Letters to the editor for Saturday, March 12, 2022

Election police? I'm your guy

As soon as applications open I would like to apply for an officer’s slot in the Florida State Election Police as you will find that I am uniquely and highly qualified. Unlike 99.6 percent of politicians and their families, I have a military and law enforcement background. I spent six years as an officer on active duty as a USAF pilot. I have been a deputy sheriff as well as a prosecuting attorney. I once owned a security company, held a Federal Firearms License (FFL) as well as a certification from ASIS (American Society of Industrial Security) in Executive Protection. I served on the Board of Trustees as a civilian advisor to the Cincinnati Police Academy for a time.

As commander-in-chief of the Florida Election Police you will be in position to recruit the cream of the crop of those “Proud Boys” (and girls), Jesus freaks and extreme right-wing seditionists who attacked the Capitol and who proudly appear on Fox News and just now, having been indicted, are starting to appear in courtrooms throughout the land. I further expect to see the entire Florida congressional delegation along with the entire Florida Supreme Court and Legislature apply. None, of course, have military or police experience whatsoever but that will not deter them in any way.

These louts are perfectly capable of uncovering conspiracies where none exist, banning books which they have never read, and offering educational, medical, scientific advice and legislation from a seemingly bottomless well of ignorance and political malfeasance. You can count on me to train this rabble into a cadre who can intimidate, deter, frighten, bully and confuse potential voters so as to ensure the Republican-approved outcome of the elections.

James E. Sheets, Fort Myers

Biden: Stop being Neville Chamberlain

While you folks spend the greater part of your days worrying about the fantastic job Ron DeSantis is doing for the folks of Florida, there is a shooting war going on in Europe. The last time this happened it took several years before the bully took his own life outside of a bunker in Berlin. And it took not one but two atomic bombs for the living deity in Japan to surrender. There is only one way to beat a bully and that is with lethal force. It is time for Neville and his little band of climate experts to put an end to this before the all of the citizens in Europe and eventually the citizens of America have to suffer at the hands of Putin.

Don Rader, Naples

Looking back at John F. Kennedy

A recent contributor (What the world needs now) said the world desperately needs John F. Kennedy. I say not so fast.

J.F.K. had grace, wit and oodles of charm (look at some of his press conferences on YouTube. We could surely use that grace, wit and charm in this crazy world) but let's not forget some of the problems with his presidency.

The Bay of Pigs was a debacle, the Cuban Missile Crisis could have turned into WW III, he started sending more "advisors" to South Vietnam and if his administration didn't actively play a role in the assassinations of South Vietnam leader Diem and his brother Nhu they certainly turned a blind eye to it. We might not have gotten into the Vietnam quagmire if he hadn't been assassinated but we don't know for sure.

But would J.F.K. even be relevant in this world?

His policies would probably put him on the Republican side of the aisle.

I will give the contributor this though, that terrible day in November 1963 changed the world forever and I wish J.F.K. had lived to see how it all turned out.

Rick Manuel, North Fort Myers

Gas tax plan a political ruse

Ruse: A deception, an action or plan designed to deceive someone. Why would I call an action by the Florida State Legislature to save drivers money a ruse? Here is why:

The proposal to remove state taxes from gas during the month of October is purported to ease the pain at the pump. Prices are high now, by the way. Will they be in October?

But, politicians say, this will help Floridians and not out-of-state folks who come to enjoy the weather. That must mean that summer months are when the state has the highest rate of out-of-state visitors. Driving in Fort Myers in January-March makes me wonder.

Put aside this explanation, and the fact that without out-of-state dollars the economy of Florida would likely collapse, a logical conclusion is that October is the month before the general election when all state legislators and the governor are running to renew their positions. Given the fact that we all know that people's collective memories are short, we have uncovered the ruse.

Do any of you, legislators, have the courage to say why you really want to take this action? While so many are trying to figure out ways to help the millions suffering in the Ukraine, you are using this as an opportunity to increase your political fortunes. It is because of actions such as this that politicians are considered among the least trusted people or professions.

Allen Hoffman, Punta Gorda

Veto outrageous anti-solar bill

Unfortunately, the Florida Legislature's anti-solar bill, HB 741, has passed. Gov. DeSantis must veto this outrageous bill. It's hard to fathom why the legislature would want to eliminate thousands of middle-class jobs, destroy hundreds of small businesses, and yank one of the best tools Floridians have to combat the Climate Crisis, especially now, as Americans realize how urgent our energy independence is.

Does the Governor really want to tell voters he doesn't care about their jobs, businesses, or the environment eight months before Election Day? Not to mention the freedom that homeowners and businesses should have to choose rooftop solar. It's no wonder that 84 percent of Floridians (including 76 percent of Republicans) support the rates that this bill would eliminate.

The answer is clear: if Gov. DeSantis really is interested in jobs, freedom, or the environment he can start by vetoing the anti-solar bill. Anything less is proof that he doesn't care.

Rhonda Roff, Clewiston, Energy Chair, Sierra Club Calusa Group

Mystified by new Florida vaccine protocol

I am mystified by the advice given by the governor and his recent hand-picked Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo regarding vaccine injection protocols. According to the doctor's credentials on Wikipedia: He trained at some of the finest institutions in Boston, he spent time at UCLA and, according to statements from his colleagues, there is a divergence of opinion as just what his accomplishments there might have been.

Clearly, the governor picked Dr. Ladapo because they both share the medical opinion that healthy children need not be vaccinated against COVID-19. Why this virus, then? It is not good medical practice to inoculate children or adults if the disease is already clinically present. Yet children are vaccinated against a whole host of diseases, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps and now polio, to name a few that use to be a childhood scourge, when not sick. Shall we stop these vaccination protocols as unnecessary, according to these two Floridians? Are their healthy children vaccinated against any of these? I bet yes!

Robert M. Schlesinger M.D., FACS, Pine Island

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Saturday, March 12, 2022