Letters to the editor for Sunday, October 2, 2022

Kathy Fanny for Lee School Board

Vote for Kathy Fanny for Lee County School Board.

She is a lifelong professional teacher with 38 years in the classroom, working for the parents, unions, school boards, and most of all students. Her lifelong love of teaching and of young people will help our students as they work to recover lost learning from the pandemic.

Nothing beats education and experience. We need people on the School Board who know education.

Kathy Fanny is the right choice.

Alan Donahue, Cape Coral

Declare independence from DeSantis

At Gettysburg, Lincoln recalled our American heritage when he said: “A government of the people, by the people, for the people…”  Jack Kennedy followed up by stating: “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”  All of these quotations point to “grassroots,” “from the bottom up” and “groundswell.”  We need the people to restate what our founders and forefathers stated. Our founders declared independence from a monarch in our Declaration of Independence where they identified the pitfalls of anarchy and where they identified our inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, in that order.

DeSantis allowed the deaths of many Floridians when he ruled against mandated masking and vaccinations by businesses and governments as COVID attacked Florida.  He abandoned “the people” in favor of a King DeSantis economy which he touts in elections. He never mentions over 79,000 COVID deaths. Ken Burns called his transporting migrants to Martha’s Vineyard “straight out of the authoritarian playbook.” He virtually kidnapped the migrants and then ignored the proscriptions of immigration statutes: A monarch above the law. We do not need another Trump.

It’s time to read DeSantis the riot act, or better yet, read him the Declaration of Independence. Vote for Charlie Crist who represents “the people,” not himself.

Sally Lam, Naples

The elites of Martha's Vineyard

I always wondered what would happen if our elite playgrounds ever had to deal with migrants and their relocation to America's Playground. So 50 migrants arrived to a very unhappy population situated in Martha's Vineyard. The island has about 17,000 year round residents and the population swells to over 200,000 in the summer months. The leadership of the island screamed bloody murder and had these migrants relocated to a military base in Cape Cod. The reasoning for the relocation is one of the richest sanctuary cities in the country does not have the resources to attend to the needs of the migrants. No hotel rooms, no short term rentals, no mansions sitting idle and nobody wants them. No jobs, no schools, and no rooms for a weary group of travelers. Currently there are over 200 jobs available in MV.

Martha's Vineyard is missing a great opportunity to welcome these tired, and poor, and huddled masses yearning to breathe free. (It says this on the base of the Statue of Liberty), for a chance at the American Dream. Imagine a group of uneducated, poor, and language challenged ringing the door of Barack, Bill Gates, Joe Biden and the Clintons and being turned away! Blasphemy!

Here is a group that will gladly clean your homes, mow your lawns, caddy at the club, clean your car, work at McDonalds, and work for cash. This is exactly the place for these migrants to find shelter and clothing and food. I can just see now, Michelle yelling at a migrant woman because she used Tide instead of Cheer! Bill Clinton checking out the youngsters, and Joe Biden telling them how he climbed the ladder of success and never having a job! All the while the elites complain there are not enough white privileged kids to do the chores so often outsourced to migrants.

This story will die and so will many others unless our elites stand up and say, "I will do my part!" Here is their there new slogan -- work in Martha's Vineyard, live under the expressway!

Jack Holt, Cape Coral

Lying, cheating and stealing

Growing up, my mother taught me that if a person lies, that person will cheat, if that person cheats, that person will steal. This admonition has been a guide for my own actions and for judging the actions of others over a 30-year military career. Yet on the most valuable possession this nation has, its democracy and the institutions that sustain it, we see leaders in one political party willing to lie repeatedly, support those who lie repeatedly, remain silent in the face of those who lie repeatedly or finally and most devastatingly, give their vote to those who lie repeatedly, all of which undermines and weakens that democracy. These are lies that cheat the public out of their ability to make informed voting decisions and ultimately results in stealing the very thing that made and makes America great, democracy. These leaders have as their base purpose the attainment and retention of raw power by any means necessary, a concept totally at odds with democratic rule. Eventually the lies require us to permanently suspend our disbelief to support these leaders. Mr. Trump, after thousands of lies, recently told a usually drooling, but not-easily-shocked Hannity, that the FBI was seeking Hillary Clinton’s emails when they raided Mar-a-Lago and that, in defense of the documents he illegally took from the White House, a president can declassify classified documents just by "thinking about it."  Closer to home, we have the present governor saying he spent over a half million dollars of Florida taxpayer money to fly immigrants, legally in the U.S., from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, because it was “suspected” they wanted to come to Florida. First the lies, then the cheating and finally the stealing.

Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs

Too many red light runners

I am amazed at the number of drivers speeding and running red lights in Lee County, seemingly with no fear of being ticketed for their traffic law violations. I hear numerous comments from visitors to our area, such as, "I had no idea that speed limits and stopping for red lights was optional in Lee County." These violations are so prevalent that my wife and I do not feel safe on our roads anymore. We do not ever presume anymore that we can safely proceed when traffic lights turn green, and we are very careful to see in all directions before moving through a green light situation, sometimes to the aggravation of those behind us. We have actually experienced one serious accident just prior to proceeding through a green light, because of someone speeding through the red light. I understand from what I have seen on the local news that law enforcement may be short-handed, but an officer at any major intersection in our area would most likely get writer's cramp from handing out citations. Also we wonder what has become of the practice of cameras used at intersections to catch red light runners. I remember them being used before in Naples, I believe, but were discontinued because the offenders complained. That was hard to understand, because saving lives, injuries, and property damages seems far more important than bending to the will of traffic law offenders. It does appear that green lights have been delayed behind the red lights at some intersections to accommodate the red light runners and increase safety for the green light traffic. If so, this is a good thing, but a sad alternative to understaffed law enforcement.

Tom Lovern, Fort Myers

The science is not settled

Biden climate change bill is a lifeline, was the headline in Dr. Jennifer Jones' Sunday column. She describes our current state as a climate crisis and supports The Anti-Inflation Act bill. The bill provides $370 billion in renewable energy, environmental justice programs, old-growth forest protections and other measures. It is projected to reduce U.S. climate emissions by 40 percent or more over the next eight years. The bill is also an attack on fossil fuels which we can’t do without.

She says that “some naysayers will continue to argue against the role of humans in causing climate change.” She’s correct and why not? There is no data in this article to support her claim, and she further says “the science of human caused climate change is beyond doubt.” Who made this decision?

Later she references “anti-science and misinformation campaigns” used by the naysayers. In reality they are the tools used by climate crisis zealots. If you use the word “crisis” enough, people may believe it.  Models and words are not science.

There is a good book titled "A Disgrace To Their Profession." It provides information that casts doubts on the zealots’ theories. A quote from the book:

Climate change is a matter of geologic time, something the Earth does on its own without asking anyone’s permission or explaining itself. The Earth does not include the potentially catastrophic effects on civilization in its planning.

Beware of any “science” that dislikes statistics or resents external investigations.

Nick Blauwiekel, Naples

Concerned about growing climate crisis

I've lived in Fort Myers for over 25 years and grown increasingly concerned about the escalating threats to our environment. My sincere thanks to the editors to The News-Press for their expanded coverage of environmental concerns and issues. Your front page article "Studying climate changes effects" was a particularly moving description of the impact of the growing climate crisis on our young people and their search for answers to its impact on their lives.

Those of us now enjoying our retirement years owe our deepest respect, support and gratitude to the young FGCU graduate student, Ella Guedonar, featured in the article, and others like her, for their dedication to finding solutions to the environmental challenges we are leaving in their hands. On behalf of my three great-grandchildren, I thank you.

Joan Marshall, Fort Myers

Prosecuting political enemies

Our civil legal system is designed to redress injury. If one person is harmed by another,

you go to court in order to establish guilt and then monetize the value of the damages.

In the case of the Letitia James New York litigation against Donald Trump et al, there does not appear to be injury to any party.

Is this just business the way business is conduced in real estate circles by the big players in New York City and Trump is being singled out? It looks that way to me.

A prosecutor has power an ordinary citizen does not have, including the power to use her office to harass and damage a political opponent. James promised to do this before she was elected.

She publicly calls the alleged Trump misbehavior “astounding,” a phrase picked up and spread by the media. This is designed to prejudice the potential jury pool.

In the past few years we have discovered the weak point in our legal system. It is in the discretion of elected prosecutors, who chose not to enforce some legally enacted laws

and to use the resources of the government to prosecute political enemies.

Bob Stabile, Bonita Springs

We'd be better off with Trump

What if President Trump had won re-election? Where would we be?

The first day President Biden was in office, he reversed President Trump's energy policies. This resulted in the United States being an energy importer instead of a an energy exporter. This move by Biden created inflation for not only the United States but also the whole world by reducing our energy production drastically thereby raising costs across all industries. Transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, etc., just to name a few. You can see it locally in higher gas prices, electric costs, lawn services, and groceries.

We would not be in a recession if President Trump was still president because our energy production would still be online, therefore prices and supply chains would be running more efficiently.

This would be one of the reasons that Putin could invade Ukraine because of Russia's extra income from inflated energy prices caused by Biden's moves, giving Putin and Russia the funds needed for the war.

If President Trump had been in charge, Afghanistan would have been a better thought-out exit strategy where hundreds of American citizens and possibly thousands of Afghan allies wouldn't have been abandoned along with billions of dollars of top military equipment. The Taliban is now one of the most powerful entities in the world, thanks to President Biden.

The border would be more secure under President Trump and the result would be substantially less overdose deaths by the fentanyl that is currently pouring over the southern border. The current administration is lying when they claim the border is secure. There is no accountability by the administration on the human traffic, the drug traffic nor the potential for enemies of the United States, i.e. potential terrorists, coming through at this time

At a time when it is critical for our military to be strong in a world of chaos, President Biden's punitive treatment of our unvaccinated military personnel is weakening our forces and our ability to respond to troubles in the world.

In summary, the world would be a lot better off if President Trump were still president due to his record of negotiating peace treaties with Middle Eastern countries and Israel, his strengthening of our borders, respecting our military personnel, and his prosperous economic policies.

Bill Tanner, Cape Coral

Compassion vs. the Temple of Trump

Dumping immigrants off in Washington, D.C. and sending others to Martha’s Vineyard are Trump power plays with no redeeming qualities. They are drama without substance. They are cruelty replacing compassion.

Abbott and DeSantis attract followers who choose macho behavior over creativity, control over freedom. It is akin to Trump playing to crowds of Proud Boys or Oath Keepers; pure authoritarianism. Dehumanizing immigrants and harnessing vulnerable human beings is the act of bullies.

It surely is not the act of Christians. Start with the story of the Good Samaritan, move to the second greatest commandment (the ethic of reciprocity), follow with the Sermon on the Mount and finish with St. Paul admonishing the Corinthians that without love, without compassion, the other qualities of life are nothing.

The treatment of immigrants by these two bullying governors manifests that they have failed the basic test of Christianity. Or, perhaps the majority of American Christians have abandoned the basic teachings of Jesus Christ, and now worship in the Temple of Trump, where "the elite" and religious figures like Pope Francis are viewed as a cabal of cannibalistic Satan-worshipping pedophiles, now that Trump has openly embraced QAnon.

Joe Haack, Naples

Investigate Biden like Dems went after Trump

I just hope that the Republicans are ready to start investigations into Joe Biden and his family and all departments of the government after the election. Let's go after Joe and all his pals like the Democrats went after Trump.

Moe Sinclair, Cape Coral

Choice between two autocrats

I just read that in a USA Today poll for a 2024 hypothetical presidential primary in Florida, DeSantis now leads Trump, 48 percent to 40 percent. This begs the question, who the hell are these 40 percent of Florida Republicans who are willing to vote for the fraud, teetering on the brink of a criminal indictment?

Then again, it really makes no difference who would win because you're basically getting the same narcissistic autocrat.

Roger W. Quagliano, Estero

Everyone should view documentary

Of all the incredible documentaries produced by Ken Burns, "The U.S. and the Holocaust" is the most important. This should be viewed by everyone, particularly ALL of our politicians, regardless of their party affiliation. This is a frightening reflection of the current situation in our country.

Kathy French, Naples

Socialism undermined Venezuela

Regarding Mr. Rappaport's letter on the ridiculous column explaining Venezuelans fleeing their country that ran in your paper earlier in the month. He is right that it wouldn't pass muster for a high school paper let alone a paper with the reach of the Naples Daily News.

What was with the inclusion of obscure Spanish terms? Was this an effort to show how inclusive the author is?

I can summarize the reason for the exodus in one word, a word that I looked for in vain in the column. This word explains the demise of every society wherever it has been tried. The word, of course, is socialism.

Chuck Bainbridge, Naples

Rise above today's political animus

Andy Rooney, the "60 Minutes" sage, accurately described liberal mentality. "They accept facts as truths only if the facts agree with what they already believe." Simply put, Libs have been so indoctrinated in Marxist dogma their brains react like lockboxes when faced with contradictory facts. For validation check out the Democratic hierarchy and their foibles.

Chief bankroller and master instigator George Soros, the Hungarian short trader who "broke the Bank of England" through short trading chicanery and now intends to reshape America according to his socialist playbook.

Ensconced in the White House is shopworn puppet Joe Biden with former Obama underlings pulling his strings. An even scarier thought is VP and "Border Czar" Kamala Harris waiting in the wings.

Dictator Supreme Nancy Pelosi controls Congress when she isn't feeding DWI hubby stock tips. In her bullpen is AOC and her radical chums hoping for a coup.

Leading the liberal media enablers are the New York Times and major TV networks that control the national narrative like Pravda once did in the USSR.  Some even took potshots at Queen Elizabeth II and UK as her body lay in repose. Seriously?

For America to endure as a unified nation we must rise above today's political animus. Was the Jan. 6 Capitol attack any worse than liberal-ignored violence during the summer of 2020 when there was looting, burning of federal buildings and cops killed? Also, far fewer immigrants perished on Trump's watch of the southern border than under Biden's "more  humane" policy. Contradictions galore.

Gerald Ponder, Cape Coral

MAGAism deserves our contempt

While I agree with him on some matters, I am glad that Rev. Orsi isn’t president. (Guest Opinion: If I were president, 9/25/22)

We agree that there is horrific vulgarity and disrespect on social media. Crude people enjoy viscously attacking strangers they’ll never meet.

On the other hand, Mr. MAGA himself -- “The Other Guy” – has no peer when it comes to being offensively obscene and championing violence. This is the man and the movement that Orsi is defending?

Let’s highlight some of the key features of MAGAism:

• Absolutely blind acceptance of anything and everything Donald Trump says and does, including: fomenting a coup against the United States, stealing top secret documents, dodging taxes, accused sexually assaulting any number of women, continuously ginning up division and hatred -- the list goes on

• Rejection of the clear and well-established legitimate victory of President Biden in 2020 and jeopardizing our democracy

• A hostility toward public education and higher education in particular

• Immersion in conspiracies, such as QAnon’s assertion that the Democratic Party is controlled by Satanic pedophiles running pizza parlors (It’s worth noting that a system that is vastly larger than the Democratic Party, and which is well-known to Orsi, has had plenty of problems of its own with pedophilia and sexual abuse.)

Rock-ribbed conservative Judge J. Michael Luttig, one of Mike Pence’s chief legal advisors, described the MAGA crew as constituting “a clear and present danger to American democracy.” Calling them out doesn’t constitute “contempt.” They deserve it.

Michael Sales, Naples

Threats to our democracy

Seven months ago Russia invaded Ukraine and started to destroy it. It continues today however Ukraine will not surrender. It has declared that it will never succumb to the pathetic devil Putin because it has extraordinary love for its country, its people, it’s way of life, and its democracy. All of the Ukrainian politicians support its democratic form of government.

The United States is supporting Ukraine by providing billions of dollars in assistance including weapons needed to combat Russia and to preserve Ukraine’s democracy. I am so proud that our Congress gave nonpartisan approval to accomplish this -- to preserve the people and democracy in Ukraine.

I love our country.

What is puzzling is why some of our elected senators and representatives are acting in ways that threaten our same form of government -- democracy.

We need to vote them out of office asap.

Irv Povlow, Marco Island

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Sunday, October 2, 2022