Nelson A. Pryor: Guest Columnist
Can a state senator in Florida influence a Fed-induced recession? Of course the Fed means the Federal Reserve, in Washington City, and the state senate is, of course, out of Tallahassee.
The question is: can one fight inflation without inducing a recession?
Here-to-fore, the Fed used the reliable tool of deflation, i.e., increased interest rates, to “cool down” the economy, thus causing unemployment (last hired, first fired. etc.)
With general inflation running at 8.3 percent, and food costs inflation at 14 percent, somethings got to give. Higher prices make consumers less likely to spend and employers less likely to invest, causing pressure on prices. That then reduces demand for workers, pushing joblessness up and wages down.
Awash With Money
With trillions of taxpayer money mailed out, the effects of the American Recovery Plan, etc., fed the fires of go! go! go! Then with the reality of resultant interest-rate increases, the Feds primary tool of control, its hammer, so to speak, is applied to the economy. As with all hammers, everything turns into a nail, thus putting us into a recession.
Shut Down Economy
As remnants of pandemic government stimulus money began to vanish, with household savings further dwindled, and the shutdown, with resultant job loss taking effect, our country was put into a tailspin.
Bright Spot
The one bright spot was Florida. Florida was open for business. And business means jobs.
Keeping Florida open is job number 1, says Corey Simon, State Senate district number 3 candidate. “Staying open means Floridians will feel the effect of the Fed-induced recession last, and that’s a good thing,” says Corey Simon.
The Tallahassee area district, which includes Madison, Suwannee, and Jefferson counties, is Corey Simon’s new field of dreams.
Endorsed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the 45-year old private citizen turned citizen/politician, is up to the task.
Profile: Corey Simon
Simon was born in Boynton Beach, near Miami, in 1977 and raised by his mother who worked full-time as a deli manager at Publix. Understanding the struggle, he says: “For many of our single parent homes or even some of our two-parent homes, those struggles haven’t changed a whole lot.” Further, he says: “It’s still about those issues of putting a roof over the head of their kids. It’s about putting foods on the table. And it’s about putting gas in their vehicles so they can get to and from work.”
Great Mentors
Simon says his “passion for people” developed at a young age. “I had a high school coach that really took me under his wing,” he said. At Florida State University, Coach Bobby Bowden instilled in him a “passion for service.”
Simon played for the Seminoles between 1996-1999. He was a standout defensive lineman. His bachelor’s is in library and information science.
In 2000, he began his eight-season career in the NFL, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He retired from professional football in 2007 and began working in the private sector.
Work
Right now, Simon is CEO of Volunteer Florida, the agency that administers AmeriCorps programs across the state. He lives in Centerville, Florida, a northeastern suburb of Tallahassee.