General Discussion

Florida politicians come up through a system in which statewide offices have 8 year term limits. The 120 Florida House members and 40 State Senators are paid around $30,000 a year- not enough to support a family. The people that are able to do this are in a position where they can take 3 months leave from their business or come from family wealth. Because these jobs do not create a professional career path, the greater incentive is to use the position and contacts to benefit themselves and those who have supported them and will continue to benefit them in the future. The incentives are perverse and grease the wheels of corruption.

If we do not offer politicians a path to developing professional excellence we will get the mediocrity and widespread corruption we claim we wish to avoid.