Gov. Ron DeSantis: Florida's Book Banner-in-Chief

DeSantis threatens our right to read

Kudos to David McGrath. who wrote a guest column March 13 titled, “We can’t allow Florida’s zealots to take away our right to read.”

McGrath cautioned that Gov. Ron DeSantis presents a threat to the right to read for Florida students. By banning books, DeSantis and other like-minded politicians limit the literary education of students.

As a former educator, I learned of the profound power and value of the written word for students of all ages. Reading a wide variety of books with a wide variety of opinions allows children to broaden their views, accept many perspectives and become tolerant of ideas from other voices.

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As McGrath wrote, “Regular book readers become lifetime learners.”

We have the right to read and no misguided officials should have the ability to narrow our educational freedoms. We are dangerously moving backward from the preservation of our democracy.

Alice Blueglass, Sarasota

Help protect threatened sea life

Anyone who was saddened by the plight of the beached sperm whale in Venice should know that there is something that everyone can do to protect marine animals.

Cetacean experts have found that the biggest threats to whales are ship strikes and entanglement in massive commercial fishing nets. These indiscriminate traps ensnare every sentient being in their path − including whales, seals, porpoises, turtles and other marine life.

Scientists estimate that worldwide the commercial fishing industry seriously injures or kills more than 650,000 marine mammals every year. They are callously dismissed as “bycatch.”

“Target” fish suffer, too, when they’re suffocated to death or impaled on hooks. Researchers have mapped more than 20 pain receptors in fish’s mouths and heads.

With 90% of large fish populations already exterminated and ocean ecosystems on the brink of collapse, we must do our part and let sea life (and all other animals) live.

Michelle Reynolds, North Port

Make big polluters pay for carbon emissions

In his recent State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden mentioned his plan to lower carbon/methane emissions to the needed level by 2030.

This can be done in large part by making big polluters pay a fee for the carbon emissions they release into our atmosphere. Globally, this solution can work to our advantage as we know that American industry is among the cleanest in the world.

It’s also a solution with bipartisan appeal.

The Foreign Pollution Free Act, introduced by Republicans, and the Clean Competition Act, introduced by Democrats, both propose charging a carbon border adjustment mechanism at the border to ensure high-polluting countries – who undercut our domestic manufacturers with cheaper, carbon-heavy products – pay for their climate pollution.

Both bills would level the playing field by penalizing countries whose products have a higher carbon footprint and have opened the door for bipartisan discussion.

I very much hope that people in our Sarasota district will contact U.S. Rep. Greg Steube and Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott to show support for these bills so we can clean up our air and reward American manufacturers.

Marion Larsen, Sarasota

Help Ukrainians battle for their country

Elon Musk said it’s not worth it to support Ukraine because it’s “inevitable” that Russia will defeat Ukraine.

I suppose it was inevitable that the most powerful military in the world (Britain) would defeat the ragtag Americans in the Revolutionary War. That Germany, with all its might, would smash Britain in World War II.

Inevitable that the mighty USA would defeat North Korea in the ’50s and the Vietcong in the ’60s. The VC didn’t have a single airplane. Inevitable that Russia would annihilate the Taliban and the U.S. would do it 20 years later.

None of these things happened.

People fighting for their own country, who are committed to fight, are almost impossible to defeat. If we keep supporting the Ukrainians, they will bring Russia to its knees, just as Afghanistan did, and greatly diminish the ability of Russia to invade additional countries.

Support Ukraine. They are doing all of the work. We just need to send them some bullets.

Jim Stewart, Parrish

‘Work until you’re dead’? No way

Why would you print such a disgusting column (“I applaud GOP’s new ‘work until you’re dead’ platform,” March 15)?

Columnist Rex Huppke is a fool.

I have been retired 15 years and have enjoyed my life very much. At 77, I am thankful for the good retirement life I have had.

I am surrounded by many retired seniors who are blessed to be able to enjoy their retirement days. I worked in the business world many years, and I don’t miss it.

I think President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and lots of people in Congress need to retire and start enjoying their senior days relaxing. They need to stop worrying about their egos and take time to really live life.

Rita Hofrichter, Ellenton

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ron DeSantis shouldn't be Florida's Book Banner-in-Chief