Letter to Florida Governor regarding Voter Redistricting

The Honorable Rick Scott

Office of the Governor

The Capitol

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

2/7/2011

Governor Scott

In November 2010, the citizens of Florida went to the polls and voted in a new Governor and several amendments. Two of these amendments covered redistricting. The redistricting amendments passed with greater than 60% of the votes

Per published reports shown at the State of Florida web site, Mr. Scott, has decided that all regulations that cost money to implement would be shelved. He asked the departments that would be affected with the new amendments what would happen if they were implemented. They all said the amendments "may" or "might" have some costs and those costs were indeterminate.  But at the same time Governor Scott also decided that Florida must effect a requirement that all employers must screen for illegal immigrants when posting for a job. The same proposal of identifying illegal immigrants has proven to have additional costs based on Arizona's legal troubles by employers bringing suit over the same issue.

Here is the problem. How can the Governor stall execution of a voters demand for redistricting that "may" cost money, and allow a check for immigrant status that clearly will cost money?

Holding government physically accountable cannot supersede the will of the voters. Governor Scott may be within his rights. It may be legal. However, in light of what is happening in the Mideast with Tunisia and Egypt, I think our Governor needs to listen to the voters. To do otherwise places him on the same plane as Egypt’s President, Hosni Mubarak and Tunisia’s President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, a dictator that does not hear the voters.

This letter has a long list of ‘carbon’ copies. I am hoping the elected officials contact the Governor and persuade him to follow the dictates of the voters and the newspapers publish this letter and citizens of Florida can see that our new Governor is playing fast and loose with our votes.

George A. Edwards

cc: The President of the United States, The Honorable Bill Nelson, The Honorable Marco Rubio, The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart, Jose Felix Diaz, The Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, Florida Times Union, The Palm Beach Post, Tampa Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, The Florida Democrat, The News-Journal

Letter to Senator Bill Nelson regarding his reelection

The Honorable Bill Nelson

716 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510

12/30/2010

Senator Nelson:

"The Republicans desperately want to defeat me in 2012 and to that end the GOP is declaring me one of their top targets. That's why I need your help to fight back."

The sentence above was in your e-mail to me requesting money for your reelection.

Please understand, I was not kidding when I wrote to you on multiple occasions asking for you to be a leader. Each of those times you proved to be inadequate. You are a politician, an empty suit; just interested in keeping your job. You are not interested in making this country or the State of Florida better.

Americans can no longer afford to give power to people that are simply interested in coasting along, getting their salary and benefits and not making meaningful contributions to our society. You lost my vote for the 2012 election long ago. I will be making this letter available to all my friends and relatives; perhaps it will remind them of your previous record and find you unacceptable as well.

It saddens me that the Democrat party will probably not field a candidate to oppose you. Understand, I am a Democrat; I have always been a Democrat. I will not vote for the Republican candidate in 2012. But I will not vote for you either.

Sincerely,

George A. Edwards  

Transportation Security Administration

The President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20500

12/7/2010

Mr. President:

When I was in school, we were taught that everyone was equal in this country. Everyone must follow the rules and the rules are for everyone.

Now I read that the TSA has different rules for different people. Airline pilots and flight attendants are not required to get the full body scans or the “pat down” search. The same is true for members of Congress. WHY?  Are these people less likely to have some desire to harm our country? How does the TSA know?

It would have never occurred to me that a major in the U.S. Army, Nidal Hasan, would kill 12 of his fellow soldiers at Ft. Hood. My point is, we never know what is going on in another’s head. To just allow certain people to avoid security, because it is inconvenient, is wrong and dangerous.

Pilots used the “harmful” excuse to get out of full body scans, but frequent flyers face the same harm, they can opt out of the scan, but not the pat downs. Make it the same for everyone.

More importantly it is NOT what this country is all about.

Mr. President, there is a cartoon I just read. It is a small child writing out his wish list for Christmas. The caption reads, “All I want for Christmas this year is the 2008 version of Obama” Sadly, that is my wish as well. Please be the President that said he would stand up for the rights for all of us.

Sincerely,

George A. Edwards  

Letters regarding tax cuts to President Obama and Senator Nelson

I did not send this letter to Senator George LeMiuex (R) or Representative Lincoln Diaz Balart (R). Senator LeMiuex will leave office after the November 2010 election and Representative Diaz-Balart will run in his brother's district, and will no longer be my representative.

The Honorable Bill Nelson

716 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510

9/18/2010

Senator Nelson:

I do not have a background in economics. Yet, I am at a loss to understand why politicians are reluctant to allow what has been called the Bush Tax cuts for people earning over $250,000 per year to expire.  As I understand the percentage increase is less than 5%.

Opponents claim if the tax cuts expire, those people will not make changes to their business that will promote job growth. But 5% of $250,000 is $12,500. So a job, paying $12,500 will be lost? That is what all the commotion is about? $12,500?

I do understand human behavior. I know politicians, like all people, can be motivated by incentives. Those incentives could be money or power. Poor politicians, i.e., politicians more concerned with keeping their job, then doing what is right for this country, will cave into the demands from those people making more than $250,000.

It is clear that the current recession is a very deep one. So profound, that it will require many years to overcome. The current administration’s plan of spending money on infrastructure projects will do two things. One, it will shore up a decaying system and provide new transportation solutions and two, it will deliver jobs. Jobs that may cure this recession over the long haul.

One way to pay for this is to charge more taxes. People in all brackets should be affected. Yes, even I, living on just my social security income, expect to pay more to get our country out of this mess.

If I am willing to sacrifice, my elected officials damn well better be willing to sacrifice as well. They best not cave into the demands of those earning more than $250,000 per year. I will remember what you are doing today, and make sure my vote in 2012, either rewards, or dismisses you.

Sincerely,

George A. Edwards

Letter to Federal Trade Commission

George A. Edwards

9169 SW 96 Ave.

Miami, FL 33176

Jon Leibowitz, Chairman

Federal Trade Commission

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20580

9/9/2010

Mr. Leibowitz

I see where the FTC protects debtors from unfair and abusive tactics by debt collectors. I do not see what protection there is for people that unfortunately have the same name as a debtor.

I have been inundated by telephone calls and mail from collection agencies, specifically, Encore Capital Group/Midland Credit Management and Portfolio Recovery.  They are calling for a George Edwards and/or Anthony Edwards.  I must endure their grilling until I can prove to them I am not the person they seek. Each of these calls upset and causes me great emotional distress.

Encore Capital Group/Midland Credit Management company appeared before the FTC and declared that they only get debtor’s addresses from the original creditor.  When I contacted the original creditor as listed in their document, they assured me their debtor did not use my address when applying for credit. When I question Encore Capital Group/Midland Credit Management Company again, they said a third party vendor furnished my name to them. When I asked what the name of the third party vendor was, they told me they could not release that information to me. The other company claimed the same protections.  When another of George/Anthony Edwards’ debts goes delinquent, I get the harassing calls.

Can the FTC help citizens that are not debtors? 

I would greatly appreciate a staff response by September 30^th.  Email is best: george.a.edwards@gmail.com

Sincerely,

George Edwards

Following is copy of an e-mail I sent to Brandon Black, President of Encore Capital Group/Midland Credit Management.

On April 22, 2010, your company sent a letter to Anthony Edwards. The MCM Account Number is 8528977476, the original Creditor was HSBC and the current balance is $1,667.41.

The problem I have with your company's letter is, it was sent to my home address. I am NOT Anthony Edwards. I do not know anyone named Anthony Edwards. 

An additional Privacy Notice was included with your letter. In that notice it says "Information we receive from you on applications...include Your Name. Address, Social Security Number...Other relevant information that you provide"

I know that Anthony Edwards never used my home address when he applied for HSBC credit, because if he did, I would have gotten statements from HSBC addressed to Anthony Edwards before he fell into arrears. I am certain that I would have gotten several letters, addressed to Anthony Edwards from HSBC demanding payment. Nothing like that ever came to my home address. 

Since I have neither an HSBC account nor credit card. nor have I EVER applied for an HSBC account or credit card. How did you get my Home Address? 

I can only assume because you have based your collector's pay on their performance, 

(see this article, "How J. Brandon Black took Encore Capital Group from turnaround to trendsetter

By Leslie Stevens-Huffman

Smart Business San Diego | October 2007 

“I don’t generate any money in this company. It’s all about the people on the phones,” Black says. “I’ve aligned everyone’s incentives with the company’s performance goals, starting with the CEO and going five levels down because everyone has to be rowing the boat in the same direction or else it will sink. Before our variable compensation was function-specific, and it was not aligned to overall company or team goals. Since we’ve taken this step, our results have improved dramatically.”)

they have a monetary incentive. If that means playing fast and loose with the rules, so be it. They send out letters or make phone calls to any one named Edwards, in Miami, hoping they will find someone that knows Anthony Edwards.   

I know enough about databases that you cannot comingle specific fields within records, there is always that pesky ID number that keeps records separate. Please don't tell me it was a computer or data error. 

The question is, how did you get my home address attached to Anthony Edwards' name?

Now my attorney tells me I cannot sue people like you or your company because I have not been monetarily damaged. My worry that something might happen to my credit rating and loss of sleep don't count.

I also know people and corporations have no reason to change the way they do business unless they are required to pay for their misdeeds.

Since I cannot sue you, I guess my only course of action is to write to the Federal Trade Commission, just as your company did on July 31, 2009 where your company wrote:

Federal Trade Commission

Office of the Secretary

Room H-135 (Annex A)

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.

Washington, DC 20580

Re: Debt Collection Roundtable -Comment, Project No. P094806

Dear Federal Trade Commission:

Thank you for the opportunity to provide written comments in advance of the roundtable discussion regarding "Protecting Consumers in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration", scheduled for Chicago on August 5-6, 2009. Our companies, Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG), Midland Credit Management, Inc. ("MCM"), and three debt-buying entities, Midland Funding LLC, Midland Funding NCC-2 Corporation and MRC Receivables Corporation, take this topic seriously and appreciate the FTC's efforts to gather information from interested parties. Xenia Murphy, Senior Manager, will be present at the roundtable to represent our views and answer any questions...

Evidence of Indebtedness

As noted previously, our company purchases account portfolios from national financial institutions, major retail credit corporations, and telecom companies, as well as resellers of such portfolios, and each purchase is the subject of a comprehensive written agreement that addresses all aspects of the transaction between our company and the selling entity. Our agreements not only require representations and warranties from a seller that all consumer and account information is accurate and current, but also often provide for post-purchase support from sellers regarding additional information or documents that may be needed to address consumer or court inquiries. The electronic data obtained from sellers includes a consumer's name, address, Social Security Number, telephone number and other details that are used to confirm identity, as well as specific account information regarding the charge-off and current balance, last payment date and amount, and other account activity. All of this is provided to our law firms at the time we place an account for litigation. We intend and expect that all relevant and required information is referenced in the complaint or provided to the court and the consumer in the form of an affidavit or other exhibit."

Perhaps, they can administer a fine large enough for you and companies like yours to not continue doing what you are doing. I say this because HSBC's Office of the President, (Ms. Irene Dorner), confirmed to me that my address was NEVER part of the Anthony Edwards file, that being true, you are not following the FTC regulations. In fact, your company's letter misleads them regarding your actual practices.

I wish there was some other way, but I doubt someone, as yourself, would do this voluntarily. By the way, I read about you from a Google search. If what was said about you was true, i.e., you accepted the position with a '90 day turn it around or die' directive, I was impressed. Clearly, you have the intellect, knowledge and brains to make this and probably any business a success. I just have to wonder why you are not seeing what you are doing to people like me? Is it because you really don't know how this hurts people, or that you really don't care?

If I am wrong about you or your company's practices, let me know, I'm willing to listen before I contact the Federal Trade Commission.

George Edwards

Here is copy of response from

Schelfhaudt, Kristin to me May 28, 2010

Hi George,

Midland Credit received the address from a third party vendor who provides skip tracing services. Please feel free to call if you have any additional questions.

Thanks.

 Kristin M. Schelfhaudt, Esq.

Corporate Counsel, Legal Affairs & Compliance

Midland Credit Management, Inc.

8875 Aero Drive, Suite 200

San Diego, CA 92123

Letter to Corporate Presidents about their law firm

Robert A. Niblock, Chairman & CEO

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

1000 Lowe's Boulevard

Mooresville, N.C. 28117

9/3/2010

Mr. Niblock

Recently a relative forwarded an e-mail written by an attorney, Dennis L. Guthrie, that according to his website, http://www.gdhs.com represents Lowe's Companies, Inc. & Lowe's Home Center's Inc.

In that letter, shown here: www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/guthrie.asp, he castigates Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

I have no particular problem with Mr. Guthrie voicing his personal opinion of Ms. Pelosi. That is what makes this country great.  I am troubled by his promulgating half-truths and lies, to make his point.  It took me less than three minutes to learn Mr. Guthrie’s two major points were explained and those accusations found to be false well before he sent his letter. Here are Internet addresses that will bring you to that research.

1.   www.snopes.com/politics/pelosi/americansamoa.asp

2.   www.snopes.com/politics/pelosi/jet.asp

As it has been said, you are entitled to your own opinion; you are not entitled to your own truth.  

I have no muscle with Mr. Guthrie, but I might with you. If you partner with people that send out less than truthful letters, you must understand you run the risk of being painted with the same brush. I don’t think it fair to stop doing business with you because of what a third party said or did, and it will bring me personal pain not to deal with Lowe's Companies, Inc. & Lowe's Home Center's Inc again. However, in my opinion, we as Americans must not support those that lie and spread untruths, even if that guilt is simply by association.

As Mr. Guthrie promised, I too will share this message with many.

Sincerely,

George A. Edwards

cc’s: Larry D. Stone, President & COO, Lowe's Companies, Inc.,

Coby G. Brooks, President & CEO, Hooter's Restaurants of America,

Dave George, President, Longhorn Steakhouse

Wall Street Reform - Letter to President

The President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20500

9/2/2010

Mr. President:

When I was in the 7^th or 8^th grade my Civic’s teacher assured the class that we would never face another depression.  Laws were enacted to prevent the root cause. I learned later that the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 removed the safeguards placed by the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933.

Recently Congress passed and you signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. However this bill does not seem to address the underlying causes that the Glass-Steagall Act did. Is my government asking me to trust them again?  My government assured me in 1999, all would be well. The only people that were safe were the Fat Cats on Wall Street. They made huge salaries and when they drove the country into the ditch, my government came to me and said well, we have to bail them out. Thanks to the Bush administration, we did. Did any of the Fat Cats go to jail? No. Why? They did not break the law. Does the Dodd-Frank bill award jail time for bad acts? I don’t think so. So the absolute worst that can happen, when greedy Wall Street cripples us again, that company will go out of business. Those at the top keep their riches and retire. Their employees will apply for unemployment.

There is a Consumer Protection component that was part of the Dodd-Frank bill, however, the person seemed most qualified to look after the consumer, Elizabeth Warren, has not been nominated. No one, with any ties to Wall Street, including those in your party and your administration has come out in her support. This is shameful.

There is a hole in this bucket on so many levels and it needs to be fixed. If you cannot get it done via Congress can you please consider Executive Orders?

Sincerely,

George A. Edwards