Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: New label, same extreme candidate

Independent or Dem, RFK Jr. no POTUS

On Oct. 9, to the shock of many Democrats, it happened: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared his independent candidacy for president.

But he is not his father, in his policies, his opinions, his connection to the American people or to the Democratic Party. He has none of his father’s traits or character.

His own relatives browbeat him in a 2019 op-ed disavowing any association of his campaign with his family.

RFK Sr. was a man of the people, for the people, by the people. Thousands of people turned out for his speeches and his campaign events and volunteered for him.

But none of this exists for RFK Jr. He is to the extreme on almost every single issue that is paramount to America.

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It’s as if he takes the opposite position his father would.­ A younger candidate with moderate, not extreme, views is what Americans want as our president.

The only third-party candidate for POTUS that brought in a respectable vote was Ross Perot. RFK Jr. is not even a Ross Perot.

Wrong candidate, wrong politics, wrong man for POTUS.

Rich Unger, Sarasota

Hobson’s choice: Trump or Biden

Americans may face the unpleasant task of electing former President Donald Trump or reelecting current President Joe Biden in 2024.

Trump has an unattractive reputation due to his conceit, numerous legal problems, vindictive/get even reputation and three straight election losses.

Most Republicans think he can win simply because Biden will be his opponent. They ignore the younger voters flocking to Democratic positions on the environment and abortion.

Biden himself appears unwell, physically and mentally, and Americans are concerned.

Compounding concerns about his health, and age, is his political legacy. To quote former defense secretary Robert Gates, Biden “has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”

Think border security, inflationary spending, billions for Iran, student loan erasure and other far-left positions. We can’t afford the luxury of this man whose physical and mental well-being are so much in doubt.

Thomas G. Moore, Bradenton

Raising home values violates Save Our Homes

After I replaced my 22-year-old roof with an identicaltile roof, the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office decided that my maintenance replacement was a capital improvement and increased my appraised value by $48,000.

This is, in my opinion, a blatant violation of the Save Our Homes provision under Florida Homestead principles. It artificially increases the appraised value of homes only in Sarasota County, since no other taxing entity in Florida is known to have done this.

My increase was initially over 12% in one year, subsequently adjusted to over 9%.

Save Our Homes limits the annual increase in assessed value to 3% or less. The property appraiser, Bill Furst, seems to think that 9% to 12% is a better tax increase.

While this blatant disregard for the protections offered by Save Our Homes threatens the financial stability of allSarasota property owners, it most seriously threatens the financial stability of our Sarasota’s senior citizens, who often suffer from limited and fixed incomes.

This, in the face of ever-rising inflation, is exactly the issue Save Our Homes was written to avoid!

How can an elected official in Sarasota treat its citizens so poorly and expect to be reelected by those same people?

Joseph and Irene McCarthy, Sarasota

Read your local paper to stay informed

Several years ago, I canceled my home delivery: I found there was little to read − mostly ads and then it was on to the comics.

Recently I decided, regardless of the reading choices, it was imperative to support the local newspaper and I once again have home delivery. And I am so glad I re-upped.

The Herald-Tribune seems to have improved its content and I now find many articles to read, from international news to farm issues, from dog behaviors to local news.

It is so important to keep informed about what is happening in one’s own community. If one is concerned about real estate growth and new construction in the Sarasota community, then read your local paper.

It is the local newspaper that reports on various meetings taking place and that holds the local politicians and land developers accountable. Be informed.

Gloria Casey, Venice

Press: Shine light while you still can

Kudos to the Herald-Tribune and columnist Chris Anderson for publishing “Opinion: Who should you believe? The Sarasota GOP or your lying eyes,” on Oct. 8.

But the column also raises a fear. If Donald Trump becomes president again, I doubt this type of column will be allowed, and perhaps the Herald-Tribune will be shut down, too.

Muzzling the press has occurred in many countries under dictators, and it can happen here. It’s one of the first things dictators do when they gain power.

Be careful who and what you vote for in 2024.

Paul Fox, Bradenton

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Son, nephew of famous Democrats goes independent