Florida flounders while DeSantis focuses on running for president
Florida unhealthy, neglected by DeSantis
I’m sure by now those who care have read the article detailing Florida’s standing on public health funding from America’s Health Ranking. Nationally, we rank 44th overall.
That ranking puts us on a par with the “unhealthiest states”: Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Alabama.
Nice company?
Meanwhile, our governor roams the political world (Florida be damned) seeking the presidential nomination. His platform is all about:
Banning books.
Limiting voting rights.
Bashing the LGBTQ community.
Engaging in a personal feud with Disney, the state's biggest tourist attraction.
Restricting women’s reproductive rights.
Failing to adequately deal with the state’s insurance crisis.
Limiting access to the real history of Florida in schools.
Threatening teachers and doctors with legal action if they don't comply with his draconian policies.
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Just to name a few.
This is the reality of today’s “free state of Florida.”
George Ulrich, Sarasota
Surprise! Roundabout unsnarls traffic
Having driven a good amount of time, I was glad to see Sarasota decided years ago to install the roundabouts we have.
I read with frustration all of the complaints as construction was happening. During any road construction things shift and change and do cause delays.
On a recent Saturday I drove back from Lido Key at 5 in the afternoon. It had been some time since I had done that traffic-snarled return to Fruitville Road that usually backed up to the hump on the bridge.
I was not looking forward to the delay.
But, lo and behold, no delay!
I used caution around the two circles during the merge and, poof, I was on Fruitville.
The last time I used that route was on a weekday and it was backed up, not because of the circle but due to the traffic light at Golden Gate Point/Sunset Drive.
Yet folks were blaming the circle for the delay.
Maybe there needs to be another circle there to make life better for those commuters.
Mike Chambers, Sarasota
Pro-life’ protesters spew hate at clinic
“Abortion is like Hitler sending Jews to the gas chambers!” was shouted at me by a protester when I recently provided escort service to patients at Planned Parenthood.
I was stunned by the hatred of his words.
Protesters don’t know the reason for patients’ visits. They assume everyone is getting an abortion.
What’s more apparent is the lack of empathy for patients who are receiving an abortion. Walk a mile in that woman’s shoes before you pass judgment.
Patients’ reactions to the protesters vary.
Some are angered and want to engage the protesters, which we discourage.
Some are shocked and ask if the protesters are there all the time.
Some are introspective, focused on their appointment and quietly thanking me for my support during probably the most difficult appointment of their lives.
As an escort, I am able to calm and reassure patients that they are in a safe place that will care for them and hold them dear.
I take my job as a Planned Parenthood escort seriously!
The protesters claim to be pro-life, but they spew hate in their pro-life messages.
I wonder how they reconcile their hateful rhetoric and behavior when they say their prayers at night.
Sharon Carloni, Bradenton
Sarasota city staff ineffective
Mollie Cardamone's Dec. 27 column in the Herald-Tribune shined a light on the poor management of the city staff (“Sarasota City Hall needs an attitude adjustment”).
For the city attorney to actually not comment on the staff’s presentation because he might “engender a strong negative reaction” shows just how low the performance and effectiveness of the city staff has become under the current management.
Attorneys must be licking their chops on this issue! Their slam dunk will cost taxpayers a lot.
It takes years to completely destroy a government staff, but the city of Sarasota has managed to accomplish it.
Len Smally, Sarasota
Don’t vote for Russia, China, Iraq in 2024
A report was recently issued by the National Intelligence Council asserting that Russia and China conducted “malign influence operations” in the 2022 midterm elections.
Iraq and North Korea have conducted similar operations in past U.S. elections.
These countries used the same social media outlets and tactics that Russia (presumably under the command of Vladimir Putin) used in 2016 when it meddled in the U.S. election to support the Republican candidacy of Donald Trump and denigrate his Democrat opponent, Hillary Clinton.
So from that can we not draw the conclusion to expect more interference from these authoritarian regimes this election year?
And why would these regimes want former President Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans sitting in the White House and Congress?
Think about it.
If you want to help Russia, China, Iraq and North Korea achieve their common goal, vote for Republicans this year.
And if you want to help defend democracy, national security and human rights, vote for Democrats!
Tom “Buzz” O’Donnell, Venice
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Focused on presidential campaign, governor neglects Florida
