The Story Marches Forward Sal Nuzzo VICE PRESIDENT OF POLICY, THE JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE

t is often referred to as an “arc” in speeches tale of our shortcomings and failures as a and narratives. It is comprised of events, society. Ultimately, it should cause us all to milestones, and trends that propel a strive to be better – both individually and Isociety forward either toward continued collectively as a society. growth and prosperity, or to its eventual A quick train ride through the past 172 demise. Those who refuse to study it are said years will reveal that Florida’s history is ripe to be “doomed to repeat it.” It’s “written by with juxtapositions and contradictions, if the victors.” It serves as both a reminder of nothing else. A few stops along the way our shared moral purpose, and a cautionary illustrate this dichotomy. On March 3, 1845,

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Florida became the 27th State in the Republic. We beat to the punch by a few months. Our very first state flag had three words emblazoned on it in very large print. Yes, the first thought our great state had upon entering the Republic was effectively, “Stay away – leave us be – get out.” Now, let’s contrast this fact to the Florida’s original state flag, 1845 current fuel in Florida’s economic engine. In 2016, the Sunshine State welcomed more states. But what is so spectacular about than 112 million people from every other this one Miami high school grad? Twelve state and more than 100 countries to what years after his graduation speech, that has become the most-visited location on Palmetto High valedictorian founded a the planet. Tourism has become, and will small internet book shop called Amazon continue to be, one of the single biggest economic drivers of prosperity for our state. Quite a long way from “Let Us Alone.” If we fast forward a bit (137 years) to 1982, we can reflect on the graduation ceremony at Miami’s Palmetto High School. On that day, the class valedictorian gave a relatively typical graduation speech. However, toward the end of that speech he made a bold claim – that he would change the world. Not that his class would, not that Jeff Bezos his generation would, that he would change the world. And like so many other graduates of Florida high schools in the early 80s, he and today Jeff Bezos’ worth is somewhere promptly left the state for college and to seek between $85 and $87 BILLION depending out his path in life. He eventually landed, of on market fluctuations. And we lost him. To all places, in Washington State. Washington State. Florida lost him, and so many others If we jump ahead and contrast that loss like him. We lost him because of the lack to the past 20 years of our state’s economic of economic opportunity relative to other trajectory, we will find a very different

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trend. We will see that Florida consistently In choosing to embrace the principles has one of the best business climates in of limited government, free markets, and the , our education system is economic freedom, we allowed competition improving through public school reforms to flourish, economies to thrive, and and the expansion of school choice, our industries to incubate. Now, are we perfect? state government has one of the most By no means. There is still much work to efficient and effective operations in the be done, and the opponents of liberty and entire country, and -- over the past 20 years champions of oppressive government – more than $125 billion in annual income are pushing back. But we have the right has migrated from states like Illinois, New trajectory. And that is, in our opinion, the Jersey, and Connecticut to Florida. best benchmark of where we as a state are headed. Why is that? It is against this 172-year arc that our Well, we would make the case that great state currently stands at an historic somewhere around the mid to late 90s precipice. In 2018, Florida faces an election Floridians made decisions about the state that will define our future in ways unlike that they wanted to live in, and the future any other election we have seen in our we wanted. We made conscious and lifetime. In 2018, Florida will choose a unconscious decisions in who we voted for, new Governor and Lieutenant Governor, what values we had as communities, and as well as a brand new Cabinet (Attorney what we wanted for our kids, grandkids, General, Commissioner of Agriculture, and their grandkids. and Chief Financial Officer). Due to age- What did we choose? Well – unlike related term limits, three of Florida’s seven states like Illinois and Connecticut and Supreme Court justices will be retiring, others that chose paths of fiscal destruction with the new justices to be appointed by the – Florida chose to move in the direction of new Governor. Every single one of Florida’s economic liberty and personal freedom. We 27 congressional representatives will be up chose to say no to a state income tax and for reelection. All 120 seats in the Florida to live with a state budget that corresponds House of Representatives will be on the to that decision. Today, Florida and New ballot. Half of Florida’s 40 state senate seats York are very close in population – Florida will be on the ballot. Florida’s United States is currently slightly ahead of New York, Senator Bill Nelson will be defending his and the “Empire State” is experiencing a seat. In addition to these races, Florida’s period of decline. Now when you look at unique system of Constitutional reform state budgets, however, Florida’s budget – the Constitution Revision Commission is roughly $83 billion. New York? $163 – will present amendment initiatives for billion. And anyone who has traversed the Floridians to vote up or down. Long Island Expressway could attest to the Considering the dynamic nature of fact that we derive far more value for our political and policy debates, this election tax dollar than New Yorkers could ever will ultimately be a demarcation point for hope for. our state. Will we continue to embrace the

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principles set forth by leaders like , will recognize the importance of the 2018 Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Will Weatherford, cycle, and take hold of their best selves. Let’s and so many others? Will we turn away from make this a debate we will look back on the idea that government should not be in with pride – one in which we all articulated the business of picking winners and losers our vision for Florida’s future in a way that in the economy? Will Florida continue to reflected our faith in the rightness of our embrace a consistent and level playing field principles, not in the character assassination for economic activity and maintain our so prevalent in this day. positive trajectory? Will we turn toward The James Madison Institute will forge government mandating policies like job- ahead into our 31st year maintaining the killing minimum wages and socialized principles that have propelled our success health care that harms those most in need? as a beacon of liberty and prosperity. Will we continue to respect the property We remain committed to the belief that rights of all Floridians? Will we engage in freedom has worked every single place it big government land grabs that destroy has been tried and to the understanding our local economies? Will we continue that free markets have done more to lift to acknowledge that as technology and two billion people out of poverty than any innovation expand opportunity, a system government program. It is our sincere hope of education that shackles kids to failing that you will engage alongside us. Whether schools must modernize to expand parent from the “left” or the “right,” “conservative” and education choice? Will we become or “liberal,” “populist” or “capitalist,” our beholden to union agendas that care little state’s future depends on each and every for hundreds of thousands of children one of us engaging in the battle of ideas. trapped in failure factories? With all of this on the horizon, we are These are just a few of the fundamental pleased to present to you this issue of The questions that all Floridians – not just Journal. those in elected office – will tackle in the monumental year ahead of us. We owe In the Spirit of Liberty and Freedom, it to our children, our grandchildren, and their grandchildren to be deliberate, informed, and reasoned in our dialogue. It is my hope that the debate will be robust and not succumb to demonization. I hope Sal Nuzzo that those in elected office, as well as those Vice President of Policy representing community and citizen groups, The James Madison Institute stakeholders, and advocacy organizations

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