Opinion Archive

Monday is July 4, one of my favorite holidays. As a child, I liked it because I knew it was 20 more days until my birthday.  As I have grown older and wiser, I’ve discovered that July 4 is hugely more significant than my birthday.  In my humble opinion, July 4th is a miracle. It is a miracle that men from all walks of life (and the women behind the scenes) were able to come together to accomplish the Declaration of Independence and all that it signifies.

My prediction is our next immigration problem will come from Cuba. With the action of the Obama administration to normalize relations with Cuba, without any legitimate insight (none by Republicans / thought out very well by Democrats) in regards to immigration and the new commercial flights (Cuban government-owned airline) from Cuba, the following will be next. Our U.S. immigration policy known as “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” will be subverted to allow any Cuban into our country. They will need a Cuban passport only issued by the Cuban government. The government itself will decide who leaves Cuba. They may or may not need an entry visa (if so, visas will be fast tracked) from the Obama administration to gain entry to our country. Once here the “Dry Foot” portion of our immigration law will kick in and the Obama administration will issue, at a minimum by law, a $1,500 dollar tax payer-paid check to all who arrive and are wanting citizenship.

Our flag has many names, the most popular being “The Stars and Stripes.” No one knows whence that name came. In 1814 Francis Scott Key called it “The Star Spangled Banner.” Ten years later William Driver, a sea captain from Salem, Mass., my birthplace (FYI Salem is the ancient name for Jerusalem which Obama and Kerry advocate dividing – sacrilege, but that’s another story!) named it “Old Glory.” I love it! My heart is stirred whenever I see her displayed, often bringing tears to my eyes! Would to God all Americans felt the same. Sad to say, some are still disrespectful, burning it even recently at political events. Shame, shame!

“IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776. THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

The Navarre Chamber of Commerce is having a Munch & Learn Workshop on “Google Tools for Your Small Business.” Adam McCloskey, FSBDC at UWF will be the presenter on Wednesday, July 6 at 11:30 a.m. See their ad for more details.

Little by little, piece by piece our liberty seems to be stripping away.  It happens so gradually that we don’t even notice it until it’s too late.  It’s likened to parents who see their little toddler every day and don’t see the gradual growth, but someone who hasn’t seen the child in a while is stunned by the growth.  The changes taking place in our nation seem subtle, until we take a hard look at them – and then we are stunned.

So, an answer concerning the $80,000-plus of taxpayers’ money spent/given to the for-profit Tough Mudder event in April yields no return to the taxpayers. But a bright note, Commissioner Bob Cole thinks the taxpayers may have recouped the monies by the sales of Cokes and peanut butter crackers, really? And we have Rob Williamson who pushed the tax money payment to Tough Mudder. Rob Williamson, like a 10 year old, thinks money grows on trees. Rob Williamson doesn’t realize how hard people work for their money. There hasn’t been one tax proposal that Rob Williamson hasn’t voted for. 

The Betty J. Pullum Navarre YMCA wants to invite you to have some water fun in their zero entry pool with water slides.   First-time visits are always free.

A development company is planning to build a housing complex on a 5.74-acre privately owned parcel in the middle of the county-owned Navarre Beach Marine Park!  The parcel is currently zoned commercial which would allow a marina to be built but developers want to construct 134 residential units consisting of four 4-story buildings and two 6-story buildings on the property 150 feet from the Sound located in the middleof the four pavilions in Navarre Beach Marine Park east of Navarre Bridge on the barrier island.

The developer of the proposed 134 condominium units in East Park has a background that needs further review and would he disclose to potential buyers that treated sewage goes into the Sound?  Some people want the new condominiums for more taxes and revenue but remember, it really costs taxpayers when people who aren’t the most qualified are managing money and projects on our behalf. Someone answered questions concerning additional traffic over the bridge with adding a toll – great. We in Navarre don’t need the problems of condos in the public East Park. Don’t forget we are already saddled with Rob Williamson who isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack.