Originally Posted by buggyone

The plain and simple truth of the whole book, Leisureville, is that the author, Andrew Blechman is jealous of our community since he is unable to move in.

The book was a simple book to read, the message is simple, Blechman is simple.

'Nuff said. Next topic.

I would not call Andrew D. Blechman simple. Orion Magazine | Orion Staff

That's hopefully why he will play TOTV a visit. He does seem to be a thorn in the side of the Villages PR group.

Anyone who has read the book and lives in the Villages would understand why Villagers have no interest in hearing from this author.

Originally Posted by quidam65

It may be unrealistic but he makes no bones about it. From Leisureville, p. 221 (paperback edition which includes the epilogue discussing the IRS audit issue):

"Just what 'special needs' do today's wealthy middle-aged boomers have? Not only do they represent the least marginalized generation in human history; they're not even old. Developers are merely exploiting a legal loophole.

"If The Villages is any indication, the so-called special needs include, among other things, alcohol-saturated faux downtowns and an opportunity to play golf on a different course every day of the month...[s]o why are we providing these 'seniors' with a legally codified right to keep the rest of society at bay?

"Clearly, our federal government shouldn't be in the business of endorsing discrimination against young families. The Fair Housing Act was originally intended to protect Americans from bigotry, not promote it. It's been well over two hundred years since we shamefully designated blacks as three-fifths human. Are young children--and their parents--any less than whole? Do we really want to promote communities where birth certificates are scrutinized at points of entry? Congress needs to reexamine this legislation and either eliminate age discrimination altogether or, at the very least, periodically raise the qualifying age as time and science progress." (emphasis mine)

But in the very next paragraph, Blechman shows which of the two options he would prefer:

"Simply raising the qualifying age still leaves me feeling uneasy."

And on the next page, he shows his hand:

"But until we establish a coherent vision for addressing the needs of our senior citizens, private developers-cum-social engineers will continue to exploit this lack of cultural consensus."

Of course there are only two options for developing this "coherent vision": the private sector or the government sector. Since, in his mind, the private sector is merely "exploiting" "legal loopholes" and a "lack of cultural consensus", and as he's already suggested that the 55+ exemption in the Fair Housing Act should be eliminated (being "uneasy" about simply raising it "as time and science progress"), Blechman clearly shows which option he would prefer.

The so called "legal loophole" provides for 20% of people below the age of 55 to live in TV. A person over the age of 19 can live here with parents. If one were to take a survey I strongly suspect that the majority of people living here are 62 years and older and that the age 55 requirement is a small per centage putting a wrench in blechmann theory. And I ask myself why is it discriminatory for an aging population to gather in a specific place and share their commonality? People from all over the world visit or rent properties in TV and partake of its amenities. Should we then prevent all balck groups from meeting or all Gay meetings all Luthern or Catholics from engaging inchurch activities? The simple truth about Blechmann's book was that the thought that aging adults would act independently enough not to rely on the kindness of their children offened his sensibilities.

The real problem here is the manner in which the Developer purchased bonds to fund TV, bonds that residents would be required to pay and the manner in which the Developer unloaded property and the income stream resulting from amenities that placed a target on the back of TV based on IRS audit filings, and that all is still in dispute

Originally Posted by rubicon

The so called "legal loophole" provides for 20% of people below the age of 55 to live in TV. A person over the age of 19 can live here with parents. If one were to take a survey I strongly suspect that the majority of people living here are 62 years and older and that the age 55 requirement is a small per centage putting a wrench in blechmann theory. And I ask myself why is it discriminatory for an aging population to gather in a specific place and share their commonality? People from all over the world visit or rent properties in TV and partake of its amenities. Should we then prevent all balck groups from meeting or all Gay meetings all Luthern or Catholics from engaging inchurch activities? The simple truth about Blechmann's book was that the thought that aging adults would act independently enough not to rely on the kindness of their children offened his sensibilities.

The real problem here is the manner in which the Developer purchased bonds to fund TV, bonds that residents would be required to pay and the manner in which the Developer unloaded property and the income stream resulting from amenities that placed a target on the back of TV based on IRS audit filings, and that all is still in dispute

Blechman actually discusses the history of the Fair Housing Act earlier in Leisureville. Though he mentions the two age-related exceptions (100% of residents over age 62 -- mainly related to assisted living facilities -- and the 80% of residents over age 55), he argues that the 55+ exception is nothing but the work of the housing lobby and should either be amended as longevity spans increase or abolished completely (his preference).

Blechman is a liberal who holds to a collectivist ideology. And the thought that individuals should live their own lives free of government influence -- or control -- is anathema to someone with that worldview.

I agree that the IRS audit of the bond issue and the interrelated CDD control by the Morse family is the most serious issue affecting the overall future of TV. (BTW the IRS audit started before Obama took office.)

Originally Posted by quidam65

Blechman actually discusses the history of the Fair Housing Act earlier in Leisureville. Though he mentions the two age-related exceptions (100% of residents over age 62 -- mainly related to assisted living facilities -- and the 80% of residents over age 55), he argues that the 55+ exception is nothing but the work of the housing lobby and should either be amended as longevity spans increase or abolished completely (his preference).

Blechman is a liberal who holds to a collectivist ideology. And the thought that individuals should live their own lives free of government influence -- or control -- is anathema to someone with that worldview.

I agree that the IRS audit of the bond issue and the interrelated CDD control by the Morse family is the most serious issue affecting the overall future of TV. (BTW the IRS audit started before Obama took office.)

quidam65: I do not want to get political and yet in my opinion all things eventually come down to politics including those involving husband and wife.

This "Legal Loophle" you referenced is viewed by Blechmann and the government as all bad and discriminatory. However one could argue that this "legal loophole has transformed the poorest county (Sumter) in Florida into a flourishing metropolis. Locals and their children have opportunities they never dreamed would be available. They have good paying jobs, their kids go to good schools and have the opportunity to go to college. Taxes the life blood of any community build or repair the infrastructure.

The residents of The Villages give back more to this community than they take. Residents help fill food pantries work at churches or other charitale organization to feed the less fortunate insurrounding areas, etc. etc. etc.

Do you suppose this so called "discrimination" created by this "legal loophole" has been more or less beneficial to people living in sumter County and for that matter marion and Lake counties?

Personal Best Regards:

Rubicon--I am in complete agreement with your comments.

There is no logical reason, outside of the 55+ exception, that TV should exist. It is not near a coastline or important waterway (where most cities can be found). Other than Lady Lake the nearest town of significant size is 30 minutes north (Ocala) and Orlando is at least an hour away to the southeast. So the 55+ exception has definitely taken Sumter County (and to a lesser extent Lake and Marion Counties) from among the poorest counties to one with a sustainable base.

When I've quoted Blechman it hasn't been with kind intent. It's intended as a warning: if Blechman had his wish, the 55+ exception would be abolished, and communities like TV would no longer exist.

Originally Posted by CMANN

Anyone who has read the book and lives in the Villages would understand why Villagers have no interest in hearing from this author.

If someone wrote a very influential book about an environment that can change over time for better or worse, would you not want to try to get that writer to change his or her view of that environment?

I had hoped that there would be more of a welcome of Andrew D. Blechman on TOTV. If you have an influential food critic visiting your restaurant would you not try and change his mind about the dishes your place serves?

I do not think I am overestimating Belchman's influence through his book Leisureville especially which judged by the kind of hatred his name evokes on TOTV.

Originally Posted by quidam65

Rubicon--I am in complete agreement with your comments.

There is no logical reason, outside of the 55+ exception, that TV should exist. It is not near a coastline or important waterway (where most cities can be found). Other than Lady Lake the nearest town of significant size is 30 minutes north (Ocala) and Orlando is at least an hour away to the southeast. So the 55+ exception has definitely taken Sumter County (and to a lesser extent Lake and Marion Counties) from among the poorest counties to one with a sustainable base.

When I've quoted Blechman it hasn't been with kind intent. It's intended as a warning: if Blechman had his wish, the 55+ exception would be abolished, and communities like TV would no longer exist.

quidam65 Concur and its all grand standing at our expense

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

If someone wrote a very influential book about an environment that can change over time for better or worse, would you not want to try to get that writer to change his or her view of that environment?

I had hoped that there would be more of a welcome of Andrew D. Blechman on TOTV. If you have an influential food critic visiting your restaurant would you not try and change his mind about the dishes your place serves?

I do not think I am overestimating Belchman's influence through his book Leisureville especially which judged by the kind of hatred his name evokes on TOTV.

Well, you go right ahead and invite him on your own dime. No one here in The Villages would contribute anything to pay any of his expenses. We do not need Bleechman here nor would most Villagers hear him speak except to shout him down as an illicit author who does not know his subject.

Originally Posted by buggyone

Well, you go right ahead and invite him on your own dime. No one here in The Villages would contribute anything to pay any of his expenses. We do not need Bleechman here nor would most Villagers hear him speak except to shout him down as an illicit author who does not know his subject.

I never meant to invite Andrew D. Blechman to the Villages for another visit. What I was trying to do is for him to read many TOTV posts and see just how much many of us are concerned about both the Villages and its surrounding communities as well as about the communites they left. The Villages draws people from Lake, Sumter, and Marion Counties to its Squares, shops, restaurants, movie theaters, etc.

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

If someone wrote a very influential book about an environment that can change over time for better or worse, would you not want to try to get that writer to change his or her view of that environment?

I had hoped that there would be more of a welcome of Andrew D. Blechman on TOTV. If you have an influential food critic visiting your restaurant would you not try and change his mind about the dishes your place serves?

I do not think I am overestimating Belchman's influence through his book Leisureville especially which judged by the kind of hatred his name evokes on TOTV.

I would IF I believed that he would have an open mind on things. But given Blechman's written statements (from his book) that he would like to see Congress abolish the 55+ exception (which would, essentially, put places like TV out of business), I can't see how he would ever change his viewpoint.

Originally Posted by quidam65

I would IF I believed that he would have an open mind on things. But given Blechman's written statements (from his book) that he would like to see Congress abolish the 55+ exception (which would, essentially, put places like TV out of business), I can't see how he would ever change his viewpoint.

Writers do change their minds as they mature. Sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better.

Just believe that Blechman did not really give a place like the Villages a chance. There are many very political active people here who are also very much involved with volunteer events of some kind. Blechman's thinking seems very old fashioned with respect to families staying near one another as they develop. That's probably a little more true in a very bad ecomony where kids and grandparents go back to the main bread winners' nest. Ina good economy though, it seems like the kids move out as soon as they can find their wings and often fly to the other side of the country.

I think Blechman just wanted to write a book that would sell, and he did. I'm thinking Leisureville outsold the pigeon book-LOL.

As of two years ago he was still critical of TV.

When Palin came campaigning he wrote a piece "A fake candidate for a fake village".

It's not whether he "gets it" or doesn't "get it", it's about whether or not he can sell it. He apparently had a grand time hanging with "Mr. Midnight", golf carting around and being critical.

My question for Mr. Blechman... When you visited why didn't you bring your children?

Originally Posted by Patty55

I think Blechman just wanted to write a book that would sell, and he did. I'm thinking Leisureville outsold the pigeon book-LOL.

As of two years ago he was still critical of TV.

When Palin came campaigning he wrote a piece "A fake candidate for a fake village".

It's not whether he "gets it" or doesn't "get it", it's about whether or not he can sell it. He apparently had a grand time hanging with "Mr. Midnight", golf carting around and being critical.

My question for Mr. Blechman... When you visited why didn't you bring your children?

I will have to look at that article on Palin. I am kind of turned off on the lack of balance in the Villages Daily Sun with respect to editorials and the like from Democrats, but it is the newspaper of the developers of the Villages so you really cannot expect to see much of anything else.