The Ten Worst

From highest to lowest, the ten counties with the highest unemployment rate in the State of Florida for November 2009 are: Pasco, Osceola, Okeechobee, Lee, Marion, Indian River, Hernando, Saint Lucie, Henry, and Flagler.

From lowest to highest, the ten counties with the lowest unemployment rate in the State of Florida for November 2009 are: Liberty, Monroe, Jackson, Wakulla, Alachua, Leon, Walton, Holmes, Okaloosa, Lafayette, and Franklin.

Liberty has an unemployment rate of 6.1% while Flagler is at 16.8%.

The ten counties in Florida with the highest unemployment have an average rate of 14.35%; which is higher than the rate for every state in the nation, other than Michigan’s 14.7%. Only Puerto Rico has a higher unemployment rate for every SMA than the average of the ten worst counties in Florida.

Question: Can a county commission influence the diversification of a county’s employment base?

Answer: Somewhat.

Question: Should a county commission seek a stable growth rate in the face of rapid economic growth?

Answer: If the commission wants to reduce the frequency of economic booms and busts, then yes.

Question: Will the same old faces run for re-election in Flagler, Henry, Saint Lucie, Hernando, Indian River, Marion, Lee, Okeechobee, Osceola, and Pasco?

Answer: Unfortunately, yes.

Question: Is the ultimate definition of insanity doing the same thing over-and-over while expecting a different result?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do we need free thinking independents comfortable with the Platform of the Florida Whig Party to represent the under-represented “We the People” in county commission elections across the State of Florida in 2010?

Answer: Absolutely.

Consider It