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CRISIS: Time for the Democrats to knock out FL GOP homeowner’s insurance disaster

CRISIS: Time for the Democrats to knock out FL GOP homeowner’s insurance disaster

CRISIS: Time for the Democrats to knock out FL GOP homeowner's insurance disaster

The Democratic Party in Florida is like the boxer who refuses to throw leather because they are afraid to get hit back. There you go. I said it.

I do not care who is playing the role of Angelo Dundee, be it Manny Diaz or current Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried. It matters not.

If the person in the ring ain’t punching, you ain’t winning.

Let’s put aside abortion. Let’s put aside permitless carry. Let’s put aside Nazi thugs having free rein due to lack of condemnation from our globetrotting governor.

Let us put aside the movie extravaganza, Noah’s Ark: the Untold Story, being filmed on location in Fort Lauderdale.

What is the one area that if a Dem could solve it, the “R”s would fall in love with them?

It is the same area that if a Republican could solve the problem, the “D”s would cross party lines in a heartbeat.

Think about it.

The homeowners’ insurance fiasco, over which the Democratic Party of Florida has also exhibited incredible incompetence.

In looking back to Florida party control, please understand that the Republicans have held the Governor’s mansion since 1999 (well, in 2010 Charlie Crist turned Independent from a Republican, but  . . . )

The Republicans also controlled the Florida Senate since 1995. But wait, there’s more!

The Republicans controlled the Florida State House since 1997.

How the hell is this not the main selling point for Florida Democrats?

These facts should be on billboards, in newspapers, in periodicals, on radio ads.

Do Floridians even know this? From 1992 through now, twenty-four of those years belonged to a Republican trifecta–they own the entire kit and kaboodle.

How the hell do the Republicans get a pass for this? I am damn sure that had all these statistics favored the Democrats, there would be hell to pay.

And perhaps that is the difference between the Republicans and Democrats.

The Republicans see blood and act like sharks.

The Democrats see blood and throw in the towel to save their punchless fighter.

Getting back to the homeowners’ insurance crisis: There was an attempt about 15 years ago or so to address this very issue, while still under the Florida Republican trifecta.

Following the ass whooping this state got from storms in 2004-2005, including brutal Wilma, some very smart public servants with astute forethought came up with a stroke of brilliance–a merger between Citizens and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund into a one stop shop.

Only hurricane-specific insurance. That’s it. Hurricane insurance. Nothing more. Sounds brilliant.

Projections were made that unless the state got nailed ( and it had not from the time of this revelation until Irma), the monies saved could be staggering.

Just keep rolling the savings over rather than going to corporate profits.

LET’S DO IT!

Uh, wait a minute. Who has the State Trifecta? Yup. You know where this is going.

These sons of bitches are bought and sold by the insurance companies (well, the NRA, too, but I digress).

The Republicans with their “free-market” thoughts didn’t go for it. Hell, Governor Crist, who was still a Republican (yup he hadn’t transitioned quite yet–can I even say that?) did not support it either.

Quite frankly, all this crap got political, which is what happens when you have nothing but politicians concerning themselves with everything but their constituents.

Look, a plan was proposed. Perhaps there were a few faults. But overall, it made great sense.

And still it died from lack of acceptance. It died at the altar. Do the voters even know of this?

Why hasn’t the Democratic leadership attacked the living f—k out of this? Now I block the word out, because all the good bible thumping Republicans may be offended.

I am being facetious, but it is important to note that from the extreme left and the extreme right and moving close to the center, we all believe and want the same thing–a beautiful family and a house in which to shelter it; that and affordable insurance.

Yes we can all get along. But quite frankly, I am here to attack the lack of Democratic leadership.

A perfect solution existed. It died. Is a resurrection in the cards?

Because when an idea dies, that does not mean it could not and cannot be risen from the dead.

So why can’t Florida have its own Insurance Easter? This crosses party lines. Fix the fucking thing!

OK this time, I did not block out the word. I am pissed off. And if you own a home in Florida, you agree.

This morning, I poured my coffee in my special “Proud to Be a Democrat” mug.

I am beginning to think, if a ran the damn party, I may be able to live up to my mug.

But for now I am not buying it.

FIGHT BACK! Throw punches, and YOU fix it.

David Magnusson is a retired police chief with 36 ½ years of law enforcement experience having spent 30 of these years with the Miami Police Department retiring as an assistant chief. He was chief of the Havelock Police Department in the Marine Corps City of Havelock, North Carolina, home to Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station. He returned to South Florida as chief of the El Portal Police Department.

A historian, Magnusson has written on military and presidential history topics. He is a diehard baseball (St. Louis Cardinals) and boxing fan. Magnusson resides in South Florida with his wife. Their children and grandchildren are never too far away.

David Magnusson
is an opinion writer, historian and former Police Chief of El Portal, Florida and Havelock, North Carolina who served in the Miami Police Department for 30 years.

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