Letters to the editor for Sunday, December 3, 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

Cape council, advisory boards

The mayor and some members of the Cape Coral City Council would like to replace the recently suspended city councilwoman with the person who lost in the last election in the district.I believe that it is crucial for our community to have a council person who truly represents the interests and needs of the residents. Therefore, I like the idea of a new election instead of considering a candidate who lost the last election and was voted out or by taking applications.By holding a new election and allowing new candidates to come forward, we can ensure a fair and democratic process that gives everyone an opportunity to participate and make an informed decision. This will not only provide a chance for a more suitable candidate to emerge but also foster a sense of trust and confidence among the residents.

Recently the City Council has eliminated all non-mandatory advisory boards with little discussion with the public. Seems the mayor and City Council want to keep the residents in the dark. These boards served as a vital link between the local government and the citizens, providing valuable insights and recommendations on various issues that affect our community's well-being. The lack of community input in these decisions is disheartening and undermines the principles of transparency and democracy that the city once had and should have.Our city deserves effective representation, both by elected officials and with advisory boards. By holding a new election and bringing back the advisory boards we can achieve that goal and by actively involving the community in decision-making processes, we can foster a stronger sense of unity, trust between the government and its residents.

Lou Walker, Cape Coral

Lee sheriff's video

There is something fundamentally wrong with a police chief who feels it necessary to spend gobs of taxpayer money boosting his own ego. Is there a camera Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno doesn’t like? Well, maybe not the one trained on him by his tax-paid publicist when he recited a ridiculously sophomoric poem about beating people if they are suspected of committing a crime. Telling? Yes. Responsible? No.I applaud WINK News for shedding light on Marceno’s embarrassing message to his constituents. Although not aired, the hideous poem speaks volumes on a sheriff who appears more focused on drawing attention to himself than to crime. What other sheriff funds a public relations department to spin propaganda like this? How much is this ego cruise costing taxpayers in his county?Reporters, who never seem to get answers when they need them from the sheriff, should let the curtain drop on his staged and over-dramatized videos.

Tom Marquardt, Naples

Threat to academics

As an educator, I’m interested in the academic atmosphere for today’s students, so I read educational reports and current events with a certain eye — are young people being served well in the classroom? Mostly, the answer is no, but that is due to lack of funding and resources. Currently we have a more dangerous and pervasive threat though: the governor.

This governor makes it his duty to dictate what can be taught and who can teach, and he is dedicated to shutting down voices unlike his own. Much of his voting base is out of touch with this because they no longer have children or college students in the system, and they only champion certain voting topics. But do not sleep on this governor or this topic. His mission, banning free speech in classrooms and on college campuses, will eventually affect everyone. Instead of a guardian for our children, he is preying on their lack of voice and creating a state in which he dictates what can be said.His gross takeover of New College, his witch hunt in the classroom with books and curriculum, his banning of Palestinian students meeting on campuses and expressing their Palestinian roots, his blatant hatred for anything other than white by banning DEI resources, and his personal selection of professors at public universities is revealing. This governor is forcing his ideology on a whole state. In a few years, our students will think just like him with no freedom to explore other ideals. Be aware!

Jessica Todd, Fort Myers

Bidenomics is a failure

I read an article from last Sunday's Letters to the Editor with skepticism.  The article suggest that the Biden administration has been an economic success!  The following outlines failure not success.

Paycheck? Vice President Harris said not long ago that “most Americans are a $400 unexpected expense away from bankruptcy.”  The Lending Club’s Paycheck-to-Paycheck Report for June finds that many Americans (54%) were living paycheck to paycheck. That includes 53% of consumers who earn $50,000 to $100,000 per year. The problem goes beyond lower-income families.

Personal savings? According to the Heritage Foundation, when Biden took office, Americans had $2.3 trillion in personal savings.  That number jumped to $5.7 trillion in 2021 with the implementation of the “American Rescue Plan.”  In June of this year, 27 months later, that number dropped by $5 trillion to $862 billion.

Inflation? The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Consumer Price Index monthly.  It is a common way to measure inflation by looking at a basket of commonly purchased goods and services.  When Biden took office in January 2021 that basket cost $261.50.  In July of this year that same basket cost $307.70, a 16.9% increase in two and a half years.  Furthering the problem, wage growth has failed to keep pace with inflation, increasing 13% since Biden took office vs nearly 17% for inflation.

One more fact.  The Federal Reserve of New York reported that in Q2 of this year credit card debt rose to $1 trillion, the highest number ever!

Bidenomics has been a model of fiscal mismanagement and we are paying the price.

Nick Blauwiekel, Naples

Autocracy or democracy?

We have a pretty big decision to make over the next eleven months. Do we want to be an authoritarian nation or a democracy?Most of us know what kind of guy Trump is and what he portends. All of us should listen to his rants and read his tweets. He represents everything we think is toxic to a democracy. His main agenda is retribution. His policies will be as restrictive as his courts will allow. He wants us to distrust our own instincts, accepted history, reliable news accounts, our own eyes and ears. Suspend reason. Believe him instead. He alone knows best. Buy into the baseless conspiracy theories spouted by those who want to ingratiate themselves to him. Those spineless dupes are plentiful.

Could it be that too high a percentage of our citizenry actually want an authoritarian fascist to tell us what’s good for us, to tell us how to think, to tell us what groups are acceptable and unacceptable, what facts and histories can be twisted and/or ignored. Maybe Trump is just a convenient tool for the disenchanted, those unwilling to face the challenges democracy poses. For some it’s easier to be told what to do, who to tolerate, who to scorn, what groups are responsible for our difficulties and challenges. Trump and his followers need someone to blame — liberals, gays, Blacks, immigrants, Muslims, or anyone who has the audacity to oppose him. His ego thrives on bullying. Those who want to empower him share his dislikes, his narrow-mindedness, his strongman tendencies. It would be foolish to underestimate their numbers and their commitment.Or, we could choose democracy. It has served us well for 250 years. It doesn’t always go smoothly, and it comes with no guarantees. It requires the open minds of informed people and their representatives willing to face problems, debate issues, compromise, and implement decisions in the best interest of all the people. Does anyone think that Trump cares about all the people?

Kevin McNally, Bonita Springs

Political statement

At Mass today, the priest stated that our President Biden didn’t mention God in his Thanksgiving Proclamation.  I found this disturbing but also curious because Biden is a devout Catholic who attends Mass regularly.  I went to the internet and found the proclamation.  The proclamation finishes with “in the year of Our Lord…”.  Proverbs 18:10 says “the name of the Lord is a fortified tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.”

It appears the homily was a political statement steering us away from Biden towards Trump (a God-fearing holy man of great morals?).

Nancy Kennedy, Naples

Ineffective Congress

Okay, okay, okay. I just read that the 118th Congress, is the least effective Congress since the Herbert Hoover administration. Well I guess that's not a good thing. Can you imagine running your business like the 118th Congress? If anyone agrees with me here, join me in calling on Byron Donalds, and Mario Diaz-Balart to resign! Look, the exact same thing would happen if they weren't there. Really, the exact same thing! I say it's never too late to do the right thing. I say call them, write them, attend their hometown meetings and ask the tough questions that certainly need answered. Remember the old adage: All that evil needs to prevail is for good people to do nothing. Remember the old song, Nothing from nothing leaves nothing; and you have to have something if you want to be with me. Come on good people of Southwest Florida; DO SOMETHING!

Robert Jenkins, Naples

Transparency of government

I was pleased to know that the Washington Post had filed suit against a law passed by the compliant Florida Legislature, claiming it is opposed to the Florida Constitution by blocking the public's right to information with regard to transparency of government spending.

The defense of the law at first blush seems reasonable, to protect DeSantis and his entourage from attacks by his enemies by having knowledge of their destinations in advance. However, it's just a facade, because the Washington Post and the citizens of Florida don't care where they're going, but where they've been, along with the cost and who was paying for it.

Roger W. Quagliano, Estero

Monetary theory

I repeat, we have to change our debt ceiling process, as the Republican Party cannot govern anything in Congress.  Because of the vote by Democrats in the House, the shutdown of our government has been put off until next year. We can change this old system, thanks to former President Nixon, who untied the U.S. dollar from gold in 1971, ending the “Bretton Woods” system, a fixed exchange rate system in favor of our floating exchange rate.  We now have a purely ”fiat” currency.  Fiat money is irredeemable paper money made legal by law.  Several highly regarded economists  have long advocated “Modern Monetary Theory” (MMT) which contends that the national debt is not a problem.  The way our government does things now about debt is stupid and unnecessary.  Since taxes are unpopular, our political leaders prefer to incur debt instead of raising taxes.

Japan has already proven that MMT works.  Japan had the worst debt to GDP ratio in the world, but they are fine now when it comes to its debt. Because it is a currency issuing country with a central bank.  The Bank of Japan is their federal reserve, it can clear every payment obligation that comes due. The BOJ has purchased approximately 70 percent of the Japanese debt, and the remainder of the debt is purchased by other Japanese banks and trust funds, all in government bonds.  The U.S. could do the same; we have “12” Federal Reserve banks in the U.S., with the Bank of New York being the largest.  It also has the largest reserve of gold in the world, with Fort Knox having almost as much.

The “17” members of the “Eurozone,” such as Italy, France and Spain, gave up their monetary sovereignty in order to join the Euro.  The European Central Bank is the issuer, so those countries cannot do the same thing in retiring their debt.

Both political parties have been fearmongering the American public for decades, as no American owes  even one penny to the federal government, all a myth.

E.L. “Bud” Ruff, Naples

Never taught to hate

I attended Catholic schools from grade school through Nursing School in Cleveland, Ohio and was never taught any discrimination toward anyone. Their position was that everyone could get to heaven but it was harder without the Mass.

When I was young, I went to Europe on a budget with a friend and we went to Dachau in Germany. Very chilling for a nurse to see it. But we must know history. We also visited Anne Frank's Home in Amsterdam, Holland.

Another anecdote was in my Catholic High School in Cleveland, the nun recommended we read the "Diary of  Anne Frank," which I did at the age of 14, which she was also. I think it was a way to teach the Holocaust in a way that we could relate to. We also visited her home in Amsterdam.

I also recently attended a local small theater in Iona that put on the play and did a very good job of it. The cast at the end did not come out to take a bow as customary. It ended in darkness to emphasize the story. As a nurse, it too gives me chills.

At my Catholic Nursing School in Cleveland, one student joined us who was Jewish. The only one exempt from going to Mass. She was well received and became one of the officers too. Well liked also and graduated with us.

Seems to be a thread running through my life that I was not aware of until now. I think it's humanitarianism. I'm so glad that I was never taught to hate another group of people. I don't understand why people do. I guess they were taught that as children.

Alice Mack, RN, retired, Fort Myers

Hamas will re-emerge

There is much guessing as to what each party can gain from the Israel Hamas hostage exchange. Obviously the hostage release but also the cease fire advantages. Many feel Hamas will reconstitute itself. No one feels, as I do, that Hamas will retreat to neighboring countries. A few will stay to give the Israelis a fight. When Israel completes what they think was the wipeout of Hamas and retreats to Israel, Hamas will re-emerge and it starts all over again.

John Piccolo, Estero

Smile Challenge

There’s no simple solution to the increasingly palpable divisions that exist in our nation.I won’t feed that division by pointing a divisive, accusatory finger at any person or movement that has opportunistically fueled the flames of Us vs Them.Instead, I’ll borrow a proverb from the Tao Te Ching that says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”That single step? A smile as we pass a stranger on a sidewalk or in the store. When I challenge myself to do this, nine times out of ten I get a unifying smile back.Consider this as a Smile Challenge to give it a try and enjoy the single step power of a shared smile.

J. Cant, Naples

Restaurant tipping

Ever since the COVID pandemic some restaurants have initiated a process of applying tips directly to the bill and have taken the choice out of the hands of their patrons.

We all recognize that servers are an important aspect of our dining experience and the gratuity should be based upon the services supplied.

20% has always been considered a generous gratuity amount to leave the server. The other night my friends and I were hit for a 22% tip automatically added to our dinner chit. When questioned the server said it is printed on the menu. No one in our party saw the notice.

My conclusion is that this restaurant, not a high end spot, is attempting to give their workers more money without it affecting the restaurant's bottom line. By not going back to that restaurant, we will certainly affect its bottom line.

Michael Zubrow, Naples

An abortion tightrope

On May 17, 2023, former President Trump took credit for the toppling of Roe v. Wade and he took credit for the restrictive abortion laws that have passed since the Supreme Court struck down Rowe v. Wade. In a post on his Truth Social, he claimed he “was able to kill Roe v. Wade, much to the shock of everyone,” and he put pro-life in a “strong negotiating position.”“Without me there would be no 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks, or whatever is finally agreed to,” he bragged. “Without me the pro Life movement would have just kept losing. Thank you President TRUMP!!!”In mid September, noticing the pro-abortion polls, Trump criticized the six-week abortion legislation signed into law by Governor DeSantis as a “terrible thing … a terrible mistake.”Today, the Republican candidates find themselves on a tightrope. If they lean too far toward pro-choice, they offend evangelical and Catholic voters. If they lean too far pro-life, they lose women whose rights are at stake. And, there is no safety net below that tightrope. How will they take the fall?

Joe Haack, Naples

Reduce plastic bags

I noted from your pages that Todd Jones, CEO of Publix is to become exec chairman on January 1 2024.

If he wants to create a lasting legacy then he should drastically reduce the number of plastic bags Publix churns out into our environment every day.

Millions of bags, most of them completely unnecessary, all proudly bearing the Publix branding, are used daily and then find their way into our Everglades, oceans and even our food chain as microplastics.

Surely not what Publix mean when they talk about circularity?

Stop training bag packers to put a single item in a bag, start training them to proffer paper bags as the default and use some of their "green" funds to educate customers how dangerous and destructive plastic bags are to our environment and our health.

If Todd and Publix are really serious about "business practices that protect and preserve the environment, support our communities, and promote the health of our associates and our customers," then this is the biggest, easiest win in history. And a legacy to be proud of, unlike our ruined ecosystems, choked with Publix plastic.

Greig McCallum, Naples

Left-wing cancel culture

Major League Baseball just announced that they have awarded the 2025 All Star game to Atlanta. You may recall that the 2021 All Star game was scheduled for Atlanta but was switched to Colorado at the last minute supposedly because Georgia had passed new voting laws. Obviously, Georgia must have withdrawn those laws for MLB to change their position in just two years. But no, that is not the case. The law still exists. So what has changed? There is only one answer, MLB overreacted to Left-wing demands, which is not uncommon. Cancel culture from the Left is their playbook and it is surprising how quickly they get a response. However, as usual, time eventually brings out the facts as it has in this case. Remember all the support for the BLM organization that has now gone quiet because of corruption in the organization.

Ron Wobbeking, Naples

Biden on Israel-Hamas

Psychological warfare. That is what Hamas is doing to Joe Biden. This administration says they stand with Israel. No, Biden's stance is how it's going to gain votes for his party. This administration never imagined the pro-Palestine backlash. Hamas and Iran have totally taken this war over, that is why Biden is caving for political reasons. Iran and Hamas will drip drip drip hostages for weeks to months. Biden will sacrifice Israel for votes.Arthur Maranian, Naples

Biden and hostages

So let me see if I have this correct.  Worthless President Biden has the nerve to claim he was helpful in getting hostages released from the terrorist group of killers, Hamas.  So how come no Americans have been released except for a 4-year-old girl with dual citizenship?

Biden you are utterly useless. And an out and out liar. You are not fit to run a laundromat, let alone the country.

Michael Adler, Miromar Lakes

No free pass

Finally!  Our country seems to be getting back on track towards common sense and sanity.  This actually can be accomplished by eliminating free passes.  For example, no free pass to citizenship for children born in the USA to illegal immigrants.  No free pass for immunity for future crimes to Hunter Biden. No free pass to college students who expect loan forgiveness by the government -- at taxpayers' expense.

No free pass: just three little words that can help restore responsibility, honesty and dignity to the American people.

Diane Corcelli, Bonita Springs

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Sunday, December 3, 2023