The State of.... South Florida??

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Originally Posted by starang21

seriously. i owned a house in sweetwater, near the FIU south campus for a couple of years before i sold. all the signs were in spanish, and i've been turned away from barber shops because i couldn't speak the language.

Okay-Sweetwater and Dolphin Mall , Hialeah, etc. area are bad. Yes, there are a lot of Spanish people who don't speak English, but that is slowly dying out. I used to go into stores and get ignored because I'm obviously black and therefore assumed not to speak Spanish, but that is happening less and less and LESS. BTW-How did you come to buy a house in that area? Didn't you notice that prior? LOL!

I just want people to understand that I was born here, and I live here, I have a nice life here, and just like you love wherever it is you come from despite all it's faults, I love South Florida. It is not at all what you make it out to be. Visiting, you can only see a certain side and it doesn't accurately display how we live collectively. I would never imply that somewhere should go join another country because of it's racial/ethnic makeup. I find it highly offensive. We are and have been and will continue to be a part of the U.S.

The problem was NOT initiated as a racial one but as a financial/political one. But every SINGLE time this topic has been discussed ANYWHERE online it immediately turns into a hispanic/socio-economic bash fest. I find that highly insulting for various reasons. There is nothing wrong with being different, every region is different for its reasons. I would never insult the states that have a heavy Norweigan culture or Italian culture, or Asian culture, or Mexican culture, or German culture (and all of these exist all over the U.S.) because that is apart of the state and who they are and who lives there. Nor would I suggest that they should split from the U.S. because "I don't like how they live/their local culture" (which is basically what a lot of you are saying in a nutshell). It just is what it is.

And maybe we wouldn't have so many "slums" that you swear we do if we could get back our damn tax money from the state! Things might actually improve.

[PANTHERTEKE]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

Okay-Sweetwater and Dolphin Mall , Hialeah, etc. area are bad. Yes, there are a lot of Spanish people who don't speak English, but that is slowly dying out. I used to go into stores and get ignored because I'm obviously black and therefore assumed not to speak Spanish, but that is happening less and less and LESS. BTW-How did you come to buy a house in that area? Didn't you notice that prior? LOL!

I just want people to understand that I was born here, and I live here, I have a nice life here, and just like you love wherever it is you come from despite all it's faults, I love South Florida. It is not at all what you make it out to be. Visiting, you can only see a certain side and it doesn't accurately display how we live collectively. I would never imply that somewhere should go join another country because of it's racial/ethnic makeup. I find it highly offensive. We are and have been and will continue to be a part of the U.S.

The problem was NOT initiated as a racial one but as a financial/political one. But every SINGLE time this topic has been discussed ANYWHERE online it immediately turns into a hispanic/socio-economic bash fest. I find that highly insulting for various reasons. There is nothing wrong with being different, every region is different for its reasons. I would never insult the states that have a heavy Norweigan culture or Italian culture, or Asian culture, or Mexican culture, or German culture (and all of these exist all over the U.S.) because that is apart of the state and who they are and who lives there. Nor would I suggest that they should split from the U.S. because "I don't like how they live/their local culture" (which is basically what a lot of you are saying in a nutshell). It just is what it is.

And maybe we wouldn't have so many "slums" that you swear we do if we could get back our damn tax money from the state! Things might actually improve.

Thank you

Finally a post worth reading in this thread that actually had truth to it.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I am more than welcome to hear what the other side has to say. Provided that it is regarding the actual issue and not just an excuse to be an undercover racist, bash another culture, or demean someone due their socio-economic status.

And if you live in S. Florida (like I do) it's been on the LOCAL news. So I didn't need to read that (one) article (which is not the end all be all of the issue because other articles actually do exist about it) to know what people have been doing in towns 10-30 miles from me. I have more insight on the matter than what the article merely states and as others have said before me, it is not a serious request, it is merely one to draw attention to the fact that our taxes are being used to fund things in other parts of the states and we are not receiving that money back DESPITE the fact that we have severe home foreclosure, high property taxes, higher poverty rates, etc. The state of Florida has been cutting the budgets on things like schools and services for the elderly, disabled, and other public services. They are upset because we give so much and it's being taken and now the cuts are making it even worse.

[AGDee]

I think Orlando needs to stay with Ocala. My dad is in Ocala and we like the "in state" discount he gets at Disney...

[smiley21]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I think Orlando needs to stay with Ocala. My dad is in Ocala and we like the "in state" discount he gets at Disney...

My dad is in Ocala too, so I would like to keep that town with me. I also don't want to leave the state to get to Orlando, so make the state line below them.

[MsFoxyLoxy77]

I'm a 3rd generation South Floridian (my great grandmother moved hear in 1923) and I think there needs to be some kind of legislation that makes English the official language. People who work in customer service should be able to speak at least functional English but other than that I love South Florida. We've go great beaches, great weather, fresh air, art, music, culture, intelligent mostly liberal inhabitants, and diversity (which contrary to some of your statments is a good thing). However, compare that with our poor public education system, high homeowners insurance, and more impoverished areas and it's clear that we're getting the short end of the stick.

I've lived in North Florida (Tallahassee) and their concerns are NOT our concerns. WE make the money from tourism, large airports, & sales taxes, etc. and Republicans from areas like Apopka, Immokalee, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and even some Miami representatives (misinformed Cuban Americans who vote against their own best interests) vote against OUR interests. You North Florida inhabitants think you're so Southern. News flash The heart of Dixie doesn't accept you and they never will. If you want to be a rebel move your azzes up to Alabama or South Carolina.

[starang21]

Originally Posted by MsFoxyLoxy77

I'm a 3rd generation South Floridian (my great grandmother moved hear in 1923) and I think there needs to be some kind of legislation that makes English the official language. People who work in customer service should be able to speak at least functional English but other than that I love South Florida. We've go great beaches, great weather, fresh air, art, music, culture, intelligent mostly liberal inhabitants, and diversity (which contrary to some of your statments is a good thing). However, compare that with our poor public education system, high homeowners insurance, and more impoverished areas and it's clear that we're getting the short end of the stick.

I've lived in North Florida (Tallahassee) and their concerns are NOT our concerns. WE make the money from tourism, large airports, & sales taxes, etc. and Republicans from areas like Apopka, Immokalee, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and even some Miami representatives (misinformed Cuban Americans who vote against their own best interests) vote against OUR interests. You North Florida inhabitants think you're so Southern. News flash The heart of Dixie doesn't accept you and they never will. If you want to be a rebel move your azzes up to Alabama or South Carolina.

intelligent? LOL. please. miami is one of the dumbest cities in the union.

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by MsFoxyLoxy77

I'm a 3rd generation South Floridian (my great grandmother moved hear in 1923) and I think there needs to be some kind of legislation that makes English the official language. People who work in customer service should be able to speak at least functional English but other than that I love South Florida. We've go great beaches, great weather, fresh air, art, music, culture, intelligent mostly liberal inhabitants, and diversity (which contrary to some of your statments is a good thing). However, compare that with our poor public education system, high homeowners insurance, and more impoverished areas and it's clear that we're getting the short end of the stick.

I've lived in North Florida (Tallahassee) and their concerns are NOT our concerns. WE make the money from tourism, large airports, & sales taxes, etc. and Republicans from areas like Apopka, Immokalee, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and even some Miami representatives (misinformed Cuban Americans who vote against their own best interests) vote against OUR interests. You North Florida inhabitants think you're so Southern. News flash The heart of Dixie doesn't accept you and they never will. If you want to be a rebel move your azzes up to Alabama or South Carolina.

While I agree about North Florida(Tallahassee & Jacksonville) taking a lot of the tax revenue, I believe that Central Florida (Orlando, Daytona, and Tampa Bay) equal just as much tourism money as South Florida makes.

On the other side though Jacksonville doesn't like the fact that Miami wants to set up a pipe line to bring water from the North Florida aquirfier to down south.

I am honestly suprised this last state session ended without an increase in the state sales tax or a proposal for a state income tax(though I don't think this will happen as long as the Republicans control Tallahassee)

I am also not a big fan of Gov. Crist and where he pulled all the decifict money from...

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by MsFoxyLoxy77

I've lived in North Florida (Tallahassee) and their concerns are NOT our concerns. WE make the money from tourism, large airports, & sales taxes, etc. and Republicans from areas like Apopka, Immokalee, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and even some Miami representatives (misinformed Cuban Americans who vote against their own best interests) vote against OUR interests. You North Florida inhabitants think you're so Southern. News flash The heart of Dixie doesn't accept you and they never will. If you want to be a rebel move your azzes up to Alabama or South Carolina.

Oh, North Florida does make a good chunk of our money from tourism--ever heard of the Emerald Coast? Also, we have the largest military installation in the free world, the economy in the area has done quite well in part because of the defense contracting, the intellectual muscle of the state is in the North, and the public school systems in North Florida could run circles around those in the South. I could go on and say that the subprime crisis in Florida has been triggered by greed in the South of the state, or that North Floridians know how to respect their natural resources. But, I'll stop there.

South Florida is a drain on the rest of the state.

But, I do agree that English needs to be the state's official language. But, luckily, the Northern section of the state hasn't really taken on Spanish that readily.

[PANTHERTEKE]

Originally Posted by SECdomination

Why is south Florida more liberal? Because of all the hispanics and yankee implants.

Although I agree that S.Fla has a higher population of democrats than anywhere else in Florida, its not completely liberal. Actually, it's pretty split up in Dade.

Not to mention that Cuban-Americans, that seem to be the topic of discussion whenever this is brought up, are far more Republican than their hispanic counterparts. (e.g. Marco Rubio the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Mel Martinez in the Senate, Carlos Gutierrez the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in House of Representatives, etc)

Last presidential election Dade county was 46.6% Republican and 52.9% Democrat. Not all that liberal.

Broward County is more liberal than Dade by a long shot. 64% Dem vs 34% Rep last election. And, it's important to add, that hispanics only make up 22% of Broward's population.

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by PANTHERTEKE

Although I agree that S.Fla has a higher population of democrats than anywhere else in Florida, its not completely liberal. Actually, it's pretty split up in Dade.

Not to mention that Cuban-Americans, that seem to be the topic of discussion whenever this is brought up, are far more Republican than their hispanic counterparts. (e.g. Marco Rubio the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Mel Martinez in the Senate, Carlos Gutierrez the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in House of Representatives, etc)

Last presidential election Dade county was 46.6% Republican and 52.9% Democrat. Not all that liberal.

Broward County is more liberal than Dade by a long shot. 64% Dem vs 34% Rep last election. And, it's important to add, that hispanics only make up 22% of Broward's population.

Jewish people are a lot more liberal than hispanics. For the record, Martinez lived in Orlando and went to FSU... he's ours when y'all secede.

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

Okay-Sweetwater and Dolphin Mall , Hialeah, etc. area are bad. Yes, there are a lot of Spanish people who don't speak English, but that is slowly dying out. I used to go into stores and get ignored because I'm obviously black and therefore assumed not to speak Spanish, but that is happening less and less and LESS. BTW-How did you come to buy a house in that area? Didn't you notice that prior? LOL!

I just want people to understand that I was born here, and I live here, I have a nice life here, and just like you love wherever it is you come from despite all it's faults, I love South Florida. It is not at all what you make it out to be. Visiting, you can only see a certain side and it doesn't accurately display how we live collectively. I would never imply that somewhere should go join another country because of it's racial/ethnic makeup. I find it highly offensive. We are and have been and will continue to be a part of the U.S.

The problem was NOT initiated as a racial one but as a financial/political one. But every SINGLE time this topic has been discussed ANYWHERE online it immediately turns into a hispanic/socio-economic bash fest. I find that highly insulting for various reasons. There is nothing wrong with being different, every region is different for its reasons. I would never insult the states that have a heavy Norweigan culture or Italian culture, or Asian culture, or Mexican culture, or German culture (and all of these exist all over the U.S.) because that is apart of the state and who they are and who lives there. Nor would I suggest that they should split from the U.S. because "I don't like how they live/their local culture" (which is basically what a lot of you are saying in a nutshell). It just is what it is.

And maybe we wouldn't have so many "slums" that you swear we do if we could get back our damn tax money from the state! Things might actually improve.

Originally Posted by MsFoxyLoxy77

I'm a 3rd generation South Floridian (my great grandmother moved hear in 1923) and I think there needs to be some kind of legislation that makes English the official language. People who work in customer service should be able to speak at least functional English but other than that I love South Florida. We've go great beaches, great weather, fresh air, art, music, culture, intelligent mostly liberal inhabitants, and diversity (which contrary to some of your statments is a good thing). However, compare that with our poor public education system, high homeowners insurance, and more impoverished areas and it's clear that we're getting the short end of the stick.

I've lived in North Florida (Tallahassee) and their concerns are NOT our concerns. WE make the money from tourism, large airports, & sales taxes, etc. and Republicans from areas like Apopka, Immokalee, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and even some Miami representatives (misinformed Cuban Americans who vote against their own best interests) vote against OUR interests. You North Florida inhabitants think you're so Southern. News flash The heart of Dixie doesn't accept you and they never will. If you want to be a rebel move your azzes up to Alabama or South Carolina.