[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by robertj1954

Interesting article. I read the book Leisureville when I first learned about The Villages and someone mentioned the book. This article, just like the book, is written with an agenda of painting the Morse family as greedy and corrupt by taking advantage of legal loop holes. That comes from a liberal bias which was very clear in the words written by Andrew Blechman (Leisureville.

I am sure mistakes were made over the years by the Morse family, but I reject the idea of any criminal intent or fraud. Mr. Morse is far too smart a businessman to get caught up in any out right criminal conduct. His attorneys and accountants are probably the best in the country and know when and how to use the Federal Tax Codes to his advantage, just like any other successful businessman. It has only been over the past four years where legal loopholes have been defined as criminal intent. Most of what is written in that Bloomberg article is like others on the far-left (Wall Street Protestors) who attempt to make villains out of hard working successful Americans. I reject that philosophy and it is the major reason why I oppose Obama and his social justice approach to government, which is simply a metaphor for socialism! Capitalism has been the core to America's greatness and I have always questioned the motives of anyone wanting to destroy it.

There should always be checks and balances in every system because absolute power always corrupts. Here in the Villages, the POA acts as a check on the power of the Morse family's influence and they do a very good job. The POA was not even mentioned in the article. I believe they had a role in getting the settlement between the Morse Family and District 1 with regards to over payments for district assets.

I have always admired successful people in this country, Harold Schwartz and Gary Morse certainly proved they have what it takes to reach the top. It is a shame how politics on the left today have divided people attempting to create class warfare. That is not the American way. The other day a very clear message was sent by Americans in Wisconsin. I believe that same message will resonate across the nation in November as Americans reject the liberals and their attempt to expand government. Thanks for sharing the article.

This post would get a lot of feedback if it were in the political thread........where it belongs.

[Tom Hannon]

Originally Posted by redwitch

Sorry, I can't imagine Gary or his family reading this forum. Do you think he would really care if we were unhappy with a restaurant or a contractor? He already knows the IRS issues (far better than we do, I would hope); he knows how to build something that makes people come. We are a very small part of TV -- I think there are more non-resident posters(wannabes and gonnabes) than residents here. Many residents here think TOTV is nothing more than a complaint center and want nothing to do with TOTV. Why would Morse think much more of us?

I do know some employees of TV read this column (not just Villagers) but, so far as I know, none have even met the Morses, let alone report what is written here to them.

This is not a Jobs/Gates thing. Heck, TOTV isn't even a POA/HOA thing. TOTV is something we love but not something that is going to give a lot of information to a Gary Morse.

This is the first time in my life I have ever disagreed with Redwitch. I can not believe The Morse family isn't in tune with us. Especially in a post that has his name in it. Like they say "Big brother is watching."

[Tom Hannon]

[QUOTE=graciegirl;502716]Yes I do think the Morses, all of them read this forum. It has a lot of bilge but it also is a finger on the pulse of their customer and potential customer. They are hands on and have improved on their ideas and concepts over time. That doesn't mean that they are gonna jump to build an indoor pool or add more exercise facilities or mandate fat free at their restaurants...in MY OPINION, but they are good businss people and they know what they can do to give the consumer the ultimate bang for their buck.

Plus something inside of me feels that they are so beyond making money that somewhere floats in the goals they have is establishing a place for seniors to live never before seen on this planet. Everyone would love a legacy to the time spent on this earth. I think this place is it.

Beats the heck outa the tombstone I have planned that says

Well said, Gracie. You and I seem to be the only ones who feel The Morse's are reading TOTV posts.

[graciegirl]

[quote=Tom Hannon;502818]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Yes I do think the Morses, all of them read this forum. It has a lot of bilge but it also is a finger on the pulse of their customer and potential customer. They are hands on and have improved on their ideas and concepts over time. That doesn't mean that they are gonna jump to build an indoor pool or add more exercise facilities or mandate fat free at their restaurants...in MY OPINION, but they are good businss people and they know what they can do to give the consumer the ultimate bang for their buck.

Plus something inside of me feels that they are so beyond making money that somewhere floats in the goals they have is establishing a place for seniors to live never before seen on this planet. Everyone would love a legacy to the time spent on this earth. I think this place is it.

Beats the heck outa the tombstone I have planned that says

Well said, Gracie. You and I seem to be the only ones who feel The Morse's are reading TOTV posts.

but you and I TOMMY.......we are awesome.

[JLHart]

Originally Posted by robertj1954

Interesting article. I read the book Leisureville when I first learned about The Villages and someone mentioned the book. This article, just like the book, is written with an agenda of painting the Morse family as greedy and corrupt by taking advantage of legal loop holes. That comes from a liberal bias which was very clear in the words written by Andrew Blechman (Leisureville.

I am sure mistakes were made over the years by the Morse family, but I reject the idea of any criminal intent or fraud. Mr. Morse is far too smart a businessman to get caught up in any out right criminal conduct. His attorneys and accountants are probably the best in the country and know when and how to use the Federal Tax Codes to his advantage, just like any other successful businessman. It has only been over the past four years where legal loopholes have been defined as criminal intent. Most of what is written in that Bloomberg article is like others on the far-left (Wall Street Protestors) who attempt to make villains out of hard working successful Americans. I reject that philosophy and it is the major reason why I oppose Obama and his social justice approach to government, which is simply a metaphor for socialism! Capitalism has been the core to America's greatness and I have always questioned the motives of anyone wanting to destroy it.

There should always be checks and balances in every system because absolute power always corrupts. Here in the Villages, the POA acts as a check on the power of the Morse family's influence and they do a very good job. The POA was not even mentioned in the article. I believe they had a role in getting the settlement between the Morse Family and District 1 with regards to over payments for district assets.

I have always admired successful people in this country, Harold Schwartz and Gary Morse certainly proved they have what it takes to reach the top. It is a shame how politics on the left today have divided people attempting to create class warfare. That is not the American way. The other day a very clear message was sent by Americans in Wisconsin. I believe that same message will resonate across the nation in November as Americans reject the liberals and their attempt to expand government. Thanks for sharing the article.

Oh yes me too!!! I have great admiration for someone that has managed to game the system by setting up special taxing districts (staffed and controlled by Morse) to issue tax fee bonds (paid for by resident amenity fees) to buy stuff from himself. All while making a cool billion or so over the last decade ... TAX FEE!! Now that is good work if you can get it.

Now which one of these icons thingy's is the sarcasm one?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by JLHart

Oh yes me too!!! I have great admiration for someone that has managed to game the system by setting up special taxing districts (staffed and controlled by Morse) to issue tax fee bonds (paid for by resident amenity fees) to buy stuff from himself. All while making a cool billion or so over the last decade ... TAX FEE!! Now that is good work if you can get it.

Now which one of these icons thingy's is the sarcasm one?

I am guessing you are annoyed by the editorial section of the paper?

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Yes I do think the Morses, all of them read this forum. It has a lot of bilge but it also is a finger on the pulse of their customer and potential customer. They are hands on and have improved on their ideas and concepts over time. That doesn't mean that they are gonna jump to build an indoor pool or add more exercise facilities or mandate fat free at their restaurants...in MY OPINION, but they are good businss people and they know what they can do to give the consumer the ultimate bang for their buck.

Plus something inside of me feels that they are so beyond making money that somewhere floats in the goals they have is establishing a place for seniors to live never before seen on this planet. Everyone would love a legacy to the time spent on this earth. I think this place is it.

Beats the heck outa the tombstone I have planned that says


WHAT?????

They probably read it on occasion. Doubt if they are regulars on TOTV though. This site gets a huge amount of traffic and I cannot see a good businessman not keeping his friends close (as the saying goes). The Virginia Trace site has a link to TOTV and I learned about TOTV back in the Summer of 2007 from a talk Talk Host did at the Villages Computer Club. That's a lot of links to the Villages. *VIRGINIA TRACE,* THE VILLAGES,* FLORIDA

[NotGolfer]

So....how many people go into business to "lose" money and not be successful?? Then, I ask, how many in business look for tax breaks and ways to invest their resources??

I have to wonder after being in this site for awhile now (a rhetorical question) why there are "some" who live here, who think the developer is out to "get" you??? If that's the case...then why stay here?? You could sell your place and move to another area, that doesn't offer as much as we have here! We are so blessed and privileged to have this beautiful place to enjoy our retirement years. Sure beats the snow/cold/ice of up north!!!

"IF" they should read this...I want to thank them for the ideas they have had and making this such a special place to live!

[hdh1470]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

So....how many people go into business to "lose" money and not be successful?? Then, I ask, how many in business look for tax breaks and ways to invest their resources??

I have to wonder after being in this site for awhile now (a rhetorical question) why there are "some" who live here, who think the developer is out to "get" you??? If that's the case...then why stay here?? You could sell your place and move to another area, that doesn't offer as much as we have here! We are so blessed and privileged to have this beautiful place to enjoy our retirement years. Sure beats the snow/cold/ice of up north!!!

"IF" they should read this...I want to thank them for the ideas they have had and making this such a special place to live!

[jblum315]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

So....how many people go into business to "lose" money and not be successful?? Then, I ask, how many in business look for tax breaks and ways to invest their resources??

I have to wonder after being in this site for awhile now (a rhetorical question) why there are "some" who live here, who think the developer is out to "get" you??? If that's the case...then why stay here?? You could sell your place and move to another area, that doesn't offer as much as we have here! We are so blessed and privileged to have this beautiful place to enjoy our retirement years. Sure beats the snow/cold/ice of up north!!!

"IF" they should read this...I want to thank them for the ideas they have had and making this such a special place to live!

I agree. I hope Gary Morse lives forever and keeps on making money.

[collie1228]

What would lead you to believe that Morse made a billion tax free (the post does say TAX FEE, and I'm assuming there is an "R" missing there)? I've kept up with all of the information on the IRS issue, and clearly Morse paid federal income taxes on the gain from the transactions. You have every right to criticize Morse for the IRS issue as it relates to tax free bonds, but you can't criticize him for not paying his federal income taxes. That would be untrue.

[quidam65]

As soon as I saw that Blechman was behind the article I knew what to expect--another hack job by one who believes we should all be part of a government-controlled collective. Individual rights and liberties are anathema to him and his liberal-minded ilk.

Anyone who has read his book Leisureville (and I would recommend it even for the most pro-Mr. Morse follower out there) knows his dislike for the modern-day age-restricted retirement community (he feels that places like TV should be outlawed) and for Mr. Morse.

Did Mr. Morse take advantage of a legal loophole in his creation and operation of TV? Of course. When Florida's CDD law was being written, it was certainly expected that the developer would control the CDD until enough people moved in and the development was sustainable, then transition it into either a resident-sustained entity or merge it into a city or county government. Nobody expected a situation whereby a CDD would be structured in such a way that it would never transition from a developer-controlled one.

I'm an outsider (both not living in Florida and not old enough to move to TV) but I commend Mr. Morse. His father had essentially a floundering real estate business that could have easily been yet another failed enterprise as so many are. But his son learned from others (Del Webb) how successful retirement communities operate, and went well above and beyond what Webb did at Sun City. Essentially he did at TV what Henry Ford did in the early years at Ford Motor Company (nearly complete vertical integration) with the added twist of being able to legally control a governmental entity as well.

[JLHart]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I am guessing you are annoyed by the editorial section of the paper?

The Daily Sun is a pathetic embarrassment to journalism. It is nothing more than another marketing arm for the Morse family's business enterprises and political positions.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by JLHart

The Daily Sun is a pathetic embarrassment to journalism. It is nothing more than another marketing arm for the Morse family's business enterprises and political positions.

Figured as much. And you are younger?

[JLHart]

Originally Posted by quidam65

As soon as I saw that Blechman was behind the article I knew what to expect--another hack job by one who believes we should all be part of a government-controlled collective. Individual rights and liberties are anathema to him and his liberal-minded ilk.
.

Yet you apparently can not wait to be a part of the Morse's controlled collective were your individual liberties are STRICTLY controlled by a vast array of covenants.

Welcome to The Villages!! Were you are free to do with your property exactly what we tell you can and remember ... it is Florida's friendliest hometown!!