granting 1.6 billion in tax cuts.. So much for ending deficits.