Letters: It could take years, but voting Republicans out is the only way to fix things

Most Americans favor sensible gun control, having grown tired of endless slaughter in our schools, churches and neighborhoods, such as happened again last weekend. Who opposes gun control laws? The Republican Party, some of whom in Congress find it cute to wear assault rifle lapel pins.

Most Americans are shocked and horrified at the stripping of reproductive rights from women. Who opposes reproductive freedom? The Republican Party, whose draconian laws make it difficult for even a 10-year-old rape victim to get relief.

Most Americans understand that it is imperative for the sake of the U.S. and world economies that the debt ceiling be raised, as it routinely has been for many years. Who is blocking this? The Republican Party, which seems currently being led by people with questionable intelligence and mental stability.

Most Floridians voted to restore voting rights to nonviolent felons. Who refuses to honor the will of the people? The Republican governor of Florida, who has come up with endless excuses to confuse the issue and thwart the will of the citizens.

The Republican Party is totally out of touch with the views of most Americans. There is a solution to the authoritarian reign currently in place, and it is elegant in its simplicity:

Get out and vote against every Republican officeholder or candidate — local, state and national. From U.S. representative to mayor to governor to city council member to U.S. senator to sheriff to dog catcher to state representative to attorney general. It will take several election cycles, but eventually we can reclaim our democracy and get on with moderate, sensible government that reflects the will of “We the People.”

Carol Nairn, Jacksonville

More police officers not the only solution to crime problem

Sheriff T.K. Waters claimed in an ad for Daniel Davis that his opponent, Donna Deegan, has a radical plan for public safety that will put his officers and the public’s safety at risk. That is quite a statement to make, considering not a scintilla of evidence was offered to support it.

Nate Monroe’s April 23 article nailed this whole con on crime being served up by Davis and the Republicans. Curry ran for mayor based upon the level of crime during the previous mayor’s tenure. During the ensuing eight years with a Republican mayor, police chief and city council, crime (especially homicides), spiked to new heights. This trend continued even after applying the standard treatment for crime that consists of continuous increases to the police budget and hundreds of new officers.

Yet, crime spikes. Now Davis seems to claim that the increases in crime just materialized, as though through thin air. His response (besides not taking any responsibility for it as a former city council member and Curry supporter) was more of the same: Add more police officers. The governor chipped in by making concealed weapons more accessible as part of an ever-devolving crime policy that sees gun availability as an antidote to violent crime. In fact, the opposite is true.

Unless they are willing to commit these additional officers to community policing and to mitigating the availability of guns, this is just another example of a profound misunderstanding of violent crime that posits an increased police presence while making guns more available. In other words — a contradiction.

Richard Sutphen, Jacksonville

We are all immigrants

Over the past several months, I have been under the considerate and competent care of doctors at Baptist Health and Mayo Clinic. These health care professionals were preparing me for an exceedingly rare and potentially dangerous operation.

The team was as diverse as our whole country, with a wide range of ethnicities (and religious beliefs, most likely). Many of them were recent immigrants or first-generation Americans from places such as the Dominican Republic, India, Japan, Norway, Nigeria, Pakistan and the Philippines.

This diversity of essential workers is but a mirror of the rich tapestry that comprises and enriches the United States. We are indeed a nation of immigrants, no matter how far back our roots may go, unless those of us here in North Florida can trace our ancestry directly back to the Timucua. Yet there are those who would espouse white supremacy as a rationale to control and suppress the rights of those whom they regard as minorities or threats.

There has been a recent resurgence of unethical politicians plying overt or veiled racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism to stoke paranoia — fear of the “other” — to pursue their self-serving political ends.

Yes, we need a rational immigration policy. But it must sustain the rich diversity that has strengthened this country with the principles of democracy and equal rights — not fear, political manipulation and control.

Ted Mikalsen, Jacksonville

Toxic environment main cause of teacher exodus

According to a May 9 article in the Times-Union, governors in several states are proposing pay raises to retain and recruit teachers, citing uncompetitive pay as the primary reason for shortages. The article reports several sources of blame but only briefly mentions teachers’ deteriorating work culture. Some red state governors, especially Gov. Ron DeSantis, would apparently rather not discuss that aspect.

One day prior, the Times-Union profiled a local woman who is assuming a larger role in Moms for Liberty, a conservative (and politically influential) “educational” activist group. This organization appears deliberately intent on worsening teachers’ work culture by operating in intimidating adversarial fashion, often as hostile surveillance operatives. In some states, they have even offered cash rewards as encouragement for people to snitch on teachers, students or staff not complying with their culture-war driven demands.

They’ve created a toxic environment for devoted teachers charged with caring for the kids of all moms.

DeSantis and his Republican legislature’s politically transparent existential attack on the teacher’s union (and health care workers, except — notably — DeSantis-allied first responders and public safety unions) is indicative of the disrespect they harbor for these hard-working people. DeSantis touts Florida’s high graduation rates and low tuition, ignores plummeting teacher satisfaction and bottom-ranking teacher compensation.

Simply buying them off won’t work.

Michael Miller, Ponte Vedra Beach

District-run schools unfairly targeted

Support for public education has long been embraced by both Democrats and Republicans. It seems to me that some grifters and pro-privatization Libertarians have attacked public education by using the pandemic crisis to breed discontent. Keep in mind that the Libertarian Party platform includes the goal of education being the sole responsibility of the parents and philanthropists, i.e., no taxpayer-funded schools.

The pandemic was a hard time for all of us, especially those who had people close to us die or who had overworked health care workers in our family. The fact that the ban on mask mandates didn't apply to charter or private schools makes me think it was an attack on our district-run schools, rather than a genuine concern for the children.

Every time Gov. DeSantis and his enablers pass a law that applies to schools run by locally elected school boards — but not the other publicly funded schools (charters and those funded by vouchers) ― consider what might be motivating them.

Like the man from the NAACP said during public comments at the "emergency" School Board meeting, where Superintendent Diana Greene’s early retirement was discussed, I also worry what effect DeSantis’ bad policies are having on our public schools.

Susan Aertker, education committee chairwoman, Jacksonville NOW

‘Code Red’ anxiety

School "Code Red” drills are intended to keep students and teachers safe from gun violence. This policy is reminiscent of the "duck and cover” drills in schools during the 1950s at the height of the Cold War. Students and teachers were taught that in the event of an atomic attack, hiding under desks and covering their heads would protect them.

Similarly, should someone wielding an AR-15 attack a school, children and their teachers huddled quietly in the corner of their classroom would have little chance of surviving the high-velocity impact of a barrage of bullets.

After each school shooting, the gun lobby and its political supporters routinely offer "thoughts and prayers,” repeating the same talking points and slogans. Maybe the politicians should ask the children and teachers if these drills make them feel safer, or is it just another "duck and cover?"

Karen Adler, Jacksonville

Hoaxes need big consequences

Regarding the recent social media post that threatened a school shooting, went viral, caused panic in several states and turned out to be a hoax: All middle and high school students should be required to make a mandatory video — perhaps accompanied by a written form with parents’ signature ― acknowledging the following:

• These incidents are not a prank or practical joke.

• In addition to permanent expulsion, a criminal charge may follow.

• Certain records may be carried to adulthood and not be expunged.

• Parents may be responsible for cost reimbursement.

Also, implement an "If you see it, say it" program, where other students can report social media threats anonymously.

Joe Edelson, Jacksonville

Is Florida the top ‘hate state'?

With the passing of yet more draconian legislation restricting the rights of transgender youth, our state legislators continue to outdo every other state in promoting hate as our most prominent attribute.

Are the crimes being committed in Jacksonville, "the murder capital of Florida,” being committed by angry LGBTQ people, Jews, Muslims, pregnant people, teachers or school children? Or will the data show that our murderers turn out to be mostly young xenophobic white males who are sorely in need of mental health therapy?

Elizabeth Fiorite, Westside Jacksonville

Glass houses, Mr. Davis

A recent postcard from the Republican Party of Duval County insinuates that Donna Deegan can’t be trusted because she is taking out-of-state donations. A quick check on the Duval Elections website shows that donations received by Daniel Davis just this year have come from Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, Wisconsin and Washington, DC.

Perhaps they need to do their research before sending out this literal trash.

Dee Paez, Jacksonville

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Voting the other party out is the only way to fix things