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Today on Context Florida: Syrian refugee showdown, skin in the war game and it’s still the economy

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Today on Context Florida:

President Obama and the GOP are headed for a high-stakes showdown on the issue of Syrian refugees, says Bob Sparks. Europe is absorbing large numbers of those refugees, but many more seemingly have nowhere to go. This country, as we usually do, pledged to help by taking some. That was before Paris. With as much humanity as we can muster, the influx must be postponed. Not cancelled, but postponed until the identities and intentions of those entering this country can be verified, Sparks suggests.

Preening pols and pasty-faced pundits have been screaming for war since Friday’s attack on Paris, writes Florence Snyder. They have thus far not told us whose children will be providing the cannon fodder. It’s worth noting, then, that Vietnam combat veteran Mac Stipanovich is willing to put his beloved grandsons where his mouth is on the subject of what to do about ISIS. Stipanovich, a lawyer, lobbyist and oft-quoted influencer, took to Twitter to call for “War. Not kinda war on the cheap. Boots on the ground. Higher taxes, less domestic spending, less consumption, conscription if needed. War.” As we think about what to do next, Snyder suggests we follow Stipanovich’s example. Let’s find out who’s willing to put their own children’s skin in the game.

Way back in 1992, the political wisdom of the day came down to one thing: It’s the economy. According to Shannon Nickinson, it still is. The Pensacola Young Professionals rolled out the 2015 Quality of Life survey on Oct. 21. The survey, conducted June 11-16 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research asked 800 people who match the demographics of Escambia County how they feel about the place they live. When the PYP survey debuted in 2008, jobs and the economy were the top issue. Seven years later, they still are.

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Phil Ammann is a St. Petersburg-based journalist and blogger. With more than three decades of writing, editing and management experience, Phil produced material for both print and online, in addition to founding HRNewsDaily.com. His broad range includes covering news, local government and culture reviews for Patch.com, technical articles and profiles for BetterRVing Magazine and advice columns for a metaphysical website, among others. Phil has served as a contributor and production manager for SaintPetersBlog since 2013. He lives in St. Pete with his wife, visual artist Margaret Juul and can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @PhilAmmann.

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