Friday's letters: Manageable development, pro-vasectomy, opportunist governor, more
Vote for Siesta preservation
The Republican primary election for the District 2 Sarasota County Commission seat is crucial for the future of Siesta Key. Mark Smith, architect and businessman, is opposing Lourdes Ramirez, passionate advocate for a livable Siesta Key.
A voice for preserving a lifestyle on Siesta Key that allows for safe ingress and egress, and manageable development in keeping with the character of the island is what we need.
We do not need another supporter of unbridled development on the island. My recollection of Smith at commission planning meetings is that he was one of the very few who voiced support for development, whether it be the gargantuan Promenade at Stickney Point and U.S. 41 or the plethora of hotels we now expect on our island.
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Vote in this important primary Aug. 23.
Linda Dickinson, Siesta Key
Make vasectomies cheaper, more accessible
To address the termination of Roe v. Wade, a major component of women’s rights for the last half century, it seems that a wise and long-overdue remedy would be to make vasectomies widely available and affordable, and thus finally share the responsibility of unplanned, unwanted or dangerous pregnancies with the partner for the actual fertilization.
I do not believe that this procedure produces medical problems for men, and it would permanently remove the fear for women who face a potential pregnancy. In fact, I believe that choosing a vasectomy can be turned into a fashionable “thing” for caring husbands and boyfriends to reinforce their concern for a women’s health and happiness, and relieve their partners’ continuing stress as a result of limited options.
Why must women continue to carry the burden of carrying and caring for children, when it takes two to create a life? The vasectomy choice could assuage both the anti-abortion rights contingent and abortion rights supporters.
It would also eliminate the need for “The Handmaid’s Tale” scenario that is quickly becoming a reality for those who are determined to police both real and potential pregnancies in this our land of the free and home of the brave.
Marie Palagonia, Venice
DeSantis embodies the opportunist
Let’s face it: Gov. Ron DeSantis is pure and simple an opportunist, one who “exploits chances offered by immediate circumstances without reference to a general plan or moral principle.”
He is reluctant to promulgate a position on abortion because he knows that his base favors a ban and the majority of voters do not. This just adds to his culture war opportunism.
The “Woke” and “Don’t Say Gay” bills are the same. Pander to the base, since you must have them to win, and then try to convince the rest of the populace that you are right.
Does he really think that teachers are “grooming” children to be LGBTQ?
Cleansing the history books about slavery and how we treated our indigenous population will not change our history.
And then there is his stance on COVID-19. His base, for some unbelievable reason, was against masks and had some anti-vaccine beliefs.
What does the governor then do? He hires Joseph Ladapo, a doctor discredited by his colleagues and a member of some quack anti-vax medical group that promoted hydroxychloroquine.
If the definition of opportunist fits, you must quit DeSantis by voting him out.
Ike Koziol, Sarasota
Global events influence oil, gas prices
It is admirable that the writer of “Decide what will sway your vote in midterms,” July 12, has decided people should vote based on facts rather than emotions. It’s just too bad he hasn’t followed his own advice, because his conclusions regarding oil and gas prices are not fact based.
The facts are that oil and gas, being global commodities, are influenced by global events, such as pandemics, political instability and wars, to name just a few. The fact that we are currently experiencing high prices is a result of the confluence of these events, not U.S. regulation of energy production.
Another fact that the writer could have researched is that it takes almost a decade from the time a federal drilling lease is issued until oil/gas from that site makes it to the open market. President Joe Biden has been in office less than two years, so his energy policy has not caused this shortage.
Yes, everyone should absolutely vote. But it’s also preferable to think before you cast your ballot.
Susan Cohen, Sarasota
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Vote for preservation of Siesta Key lifestyle, choose vasectomy
