From antisemitism to Trump, readers share opinions in letters to editor

Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less. Include your name and city or community of residence. Guest opinions should be 600 words or less and include a brief summary of the author’s credentials relevant to the topic. Guest opinions may include a head shot of the author. For the Fort Myers News-Press, email submissions to mailbag@news-press.com and for the Naples Daily News to letters@naplesnews.com

Most gift wrap not recyclable

I was reading an article in one of my recycling news sites and it was pointed out that most wrapping paper we use around the holidays is not recyclable. Certainly you can put it in the blue barrel and that might make you feel good about yourself but it gets pulled out and sent to a landfill. The plastics and metals in that paper that make it shiny, also makes it almost impossible to reuse. I understand a lot of folks simply don't care and will always buy the plastic and foil infused paper but I think the newspaper folks could help. If The News-Press would simply print a special holiday "section" that was nothing but the normal broadsheet with holiday themed graphics on it, the consumer could use that to wrap packages and all of that paper could be recycled along with the other newsprint. That tends to be one of the most valuable paper products at a recycle center with some small cash value as opposed to most things we have to pay to get rid of.

Greg Fretwell, Estero

Enforce freedom of the seas

Since Allied victories in the Battle of Midway in the Pacific in June of 1942 and the imposition of effective deterrents against U-boat attacks in the Atlantic in 1943, America has ruled the seas. And a benevolent rule it has been, for the weak and strong, for friend and foe alike.

U.S. taxpayers have financed a military powerful enough to ensure continued freedom of the seas. This single commitment allowed international trade to flourish in the past three-quarters of a century, allowing much of humanity to prosper and individual living standards to grow beyond the imagination of even the most optimistic.

Now, after 80 years, that long-time commitment enforced by both Democratic and Republican presidents through peace and war, seems at risk of fading into the sunset. In the past few weeks, we’ve had over a hundred attacks on American bases in the Middle East and now on shipping in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, all unanswered. The public needs to know why we’re unwilling or unable to uphold our sacred honor and counter those attacks committed by a small band of rebels in the Yemen desert.

Do we think doing nothing will discourage future attacks? I hope not; if so, the administration and the American public are in for a rude awakening. It’s a catastrophic failure in foreign policy and a loss of political will. We can’t afford another year of neglect before the public weighs in on the issue in November 2024.

William Korstad, Fort Myers

The Fed and interest rates

According to an October 5 Forbes article “there were about 605,000 announced layoffs” in the first nine months of this year. That’s 605,000 hard-working Americans that had a torturous drive home wondering what they’re going to tell their families. We don’t know exactly how many of those are directly related to the 11 interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve since March of last year but we know the intent was to slow the economy in order to get inflation under control. Unfortunately, the side effect is an increase in the unemployment rate. It’s been that way since the 1960s.

This cause-effect relationship is obvious to anyone who’s looked at a chart of the federal fund rate against the unemployment rate. With respect to getting inflation under control the only time prices go up is either when there’s not enough competition or when the government has restricted energy production. Both of which are the responsibility of our elected representatives – not the Federal Reserve Board. The CPI that determines the inflation rate is a deeply flawed measurement that assumes consumers are stupid and will buy overpriced items instead of substituting with lower priced items such as the store brand.

Interest rates should be determined purely by fierce competition between banks and how smart they invest. Future historians will scratch their heads wondering why we ever let a 12-member committee of a private entity have such a grip on the largest economy in the world.

Ben Furleigh, Port Charlotte

Let's pay with cash

A recent news article was titled “Economy better, but people feel worse.” Economy better? Of course, they feel worse! An honest assessment would have been the economy is climbing slowly out of the toilet but the cost of living is at least 20% higher than under The Donald’s leadership in 2020, and the cost of insurance, home loan and credit card interest are all soaring, and credit card debt for many Americans is maxed out. And, the national debt is now 123% of the gross national product because of massive deficit spending!What real bank would allow anyone to borrow 100% of their earnings? The dollar is practically worthless and has lost 95% of its value since 1973, and is on the verge of losing its international currency status which would seriously harm all of us. Finding a penny on the street once was a prize, now they are often ignored.Credit card transactions (digital) are over 80% of all spending, so governments and naturally the big banks are looking favorably at eliminating cash. In November 2022, Borderless Joe signed an executive order for banks and credit card companies to explore the feasibility of converting to a national digital currency. That study is ongoing today.Can you imagine the present administration having all your money within a few clicks on a keyboard? Could this be an instrument for total population control? What we the people can and should do to thwart this plot is to start paying cash for everything.Dr. Robert A. Strohaver, Naples

Student debt solution

Here's a thought. Reportedly, the Biden administration has 855,000 student debtors scheduled for $40 billion in college debt forgiveness.  Since the aggregate market value of higher education endowment reportedly is $927 billion, and higher education is actually the culprit behind this college debt because of its predatory tuition and fee schedule, why not assess institutions of higher learning a percentage of their endowments to fund this giveaway, especially since portions of this $40B giveaway will go to the 54% of their graduates who are not employed, or are underemployed, in the fields for which these institutions granted degrees.

I can't imagine Harvard missing with any great pain 2% of their $53B endowment, or Yale 2% of its $42B, or Princeton 2% of its $37B, or Stanford 2% of its $35B, or MIT 2% of its $27B, etc, etc, etc.  These five endowments alone (the nation's richest, incidentally) will provide just short of 10% of this $40 billion.  Now apply the 2% chip-in to the nation's remaining 5,994 colleges and universities.  Better still, make it a 4.2% assessment and the $40B disappears with change left over, and taxpayers are completely off the hook.  But then, what's to happen when the next crop of graduates finds itself similarly victimized by these institutions for higher learning?

Barry R. Schupp, Fort Myers

Honor the Merchant Marine

As a Marco resident in 2019, I attended the Memorial Day Service at Veterans Park and was disturbed that the U.S. Merchant Marine was not recognized. These mariners on board U.S. merchant ships in WWII died at the rate of 1 in 26 which is the highest rate of casualties in any of the services. They received no GI Bill or VA benefits like the other services thereby enduring physical disabilities and PTSD on their own.

I was able to get the U.S. Merchant Marine recognized at the following year's event, hosted by VFW 404, which saluted the role they played. However no flag or service song was presented like the other services. No recognition was made at subsequent events, however Space Force was added though they didn’t exist until 2019. As a Master Mariner in the Merchant Marine and a Naval officer, it was my honor to sail with many WWII merchant mariners through the ’70s and ’80s. Their stories of heroism are epic.

To this day, the U.S. Merchant Marine is the backbone of any military venture and yet lapses in recognition add to the injustice committed to some of the greatest patriots in our history.

The government bestowed veterans status on them in 1988 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022. Cape Coral recognizes them with a monument and flag flying proudly amongst the other services. C’mon VFW 404, the Merchant Marine deserves to have their flag and service song played at your events. Seafarers who performed so outstandingly in a time of need and sacrifice left a legacy and tradition which must be remembered and cherished.

Ralph Rohena, Marco Island

No empathy for Palestinians

Feel no empathy for the Palestinians. In a recent survey they support Hamas and the extinction of Israel by almost 100%.

The Arabs seem incapable of learning. Throughout history they have tried to eliminate the Israelis. To this day they still are at it. Every ten years or so the Arabs try again. It can be one country or several of them making the attempt. It can even be a terrorist group like Hamas acting alone but with the support of Arab countries.

They always lose. They will lose again.

E.R. Santhin, Naples

Democracy is safe

In the last analysis, Trump will go down in history as "the mouse that roared."The relatively silent, yet strong democratic bear is just going to yawn and roll over on the mouse once again next November.In the meantime, the roaring mouse is such a novelty that media outlets portray it as a mighty behemoth that will crush the democratic bear.So here we are, fearing that the "mighty" roaring mouse under the media magnifying glass will devour our beloved democratic bear.Ain't happenin' folks. Democracy is safe in spite of glaring media spotlights and magnifying glasses doing their profitable best to scare the crap out of us.Just don't take my word for it and stay home in November or that pesky mouse could find its way back in the Oval Office.

J. Cant, Naples

Antisemitism

I'd like to respond to the recent contributor about the current Palestinian protests (Are protests really antisemitic).

If people are shouting and holding signs saying "From the river to the sea" then yes, they are antisemitic because it's a slogan that is calling for the elimination of Israel in its entirety. It doesn't get more antisemitic than that.

As for saying that Israel has been occupying Palestine and stealing land in the West Bank for approximately 70 years you may want to know that the Jews have been in the land of Israel for over 4,000 years. Israel predates Palestine.

Rick Manuel, Dade City

Prevent death of democracy

If you don’t believe history can repeat itself, read "The Librarian of Burned Books." The German character speaks of the death of a nation, “it comes not as a rebel shout but as a sly whisper… It can start with rumblings about an unreliable press and rumors about political enemies that will threaten your family, your children. It can deepen with each disdainful remark about science and art and literature… It comes cloaked in patriotism and love of country, and uses that as armor against any criticism… I grew up in a democracy… that encouraged critical thought and free speech… I can tell you many things about how men who crave power use fear and panic that’s incited by certain ideas to get what they want… We cannot stop individuals who read for the sole purpose of confirming their already closely held beliefs… But we can stop dictators, the tyrants, the bullies who try to impose that method onto others… In 1928, my father, along with the rest of my country, was mocking Hitler. They saw him as a joke, someone who could be easily controlled, someone who would burn out after everyone heard his deranged spiels. Only a handful of years later, we had to flee Germany after my brother was dragged to a concentration camp, where he would be murdered for his beliefs.”

If this sounds familiar to present day America, please consider the role citizens must play to prevent the death of a democracy. Men of integrity built our nation. Why are we permitting people who lack integrity to destroy it?

Beverly Otten, Fort Myers

We're all immigrants

I recently made an appointment with the Tax Collector's Office in Cape Coral. I was applying for a homemade boat title. I reserved the appointment one and a half weeks prior. I arrived at the office 15 minutes early, got my number and was asked to take a seat. Even though it took me 1 and 1/2 hours for my number to be called I considered myself to be lucky because the person next to me had been there for 4 hours but he didn't have an appointment. I was about 1 hour into my wait when I noticed an elderly gentleman get his number and was asked to take a seat, but on his way he stood in front of the group of approximately 75 people, which I was one of and said "Is this where they serve all of the great replacement people." I couldn't believe what I just heard. I wanted to respond but bit my lip in fear of losing my appointment time. For those that don't know what the great replacement conspiracy theory is, it is a right wing theory that thinks that everyone that doesn't look like they do or have the same religious beliefs they do are here in their country to replace them. First of all it's not their country, it's our country. We are all immigrants, whether it's 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation, our ancestors moved here from a different country to find a better life in the land of the free. We are all immigrants and need to respect everyone no matter where they came from or what God they worship or what language they speak. My number was called, I went to window #18 and was treated professionally with respect. As I walked out I noticed the elderly gentleman was seated still waiting for his number to be called. I walked slowly past him, looked him in the eye and just pointed at my T-shirt which he was reading. My blue T-shirt says on the front "DEMOCRATS CARE" in capital letters.

John Simon, Cape Coral

Despicable and disgusting

Republicans previous to the MAGA election deniers takeover of the party wanted clean bills to come before them. Now, when badly needed aid for Ukraine is being requested, they are demanding money for border control now as winter sets in. Russia will be trying again to knock out power stations with rockets and missiles and Ukraine needs our anti-aircraft equipment to shoot them out of the sky before extensive damage is done. Russian President Putin is loving this discourse and is willing to drag the war out hoping his orange protege will be elected next year again with his electronic interference. For Repugnants (purposely misspelled) to make such a demand now when the poor Ukrainians so badly need our help again, is despicable and disgusting. This should bode well for next year’s elections when the Democrats take control of all three branches of government  I wonder what they’ll do if their standard-bearer is in a camouflage jump-suit.

Glenn Chenot, Cape Coral

Right wing tsunami

It’s a wrap. If 2023 was a year of turbulence then 2024 is shaping up to be a tsunami. Republicans couldn’t decide on a speaker for the House they control and when they did, it didn’t last long. And then poor Kevin quit at year's end. Serial liar, impersonator, cross dresser Republicans very own George Santos was kicked out of Congress. Showing up at a New York City after party for George was our very own Byron Donalds and six gun toting Lauren Boebert. Now poor George is at war with Delta Airlines over his name on his SkyMiles account and he made an unfounded claim from right wing radial internet media that Delta is secretly transporting undocumented migrants. Not to be left out Florida’s answer to Beavis, Matt Gaetz shot off a letter to Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta demanding answers to his laundry list of questions. Our Christmas Eve letters to the editor welcomes a new contributor who blames America's woes on Radical Left Marxist intellectuals and Lenin’s educational system here in America. Another conservative writer said that conservatives don’t read the Naples Daily News but turn to the internet for the real news. Maybe Alex Jones or Steve Bannon? Radical right wing insurrectionist conservatives can’t stand journalism, it’s their kryptonite.Laurence Jacks, Estero

Trump indictments

The lamentation by Governor DeSantis that the various indictments of  former President Trump have actually helped the ex-president politically probably is correct.

But his sorrowful observation made on the Christian Broadcasting Network last week has multiple flaws.

First, one major reason that the criminal charges have enhanced the ex-president’s popularity in the eyes of Republican primary voters is that our governor and the other primary contenders have criticized those proceedings and extended full-throated support to the former president. This is manifested in another remark made by the governor on the same broadcast that “I wish Trump hadn’t been indicted on any of this stuff.”

This critique magnifies the affirmation made by the governor and nearly all of the other contenders earlier in the campaign at the first televised debate that they would vote for him even if convicted of any of the serious charges against him.

With lionization like that from his rivals, it’s easy to understand why the charges of criminality have boosted the ex-president’s stature within his party. With adversaries like that, who needs supporters.

Another flaw in our governor’s outlook is his view that the indictments shouldn’t have been brought because of their impact on the Republican presidential primaries.  His implication is that prosecutors and the criminal justice system should defer to the machinations of Republican Party politics.

Talk about weaponization of the justice system!

Marshall H. Tanick, Naples

College professors and tenure

Today's paper had a long article titled "State laws driving college professors toward exits." The basic premise was that professors were leaving states because state laws were no longer assuring tenure would protect professors from being replaced. The article seems to indicate that this is a terrible result and will be harmful because professors are leaving states who no longer guarantee tenure to go to states that do guarantee tenure. From my perspective, this result is possibly a good thing. Professors who are leaving because they need protection for tenure are most likely the ones who should have been replaced if there was no tenure.

Ron Wobbeking, Naples

Enlightenment abandoned

The Age of Enlightenment (1685-1815) brought fresh ideas about liberty, equality and individual rights.  The Latin writings of Cicero inspired our founding fathers of the United States. (Wikipedia) John Adams said, “As all the ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher than Cicero, his authority should have great weight."  Thomas Jefferson identified Cicero as one who contributed to a tradition "of public right" which “informed his draft of the Declaration of Independence.”

Our founding fathers read Cicero in his own language − Latin. Today’s Supreme Court does not understand grammar, be it Latin or English.

A paramount example is the grammar used in the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The grammatical construction used in this amendment is akin to the ablative absolute used by Cicero. The ablatives were used “to form a substitute for a subordinate clause which defined the circumstances in which the main action of the verb occurs.”  The first 13 words of the amendment are an ablative absolute. Those 13 words “define the circumstances in which the action of the main verb occurs.“ That being the case, “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” only exists within a “well regulated Militia.”

There is no absolute right to have guns, only a right within a regulated militia. Outside of that, arms can be controlled by legislatures under the 2nd Amendment.

Our founding fathers chose enlightenment; our current Supreme Court justices rule unenlightened.

Joe Haack, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers area readers share opinions in letters to editor