Letters to the editor for Sunday, August 13, 2023

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

Sanctuary suggestions

Many prior writers have already demolished the specious, unrealistic, unconstitutional and uneducated arguments behind the proposal for Collier County to become a so called Sanctuary for the Bill of Rights when the entire nation is its sanctuary. Further informed comment for the Board of County Commissioners is not needed.But if the Board of Collier County Commissioners wants to create meaningful and needed sanctuaries, here are some suggestions:Be a Sanctuary for Affordable Housing in a state whose gerrymandered Legislature disregards it.Be a Sanctuary for a Living Wage in a state whose gerrymandered Legislature and governor ignore it.Be a Sanctuary for Women’s Health Care Inviolability in a state whose gerrymandered Legislature and ambitious governor try to suppress it.Be a Sanctuary for Home Owners’ Insurance in a state whose gerrymandered Legislature and inattentive governor have ignored it.Be a Sanctuary for Fair Voting Districts in a state where the gerrymandered Legislature and governor distort the will of the voters and orders of the courts to avoid attending to their lack of majority support among voters.Be a Sanctuary for Amendment Four of the Florida State Constitution in a state where a gerrymandered Legislature and ambitious governor manufacture obstacles to the expressed intent of the voters.Be a Sanctuary for the Access to Medicaid that is part of the Affordable Care Act in a state whose gerrymandered Legislature and ideologue governor deny it.Be a Sanctuary for LGBTQ+ people in a state whose gerrymandered Legislature and governor ignore science and reality to persecute them for who they naturally are.Be a Sanctuary for Banned Books in Schools and Libraries in a state whose gerrymandered Legislature and a dogmatic governor allow biased individuals to suppress books against the will of the majority.Be a Sanctuary for United States Civics Education to avoid any more embarrassing future proposals introduced to the Board of County Commissioners in a state whose gerrymandered Legislature and ambitious governor gloss over the ignorance that lack of such education has produced in current office holders statewide.

Michael F. Finkel, MD, Naples

Misinformation industry

A society is based upon trust.  We have to trust each other and have to trust the institutions we have created that bind us together, keep us safe, and allow us to grow and prosper in our daily lives.  Most Americans are rightly proud of the society we have built under our Constitution, while we recognize that our institutions do not always operate perfectly.

Right now, there is an industry, well-funded and well-resourced, devoted to casting doubt on the integrity and credibility of our most important institutions.  According to this industry, widespread voter fraud and procedural irregularities mean our electoral process cannot be trusted; teachers are groomers who indoctrinate children to hate their country, therefore, our public education system cannot be trusted; the CDC is corrupt and cannot be trusted to give us accurate public health information; the FBI, IRS and DOJ have been politically corrupted, rendering our judicial system morally bankrupt.

Our Constitution provides the mechanisms for addressing mistakes made by the people who run our various institutions.  We can work together to address the problems, or we can allow the misinformation industry to tip our democratic republic into some authoritarian autocracy.  We have to trust each other and our system of government; if we can’t do that anymore, our society will be thrown into chaos.

Ray Clasen, North Fort Myers

Community input ignored

I write as one of the team leaders of The Purple Group to speak out for the many others -- parents, grandparents, teachers, even business owners -- who agree with our concerns.

However, they do not feel comfortable going public with their concerns. WHY?  Because they fear personal and professional repercussions by those with a narrow political agenda.  What have we come to?

• We wonder why the superintendent asked the school board, whose responsibility it is to make policy, to direct the drafting of a process document -- the Media Access Form -- which is the staff’s responsibility.  The result?  A new form that provides NO option for a parent to allow their child full access to all educational materials currently accessible in the media center.  The NEW form violates parental rights and freedom to direct their child’s education.

• The original Media Access Form -- with appropriate choices -- was one of the process documents presented to the board at a workshop July 26.  These were developed with discussion and input over the course of many months at CUAC meetings with comments from community members. You tell us you highly value your “Community Partners.”  Why then did you override the work of staff and community?  We ask you to remove the restrictive, misleading  Media Form currently on the website.  Wait until a well constructed form is developed by staff.

• Finally, we are concerned about teachers who are the heart and soul of the learning environment in any school.  Staff has clear processes and criteria in place for the district-wide review of all the books in media centers and in teachers’ personal classroom libraries as required by law.  On July 26 you assured us this review was complete. NOW it is time for the administration and the board to support teachers -- assure them -- you have their back -- you value them, you support their rights as professionals, as well as parents' and students' rights.  You must speak up to help restore trust in teachers and public education.

Madelon V. Stewart, Fort Myers

Political differences

A recent letter to the editor suggested that my moral compass is not working because I use the terms "illegals" and "illegal aliens" rather than "migrants" and "refugees." I have a test for you folks. Who uses the term "government spending" rather than "taxpayer funded spending"? That’s it, just a little thing.

Don Rader, Naples

MAGA BS

MAGA people will now have a ground floor opportunity to improve their economic status by an investment open only to them. It involves the purchase of bridges for sale. The name of this group selling these bridges is MAGA Bridge Sales, or MAGA BS for short. Just imagine yourself exclusively having in your possession your very own bridge together with other members of MAGA BS! Don't miss this opportunity! Rush to your computer and under the search engine type in MAGA BS. Bridges For Sale. If you have a problem with a quick response, keep trying. There are millions ahead of you seeking membership! And just say DT sent you!Jerry Razowsky, Cape Coral

Trump's path to success

Mr. Trump's situation is difficult, but he has a path of success. Given his confidence regarding the charges he is facing, his best option is to impose speedy trials on all. Some, if not many citizens are likely to doubt his claims if he uses time to avoid final legal conclusions because they will be unfinished. If he demands a speedy trial on all and his beliefs and conclusions bear out, he will be found not guilty and be guaranteed election. We will watch and listen.

Willard Sass, Naples

Duplicitous act

In one of the most duplicitous acts of political demagoguery under guise of law in our history, Special Counsel Jack Smith, in his indictment news conference against Donald Trump, focused on the Jan. 6 riot. He said Jan. 6 was fueled by lies told by the president in his attempt to retain power. But, though Smith spent most of the news conference talking about Jan. 6, Trump was not charged with having any illegal role in the riot. He was charged with four other counts.

Smith had a purpose. He was leading us to believe that Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6 riot. The liberal media jumped on that phrase and highlighted it. That may work.

Trump may not be legally responsible for Jan. 6, but he may be convicted of the other charges against him because a Washington, D.C., jury will want to punish him for what they believe was his role in Jan. 6. This is Jack Smith's intention.

It’s possible that most of the country would think it fitting that Trump should be jailed for his pattern of reprehensible behavior after he lost the election, but what is shaping up now is a government sponsored mob lynching.

Bob Stabile, Bonita Springs

Our absent governor

The absence of Governor DeSantis from his Florida state house begs this question: Are Floridians getting their money's worth?

Our governor was elected by Florida citizens to serve in the executive branch of the state government. That is a full-time job with full-time pay.  And yet, our governor is roaming around the 49 other states preparing to run in a national election well over a year from now. His buddies in the state Legislature gave him permission to do this, but they did so without asking the taxpayers who are paying his salary.

Next I took a look at what he had been doing before he left the state.  I discovered that before leaving Florida, Governor DeSantis had: reduced abortion rights to six weeks (While he claims to be against abortion, he actually recognizes a right to abort but only for the first six weeks when women don’t know they’re pregnant -- nice guy); implemented don’t say gay laws; made the death penalty easier to achieve; allowed Floridians to carry concealed weapons without permits; banned colleges from using state or federal funds for diversity and equity; attacked Disney for exercising its rights.

These actions follow legislation where he banned mandatory masking and vaccines in a non-response to COVID resulting in thousands of deaths.

After reviewing his initiatives, I found that they did nothing for citizens of Florida except to lessen their rights and lifespans.  As a result, I decided not to raise a red flag about his being away from Florida on a national campaign at our expense.  It is far better that he campaign elsewhere rather than returning home to diminish the lives and rights of Floridians.

When he’s ousted by Trump as a candidate, maybe he’ll remove himself from public life and give all Americans a break. Until then, we will keep paying him his salary so that he stays out of Florida.

Sally Lam, Naples

Atmosphere of violence

The two leading contenders for the GOP presidential nomination, former President Trump and our Governor DeSantis, are contributing to an atmosphere of violence and lawlessness that could make January 6th actually look like the tourist outing depicted  by some demented MAGA Republicans.

The ex-president started the race to the bottom last week by posting on his social media  that upon re-entry to the White House he would immediately be “coming after” those who are adverse to him in the various criminal proceedings he faces, a veiled threat not only to prosecutors, law enforcement personnel, and judicial staff but to prospective witnesses and  jurors as well.

Governor DeSantis, trying to one-up him in puerile bravado, pledged over the weekend that he would cheerfully “start slitting throats” of federal workers on his first day in office.

Sounds like each would be so busy after the inaugural address wreaking vengeance and havoc that he won’t have any time, or interest, to govern the country.

Together, they sound like a pair blow-hard WWE wrestlers engaged in stagecraft before a Wrestlemania Battle Royal.

The cacaphony from the phony  tough-guy ex-president is old whine in new battles.

But for the governor, the reference to mutilating “throats” is further indication that he is starting to choke.

Marshall H. Tanick, Naples

Property insurance crisis

UPC, the ninth property insurer in Florida to go insolvent since 2021, and the largest to do so in 15 years, has left many of its Florida customers facing both losses and the future consequences of climate change.UPC lost money over the past six years because of costly claims from major hurricanes. During this time, the company cut adjusters’ damage estimates and ignored claims of desperate policyholders. Complaints were sent to the Office of Insurance Regulation, which regulates carriers in Florida and to the Department of Financial Services, which investigates allegations of wrongdoing.

The company underestimated claims and paid shareholders and executives millions of dollars in dividends before going into receivership earlier this year.

State officials, who report directly to Ron DeSantis, failed to respond as the situation worsened. People in the industry flagged evidence of alleged wrongdoing to regulators, but their concerns were not taken seriously.

Now, the state-run Florida Insurance Guaranty Association is trying to handle 22,000 UPC claims. For the first time since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the state will issue an emergency assessment on nearly all Florida residents to help cover the cost of such a massive insolvency. This is all happening on Ron DeSantis’ watch. Ron is out harassing blacks and gays as he drives his Florida residents into the poor house.DeSantis touts his Insurer Accountability Act but the toughest provisions of the law were stripped from its final version which coughed up a mere $2 billion to cover the next Hurricane Ian. Ian caused damages in excess of $100 billion.

For months, officials at the two agencies kicked the evidence back and forth, with neither agency taking responsibility while DeSantis was preoccupied in transporting immigrants to Massachusetts.

The kicker is that we taxpayers will foot the bill for UPC’s shortcomings and lack of governance by DeSantis. Ron is going to run us into the ground before climate change runs us into the water.

Joe Haack, Naples

Just asking

I often watch the "Five at Five" on Fox News, even though my channel of choice is MSNBC. I like to hear “both sides of the aisle.” I understand these shows are both entertainment news and are promoting their opinions rather than just the facts. The other night, Jesse Watters stated, “It’s not a big deal to send in an alternative slate of electors” and, “Why can’t you (Trump) just ask Mike Pence to do this?" He is using Tucker Carlson‘s technique of making false statements and asking questions that come across as false statements. This conveys to the audience that it is OK to interrupt the democratic process of counting the votes to elect a president. How does Fox News get away with this?

Sharon LaMarra, Bonita Springs

Voter responsibility

Truth is the foundation of our country.  Lying to us by those whom we have elected erodes that very foundation.  With the election of candidates looming, we must give serious thought before we vote. We must elect  only those 1) who do not slander their opponents, 2) who have the courage to do what is right regardless of political party, 3) who stand by their sworn oath to tell the truth and 4) who do not take bribes.  If you vote for someone whom you know is guilty of these things, then you are just as guilty as they are in causing the breakdown of our nation.

Marian Lauck, Naples

Failed miserably

A note to the U.S. women's soccer team. You are being paid to play soccer for the U.S., not to express political opinions. There were 32 teams in the current World Cup and there was only one who disrespected their country, their flag and their national anthem and that was the U.S. players. You may have made political statements, but you were there to represent the U.S. and perform on the field. You failed miserably on both counts. If the U.S. is such a terrible country, can I suggest you go to some of the other countries who participated in the World Cup like China or Nigeria where the players respect their country. I am not sure about others, but you have lost my interest in your sport.

Ron Wobbeking, Naples

Educators or activists?

I must say the letters from Saturday last week were extremely encouraging. In the Saturday edition, there were more than a handful of retired teachers and administrators proclaiming their departure from the SWFL area. While they admit there are other reasons to move from paradise such as age, ability to care for oneself, closer to relatives and finally, Ron DeSantis and his school reform initiatives.  Their letters focused on the changes in teaching and subject matter as the reasons. They spouted after 50 years; they can no longer live in a state that supports changes to the curriculum. Again, their focus was on AP psychology classes taught in high school and Black history classes taught in college. I wish to jump on their bandwagon focusing on lower grades. Low grades. How is it our kids, especially minority, do not read at state levels? Why do kids fall behind in math and science and why do our kids continue to struggle with the shutdowns from COVID? Here is my opinion.

For all the educators leaving the state because of the above-mentioned changes, why are the kids behind? Could it be we no longer teach anymore but our “tenured” teachers no longer teach but are activists? Is it possible that our kids need more 1,2,3’s rather than LGBT’s? Is it conceivable during COVID when teachers were identified as teaching subjects not approved? And how come these educators did not recognize their failings? The kids were sitting right in front of them, but they cared not for the kids and their progress but their political viewpoints and progressive activism! How does any governor or state politician not go screaming into the night when looking at test scores. Why have previous governors not clamped down on failed education? Every teacher should be jumping on the bandwagon to promote a more rigid education focused on math, science, and technology. More calculating, less victimization. More reading, less parroting ATF union claptrap. More chemistry and less gender-bathroom b.s.

I suggest to those educators who are “outraged” with the new curriculum, leaving is good. You have done such a bang-up job with our kids up to now, take your pensions, and leave. This will give those new educators a chance to fix the mess you made. You cry that all you care about is the welfare and education of the children but your really care about is yourself, your twisted political ideology, and your elite status. Thanks for leaving Florida, don’t let your fake outrage hit you on the backside.

Jack Holt, Cape Coral

Mirror image

One definition of insanity is to keep repeating the same behavior over and over but expecting a different result. Case in point -- we complain about elected officials yet we keep electing them over and over!

Pick a day when you don't have any other responsibilities, you are by yourself and you are comfortable and relaxed. Get in front of a mirror and look yourself directly in the eyes and prepare to have a conversation with yourself about what you believe. Don't make excuses and have the courage to face your truth about yourself -- good and bad and "own it."

Don't lie to yourself because that makes everything else a fraud and you live in your own reality. For some people this requires a great deal of courage and is the most difficult challenge to overcome. Take your time and stay focused. You may find yourself having some trouble with keeping your eyes on you so don't get frustrated, just re-focus.

We like to elect people who are like us -- yes, the guy in the mirror!

Ronald A. Soulard, Naples

Biden claims not believable

We lost a child in an auto accident two months short of her 17th birthday. Her sister, two years younger, lost her best friend and confident. The three of us were devastated by the loss. We leaned heavily on each other and 45 years later, we still do.

Since that date in 1978 we have talked to one another daily. Sometimes three or four times a day. She went to college in 1982. We talked. In 1993, her mother and I moved to France. We talked at least once a day. In 1996, her mother returned to the U.S. while I went on to Italy for eight months. We still talked at least once a day. Our bond was tight and still is. She is now in St. Augustine and we get a call every morning.

With all these phone calls over 45 years never did we talk while any one of us was in a business meeting or having lunch or dinner with a business associate. If a call came through during such, we would say we'll call you back later.

To believe that Hunter Biden and his father had more than 20 phone calls while Hunter was with business associates or friends and no business was mentioned or discussed is not believable. In my experience you only call another person during a business dinner to convince your associates that you have the contacts or authority to are indicating you have.

James Thomas, Bonita Springs

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Sunday, August 13, 2023