The Way I See ItBy cj pollickPinellas County Attorney Fired - Fallout from the Jim Smith land deal with Pinellas County has just begun. As expected, Pinellas County head attorney Susan Churuti was dismissed from her county job at a recent County Commission meeting (unanimous vote.) Next to fall? County Appraiser Jim Smith says he will run for re-election in 2008. However, according to the head of Pinellas County GOP, Smith would have a tough time winning such a race. How did County Administrator Steve Spratt retain his job? Perhaps the county commissioners were afraid of fully cleaning-out staff members who were involved in the suspect land deal. Shallow Water In Clearwater Bay - Boaters who have traveled across St. Joseph's Sound, commonly referred to as Clearwater Bay, have noticed the shoaling of sand bars. You can't miss them at low tide! What was once a narrow spit of sand past the seawall of Shells Restaurant has become a small peninsula of sand that now remains dry even at high tide. Sand bars randomly dot the southern waters of Clearwater Bay especially near Sand Key (bayside.) A large sand bar can be observed just off the Sand Key Sailing Center that appears like a small island at low tide. Perhaps all of this is good news, bayside water quality is as clean as it has been for several years and ocean waters are clean off Caladesi Island. All in all, our local coastal waters seem as though they are getting cleaner each year. (The same was reported in the Florida Keys this year.) Reports of expanding grassbeds at Tampa Bay is good news as well as a growing scallop population where, in past times, the scallop population was plentiful. People actually ate scallops from Tampa Bay in times past - - and, yes, there were scallops located in Clearwater Bay grass beds. With increased water pollution controls and many people acting responsibly with garbage, our Florida waters will continue to improve in quality. And, if we can regulate long-lining of offshore fishing and long-line netting of inland mullet, our local fisheries will continue to improve. Who Should Issue A Drivers License - Wall Street Journal had an interesting article about who should be issuing drivers licenses. According to the Wall Street Journal writer, over 39,000 people were killed in traffic accidents last year; furthermore, over $140 billion was paid by insurers due to traffic accidents last year. An amazing statistic. The writer stated that maybe it is time to allow insurance companies to issue driver's licenses instead of state agencies. Not only would the insurers look for driving competency, such as in a current drivers exam, but the insurers would also look at the driving history of the proposed licensee. Why allow accident prone people to drive cars until their driving problems are fully resolved? Insurers would most likely avoid issuing a drivers license to someone who they would not insure. Of course, high-risk drivers would have a state-run "high risk pool" to license them if traditional insurers refuse to accept such poor driver risks. DWI driving history? Insurers would require a devise on the car that would not allow the car to start if it senses alcohol near the driving wheel area. Not a bad idea, when you think about DWI accident/death rates. If the Wall Street Journal article is correct, about 15 percent of all motorists drive without any form of insurance. In many states, the minimum car insurance limit is only $15,000 of coverage! Should the insurance accident history of a driver become part of the driver's license ritual? Why Expect More From Corporations Than Universities - There is an issue brewing at Dartmouth College that could be raised at many wealthy universities: should alumni merely be a source of funding without a voice? At Dartmouth, that issue was arguably settled in 1891 in favor of "democratic governance." The resolution allowed alumni the right "to elect half the ex-officio trustees who oversee the school's administration and president." Change the time-honored system, state Dartmouth's chief executives. If a small group of people that run Dartmouth College have their way, the old system of alumni input would be terminated in favor of a private committee. Imagine the corruption of this "private" Dartmouth committee? Large donor, private club controlled. Alumni at Dartmouth College are not happy with this new suggestion to eliminate alumni input (while asking for continued alumni funds.) Of course, this alumni issue bleeds into other fine American colleges and universities. It makes you wonder why colleges should be exempt from the same administrative scrutiny as major corporations. Change rules of alumni input that have worked at Dartmouth College since 1891? Makes you wonder.... U.S. Congressman Bill Young Still The Best - At a time when many people are frustrated with politics, the name Bill Young still reminds us of a politician who has been honest, forthright, open with his constituency, moral and a stabilizing force in Washington politics. Congressman Bill Young, a man of the people. The way I see it, Bill Young is light years ahead of any local politician who thinks he/she should replace one of the most honest politicians we have had in Pinellas County government. In fact, it is absurd to read comments from a couple of local politicians who infer that they would be a better choice to represent the people of mid-to-south Pinellas County in Washington. You do not read about sex scandals regarding Bill Young - - you do not read about using your office for financial gain when you read the name Bill Young - - you only hear good things when you hear the name Bill Young in Washington. Makes you wonder why anyone would want him out of office. In Iowa It Is John Edwards And Mitt Romney - Iowa is prepared to vote for John Edwards as the favorite Democrat presidential candidate and Mitt Romney for the Republicans. Two candidates who offer the best physical image of what a president should look like in appearance. When it comes to good looks, you can't go wrong with either Edwards or Romney. However, and beyond the way they comb their hair, both of these presidential candidates have somehow appealed to the people of Iowa as politicians who deserve a chance to become president. Yes, no Rudy, no Hillary, no Obama, no Thompson, has been able to replace these two men as presidential frontrunners in Iowa. In fact, it is likely the same two men might also carry New Hampshire; if this occurs, then Edwards and Romney would clearly become top contenders for their political party nomination in 2008. Edwards versus Romney in 2008? Imagine the televised debates? $500 hair cuts and expensive New York suits - - one man trying to look better than the other. What if they lose their party nominations? Romney goes back to making hundreds of millions of dollars as an investment guru, and Edwards goes back to suing doctors (and others) while setting-up LLC's to avoid some taxes of his large lawyer's income. Both men are wealthy and comfortable (regardless of politics.) Michigan's Loss Worse Than FSU's - FSU lost to Clemson in a football game Monday evening. Score was close, the game was not. Clemson dominated most every aspect of the football game resulting in, and what is likely to become, another dismal FSU football season. What the heck is happening with the once-feared Seminoles? Then there is Michigan, the Big Blue. Michigan lost to I-AA Appalachian State. An opening football game where the Big Blue was to dominate and show the country why it was ranked number 5 in the nation. Perhaps no-one told the players at App State that they were to be bullied by Michigan. In fact, App State could have scored more points if they had not made some silly mistakes. The loss by FSU was bad, but the loss by Michigan was worse. That is what makes people watch college football, you never know what might happen with talented and spirited young athletes in a one-time sporting event. Did I mention that the Florida Gators easily won! (Another good year for the Gators is expected.) The upstart USF BULLS play at Auburn this week. Although the ranked Auburn team is favored by a large margin, the win by App State over a favored Michigan team should offer some encouragement to the young USF players. You just never know.... Go Bulls.
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