Has anything in your life been better with Biden? Letters to the Editor, Aug. 13, 2023
Tobia and the Peter Principle
Two articles in the Aug. 10 edition of FLORIDA TODAY ("County says no to tax break for L3Harris" and "County to end grants to cultural groups") have an interesting relation.
The cultural grants are made from tourist tax revenue.
Earlier this year the commission chose to provide $30 million from the tourist tax for advertising for a proposed Westin hotel in Cocoa Beach.
The L3Harris tax break is based on them completing construction of new facilities in Palm Bay and meeting promised hiring of numerous high-wage employees. If they do not meet the hiring goals, they do not receive the tax break.
Commissioner Tobia argued against the tax break, citing their profit and executive officer's compensation package. Those factors are irrelevant. The company is looking for a low-cost location for the new business, with many locations offering such packages. The county risks losing many high-paying jobs vs. many low-paying jobs for the hotel which commissioners chose to support.
More: Rep. Sirois' opposition could mean there will be no vote on Merritt Island incorporation
Perhaps L3Harris should have used locally connected lobbyists, such as former county commissioner Fisher and former county attorney Knox, as the hotel did.
Tobia's claim of fiscal responsibility is refuted by his spending discretionary money to support a proposal to form a city on Merritt Island, which is not in the district he represents.
Tobia has reached his Peter Principle limit. He plans to run for the non-term-limited role of supervisor of elections, which pays $174,011 vs. $58,145. for county commissioner. About a 200% increase.
James Beasom, Melbourne Village
What say you, Gov?
I am an avid genealogist and I am currently researching the ancestral past of an African American friend of mine.
Three generations of her ancestors spent their entire lives in the states of Georgia and Mississippi before moving to Florida around 1950.
My research led me to "convict leasing," the system that exploited a clause in the 13th Amendment of the Constitution to provide a basis for involuntary servitude.
The following quote may have well been expressed by our governor and I quote: “During its heyday, defenders of convict leasing contended that its Black convict laborers were actually ‘better off’ than they had been as enslaved people. They claimed that by being forced to conform to rigid discipline, observe regular working hours, and acquire new skills, the formerly enslaved people would lose their ‘old habits’ and finish their prison term better equipped to assimilate into society as freemen.”
The above expression was the same that slaveholders (many of whom would have described themselves as Christians) purported and which a century later our much-revered governor seems to believe.
Michael Palmer, Cocoa Beach
More: Brevard parents and teachers share concerns ahead of new school year
74 years later ...
"You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear ...
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a different shade
You've got to be carefully taught
You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!"
Those lyrics are from "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught," a tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "South Pacific."
In Florida we have codified that fear.
In Florida, for “people whose eyes are oddly made,” e.g., the Chinese, we’ve outlawed land purchases.
In Florida, for “people whose skin is a different shade,” the Black and brown in particular, we suppress the vote wherever possible.
In Florida, we’ve modified school curricula to eliminate true history and to stoke the fear of a few.
What makes us so afraid that we have to regulate our thoughts with misinformation and to act cruelly towards our fellow men?
Are we going to send our children willfully ignorant and ill-informed to cope with an increasingly sophisticated, rapidly changing, dyanamic global landscape? I want to send my children out as active contributors to the communities and environments they live in. To do that requires letting go of old fears and hate that only holds us back.
Susan C. Webb, Indian Harbour Beach
Boo to Bidenomics
I give writer Josh Boak an "E" for effort on his column that tries to convince us that we are better off with Bidenomics. And that Biden’s simple style of repetition is effective in bringing that point home.
But he, like Biden, makes the mistake of believing their own lies. The people sure don’t. Our corrupt, senile old president has drained our bank accounts and our savings accounts while he bankrupts our country of the respect it once had as a great power. Biden runs on two principles, and two principles alone greed and power. I think what Josh is actually saying is that if Biden repeats the lie enough we will believe it.
Can any one of you readers out there think of one thing in your life that has gotten better since January 2021? I sure can’t.
Marie Muller, Cocoa
Soccer blunder by POTUS
Following the USWNT's disappointing loss to Sweden, U.S. President Joe Biden posted a message on Twitter where he said that the team has made our country proud.
"Congratulations on an incredible run," he said. "This team is something special and I'm looking forward to seeing how you continue to inspire Americans with your grit and determination on and off the field."
The USWNT has been eliminated, and instead of sadness, much of the country, including me, is thrilled with what happened. Bad blood with the team started before their elimination as before every match they had this year, much of the team remained mostly silent during our country's national anthem. At least Rapinoe won't have to suffer by listening to our anthem on the field ever again.
I'm a proud American citizen.
Fernando Dominicis, Melbourne
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Is Florida stoking hate, fear? Letters to the Editor, Aug. 13, 2023
