By Martha Musgrove — Florida’s Hometown Democracy Amendment has triggered angst among local-government officials and generated discussion about the merits of representative government, property rights and now – in the midst of a recession – Florida’s narrow economic base.

By Carol Saviak — Hometown Democracy is designed to strip Florida citizens of their private property rights. Deceptively promoted as a method of stopping unwanted growth, Amendment 4 on the November election ballot proposes a new layer of regulation across all land in Florida. This would have an extraordinarily negative impact not only on private property rights but Florida’s economy

Lesley Blackner — Reckless changes to growth plans can ruin a community for decades to come. Praying for our commissioners to “do the right thing” has not worked.  Let’s put Amendment 4 in the Florida Constitution for ourselves and future generations.

By Jack E. Davis — University of Florida historian Jack E. Davis sees in the writings of the late John D. MacDonald a link to Florida’s current Hometown Democracy movement.

By Richard Reep — Amendment 4 capitalizes on short-term voter outrage over everything, but in the long term, if the language is approved by voters, Florida would likely languish in the twilight of missed opportunities as businesses relocate elsewhere to avoid risky, lengthy public campaigns to build their presence in this state.

With the Legislature at the halfway point, its time to catch-up on several issues that we’ve examined at FloridaThinks. Some things that once looked hot – like oil drilling – may be fading. While other measures expected to draw more controversy – like leadership funds – are done and sitting on Gov. Charlie Crist’s desk awaiting approval. Here’s a handicapper’s guide to the session’s home stretch.

By Martha Musgrove
Associate Editor
Farmton is 92 square miles of pines and wetlands straddling Brevard and Volusia counties.  For the past 80 years, the land has been a tree farm supplying logs to saw mills and paper mills. As such, it drew little attention from its neighbors.
But looking ahead, Farmton’s owners could see only declining revenues [...]

By Joe McClash
When an amendment to our state constitution could protect our quality of life, it deserves the support of all Floridians. Amendment 4, also popularly known as Hometown Democracy, is such an amendment. It would allow Floridians a say in how their communities develop and, for that reason, should be approved by the [...]

By John Koenig
Editor & Publisher
Hometown Democracy is Florida’s hot-button ballot issue of 2010. That has been evident in the traffic to this website. Our analytical article and opposing pro and con commentaries on Hometown Democracy  draw far more readers than anything else we’ve posted. And the level of passion among those readers [...]

By Bruce Stephenson
In 1953, General Motors Chairman Charles Wilson reportedly quipped, “What is good for General Motors is good for the nation” during his Senate confirmations hearings to lead the Pentagon. The quote was a logical assumption at the time, because GM was a linchpin of a robust economy, and the Interstate Highway Act [...]

By David R. Colburn

Florida became a metaphor for the boom-and-bust years, and no state experienced the highs and lows more acutely than Florida. Investors, developers and real-estate hucksters were confident that their speculation in Florida land and housing would bring them a quick fortune.
Signs of decline appeared when the national press warned about widespread land [...]