Letters to the editor for Sunday, October 8, 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

DeSantis rejects funding

Governor DeSantis was the first one to say NO!Many Floridians are still recovering and trying to rebuild after Hurricane Ian. The Inflation Reduction Act had allocated $346 million to Florida in rebates for energy improvements and appliance improvements. Governor DeSantis rejected this funding and he also rejected $24 million to update rural water systems.The Department of Energy will give these funds to other states to help their people if the money is not allocated by next August.

Why would our governor make such an irrational decision? Electrical wiring, heat pumps, water heaters, energy saving devices could all qualify for the rebates.Wake up, fellow Floridians. Why aren't we making a bigger deal about Governor DeSantis turning away money supported by President Biden and Congress? Other state governors are welcoming this funding, but not Florida. In his desperate campaign to run for the presidency, our governor is busy opposing ANYTHING the current administration proposes regardless of how his opposition harms Florida residents. It is clear to me he is looking out primarily for himself.Kathleen Callard, RNBS, North Fort Myers

Teach Republicans a lesson

Given the opportunity by Donald Trump, Betsy DeVos of Amway fame began to dismantle the public education system in America. Her goal was profit and in many ways her methods were much like the multilevel marketing that her company was built on. Sell the parents on their rights, choices, vouchers, charter schools, Christian schools but not on shoring up public schools. Destroy the unions, teachers' benefits, teachers' pensions, make their lives so miserable they quit. Fast forward to today's Florida. Moms for Liberty, Mama Bears scream that teachers in public schools are grooming their students, look at the books, let’s ban them, complain to the ever increasing far right school boards. DeSantis decided automatic union dues deductions were too easy. Make teachers send a check instead. Break the unions. Why? Florida is a right to work state. What does that really mean? It means you can be fired, let go, terminated for any reason. Your new boss doesn’t like you, bye Felicia. Maybe teachers are becoming the new slaves, learning skills they can use when tossed out of public education.  Stop voting any Republican in every election until we fix this and every other injustice. They need to be taught a lesson.Laurence Jacks, Estero

Donalds didn't vote

On the vote to keep the government open, Byron Donalds did not vote.  I guess it was unimportant to him and he couldn't be bothered.Mark B. Cohn, P.A., Naples

Expel Gaetz

Rep. Gaetz's name should be spelled Chaos for all that he has done in the last several days to totally disrupt the Republican Party and more important our House of Representatives.

He is a disgrace to those of us who expect Congress to get things done rather than jousting with each other as to who is in charge.

House of Representatives -- vote to expel Gaetz!

Franklin Warner, Fort Myers

Christopher Worrell arrest

Well now that Christopher Worrell has been arrested, I'm certain he'll sing to the FBI, on this whole January 6th thing. From the very beginning (IMO) he had local help. From planning the transportation to and from the Capitol, financing and even who harbored him after deciding to flee. Again it is said, he is now fully cooperating with federal authorities. He wants a reduced sentence, and this is the only way he has left. Just look at how many of the January 6th rioters hailed from Florida. He'll have plenty of details on how this terrible day in America occurred. Christopher Worrell, you now have a chance to help yourself; I suggest you do so!

Robert Jenkins, Naples

Chris Christie stands out

Watching the Republican debate was like watching America's Got NO Talent. Most of the candidates have about as much luster as a russet potato. Ron DeSantis, a recycled Marco Rubio blurting out a canned campaign speech like a wind-up toy whenever he could get a word in. Ramaswamy, a latter day Ted Cruz working hard to get everyone to hate him bickering with a haggled Nikki Haley who has a history of flip-flopping. Mike Pence muttering his usual half whispering spiel slipping in a little praise of his old master at who's feet he cowered for four years before he found his guts. No one seemed to pay much attention to Doug Burgum although he had some points to make. Tim Scott pretty much talked to himself plugging his accomplishments that no one seems to know about.

The only heavyweight on the stage (no pun intended) was Chris Christie. If anyone up there has any substance he is the one who dared tell it like it is.If The Decider would weigh in as to skip it or stream it it would probably say stream Christie and skip all the rest.

Fred Jodice, North Fort Myers

Debate criticism

The narrators asking questions while the audience is still cheering, clapping, or booing leaves the TV audience puzzled with the new question. The debates are for the TV audience. Being paranoid with inclusion and having a person with a heavy accent is frustrating to the listener. Especially if the audience is still reacting to the previous candidate’s answer.

Asking a strategic question of a specific candidate can, or gives the impression, to be biased. If the question is related to a success or comment he/she had adds positively to the candidates resume. If the question is related to a failure or comment he/she had it exposes a negative for that person. The moderators debating or correcting the candidates is wrong. Let the debaters solve that or make corrections.

All mics open is totally frustrating and conducive to individuals debating or interjecting. The mic of the addressed person should be the only mic open until his/her time is up. The time up should be signaled by an agreed sound and the mic should be turned off after five seconds. That to allow the finishing of a last sentence.

Questions should not be asked of one candidate. All the questions asked should be answered, in rotation, by each debater. If a candidate's answer mentions another candidate that other candidate should have a fixed amount of time to respond with only his/her mic open.

Before questioning by the moderators begins each candidate should have a fixed amount of time to state their platform and why they would be the best president in 2024.

John Piccolo, Estero

Worthless GOP

Here we go again; another long-time Republican writer on Sept. 23, in my opinion, made a totally false statement.  He said Democrats want to control everything, changing the U.S. into a communist country. This came as a great shock to me, because I thought it was the GOP that wants to turn the country into a fascist dictatorship.  Trump and his supporters love dictators and killers like Putin of Russia.  I even heard they want to do away with one of the greatest law-enforcement agencies’ in the world — FBI — and also the Justice Dept. (DOJ).  Apparently they want to determine which laws they will enforce against whom.

What party tried to overthrow our government and democracy on Jan. 6 2021?  Oh, now I remember, it was the Republican Party.  Which party supports the crazy  “QAnon” people that belong in a nuthouse?  The GOP.

Which party do all the hate and gun crazy militia groups support — like: the KKK, neo-Nazi’s, white supremacists, Oath-Keepers and Proud-Boys?  Again it is Republicans. The same letter writer states the UN is a do-nothing organization.

I disagree, the UN does many good things in the world.  He should probably look at his own worthless GOP.  It is so far right that absolutely nothing gets done.

One new “poll” shows 12 million Republicans believe it is OK to commit violence to restore Trump to the White House.  One has to wonder what makes a decent human being believe the greatest liar and con-man on the planet in Trump.

E.L. “Bud” Ruff, Naples

Biden and the election

I had been a Republican for over 60 years but when George W. Bush got us into two wars that I felt were a mistake, I left the party.

Since then, I have been satisfied with what the Democratic presidents have accomplished. After looking at the bills and programs President Biden has passed I am reasonably pleased. Yes, some of the COVID relief was overdone.

But unfortunately I now feel that he is being unfair and greedy by trying to secure another term when the majority of Americans feel now it is time for a younger person to run the country. The president reads the polls and cannot deny that aging takes its toll on all of us, even him.

He feels that if he is sick or incapacitated his vice president can ably step in and run the country but again the majority of voters do not share his view.

Joe Biden got a lot done as a senator and president over many years in public service. He has a great legacy not matched by many. Leave it at that, Joe. Do not run for another term and leave enough time for a younger person to show us what they can offer before the election.

If a major loser like the prior president was to beat you that well-earned legacy would disappear.

Mitch Sill, Naples

Untenable demands

I was born in Detroit and grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. We didn’t know we were poor. We played sports and were fortunate to have parents who dedicated their lives to raising us right. My dad worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. The jobs were nasty and I used to feel bad when he came home with soot on his face. I have no recollection of my parents ever complaining about anything being unfair. My mom worked in convenience stores and did babysitting to help the cause.

Things changed when my dad got a job at the car factory at age 42. He was happy and grateful to have a job at General Motors. Of course he was in the union. Most would agree that the union provided worthwhile assistance to blue collar workers from the 1950s thru the 1970s. While all workers in America should strive for fair pay the current 2023 UAW appears to be making untenable demands. In the initial stages of the current strike the union leader is demanding a 46% pay increase. There are virtually zero workers in the world that could expect this kind of pay raise. Even more outrageous might be the demand to work 32 hours a week but get paid for 40. Keep in mind currently they have 15 paid holidays a year including most recently Juneteenth. Also if they stay on the job long enough they receive five weeks paid vacation. That’s not exactly chump change. But Joe Biden stated most recently that these greedy corporations “need to share the profits.“ The president may need to be reminded that Ford motor company is currently losing $60,000 per electric car.

Are the workers expected to share in the losses? Thankfully the United States had brilliant innovative corporations willing to risk billions of dollars and hire millions of workers offering good paying jobs. Why Joe Biden incessantly vilifies corporations who make a profit is mind boggling unless one thinks we’re better off a socialist country. If that’s the case we’re in deeper trouble than my imagination can allow. Either way the old adage is always true. “Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.“John McWilliams, Fort Myers

Slow the invasion

The Democrat woke left believes that America is a patriarchal, white dominated and oppressive country.Yet 10,000 people risk their lives every day to illegally come into the country. Even some Democrats profess they want to curtail this invasion.So I've got an idea. As we have in the past, print leaflets and drop those leaflets in the major countries that are assailing our border patrol agents and let them know how oppressive this country is.Hopefully that will help in slowing down the invasion.

Joe Kiernan, Naples

Biden and border security

Just a couple of things I'd like to say to the recent contributor who said Biden should be removed from office if his administration cannot take control of the border (Biden and the border - 9/27).

The Biden administration HAS taken control of the border. From Day 1 of his presidency this is exactly what the left has wanted, open borders, and they have been extremely successful at it. Probably beyond their wildest dreams.

How many times have we heard the smug Homeland Security Director, Alejandro Mayorkas, tell us that the border is secure.

His interpretation of "secure" is they're not returning to Mexico.

If there is no problem at the border why is it that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre always seems to blame the Trump administration? There's either a problem or there isn't Karine.

If you want further evidence of Biden's border goals, take a listen to his recent speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in which he subtly, and not so subtly, spells out exactly what their plan is.

So the contributor is right that Biden should be removed from office but it will be because even those on the left will finally wake up to the fact that we actually do have a border crisis (invasion is really the word we should be using) and not a Biden success story.

Rick Manuel, Dade City

Christianity accepts corruption

Why does a corrupt Donald Trump lead in all polls? He lies, he cheats, he has no compassion, he is an egotist par excellence. We choose Donald Trump because of Christianity. Christianity, as we know it today, is based on the doctrine of “Sola Fide.“ The sola fide doctrine asserts that: “God’s pardon is granted through faith alone, excluding good works.” If one believes, regardless of one’s morality, one can be saved.

So Christianity today waives morality as a criterion for salvation thereby giving Christians a license to ignore morality. Lying, cheating, lack of compassion are okay. So what Trump is and what he stands for can be accepted without compunction. Racists, anti-Semites, and anti-LBGT’s are, in Trump’s own words, “very fine people.”

Being a Christian nation does not make us a good nation. It makes us a believing nation which accepts corruption as a way of life. Very contrary to what St. Paul preached: “(A)nd if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13). Faith without love, without compassion, without ethics, without morality, is why Christians can accept Donald Trump. Faith alone (sola fide) allows Christians the convenience of corruption.

Joe Haack, Naples

Management-labor strife

With  the Hollywood writers strike resolved and the parallel one by actors seemingly headed that way, the management-labor strife that is breaking out all over country is generating lots of finger-pointing by presidential  contenders.

Their responses to the discord in the auto industry centered in Detroit, along with the new one this week by some 75,000 health care workers with the Kaiser Permanente system, threatened work stoppages by hospitality and culinary workers in Las Vegas and by food processors at the Hormel plant in Austin in southern Minnesota, among other places, are revelatory.

President Biden’s unprecedented joinder on the picket line of the United Auto Workers (UAW) in the work stoppage at the Big 3 vehicle makers places the onus for the labor strife at the doors of greedy management, which has greatly boosted their compensation while taking sole credit for improved profitability and freezing wages and benefits of the slighted workers who have contributed mightily to those record-breaking achievements.

On the Republican side, former President Trump, the prohibitive front-runner, blames UAW leadership for the strike in Detroit  and spreading elsewhere. His former running mate, ex-Vice President Mike Pence,  lays blame at the hands of President Biden for causing inflation that has raised prices that he claims underlies the unease of workers.

South Carolina Senator Tom Scott, the “Happy Warrior” on the campaign trail, is displeased  with unhappy workers. His simplistic — and illegal — prescription to them, “You strike, You’re fired,” overlooks that the Ronald Reagan template of sacking striking air traffic controllers 40 years ago is inapplicable since that strike was unlawful by federal employees while the current strikers are legally entitled to exercise their collective bargaining rights under federal law and the laws in most jurisdictions, except maybe South Carolina.

And then there’s our Governor DeSantis, who characteristically cuts to the chase, no pun intended. His solution for workplace disenchantment is to “start slitting throats” of employees, which is probably unlawful, too, even in South Carolina.

While President Biden’s approach may be simplistic and imbalanced, at least it’s not illegal.

Marshall H. Tanick, Naples

Aberrant behavior normalized

“Everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice,” is getting to be a familiar refrain. I am hearing it more and more but I wish to hear it less and less.

Here’s why. Our Constitution is grounded in meaningful principled language: …Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, for example.

And if those words mean anything in a civilized society, they mean that crime, especially violent crime, should first be prevented not just lamented.

Violent offenders seem to commit crimes with impunity. Terms such as “smash and grab,” “carjacking,” and “flash mob” have been woven into our vernacular. Watch enough TV and visit multiple social media platforms and a sense of despair begins to creep into your psyche.

Many in my generation think the wheels are coming off.  Our values have been hijacked and have become a punchline on late-night talk shows.  And worse, romanticizing a mugging, a robbery, or an assault only picks at the scab.

When the Zeitgeist gets turned on its head, anarchy gains a foothold and aberrant behavior becomes normalized. We are seeing that insidious phenomenon today, on our cell phones, in our newspapers, and on the ubiquitous social platforms that we can’t seem to escape. 

A line from a Hank Williams Jr. song captures the moment: “The interest is up and the stock market’s down and you only get mugged if you go downtown.”

William E. Leggiero, Jr., Naples

Elephant in the room

Partisan loyalties aside, there’s a huge elephant in America’s living room: the fact that a lifelong, emotionally unstable person rose to the office of president and for the ensuing four years, through losing re-election and up to the present day, continued, and continues to bombastically exhibit his dangerous emotional defect.It’s unfortunate that his wealthy family didn’t forcibly intervene long ago to compassionately side-track him so he couldn’t do or cause harm to anyone, or eventually to America.Again, this observation has absolutely nothing to do with his party affiliation and everything to do with the flag under which we ALL live and pledge our allegiance.

J. Cant, Naples

Narcissist in Chief

Make no mistake; it's coming. There is going to be a "Colonel Jessup moment" sooner rather than later. Our former Narcissist in Chief will trumpet his criminality in plain sight and under oath. Like the fictional Colonel in Rob Reiner's courtroom drama, "A Few Good Men," he wants and needs to scream it out loud: he is so singular, so special, so pivotal to the survival of our nation that the laws, rules and norms simply do not apply to him. And like the Colonel, he will be sincerely incredulous and amazed when and if the system holds him to account. For him, enlightened self interest will take a back seat to psychological necessity; he will confess and expect the American people to concur in his own functionally insane self assessment. It is going to happen. It only remains to be seen if we are sufficiently sane to disagree.

Geremy Spampinato, Naples

Detained Americans freed

It looks like the Biden administration has found a way to free five United States citizens jailed in Iran.

This is not to criticize anything that helps our people unjustly detained in foreign countries. Anything that does that is a good thing.

One of the conditions of the agreement is the release of hundreds of millions of dollars back to Iran with the stipulation the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes. For food and medical use, etc.

Iran will comply simply by using moneys already budgeted for those purposes to other uses like supplying drones to Russia or increasing their terrorist attacks on us or our allies.

Nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

E.R. Santhin, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Sunday, October 8, 2023