Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Martin DyckmanDecember 3, 2014

As if American students don’t already face enough standardized tests, here comes another. Legislatures in eight states are considering adding success on a civics test to the requirements for high school graduation. Florida isn’t one of them, but it can’t be long before test-happy Tallahassee adopts the idea, which surfaced most recently in North Dakota. […]

Guest AuthorNovember 18, 2014

“Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech.” Those sweeping words of the First Amendment are the crown jewels of our Bill of Rights, the equivalent of “Let freedom ring,” the bedrock of our Republic. If Americans cherish anything, it is their constitutional protection to speak their minds. But however […]

Martin DyckmanNovember 6, 2014

It can no longer be said that the country is going to hell. We have arrived. The worst disappointment isn’t the re-election of the kleptocrat Rick Scott, or U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan’s defeat by a Koch stooge in North Carolina, or even the fact that Ted Cruz is now running amok in a Senate majority. […]

Martin DyckmanOctober 21, 2014

There are 100 potential questions on the test for immigrants wanting to become naturalized citizens. While reviewing them with a candidate whom I’m coaching, something odd stood out. He’s expected to know that the United States has a “market” or “capitalist” economy, but not what kind of government we have. He needs to know only […]

Martin DyckmanOctober 19, 2014

The term limits initiative that Florida voters put into the Constitution in 1992 was one of the most popular issues ever, passing with 3,625,500 “yes” votes to only 1,097,127 against it. But what it has done to the Legislature makes it one of the costliest mistakes in Florida history. The voters deserve an opportunity to […]

Martin DyckmanAugust 24, 2014

In Germany two weeks ago, we were impressed by the multitude of solar arrays along the autobahn. There were too many to count. They perched on the rooftops of homes, apartment buildings, barns, offices, shops, storage sheds and garages. They were free-standing in cornfields and pastures — any place with a southern exposure and space […]

Tag: Citizens United

Martin Dyckman: Watch for yet another standardized test — this one on civics

Stephen Goldstein: Democrats must become better liars than Republicans

Martin Dyckman: This is what’s worse: Now we auction our government to the highest bidders

Martin Dyckman: We’re living in an oligarchy; only voters can restore democracy

Martin Dyckman: Elect Crist if you want to fix the mess created by term limits

Martin Dyckman: How Florida laws are made and utility regulators are appointed leave the state way behind Germany in use of solar energy