Florida’s Democrats
by Camille Exconde

Florida, known as the ‘Sunshine” state, achieved statehood in the year 1845.  Florida’s capital city is Tallahassee.  Encompassing an area of 65,758 square miles (of which 53,997 is land and 11,761 is water), Florida’s southern location attracts tourists and retired citizens nationwide.  Florida’s businesses benefit from the sunny year- round temperature.  The warm climate contributes to their popular tourist destinations, such as Miami Beach, the commercial capital of Latin America and the enchanting Walt Disney World Theme Parks in Orlando.  In addition to tourism, Florida’s booming economy highly depends on their leading agriculture commodities: oranges, sugar and tomatoes. Their well-known attractions made Florida one of America’s most frequent visited states.  The growing population includes millions of retirees every year (Florida is the fourth most populous state).   This factor may be a disadvantage to the residents of Florida.  As a result, many citizens turn to the Democratic Party to resolve common concerns and interests.            Florida’s Democratic Party has a proud history protecting communities making it safer for the children and the elders.  It continues to improve education and fight for Florida’s families and all the people of the state.  Florida’s Democratic Party is dedicated and committed to serve Floridians in establishing effective policies regarding main issues like health care, education, criminal justice, environment, human and civil rights and their economic development.            According to Florida’s 1995 Democratic Party Platform, the party sought to implement the following health improvements: The Florida Democratic Party supports reform in insurance contract language that discriminates against anyone in need of medical care because of a preexisting condition; it supports insurance reform to revise healthcare financing structures to reduce administrative and marketing costs while maintaining high quality and affordable rates; it urges Congress and the Administration to join with the states in partnership to provide Medicaid funds to the states based upon a fair distribution to each state consistent with a state’s changing demographics; it supports the protection and enhancement of medical coverage for the poor, elderly, disabled and chronically ill citizens; it supports programs to improve the quality of life for the elderly citizens by promoting improved provisions of services with an emphasis on independence and self sufficiency; and the Florida Democratic Party encourages increased state and federal support in research in areas such as Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS and mental health.  The Florida Democratic Party is for affordable health care and the encouragement of healthy lifestyles.            The Democratic Party Platform include the following in Florida’s education reform: The Florida Democratic Party recognizes the importance of quality teachers with special emphasis on the recruitment of minority teachers from the underrepresented segments of the community; it implements diverse programs to meet the needs of all Florida students; it supports the education of all students in the importance of individual and civic responsibility and the Florida Democratic Party maintains that schools must be made more available for adult education for all community members.  Florida’s Democratic Party promotes diversity and equal opportunity in their classrooms.  It believes in further education accommodated by quality faculties.             The Florida Democratic Party Platform regulate the following resolutions in the criminal justice system: The Florida Democratic Party strongly supports increased efforts by state and local law enforcement agencies in the confiscation of illegal substances and increased law enforcement in drug infested areas due regard for the rights of law-abiding citizens and the Florida Democratic Party advocates the enforcement of laws against violence in the home to ensure reliability of batters and provide services to victims of domestic violence throughout Florida.  Florida’s Democratic Party exercise freedom of violence and fear in firmly supporting the law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system.  It is important to secure and protect the rights of all citizens of Florida.            The Florida Democratic Party strives for the protection of the state’s environment.  The Democratic Party Platform supports the following environmental resolutions: The Florida Democratic Party advocates scientific plans and funding for safe handling, transport, and disposal of hazardous and toxic waste, and opposes industrial pollution which leads to the destruction of natural resources; it supports efforts to solve the problems associated with solid waste collection and disposal, and community recycling; and they also support the preservation of habitats necessary to protect their endangered species. Florida’s Democratic Party is committed to protect the environment from toxic substances, waste and destruction of their natural surroundings.             The Florida Democratic Party continues to secure human and civil rights declared by Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt.  The Democratic Party Platform enforces the following rights: The Florida Democratic Party believe all persons are entitled to equal opportunity in all aspects of their race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, handicap or disability; the right of all women to a safe, legal abortion without physical or verbal threats or harassment; the right of all people including children to effective protection from domestic violence; the right of their elderly to the maintenance and vigorous enforcement of laws regulating conditions in retirement homes;  the right of their elderly to maintain existing healthcare systems without increasing costs or decreasing the quality of care and the right of all persons to equal employment opportunities.  Florida’s Democratic Party protects all persons from fear, violence and discrimination. The Florida Democratic Party believes the growth of their economy is one of the highest state priorities.  They encourage economic diversification, expanding industries, and repatriation of American jobs.  The Democratic Party Platform enhances the following economic regulations: the critical role of the private sector in Florida’s economy and encourages the expansion of Florida’s small business community, including minority and women-owned businesses through partnership among business, labor and government to promote entrepreneurship among all the residents of Florida; it promotes the marketing of the state’s producers and services in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico which will contribute to the national goal of balancing trade; it supports programs that reduce adult illiteracy and resulting unemployment and  they urge pension managers, businesses and industries that do business within the State of Florida to fully fund, protect and pay pensions without breaking the bond of trust between employer and employee.  Florida’s Democratic Party ensures a healthy and prosperous economic environment for all the working women and men of Florida.            Florida’s Democratic Party serves to protect the people’s rights.  As Floridian Democrats, their goal is to develop effective policies that will enhance and maintain the quality of life for all the people of Florida.