Jail Time Out Of Line

When I read that carriers of fake IDs, notably spring breakers in Florida, are subject to a fine of up to $5,000 and up to 5 years in prison, I was in disbelief that such a law would put into jeopardy the lives of such young adults. Some of old timers might call them “baby adults”. Many are 18 and 19 – still considered teenagers. They’re stuck with a third-degree felony, which will follow them through their decades of restricted employment opportunities – if they can even continue their goals in higher educational.

It’s very likely that law enforcement and the judicial system would take into consideration the sight, sound and social demeanor of the felon. Face it - clean-cut, well-spoken and respectful perpetrators are likely to be given special consideration of their actions. Dad and Mom may also have the financial resources to work through “the system” to pay the dues to society for their kid’s actions.

Conversely, unkempt hair and shabby attire, grammatically incorrect verbal responses and an attitude that is disrespectful of authority will most likely bring the gavel down with more painful repercussion. A public defender will cowtow to the State Attorney for whatever plea bargain may be offered.

In contrast to a felony charge, possessing someone else’s ID, lending an ID to a friend or altering the birth date on an ID is a second degree misdemeanor with up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Now, take note that former South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, 45, has recently been sentenced to 10 months in prison for possession of less than 500 grams of cocaine, which he admitted having used since he was 18. He could have received up to 20 years in prison and $1-million in fines, but using federal guidelines he received a lesser sentence. He must also pay $249,999 ($221,323 fine and $28,676 restitution for the special legislative session to name his successor).

Co-defendant Michael L. Miller, 26, who sold the illegal drug was given a 10-month sentence.

It’s difficult to understand why an adult, having worked over 20 years in a position that requires a large degree of responsibility, should be considered less of a felon than someone barely out of high school. The young adult may not receive the full sentence for his or her crime, but in this scenario an adult received but a slap on the hand considering the jail sentence and a good spanking with the amount of restitution.

Sure, Ravenel’s $249,999 fine is a large sum but, with over 20 years as a working professional and prospects of gaining meaningful employment once released from prison, he’ll be able to weather the inconvenience of his current notoriety. He’ll surely have opportunities in investment management or other areas in economics where he will continue to financially survive.

No one can guarantee with any certainty that Miller will halt his entrepreneurship of selling illicit drugs. Ten months down the road, perhaps the two will buddy up again!

There seems to be no common sense in the guidelines for restitution for these crimes, which makes the matter a crime in itself.

A Peaches and Cream Speech

Good grief, Charlie, where ya been lately?

Side-steppin’ your elected responsibilities of addressing the needs of Floridians with your travels on both sides of the Atlantic, from South America way down south in Argentina to points north and east in Israel and Britain?

Gallivanting and carousing the United States with an older man, anticipating an inheritance of influence and power?

Smile and the Florida Legislator with you and your positive thinking but the truth of the matters are not as you portray them to be. Was that a tongue-in-cheek speech you gave during the State of the State Address? You can’t laugh off the depressive effects of the construction industry and the rippling tide it spreads through a multitude of other businesses.

You've never owned a home, so how can you relate to the affects of property taxes and home insurance on

You can’t shrug off the crash-boom-bang economics as a result of unending foreclosures in this State that has built itself on burgeoning homeowner property tax revenue. With most Americans experiencing one type of financial hardship or another, you can’t even rely on the tourist industry to keep the sunny side up above the looming clouds of a gloomy forecast.

Perhaps you’ve been blinded by the light of the midday sun and just don’t realize how the state of the State is something other than a healthy rose-colored crystal ball; it’s more like a stained-glass outlook through a hazy window.

The forecast is for cloudy skies.

Rather than what was portrayed in your Peaches and Cream speech, the State of affairs is ripe with rotting fruit and soured skim milk.

Giving Charlie a Secretarial Position

Surveys indicate Florida Governor Charlie Crist may not be a significant drawing card as a vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket for the General Election on November 4th. Senator John McCain seems to be doing quite well without the Crist connection as the Florida electorate puts him as the preferred Presidential choice regardless which Democrat ends up on the ballot.

I don't know if this would be good or bad news for us Floridians. Charlie's popularity still lingers above 70% even though his shortcomings over the past 16 months are many. A Top Ten List of his failures would be much too easy to number. Florida homeowners in particular are economically worse off than they were before Charlie took office. True, not all of the bad news is of his making but he hasn't help matters. He hasn't done for Florida what he professed to have been his goals. At this point, he wouldn't be missed.

If Crist isn't chosen as second honcho to Senator McCain, I can imagine there may be a post within McCain's cabinet. It would still be a significant political accomplishment for the Governor.

His weeks of traveling the country with McCain for nearly two months can still pay off dearly. Since many veeps live in the political shadows of the Federal Government, perhaps a greater share of notoriety can be achieved in another position.

Consider that Charlie has had plenty of experience over the past year, outside Florida, spotlighting his charisma and diplomacy in Israel, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Jordan. A planned meeting with executives of Brazil's state-owned energy company Petrobras was cancelled because of its ties with Iran, citing the Islamic republic as a threat to the United States and its allies, Israel in particlular. Crist has also signed a global warming pact with Britain.

Yes, Governor Crist has become very well known in international circles of interest.
Instead of Vice President, consider the possibility of Secretary of State Charlie Crist. He could very well be instrumental in future Middle East peace talks. If McCain wins the Presidential election, Crist may find his political career of more importance that even he can imagine.