Testing and education, young people and social media | Letters

Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less. Include your name and city or community of residence. Guest opinions should be 600 words or less and include a brief summary of the author’s credentials relevant to the topic. Guest opinions may include a head shot of the author. For the Fort Myers News-Press, email submissions to mailbag@news-press.com and for the Naples Daily News to letters@naplesnews.com

Testing and education

House Speaker Paul Renner is right on target to oppose removing accountability measures from a bill to deregulate education. The section related to testing needs to be thought out carefully. Testing is an important and integral part of education and accountability. Do away with testing and you have dumbed down education.Richard Piccirilli PhD, former elementary teacher, writer and college professor, Naples

Young people and social media

Speaker Paul Renner claims that social media is ruining young people.  Those awful people living that San Franciscan den of iniquity are corrupting our youth! They’re addicting teenagers and ought to charged with child abuse in 2025.

I agree and don’t agree with Renner. It’s absolutely true that some social media manipulators are nihilistic cynics. On the other hand, social media opens up the entire world to everyone, including youngsters.

Will Elon Musk tell Americans kids when it’s okay for them to practice “freedom of speech?”

Social media isn’t the only bogeyman.

On the same front page of the paper, we learn that “a Republican-backed bill to roll back decades of child labor laws and allow children as young as 16 to work longer hours in Florida is zipping through committees.”

Maybe being robbed of freedom in your childhood and your education contribute to adolescent malaise too.

What about the about1,000 children/year directly abused in Collier County?  The kids whose parents don’t want them? Or the ones whose education has no connection to their realities?

1956 was a long time ago. Elvis Presley’s hips were out of control. Rock ‘n’ Roll was considered a major threat to the existing social order. And it was.

Social media is similar. It can be dangerous.  But a sledge hammer doesn’t work when a tweezers is needed.

Florida’s Republicans aren’t alone is wanting to cancel the future. The kids won’t let them.

Michael Sales, Ed.D., Naples

President has done his best

Amazed, that’s about how I must describe it. President Biden is walking a tightrope with the war, Israel, and Hamas in Gaza. He has done what every president has done when faced with this problem. Attempt to contain Israel’s aggression, yet continue to supply them with unlimited arms. And this comes at the time when he’s seeking re-election in a hostile environment. He has begged Israel so many times to comply. Yet no one complains about Israel’s hostility. No one complains that Israel should be humanitarian, conciliatory and seek peace.

Yet the war could end today, if Israel would do this.

I think the president's duty includes attempting to keep shipping routes open through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. And again, if the conflict would end, the problem with that spillover would not exist.

I think the world regrets the problem that has been caused by the Middle East political intolerance.  Peacekeeping is almost impossible if it is not the desire of the combatants themselves.

Personally, I think the president has done his best when face with the circumstances he has been presented.

Lewis Robinson, Fort Myers

They mean it

Hamas’ strategy of instigating then globalizing an otherwise unwinnable war against Israel was brilliant and judging from protests around the globe far exceeded expectations.

We were lucky. Hamas jumped the gun. If it had waited until its Iranian master had crossed the nuclear threshold, and done a better job of coordination with Hezbollah, it might have achieved its stated goals of wiping out the Jewish State and forcing the United States to retreat from the Middle East.An Obama/Biden administration that wasted over decade trying to bribe and appease the Islamic Republic now finds itself playing whack-a-mole with its satraps in Lebanon and Yemen and clings to the delusion that authoritarian, Jew and Christian hating jihadists don’t really mean it when they proclaim, “death to Israel and death to America in the name of Allah;” and that Israel could magically solve the problem if it bled a little bit more or just surrendered.News Alert! They mean it, we are next in their crosshairs, and Israel is not going to commit national suicide for our government’s delusions.Allen Menkin, MD, Naples

Why they support Trump

The most difficult conundrum for anti-Trumpsters to solve is explaining why approximately half the U.S. voting public supports a person who, in their judgment, is totally unfit to be president − intellectually, behaviorally, and morally. In brief, some possible explanations (beyond Trumpsters liking his policies) are as follows:

Trump supporters:

1, are similar to him in at least one or more ways, consciously or unconsciously, and he validates this dark side of their personality and functioning.

2. have difficulty tolerating ambiguity and uncertainty with respect to the present and future. Trump provides them with clarity and certainty, even though his explanations and predictions are purely speculative.

3. want simple, uncomplicated solutions to complex problems (that cause them great anxiety) which Trump provides with confidence and assurance, even though these "solutions" are fanciful and have no historical support.

4. are unhappy with their present lives and the state of the nation, for reasons unknown to them. Trump provides them with excuses to blame others (immigrants?) allowing them to avoid self-reflection and self-appraisal.

5. have a lot of deep-seated anger and resentment towards others that Trump models, directs, and justifies, thereby providing relief.

If the Democrats do not address these psychological factors and provide an alternative or antidote for them, Trump will be our next president. Unfortunately, Joe Biden does not seem to be physically up to this herculean task. Is anyone?

In fairness, it must be said that some Trump supporters agree with his policies and are simply willing to overlook his many personal flaws. At least that is what they claim.

Ed O'Keefe, Bonita Springs

Questionable publication

My husband received a Sample Edition of The Epoch Times last week. I was suspicious of this “newspaper” claiming “Truth and Tradition.” The various headlines stated “First Documentary on Covid,” “Still Investigating election Integrity” and other controversial issues. I turned to Wikipedia to get some basic information where I learned “The Epoch Media Group's news sites and YouTube channels have promoted conspiracy theories such as QAnon, anti-vaccine misinformation and false claims of fraud in the 2020 United States presidential election.”Further, “A 2020 New York Times report which called the recent wealth of the Epoch Times "something of a mystery"... Former employees say they were told The Epoch Times is financed by subscriptions, ads and donations from wealthy Falun Gong practitioners.”I suspect this newspaper was sent to many other conservatives in Southwest Florida, a very well funded entity is promoting this enterprise. I find it is extremely biased and full of misinformation. Please, as readers of The News Press, be alert to this effort in our community and be prepared to respond with accurate information.

Cynthia Cromwell, Naples

Vilifying Trump voters

I've read thousands of mailbag letters over the years but one I read today really got my blood boiling (Evangelicals ignore Solomon - 1/17).

If the contributor wants to vilify all the people that voted for Donald Trump in the recent Iowa caucus be my guest but don't dare call them, or anyone else who supports our former president, MAGA morons.

I think it was beneath the dignity of The News-Press to publish it in the first place.

Seventy four million people voted for President Trump in 2020 and I'm guessing based on recent polling that he will garner more votes in 2024 and possibly retake the White House.

That's seventy four million plus Americans that think the country should go in another direction.

Is there a problem with that? Does that make us all MAGA morons ?

And by the way, I'm hoping that Donald Trump is not the nominee for two reasons. One, I don't need the self-inflicted chaos from Donald Trump and two, I sure don't need the chaos from the left that followed him ever since he came down that escalator in 2015.

But let me make one thing perfectly clear, if there is one time in my lifetime where I feel we NEED to go in a different direction this is it!

And one more thing, please stop with this "insurrection" stuff. It was a rally that went terribly wrong but if you're looking for a real insurrection just look at the anarchy that took place all over this country in 2020. How many of those people are serving long prison sentences?

Rick Manuel, Dade City

Administration is tone deaf

On January 17 VP Harris was the guest on ABC "The View" and told the hosts and the entire country that she was scared as HECK that Donald Trump may become our next POTUS. Really! How about being scared that you are VP with three major world conflicts happening under your watch! Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, Red Sea attacks from Yemen supported by Iran. Our military under constant attacks in the Middle East. Iran close to having a nuclear weapon. This administration is tone deaf and wants to attack 80 million voting Americans and label them as extreme MAGA, white supremacists and Nazis. Yes I'm scared that there is a slight chance that this incompetent open border administration may win again in 2024Arthur Maranian, Naples

What is Trump's appeal?

My late first husband, who was a thinker of monumental proportions, known among his sci fi friends as “giant brain,” used to say that only 10 percent of the world population had any smarts at all.

If you are an Evangelical and support Trump, you are totally ignoring the principles on which your religion was founded. You adore Trump? There is no hope for you. Zip, zilch, nada, nothing, zero.What is his appeal? His looks? (wake up; that ship has sailed). His grabbing a private part of whatever woman was unfortunate enough to be on the same elevator? His rhetoric that hasn't changed since kindergarten? He has no personal appeal. If he's on TV, I change the station.

Harriet Stanton, Matlacha

Hopelessly stymied

Recent conversation:

Me: My kid says they have had record cold in Chicago for the past five days!

My pal: And you still believe the Earth is getting hotter?

ME: Sure it's getting hotter.

My pal: That's a bunch of bull!

Me: (It's hopeless....)

Ed Margulies, Naples

What Republicans want

I don't know how the letters section could have been topped last week for blatant hate and misinformation. However, you did it, Wednesday letters set a new low for liberal and progressive thinking.

But a special shoutout could not be left out. One writer asked the billion-dollar question. He asked, the Republicans complain about Joe Biden, what policies have the Republicans offered? This is paraphrased but the spirit is intact. The Republicans have not lacked ideas, but Republicans lack cohesiveness, so a good idea gets suppressed in a free-thinking exchange of ideas. This free thinking is a new concept for Democrats, progressives, the media, social media and kooks. The progressives champion the one voice concept. There is no straying from the company line, or there are no treats for their district.

Inflation. Joe could care less, and the Republicans scream about prices. Only a recession or a steep decline in spending will change the direction of kitchen table inflation.

Immigration. Joe is beholden to something or someone. Why else would you allow 8.5 million strangers to mule drugs, allow sex trafficking, and place a huge financial burden on cities across the U.S. Why? Republicans only wish to slow the migration. This is accomplished by fencing, border agents, a rigid deportation system, and legal asylum via legal pathways.

The writer finishes by stating Repubs only want Joe out, but no solutions. He is partly right; we want Joe out. And we want Schumer, Jeffries, McConnell, and all the old timers gone. What we want is an economy with some guts to it. Jobs in the U.S. Safe schools, more cops, a government that works for the people instead of around or through the people. You must admit that Joe is a bust. He is a puppet of China, Iran and the Obamas, Clintons, and big money PACS. Four more years of Joe means high prices, forced social changes, more greedy unions tearing our kids apart, and trillion-dollar deficits.

Jack Holt, Cape Coral

Pope and surrogacy

It's a good thing for Christianity that Pope Francis is 2,000 years too late on his call to ban surrogate motherhood. Maybe he should ban people from miraculously coming back from the dead also.

David Liebenguth, Fort Myers

Governor's reasoning

The silver lining in the clouds that are descending on the presidential campaign of Governor DeSantis after the Iowa caucus was his observation that nearly half of the small portion of those Republicans who braved the brutal weather to vote prefer  someone other than former President Trump.

The governor’s math is unassailable as the ex-president obtained 51% of the caucus votes, while the governor had about 21% and Nikki Haley came third place in with 19%.

While  his arithmetic is flawless, his implication that it’s still a wide open race and he has a chance to prevail in it is fatuous. Applying his formula, four-fifths of Iowa caucus-goers want someone other than him and, for that matter, Haley as well.

Our governor ought to leave the math to Haley. She’s trained as an accountant.

Marshall H. Tanick, Naples

Donalds ineffectual

In the sense that Trump would want to choose an impotent VP, Congressman Byron Donalds would be a fine choice. Effectively, Mr. Donalds has accomplished next to nothing in his time in Congress, from his ambitions in nuclear energy, to his major tax cuts in the stopgap which never bore fruit, to his multiple failed attempts to become speaker of the House. Now, with major national security legislation coming up, Mr. Donalds cannot seem to get off Hunter Biden's criminal escapades. Mr. Donalds embodies everything that the GOP Congress has become: ineffectual. In this sense, he's a VP in the making, as Trump would likely select a VP who was proven incapable of advancing their own agenda. After all, such a pick would give Trump more executive control.

Alexandra Zakhvatayev, Cape Coral

Root of polarization

Some conservatives do not trust science; as a result, they deny climate change.Some liberals do not trust science; as a result, they refuse vaccines.Both factions take the same facts, apply their motivated lenses and arrive at conclusions which support their original position.

Psychological studies have shown that people respond to scientific or technical evidence in ways that justify their preexisting beliefs.“Motivated reasoning”: a bias by which our desires, beliefs, fears and unconscious motivations shape the way we interpret the facts; the tendency to adjust reality to what we already know and reject facts that go against our convictions, beliefs and ideas.As a result, humans lose objectivity: we assume some pieces of information as our allies, defending them with cape and sword; while we perceive those which do not match our vision as an enemy.

Conservatives are more likely to embrace climate science if it comes to them via a business or religious leader, who can set the issue in the context of different values than those from which environmentalists or scientists often argue. Liberals are more likely to accept vaccines if they are shown that vaccines protect the health of an entire community.Common values are the road to civil discourse, to compromise, to the elimination of polarization.

Joe Haack, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Testing and education, young people and social media | Letters