Letters: Understanding the importance of the 2020 election indictment against Donald Trump

As American citizens, we can participate in our democracy by being well-informed and open-minded about important current events. There is now public knowledge of a federal indictment alleging that former President Donald Trump carried out a detailed effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Simply put, he lost the election, repeatedly made false claims about it and went to great lengths to remain in power at all costs. The indictment is a powerful document that describes in detail the actions of the former president and his co-conspirators.

Sadly, there is now a campaign of dishonesty going on, attempting to convince the American public that the indictment is not legitimate. There are claims that the charges are about freedom of speech or that they are “political persecution.” I believe that any rational person who reads the indictment will conclude that these are totally false ideas.

So, what is in the indictment? There are details of phone calls and conversations that took place between the former president and many key players in the federal government, as well as in many state governments. How did this information become known?

Many people with direct knowledge of the situation obviously testified — under oath — to the investigators and the grand jury. Most of the significant and compelling information comes from the sworn statements of Trump-supporting prominent Republicans, who worked with or for the former president.

This contradicts the claims that this is the action of a biased Justice Department or a political attack.

I truly hope that all concerned citizens will read the indictment. If so, they will not be deceived by the former president, his protectors, prominent Republicans and others who are attempting to downplay its significance. The country should recognize the great courage and patriotism of the witnesses, many of whom were once in Trump’s inner circle.

George Hoskins, Orange Park

Raising awareness of amblyopia

Did you know that amblyopia (sometimes referred to as “lazy eye”) is the most common, yet preventable, cause of permanent vision loss in children? Yet, fewer than 20% of preschool children in Florida are currently screened for vision problems.

The Florida Society of Ophthalmology and the For Eye Care Foundation have launched an educational campaign recognizing August 2023 as Amblyopia Awareness Month. The goal of the education campaign is to bring awareness about the importance and need for early vision screenings, which can detect serious vision problems like Amblyopia.

Early vision screenings are the greatest tool parents have at their disposal. The detection of amblyopia and other vision-threatening disorders — like retinoblastoma tumors, cataracts, and strabismus — in early childhood increases the chances of successful treatment, especially if the disorder is detected before a child reaches age 5. Vision screenings can be done by a child’s pediatrician or ophthalmologist and physicians recommend starting at 12 months, repeating every few years.

During Florida’s 2023 legislative session, Sen. Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach) sponsored an approved resolution that recognizes August as Amblyopia Awareness Month in Florida. The resolution also seeks to promote statewide preschool vision screening, with the goal of testing all children 3 to 5 years of age.

No child in Florida should risk vision loss due to a detectable and preventable issue like amblyopia. Providing parents and guardians with the resources and information they need to make the best decisions in the care of their children is the first important step. The For Eye Care Foundation also works with community partners across the state to ensure parents and guardians have access to free and easy vision screenings.

To learn more about the FSO’s efforts, visit mdeye.org/amblyopia/.

Dr. David A. Eichenbaum, president, Florida Society of Ophthalmology and director of research, Retina Vitreous Associates

Destiny may ride on small number in 2024

Recent polls indicate that a theoretical November 2024 general election for president between the incumbent, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump would essentially be "too close to call." That is undoubtedly true in many ways, but what current national polls continue to dilute is that the general election is the result of 50 individual elections.

Polls often add weight to the super-majority states of each party (e.g., California, New York and Illinois; and conversely Florida, Texas and West Virginia). Most of the remaining states are predictable with some certainty. Therefore, absent an outlier state result, the election will come down to the outcome in less than 10 ― more like five — states.

Most people in politics can probably name those "usual suspects." To further narrow the election is that the independent voter, which is somewhere between 10-30% (at most) in each state, will essentially be determinative. Of that diminishing number, it is likely half of them are undecided.

That leaves about 5-10% of voters in five states that will determine the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. And that might be high. The factors that may well affect the outcome one way or the other for those few independents include the availability or legality of ballot drop boxes and the effectiveness of campaign advertisements in defining opponents.

Some predict that legal scandals on both sides may well serve to cancel each other out and essentially fall on deaf ears. In short, much will depend on the few undecided voters in a handful of mid-sized states, the scant total of which is almost certain to determine the destiny of the United States for most of the remainder of this century.

Bert Watson, Jacksonville

Marijuana opposition makes no sense

Attorney General Ashley Moody is opposed to the referendum on the 2024 ballot seeking to legalize recreational marijuana. Her latest rationale is that allowing citizens to use marijuana might be misleading because it is against federal law.

When making this charge, did Moody consider that there are about 900,000 current medical marijuana patients in Florida that (according to her logic) are presumably in violation of federal law right now? I don’t recall this being an issue when the referendum on medical marijuana was proposed.

Federal law was evidently not a problem that prevented nearly 40 states from legalizing medical marijuana or for the more than 20 states that have approved recreational use.

Maybe Moody and Gov. Ron DeSantis are worried that if recreational marijuana becomes legal, Florida might be regarded as a sanctuary state for casual users, since the federal government doesn’t really enforce the law prohibiting it.

The apparent message is that Moody and Gov. DeSantis just don’t want us ill-informed Floridians to use marijuana. I guess we are not adult enough to be able to decide for ourselves. Voting on referendums is the closest that we come to direct democracy in America, but they are actively trying to deter us from using this democratic instrument to make our own decisions.

But I wonder: Are they truly opposed to marijuana, or is this more about their antagonism toward referendums — and voting?

Richard Sutphen, Jacksonville

Another suggestion for stadium

Bill Longenecker's Aug. 13 column suggesting Shad Khan use his own money to finance a new stadium is a refreshing alternative to the "official boosterism" we hear too often from city officials.

The City Council chose well in a $150,000 consultant to advise on participation in a new stadium. Now, how much will Mayor Donna Deegan spend on her adviser?

Here's a suggestion in the spirit of Mr. Longenecker's sentiments that are much like many citizens who are not enthusiastic over every pronouncement uttered by Khan: Let the city give him the stadium free and clear for $1 but keep ownership of the ground under it.

Why pay for half of another deal that enriches an already rich man?

The stadium has value, but let’s make it our investment in keeping the franchise in town and collecting taxes on the new venue; in addition to continuing the benefits associated with local vendors who serve the crowds.

This time, however, Khan's efforts and investment should contribute to a greater good, since what the city has previously paid didn't return but pennies on the dollars spent. Taxpayers' money should benefit all of the citizens, not simply Jaguar fans and “Mr. Jaguar” himself.

Rob Richardson, Jacksonville Beach

Repurpose old underground tunnels

I have seen recent news reports about urban explorers discussing the abandoned railway tunnels under the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Could Jacksonville possibly repair and restore them to use as something like a light rail system?

We have the Skyway downtown, which is great, but I think having a subway to connect different parts of Jacksonville would greatly help the city. It could lead into the tunnels under the convention center. Maybe the Skyway or another rail system could be expanded all the way to the Westside, Beaches, etc.

There is so much history in this city. The convention center tunnels are not the only ones under Jacksonville. There is another vast network underneath some of the old bank buildings. Trolley car tracks have also been found while repairing the streets in old neighborhoods.

It makes me wonder: What else is hidden under Jacksonville?

George Martin, Arlington

Monroe should just move

Judging by the number of articles trashing Gov. Ron DeSantis that appear in the Times-Union, I was beginning to believe the paper would endorse Donald Trump for president. Nate Monroe’s Aug. 10 article, “Florida deserves better than dour DeSantis and lawless Trump,” sure put that theory to rest.

This article (commentary, really) is the most caustic, hate-driven piece I have ever read. If Monroe hates the South and Christian values so much, why doesn’t he move to New York, San Francisco or another liberal city? They would love him and he them; and I am sure he could get lots of assistance if he made such a move.

James Adams, Green Cove Springs

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Trump indictments not political attack, but evidence of real misdeeds