Honesty and school taxes, transphobic ads and awaiting GOP triumph: Letters, Oct. 23, 2022

Begging for school tax OK, but be honest about it

In years of watching politics, I don’t ever recall seeing a sleazier approach than the one Brevard Public Schools is employing now to pass its third tax hike in 8 years. The ballot language alone reads like something designed in a lab by Richard Nixon, Bernie Madoff and Mayor Quimby from "The Simpsons."

Voters are told the tax will be used to “ensure student achievement.” Huh? This promise is both overconfident and hopelessly generic. How is achievement being measured? If Superintendent Mullins fails to ensure achievement, will he send us a refund? A Cato Institute study showed that a tripling of inflation-adjusted education spending since 1970 has had no impact whatsoever on student test scores. So why will this increase, which represents only 4% of a massive $1.4 billion budget, be different?

Further, the politician-crafted ballot assures us these new funds will be reviewed by an “independent” oversight committee. But that committee is the opposite of independent; its members are appointed by the very same school board politicians whose conflicts of interest run longer than a CVS receipt.

The school board has a right to beg for new taxes. They don’t have a right to do so with complete dishonesty.

Nick Tomboulides, Cocoa

'I am just an American who loves his country'

As we get closer to Election Day 2022, it is quite obvious to see that disinformation is still all over the internet, political speeches, and even some printed material.

Please, citizens, get the truth.

Locally, countywide, statewide, and nationally, citizens have lost so many rights over the last few years: reproductive rights, voting rights, assembly rights, et al. This has been done primarily in Republican-controlled areas: school board members in Brevard County harassed while trying to protect our children; gerrymandered voting districts designed to favor one party and deny Black voters their candidates a chance to win. Abortion laws statewide and nationally that denigrate women's rights; a former president, who will probably be indicted soon, who controls so many people's minds.

I do not know how any member of a minority, any Hispanic person, any woman could vote for one of these Republican politicians who want to control and/or destroy you. Thus, I say to everyone, please vote blue (Democratic) on Nov. 8, if you want the United States and our democracy to survive.

I belong to no political party. I am just an American who loves his country.

Donald A. Barlow, Viera

When the Republicans are in charge ...

As I write this opinion, there are less than three weeks to go before Nov. 8, Election Day.

As I listen to the news media on different channels, it seems the House of Representatives might be taken over by the Republicans. The Senate races seem to be too close to call in the states where the Republicans could or could not win back the majority.

I think if the Republicans win back just the House, a lot of new legislation will of course be presented by the different committees. There will also be many subpoenas issued to many different people who were involved in the Hunter Biden investigations and all the personnel involved in the COVID crisis.

It should be interesting to see all the possible hearings being planned by the Republicans and the testimonies by the attendees.

I for one will be so glad to finally see an end to all the political ads continuously appearing on my TV and all the debates by the candidates who prevent my favorite programing from airing.

Will a Republican Congress make a huge difference in our government when this happens? I think not, as long as we have a president who has already stated the if the House and Senate are Republican-controlled, he will veto all legislation.

The only thing that will change is when a Republican becomes president in 2024.

Bruce Mochwart, Melbourne

Obsession with sexuality issues in politics is disgusting

Some of the political ads for politicians of a certain party are downright vile and disgusting.

The anti-gay and transphobic discrimination is disgraceful. No one is trying to “indoctrinate your children or turn your boys into girls,” and nobody is “teaching radical gender identity without parental consent.” Also, the “taxpayer-funded sex change operations for minors” claim is just plain ludicrous. The unhealthy, perverted obsession the Florida GOP has with non-existent sexuality in grades K through 3 is nothing short of stupendous.

These grade-school kids probably knew little to nothing about transgender issues until DeSantis brought this non-existent problem to their attention by his rantings and his ridiculous new laws. The “Stop WOKE” legislation restricting what teachers can or cannot say is not only preposterous and transphobic, but it may very well be unconstitutional and possibly a violation of the teachers' First Amendment rights.

The Florida High School Athletic Association is now requiring female athletes to answer five questions concerning their menstrual cycle. Are you serious? I know these questions are designed to prevent transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, but not at the expense of reducing our high school girls to their menstrual cycle. This is political intrusion at its finest.

Finally, we need to elect honorable legislators who will represent the will of the people and not some cockamamie, harebrained attempt to legislate their warped sense of morality and their unhealthy obsession with elementary and high school sexuality.

Ricardo Alvarez Jr., West Melbourne

Those who didn't certify 2020 election 'a peril' to US

Our nation was founded on the premise that We The People have a right to choose our leaders.

Any Republican who refused to vote to certify the 2020 election results, and to directly answer questions about election security and voter fraud, is a peril to the United States and its democracy.

I’m a former Republican and supporter of Rep. Posey. He has lost my vote.

Kathy Ojeda, Merritt Island

Trump actually believes 'The Big Lie'

Donald Trump's penchant for litigation is second only to his narcissism, but remotely. Trump filed suit against CNN, claiming defamation, focusing on the term "The Big Lie" about widespread fraud that he says cost him the 2020 presidential election, and seeking $475 million in damages.

Perhaps Trump has a legitimate case as delusion may not be deemed a lie, but rather simply bewilderment. Trump actually believes his farcical ramblings of election fraud, therefore, he may be justified in suing CNN as our legal system is equally laughable at times.

Trump is relentless, propagating fictitious theories of fraudulence as cause for Biden's victory. Were Trump able to question every voter, he would doubt those claiming to have voted for Biden.

Gregory W. Hewitt, Melbourne

Future of Social Security and Medicare — and more — is at stake

Paying attention to what politicians do — how they vote and their respect for the rule of law — is important. Paying attention to what they say is also important. When they announce they may do something draconian to the middle class, pay close attention.  Sen. Rick Scott’s declaration regarding Social Security and Medicare is alarming. Sen. Scott bragged one of the goals of the his party, if they are in control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year, is to change Social Security and Medicare to “discretionary spending” and require congressional approval every five years. Sen. Rubio agreed. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) quickly added he’d rather them reevaluated every year.

If you or your family members ever retire or become disabled, you want to pray these two critical safety nets stay present and strong.  Perhaps a law forbidding further congressional raiding of the Social Security fund is in order. If our elderly and disabled Americans lose these two life sustaining programs, there better be replacement plans.  Like past repeated efforts to abolish the ACA, there are no replacement plans.

Both these programs provide minimal income and healthcare stability for our older and disabled population.  With election time here, remember this plan for Social Security and Medicare ... for your parents’, children’s, America’s and your own future. Vote accordingly.

Mary Hillberg, Merritt Island

GOP agenda doesn't bode well for seniors

To all the seniors getting ready to cast your vote in the midterm election, the following is the official Republican agenda if they retake Congress.

The Republican Study Committee, which represents a whopping 157 out of 211 House Republicans, holds slashing Medicare and Social Security as a core tenet of their proposed budget, including by:

• Raising the retirement age to 70.

• Ending the Medicare guarantee.

• Beginning to privatize Social Security.

So just keep this in mind when marking your ballot. Do you really want to make your personal life more miserable and expensive?

Ed Dean, Merritt Island

Our future is on ballot in many ways

I hate when political pundits say a candidate will win because of statewide name recognition, as in the Rubio/Demings race, even though one of the candidate misses crucial votes in the Senate, by not showing up.

Listen up, folks: Democracy is on the ballot.

I don't want to sound all doom and gloom here, but unless people wake up and comprehend that on Nov. 8, the vote is not about temporary inflation (which Republicans have less chance of fixing than President Biden) but about democracy — we are going to lose this country.

Are we going to be like the Russian people who think their war is justified because alternate opinions aren't allowed?

A woman's right to choose is extremely important, but saving our democracy is again on the ballot. Yes: Reproductive freedom, control of our reproductive systems, the potential for stripping abortion rights in all 50 states, even for rape, incest or medical reasons — that's all on the ballot. At this time in my life, I personally don’t believe in abortion, but it's not my right to interfere in another person's decision or choice.

Please voters, the "kitchen table issues" are on the ballot. For a start: jobs, inflation, health care, immigration reform, border security, COVID-19, homeowners insurance, health care, education, public schools and affordable housing. Pay attention. Don't get caught up in the culture wars and lose sight of what's happening.

Seeta Durjan Esmailbegui, Melbourne

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Be honest on school tax; awaiting GOP's return: Letters, Oct. 23, 2022