Friday's letters: Unite School Board, options to abortion, replacing Rubio

Learn to work together on School Board

The very contentious School Board election is over (“Ziegler, Enos, Marinelli win,” Aug. 25). After attending every meeting since 2016, I was hoping for a reprieve.

Since none of the candidates I supported won, I guess I’ll just keep showing up. Fortunately, I was able to remain civil with a number of those with whom I don’t agree. We even found points of agreement.

My hope is that we can work together. We all support parents’ rights and students. That's all parents and all students.

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As they take their seats on the School Board, I hope the members will put aside the cultural war “red herrings” that sucked the oxygen out of the air at previous meetings.

The terms “critical race theory,” “grooming” and “indoctrination” were used disingenuously, cleverly and effectively – but they should now be retired.

Are there some things in our public school system that need attending to? Of course. But dismantling the whole system is not the answer.

Using the euphemism of “choice” for privatization is deceptive. The expansion of the student population has not been followed by the resources to support it.

A well-educated population is necessary for a functioning society.

As John Dewey said, “Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife.”

Rhana Bazzini, Sarasota

Better choices could limit need for abortion

The desire for an abortion usually results from unprotected sex. Better individual decisions could prevent them.

There are several ways to prevent pregnancy, and the morning-after pill is also available. Abortion should be rare and only necessary in the case of rape, incest or a threat to the woman’s health.

Abortion is not a federal or state rights issue. It is the result of individual decisions – either you make the right decision or suffer what may be very negative consequences.

Bobby Whitley, Sarasota

Run Sen. Rubio out of Washington

President Joe Biden recently signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which will lower the cost of prescription drugs and address the dangers of climate change, among other things.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican, voted against the legislation. He even complained about having to show up to vote! He called the bill to lower Floridians’ cost of living a “garbage bill.”

Rubio is paid a six-figure salary for a job he is loath to perform. As a taxpayer, I’m fed up with paying his salary.

Let's end Rubio's time in Washington and vote him out in November.

Ruth Volpe, Port Charlotte

Trump voter objects to Biden’s label

In response to President Joe Biden last week calling the MAGA philosophy “semi-fascism”:

I am a 4-foot-11-inch Jewish great-grandmother who did vote for Donald Trump. Am I to be called and labeled a semi-fascist?

Thanks for telling me exactly how you feel about me – an octogenarian, loving, peaceful, law-abiding, taxpaying citizen.

Marilyn Shuman, Sarasota

Time for GOP to concede to president

For most of my voting life, I have been able to understand why voters chose the “other guy” instead of my guy. On issues such as taxes, abortion, immigration and others there were supportable reasons for the decisions they made.

Now, I don’t understand. With all the recounts, court cases and investigations, there is no reason to believe Joe Biden is not the duly elected president. There is no evidence, not any, to support the claim that Donald Trump was cheated out of the presidency, yet millions say they believe he was.

I just don’t understand how they can do that.

In addition, a Reuters/Ipsos poll in June showed that 55% of Republicans believe the Capitol riot was led by left-wing protesters trying to make Trump look bad.

That edges up pretty close to nonsense. Actually, it is nonsense. The riot was a MAGA-led violent attempt to stop the constitutionally required process to peacefully transfer power.

Republicans are electing people who approved of doing that. I do understand that if they are successful, our democracy is in big trouble.

Kyle Quattlebaum, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: School Board members must work together, Trumpers not semi-fascists