Highlands County: Home of the American Party of Florida
Highlands County, Florida in the last few years has become a center of ever increasing political activity. In 2006 then Mayor of the city of Avon Park, Tom Macklin rose to national prominence after he led an effort there to have the city council enact what was called "The Illegal Immigration Relief Act." The measure would have penalized landlords who rented residential units to illegal aliens. It would have also punished businesses who knowingly employed illegal aliens, and it would have made English the official language for municipal business in the city of Avon Park. The proposal was narrowly defeated after substantial pressure was placed on city council members by influences from outside of Highlands County.
Tom Macklin's many appearances on national radio and television talk shows earned him a spot as a Lt. Governor candidate on the Reform Party gubernatorial ticket with Max Linn running for Governor. As he travelled about the state of Florida in that campaign, Macklin heard voter after voter express disappointment and dissatisfaction with the two main big box parties. After the campaign was over he moved ahead and decided to form the American Party of Florida. The party is a state party and is independent of the national American Party. Local community leaders were drawn to this effort, and attracted by the simplicity of the Party's platform. It calls simply for accountability of elected servants, a reestablishment of a tradition of citizen legislators, the enforcement of immigration law, and English as the official language of America's towns, cities, counties, states and the federal government. The accountability of local elected servants was at least partly inherited from one of the greatest County Commissioners in the history of Highlands County, the late Archie Summers, who was fond of asking in Commission meetings, "How much does it cost, and who is going to pay for it?"
Members of the American Party believe in a limited federal government as a government of enumerated powers, limited and circumscribed by the Constitution of the United States of America. They envision and advocate a return of common sense.
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 87,366 people, 37,471 households, and 25,780 families residing in the county. The population density was 85.00 people per square mile (32.82/km²). There were 48,846 housing units at an average density of 47.5/sq mi (18.34/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.47% White, 9.33% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.14% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. 12.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In 2005 Highlands County's population was 73.8% non-Hispanic white, 15.1% Latino, 9.6% African-American and 1.2% Asian.[5]
In 2000 there were 37,471 households out of which 20.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.70.
In the county the population was spread out with 19.20% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 19.30% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 33.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,160, and the median income for a family was $35,647. Males had a median income of $26,811 versus $20,725 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,222. About 10.20% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.60% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.
Registered Voters in Highlands County, Florida
The registered voters in Highlands County, Florida as of May 20, 2009 are as follows:
Total Dem Rep NPA Other
66,842 26,785 28,760 8,712 2,585
Of these, the following are those considered 'inactive' voters:
Total Dem Rep NPA Other
3,595 1,482 1.389 601 123
As a percentage of registered voters the inactive voters are:
Total Dem Rep NPA Other
5.4% 5.5% 4.8% 6.9% 4.8%
The conclusion which one may draw from this is that in Highlands County, Republicans and those with other party affiliations are marginally more inclined to vote in an election than Democrats and those with no party affiliation.
This is Episode 1 of the yet-unnamed Pencast/Podcast for The Shutt Chute. Tonight's show is approximately one hour, 15 minutes and will take a minute or two to load. You can follow along on the two-page pencast refer to the following notes for clickable links to referenced Web sites.
1) Intro bumper music: My Country My Ass (radio edit) by scummyjob; Click for video; Click for Web site.
One of the most frustrating things to witness is a government bureaucrat whine about not having enough money. First, it's not their money or the "county's," it's our money, taxpayer money. Second, have they the unfair advantage of being able to take more money from taxpayers with or without their consent.
In this exchange, which beings at 1-hour, 28 minutes, Highlands County Commissioner takes Maria Sutherland, assistant manager, Avon Park, to task for budgeting nearly $300,000 more for this year's parks and recreation budget when last year they spend about $167k, about $89,000 less than was budgeted by the county for reimbursement.
During this time of belt-tightening for almost every single one of us and most governments, certainly all of Highlands County's governmental offices, now is not the time to increase projected expenditures, especially for something as non-critical as recreation.
As it were, county staff proposed allotting $224k to Avon Park, $57,000 more than the city spent last year but $32,700 less than last year's budget. This was the wrong approach.
In my opinion, as a worse case scenario, the county should have budgeted an amount equal to last year's expenditures: $167,000. Best case scenario was to eliminate government parks and recreation all together and let the free market take over.
My compromise between those two would have been to allot each city/town no more than 75 percent of the previous year's actual expenditures.
The commissioners did none of that and this libertarian expected nothing different from the board.
Listen in below to the exchange between Sutherland and Elwell. Remember, after clicking on the image link to allow the file to upload for almost a minute, then click on Maria Sutherland's name, on the "M" and enjoy.
According to Central Florida Sports, Avon Park's Assistant City Manager used her work e-mail and, presumably, on city time to send the following "call to action" e-mail to people she believes would be negatively affected if Highlands County reduces or eliminates funding to Avon Park (and other municipalities) for parks and recreation:
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In an e-mail from the office of Maria Sutherland, Assistant City Manager to the City of Avon Park, she wrote the following:
The meeting that the County Commission has set to discuss the cuts to Avon Park recreation is scheduled for TUESDAY, FEB 22 at 6:00 pm at the County Commission Building in Sebring. We can lose funding to keep our ballfields open.
Please try to get the word out… bring kids in uniforms, parents and your grandmothers if need be. Our goal is to postpone the decision from the County Commission so that there is public input before the elected officials make a decision.
Hope to see you there— it will be crowded, so get there early!
Thank You!
Maria Sutherland City of Avon Park Assistant City Manager 110 E. Main St Avon Park, FL 33825
863-452-4411 863-452-4413 sutherland@avonpark.cc
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If you're here at C4L, chances are, you're already opposed to frivilous government funding of non-essential services such as parks, recreation and sports.
This post is about abuse of power, influence and taxpayer funded resources.
As the assistant city manager, Sutherland enjoys unusual access to city resources, to which Avon Park residents and business taxpayers do not but for which they pay.
As a high-ranking employee of city government, Sutherland enjoys a unique level of influence among citizens who know that she is "in the mix" with respect to what is going on with budgets, resources and other governmental functions.
As the right-hand-man to the Avon Park city manager and a direct or indirect supervisor to various department heads, Sutherland has the power to reward or punish in how she affects the budget process.
Misuse and Abuse of Power
Taking those aspects of her position in the community together, it is not a stretch to imply, which I am doing, that somebody in Sutherland's capacity, attending Tuesday's Highlands County Board of Commissioners meeting, could take mental notes of who bothered to show up at the 6 p.m. meeting to make emotional pleas to maintain funding for parks and recreation.
Just as grevious as is this abuse of power, influence and resources, is her ploy to engage the commissioners in an emotional battle, arming herself with grandmothers and tikes in sports uniforms.
Of course, that would mean nothing if the four commissioners: Chair Barbara Stewart, Vice Chair Greg Harris, Jack Richie and Don Elwell were strictly logical libertarians who have the ability to set aside emotion to effect policy that treats all citizens, taxpayers and residents equally and they uphold individual rights coupled with personal responsibility.
Document Your Objections
Sadly, they don't operate that way.
So, this is a call to arms for Campaign for Liberty and all supporters of drastically reduced government power, spheres of influence and taxpayer-funded resources.
If you have the time, the cause for liberty needs you to call Avon Park city hall and voice your objection to Sutherland's obvious misuse of government equipment or, better yet, write a letter or e-mail that will become a part of the city's public records "paper" trail.
Additionally, come to the 6 p.m. Tuesday meeting (Feb. 22) to voice your support for any and all reductions of county spending on parks and recreation, not only to the municipalities but also for county facilities. While there, be sure to note your disatification with Sutherland's tactics (especially if you reside in Avon Park proper) and tell the commissioners that you do not condone such behavior by county staff.
They are popping up across the country at intersections near you. Traffic cameras are marketed as a safety solution and a cost-saving measure for cash-strapped municipalities…unfortunately the truth is far more sinister.
ATMs Don’t Solve Problems, They Create Them
Did you know that traffic cameras actually increase accidents at intersections? That they routinely issue tickets for false positives to those making legal right-on-red turns?
How about the companies that push the cameras, did you know they are for-profitcompanies? That they have revenue-sharing agreements with the cities that host the cameras? It’s a built in incentive – for both the company and the municipality – to maximize the number of tickets issued.
If those problems weren’t bad enough, think about how they shift the burden from presumed innocence, to presumed guilt even when it’s widely known that drivers are routinely misidentified or ticketed due to an equipment malfunction. There are a host of liberty issues: invasion of privacy, denial of due process, and financial conflicts of interest to name a few.
Traffic cameras are about revenue. Make no mistake about it, local politicians may tell you ATMs are about safety, but Automated Ticketing Machines represent considerable cash flow to municipalities who, instead of cutting budgets, are casting about for more ways to get their hands in your pockets.
What Are We Doing About ATMs?
The legislative season is in full swing. One of the top issues we are working on this year is getting rid of invasive Automated Ticketing Machines. On this issue we have opened up two fronts.
Local Initiatives
Washington State Campaign for Liberty has partnered with liberty-minded groups around the state to turn back the tide in four cities: Bellingham, Longview, Monroe and Wenatchee.
Washington State Campaign for Liberty, BanCams, and VotersWantMoreChoices are involved in all four cities in conjunction with:
Transportation Safety Coalition – Bellingham
Seeds of Liberty – Monroe
We the People – Wenatchee
Mike Wallin and Joshua Sutinen – Longview.
In each of these cities the legislative body – the city council – has decided they will put the safety of their citizens at risk for a revenue stream by installing Automated Ticketing Machines.
If you live in – or near – any of these cities, here is your chance to help make a statement.Print a petition and get registered voters in the city to sign the petition and return them to the address on the petition.
A Legislative Solution
We appreciate the unique opportunities the initiative process provides Washington State citizens. However, we generally favor more comprehensive legislative reform efforts. As the political police, it’s our job to hold our elected officials accountable.
There are several bills introduced in the state legislature this year modifying provisions of the law that allow traffic cameras – requiring mandatory study periods, lengthening the “yellow change interval” at intersections, etc.
These are prime examples of trying to make a bad law into a law that is less bad. In some cases, the proposed legislation makes sections of the law actually worse than it already is!
It’s easy to fall into the trap of supporting this kind of legislation in the spirit of moving closer to our eventual goal. However, if there is a bad law on the books, the right thing to do is to repeal the law.
To that end, Washington State Campaign for Liberty has drafted language for a bill that completely removes the authority for the use of Automated Ticketing Machines. Look for our letter coming soon with confirmation of its introduction!
It is time that we consider the root of an alliance between Islam-ism and modern statism. Beck has performed a valuable service by placing this issue on the table for consideration. The irrational hyperbole, rantings, and smears of Kristol and Lowry will not make this issue go away.
And so here it is with the bark on: what is the basis for the nexus, friendship, or apparent alliance between Islam-ism and the modern statists? What is their common ground?
Both of these ideologies embrace the idea that man redeems himself in the historical process. Both of these ideologies repudiate natural law and reject the idea of the equality of degree of man. Both of these ideologies have the view that governance arises from conflict rather than consent. Both of these ideologies embrace the idea of the perfectibility of man. Both of these ideologies are unalterably opposed to liberty.
Finally, both of these ideologies believe they can use the other to their own advantage. Should the statists prevail in this great struggle they will marginalize and finally kill the Islamists, and should the Islamists prevail the statists will be first to lose their heads.
Where are the old fashioned liberals? Where are the advocates of human rights....the exponents of feminism and abortion rights, the gay lobby, the separation of church and state lobby, the distilled spirits lobby, the free speech lobby, the free press lobby, the investment banking lobby, the public schools and education lobby....etc. Their silence is deafening. It is because they see Islam-ism as a viable if temporary tool. The perception of the Islamist is identical. They see the old fashioned liberal as an useful idiot to accomplish their ends. Both groups have a teleological perspective of human history. What is important to both is the end which they hope to achieve. Any measure necessary to accomplish their ends is acceptable.
It is truly unfortunate that there are so many of our contemporaries like Kristol and Lowry so filled with venom, hatred and contempt that they are incapable of engaging on issues and instead resort to ad hominem approaches.
Here is the shallow presentation of Newsmax of the debate:
Kristol, Beck Thrust and Parry in Philosophical Duel
Monday, 07 Feb 2011 05:39 PM
William Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, has criticized Fox News' Glenn Beck for his comments on the Mideast. And Beck fought back on his radio show Monday, accusing Kristol of abandoning conservative principles and failing to understand what Beck sees as a powerful alliance between Islamism and socialism, Politico reports.
William Kristol
Here's what Kristol wrote: "When Glenn Beck rants about the caliphate taking over the Middle East from Morocco to the Philippines, and lists [invents?] the connections between caliphate-promoters and the American left, he brings to mind no one so much as Robert Welch and the John Birch Society."
Kristol suggested that such argumentation would end up marginalizing Beck, as some figures on the right have done in the past.
National Review editor Rich Lowry agreed with Kristol's observations, Politico noted, in a rare smack down to Beck from the right.
Glenn Beck
Beck, who raised questions among some when he appeared on his TV show Friday carrying a staff and wearing a brown robe much like Charlton Heston playing Moses, returned his own volley to Kristol, responding on his radio show: "I don't even know if you understand what conservatives are anymore, Billy. People like Bill Kristol, I don't think they stand for anything anymore. All they stand for is power. They'll do anything to keep their little fiefdom together, and they'll do anything to keep the Republican power entrenched."
Please contact your representatives and let them know what you think about them voting for the Bill of Rights-shredding PATRIOT Act.
Let them know that you do not appreciate Republican House leadership ignoring debate, amendment or committees as they return to business-as-usual Washington politics.
Let them know that there is absolutely no difference in the methods they are using to extend the Patriot Act than the methods Pelosi and Reid did to pass Obamacare.
Remind your representative that Obama has abused his power and exploited the Patriot act in order to partially nationalize industry and banking. This has cost our country tens of thousands of jobs and is impeding our economic recovery.
Tell your representative that a yes vote shows America that they have placed their trust in Obama and hisJustice Department not to further abuse that power.
And finally remind them of what happened to Charlie Crist when he put his trust in Obama and supported Obama's extremist agenda.
This fight is only beginning. The three provisions expire on February 28, so this is not the last you and I will hear of extending them.
You and I have kept the pressure on Congress, but nowwe have to turn it up.
Thanks for all your hard work to ensure victory. I look forward to many more triumphs to come as C4L continues its mission to reclaim the Republic and restore the Constitution.
This is a call to action. Please read and take the appropriate action. Thank you.
"PATRIOT" ACT VOTE TOMORROW! Call your Representative Today!
February 7, 2011
Dear Fellow Patriot,
Congress is once again trying to sneak through an attack on our rights by reauthorizing the so-called "PATRIOT" Act with as little debate and scrutiny as possible.
You see, a vote is expected on Tuesday to place "PATRIOT" Act reauthorization on the Suspension Calendar, and it will pass easily unless you and I take immediate action.
No amendments will be allowed, and debate will be limited to 40 minutes.
It's vital you contact your representative immediately and demand they oppose any effort to reauthorize the so-called "PATRIOT" Act through legislative trickery without debates or amendments.
Please send your senators and representative a free action fax IMMEDIATELY by clicking here. You may also call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
It is time for Congress to let these Bill of Rights-shredding provisions of the "PATRIOT Act" expire.
The implementation of the national security state has created an expansive, inefficient, and secretive bureaucratic nightmare increasingly being targeted to spy on Americans, even based on anonymous information and political affiliation, all supposedly in the name of "keeping us safe."
Last year, The Washington Post series on "Top Secret America" exposed just how massive and unaccountable America's surveillance state has become.
Today, there is a "web of 3,984 federal, state and local organizations, each with its own counterterrorism responsibilities and jurisdictions.
At least 934 of these organizations have been created since the 2001 attacks or became involved in counterterrorism for the first time after 9/11."
In a 2009 fusion center report from Missouri, Ron Paul supporters were targeted and state police were told to be on the lookout for people displaying Campaign for Liberty bumper stickers or other paraphernalia.
The report became public as C4L prepared for its first Regional Conference in St. Louis and was only later retracted after Campaign for Liberty members took quick and decisive action to fight the government's smears.
In 2010, Florida Campaign for Liberty members became a subject in a Domestic Security Intelligence Report by CFIX, a Floridafusion center. Intelligence operatives seemed to be concerned about the large numbers of Ron Paul supporters participating in the Florida Liberty Summit.
Since the passage of the "PATRIOT" Act, innocent American citizens have become the victims of domestic surveillance.
Our letters have been opened and our phone calls tapped, while the FBI and other law enforcement conduct warrantless "sneak and peak" searches without any judicial oversight.
Together, we must stand up to such infringements on our civil liberties and demand the "PATRIOT" Act be allowed to expire.
As Benjamin Franklin famously penned decades before the American Revolution, "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Restoring the Constitution and respecting the traditions of liberty our Founders passed on to us - not trampling on Americans' rights - will keep our nation strongly defended and safe.
PPS.Every Sunday evening at 7:00 we will be bringing you a live Tallahassee Update with our Legislative Affairs Director and other special guests. You will learn about pending legislation and what we as activists must do to protect our rights from government encroachment. Please register for the webinar series, The Tallahassee Update.
Because of Florida Campaign for Liberty's tax-exempt status under IRC Sec. 501 (C) (4) and its state and federal legislative activities, contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions (IRC § 170) or as a business deduction (IRC § 162(e)(1)).
Florida Campaign for Liberty is a 501(c)4 lobbying organization which neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office and claims no responsibility for the actions of individuals or groups of individuals who use the Florida Campaign for Liberty logo or name or who may claim to act asrepresentatives of the Florida Campaign for Liberty without prior written consent of the
Attached below is my weekly Pencast, covering the local Sunday papers. There was enough in the Highlands Today to fill my half-hour show. If you click on the "X" next to "editorial" you'll be able to jump to my reading of and response to Highlands Today's terribly misguided position on Highlands County's housing program.
Last week, during the Barry Foster Show (local conservative talk radio show at WWTK AM 730), Barry discussed one of the issues that is facing Highlands County Commissioners and, obviously, us taxpayers: Defining core services. One such service is Parks & Recreation, which in my libertarian estimation has no legitmate justification for existing as a government service.
Attached below is my brief phone call to Mr. Foster in which I present my ideas of how the county can return government parks to the private sector. For more on my thoughts, after listing to the Pencast, see my personal blog: The Shutt Chute.
"The genius of republics (say they) is pacific; the spirit of commerce has a tendency to soften the manners of men, and to extinguish those inflammable humors which have so often kindled into wars. Commercial republics, like ours, will never be disposed to waste themselves in ruinous contentions with each other. They will be governed by mutual interest, and will cultivate a spirit of mutual amity and concord.
Is it not (we may ask these projectors in politics) the true interest of all nations to cultivate the same benevolent and philosophic spirit? If this be their true interest, have they in fact pursued it? Has it not, on the contrary, invariably been found that momentary passions, and immediate interest, have a more active and imperious control over human conduct than general or remote considerations of policy, utility or justice?Have republics in practice been less addicted to war than monarchies? Are not the former administered by men as well as the latter? Are there not aversions, predilections, rivalships, and desires of unjust acquisitions,that affect nations as well as kings? Are not popular assemblies frequently subject to the impulses of rage, resentment, jealousy, avarice, and of other irregular and violent propensities? Is it not well known that their determinations are often governed by a few individuals in whom they place confidence, and are, of course, liable to be tinctured by the passions and views of those individuals? Has commerce hitherto done anything more than change the objects of war? Is not the love of wealth as domineering and enterprising a passion as that of power or glory? Have there not been as many wars founded upon commercial motives since that has become the prevailing system of nations, as were before occasioned by the cupidity of territory or dominion? Has not the spirit of commerce, in many instances, administered new incentives to the appetite, both for the one and for the other? Let experience, the least fallible guide of human opinions, be appealed to for an answer to these inquiries."
Campaign for Liberty is a 501(c)4 lobbying organization which neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office and claims no responsibility for the actions of individuals or groups of individuals who use the Campaign for Liberty logo or name or who may claim to act as representatives of the Campaign for Liberty without prior written consent of the Campaign for Liberty. [?]
Regional Coordinator
