(Note: This could be almost anywhere in America where there's junk 'housing' going up for SSWs -- service sector workers. The middle class has become an endangered species.)

August 18, 2003

By Bill Love

Excerpted with permission from the Brevard Insider

Malabar, Florida

To submit a Letter to the Editor: ESCMC@aol.com

Brevard County finally seems to be gaining on the more developed and larger metropolitan cities around Florida.

As a big-county wannabe, we now have an exceptionally large school district that carries with it a gut-busting budget. It has become so large, in fact, that classroom space and the class size amendment issue are forcing administrators to float a three-years-and-out plan for high schoolers.

Remember that old boogie man from under the bed called School to Work? Socialist Europe loves it.

And talk about the wheeler-dealers in public office. We have our own unique brand of politicians, like some county commissioners, who buy land at vastly inflated prices under somewhat less than ideal circumstances. But ideal for whom? It's who you know, Bubba.

We have high-rises being developed along what once was a sleepy downtown waterfront, and other condos and hotels being built that blot out more and more of the beachside view and access to the ocean. Come on. Sand. Water. View. Big bucks. Get it?

We have not just dozens of homes, but entire subdivisions, popping up like mushrooms all over the county. We have a news publication that continues to shrink its column inches of news and commentary, only to replace that space with more and more paid advertisements in a desperate bid to compete with the piles of junk mail we receive daily. Come to think of it, less of that commentary ain't all bad.

All of these factors combined used to make up that old-fashioned quality of life formula that gave us some indication of how we were doing from year to year. Now we just lump it all together under the heading of "progress" and hope no one notices.

It's unfortunate and sad to see how the vast majority of Joe Public doesn't have a clue when it comes to recognizing and understanding so many of these issues. The bottom line? If it's good for the bank account, go for it.

And, when enough of the voting public sucks up to that old dictum about putting into office those who promise to give us the most, then look out below, because that flimsy house of cards will soon come tumblin' down.

Brevard Insider is published 5 times a week except holidays at 1106 Ramblebrook St., Malabar, Fl. 32950. 321-956-0815. Fax: 321-956-8762. Email ESCMC@aol.com  Copyright 2003. Publisher Pond Press, Inc. Editor: Edward S. Clark. Assistant editor: Dan Warrensford. Contributing editors Doug Doudney, J. D. Tucker, Michael Moehle, Bob Brewster, David Russell, Chuck Morley, Bill Love. Contrarian: Robert D. Clark. Researcher, Electronic distribution: Tim Wooley. Subscription price $6.50per month.