Letters: Gaetz, Rubio and Scott voting to tank our Social Security and Medicare shameful
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Our Florida reps voted to hurt us
In Northwest Florida we have three men who represent our interest in Congress: Gaetz, Rubio and Scott. All three voted against the recent bill that would have kept our nation from defaulting on its debt!
The bill passed by overwhelming bipartisan support from both Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate. But these three – Gaetz, Rubio and Scott – chose to vote from their right-wing spleen and did so with the full knowledge that it would be best to default in paying obligations our nation had agreed to fund already.
And default would have sent our nation’s economy and good credit right into the toilet. Why? Because they are more interested in their petty grievances than protecting the Social Security and Medicare of the senior citizens they represent as well as the veterans they also represent, and those in need of other services and our military. And they say they you’re your approval for re-election when the time comes?
At what point, Northwest Floridians, will we wake up to realize these three could care less about us. Gaetz and Scott are up for election in 2024. Remember what they did this year on this bill. They do not deserve to represent our interests. They could care less!
John King, Pensacola
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Smith’s hiring handled badly
Escambia County School Superintendent Tim Smith was fired May 16. Based on the antics of two school board members recently, it was probably inevitable, but the way it went down was lousy.
I used to be involved with school board stuff for years in the ‘90s and ‘00s, (residents’ committees) but got tired of the pettiness on those boards and some superintendents (all elected back then, always local). Way too much ‘good-old-boy’ cronyism got in the way of progress.
The residents voted in November 2018 to move to an appointed superintendent. Not all board members at that time were happy; some still aren’t. Michelle Salzman (a voice on one of the committees pushing for an appointed superintendent) recently called for Smith’s resignation too.
Clearly when there’s such a toxic environment between the board and superintendent, something’s got to give. Either fences get mended, or you have to move on. Based on the actions and words of those board members, fence-mending isn’t going to happen. However, that doesn’t mean we regress back to locally elected superintendents – we’ve hardly given this much time to work.
Last thing we need to do is go back to the cronyism that stagnated the district for decades.
Stan Allsopp, Pensacola
Founding Fathers OK with weapons
The exact words of the Second Amendment are, “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” The amendment was adopted in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights and was influenced by similar clauses in some of the original state constitutions.
The first part of this sentence is known as a modifier clause, which are words that modify the sentence. In the case of the Second Amendment, the most important part of the sentence is the modifier clause which, according to any second-grade teacher and which any second-grader should know, puts limitations on the exact wording of the statement.
There is no clearer statement that the Founding Fathers intentionally and willfully wanted to limit the ownership of weapons by all should be in the furtherance of a well-regulated militia (meaning controlled by the authority of the government) and that it was only for the security of a free state. It does not imply that the citizens do not have the right to own weapons of war or as many weapons that they can stockpile in any way, shape or form!
Sometimes, clauses act as modifiers. These, too, are generally either adverbial or adjectival and can look like: “When the sun rises, “Who wore gray jeans,” and “With excitement in her eyes”.
Thomas Kaiser, Milton
Taking country back is colorblind
Carlton J. Charles raises some excellent points regarding our elected leaders who have forgotten they represent we the people rather than themselves. A prime example of someone being tone-deaf to the plight of the average citizen is the current president, who probably thinks the word “Constitution” refers to his bowel habits.
However, his own words belie the root cause of the division in this country when he states that “middle- and lower-class whites should join lower class Blacks and other people of color” to form a voting bloc. Why is it always necessary to put labels on someone or place them into groups? Are we not all Americans first? That commonality should be the guiding principle, regardless of color.
“Lower-class whites” don’t believe they are better than “lower-class Blacks”. This is a myth that was created by Obama and propagated by Biden. I would join any like-minded person who wants to take back our country from the woke politicians and lunatics in the White House and I don’t care what color they are!
Delta Hixon, Pace
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Congress shouldn’t politicize budget
So, let me get this straight – all those senators and representatives who voted against the national debt ceiling bill, which should not have been necessary to begin with, were quite willing for the U.S. to have a financial crisis of potentially high magnitude in order to make a point that Congress, which includes these same senators and representatives, needs to make a budget that reduces that national debt?
Here’s an idea: Why doesn’t the U.S. Congress make a budget that aims to reduce the national debt and quit playing high risk games. The goal should be to make the budget and then honor that budget. Most probably some compromises will be required – maybe some program reductions – maybe some increased taxes. Using the debt ceiling as a bargaining chip to try and achieve what could not be previously legislated has got to stop.
Roger Villines, Pensacola
Calkins’ behavior is government at worst
The fight over a Santa Rosa County Marine Advisory Committee member, led by County Commissioner James Calkins, is government at its worst.
Only Republicans need apply, and 61,000 Santa Rosans are not Republican. Yes, 59 percent of Santa Rosa County voters register as Republican. That’s a lot, but not enough to purge and purify local government of Mr. Calkin’s undesirable elements. That is, supposing anyone would want to do such a thing.
The government belongs to the people, not to the Republican Party.
Grover Diehl, Gulf Breeze
Child criminals deserve adult punishment
These are sad times. Children as young as 12 are now committing adult crimes. In the past, they would do harmless pranks such as ringing doorbells or toilet papering or egging homes. Their behavior has escalated.
Children are committing assault and battery. Children are attacking the weak and elderly. Children are doing drive-by shootings. Children are committing murder. These are adult crimes.
After much deliberation and with a heavy heart, I have come to these conclusions. Children who commit minor offences such as harmless pranks or shop lifting, should be tried in juvenile court. However, “children” who commit adult crimes should be tried in adult courts.
I wish it hadn’t come to this.
Dave Burson, Pensacola
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gaetz, Rubio and Scott voting against our interests was shameful
