Ukraine: Taking shots at DeSantis, Biden, Trump; Medicare costs; guns, books | March 29

Controlling Medicare drug costs can help with deficit

There was a big headline with a long column March 12 blaming the federal government for high drug prices. Which government, when?

In 2005, Republicans were in control, under President George W. Bush. Their Medicare reform bill forbid Medicare from bargaining for better prices with pharmaceutical companies. Republicans continued that prohibition.

President Joe Biden, in his State of the Union speech, said it: Finally, it looks like Medicare will be allowed to bargain for all drug prices. I hope so.

I heard Larry Kudlow over and over say: “Let the free market work!” Biden did say he capped the price of insulin at $35 per month for Medicare recipients. And he did say he would like to cap the price of insulin for everybody. But where did he say expanding price controls to cover all Americans, and not just Medicare recipients, is the solution to lower pharmaceutical prices, as the writer of this opinion piece claims?

Biden did say: "In the last two years, my administration has cut the deficit by more than $1.7 trillion ― the largest deficit reduction in American history. Under the previous administration, the American deficit went up four years in a row. Because of those record deficits, no president added more to the national debt in any four years than my predecessor.”

Republicans refusing, since 2005, to allow Medicare to bargain with pharmaceutical companies also added to the deficit year after year. TCPalm long ago had a tiny news article telling how many billions of dollars that refusal to let the free market work had cost us by then.

Perhaps it’s time for your columnist to look up those numbers. After all, aren’t his wages paying into that Medicare fund?

Helen Frigo, Jensen Beach

Guns vs. books: Lawmakers' priorities awry?

As a retired Indian River County teacher of 30 years, I am furious that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his foot soldiers imply that those in my profession are immoral.

I never saw a pornographic or obscene book in the library or on a classroom shelf. The claim that there are such books, which by extension means teachers are sanctioning them, is a baseless and infuriating lie.

I love this quote: "When we ban books before we ban guns, we prove we are more concerned with children learning than we are of them dying."

This is a truth America must admit to.

Joan Fox, Vero Beach

Local authors make for great guest speakers

Our book club in Lake Park, Tradition, recently had the pleasure to have a presentation and question-and-answer session with local author Larry David Allman.

Allman discussed his latest books “Downward Dog In Miami” and “TACTICAL YOGA: A Guide to the Strategic Use of Posture, Breath and Meditation.” A most interesting and informative discussion followed with his views and experiences on the creative and writing process, getting published, marketing and promotion and health-related aspects in his books.

This was our first time having a published author in person. It was both different and dynamic. It was a lot more interesting than the static normal of just reading and discussing a book among members.

Allman emphasized that there are several local authors who have published numerous books, and specifically mentioned Fred Berri and Ellen Gillette as two of the most successful.

Other book clubs and community associations should avail themselves of this rich local resource we have here on the Treasure Coast: published authors who share their experience and expertise … in person.

Dr. Judy Di Mattia, Port St. Lucie

Biden has proven ineffective in many areas

I was confused when I read a response to my letter claiming Joe Biden was responsible for the fiasco in Afghanistan during the withdrawal. Did the writer actually say or imply withdrawal negotiations conducted years ago with Taliban officials must be adhered to regardless of the changing conditions on the ground?

I heard presidential Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre try that excuse during a conference. Nobody bought it then or should believe it now. If current conditions have to be ignored and all that matters is what Donald Trump negotiated, then the question that begs to be asked: “Why do we need Biden at all?”

Biden had two years to establish foreign policy with his signature. Is he is incapable of that? Republicans already knew that, but if this country is to move forward, Democrats have to admit it!

The weakness of Biden in foreign policy is apparent to the entire world. Chinese have started sabre rattling over Taiwan and North Korea is now testing missiles over the Sea of Japan. This country’s domestic policy is also in shambles. Mexican cartels have been sending fentanyl across our southern border in greater amounts that we’ve seen before. Our energy supply has been disrupted by shutting down the oil pipeline, resulting in the loss of 11,000 jobs.

All of these actions were taken by Biden but somehow, through the magic of political spin, it’s Trump's fault! How ignorant do you think the American voters are? It may work with lockstep Democratic voters but, it doesn’t fly with Republicans or independents.

The only thing I can see Biden has done is get a trillion-dollar spending boondoggle passed. Why do so many Democrats believe that the more money spent equates to good governance?

Frank Fuchs, Fellsmere

'Equity' seems like some Robin Hood movement

Over the past couple of months I have read a lot and listened to many articles and news stories about "equity."

The fact these stories even are presented has amazed me. As I understand it, those that are in favor seem to imply it is giving a certain class of people an advantage over those not within that class.

Over the years, companies I had been associated with tried to not discriminate, in compliance with the law, because of race, creed, color or religion. I will add sometimes, not always, successfully.

But here we are now with companies, government, colleges, etc., attempting to do the same thing, but instead of calling it discrimination, they have renamed it equity. It seems like their argument is they are attempting to take from the rich and give to the poor. The problem with that theory is within the classes of people discriminated against, there are not only rich, but middle class and poor. Discrimination is discrimination and you can't change the fact by giving it a different name.

Edward Marasi, Port St. Lucie

Ukraine talk shows DeSantis, Trump unfit to handle foreign policy

Ron DeSantis is another appeaser with no sense of history.

Recently, DeSantis said the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia was a "territorial dispute." He went on to say protecting Ukraine was not a vital U.S. interest.

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia.

Adolf Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 drove Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the beginning of World War II.

So would DeSantis say Hitler's invasions of Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and all that followed were merely territorial disputes?

If Vladimir Putin succeeds in Ukraine, will Belarus be next? And then what?

Sadly, DeSantis and Donald Trump seem to have no sense of history. Neither is fit to lead our foreign policy.

Richard Sheehan, Vero Beach

Companies selling lumber have impact on climate change

Climate change is increasing temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns and causing extreme weather, resulting in fatalities and damage to infrastructure across the United States.

Protecting the North American boreal forest, the world's largest undisturbed forest, from logging is critical for avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. Companies can have a larger impact on our climate than individuals can — especially companies that sell wood, like large home-repair stores.

Scott MacArthur, Port St. Lucie

Trifecta of letters spark responses, summary on nation's state

I thought that I was finished writing letters to the editor, but the hat trick of letters March 15 was too much to bear.

Regarding the first letter: Newsflash! The election wasn’t stolen! Some families might be unaware of this because, although Fox “News” has confessed publicly to lying about this hoax, they will not air their admission for fear of losing their viewers. They know that some people won’t look anywhere else for news.

Yes, I agree that D.C. is a swamp, but the former president, through his crime-boss tactics, has attempted to replace the swamp with a cesspool, as evidenced by the jail time to which his associates have been sentenced.

Regarding the former president's business dealings, I trust people are aware of his financial problems and questionable dealings.

Regarding the second letter: As a college professor, I have never encountered a university that teaches anti-American values or anti-capitalism. I’m guessing some writers think otherwise, because their opinions have been supplied to them via whatever conspiracy sites they enjoy.

The letter writer mentions respect for authority and belief in the family. Has the writer observed the former president’s behavior in this regard?

Regarding the third letter: The writer seems concerned about a woke agenda. The writer must know being “woke” means someone is informed, educated, and conscious of social injustice. There are power-hungry people in our society who use “woke” as a slur against that which is good. I plan to stay “woke.”

In summary: The primary cause of a democracy failing is a failure to accept election results without evidence, followed closely by access to a conspiracy outlet and the banning of books. Does this sound familiar? Think Nazi Germany, Russia, China, North Korea, and now, America.

Daniel Kraft, Port St. Lucie

Stop Woke Act helps universities clean house effectively

As the Parents' Bill of Rights law shakes sense back into school administrators who allowed diversity, equity and inclusion training in policies and politics to infect education, The Stop the Woke Act is coming in for a landing.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has unnerved progressives who cling to “gender affirmation,” “racial justice” and a perverted view of America overall.

The replacement of the New College board of trustees in Sarasota kicked off the housecleaning season while the state Legislature is in session. The bugs under the rugs claimed that fascism is coming if professors couldn’t push diversity, equity or inclusion in their admittedly left-leaning institution. It's funny how the TCPalm photo of New College protesters only showed Caucasian students worried about how there wouldn’t be enough people of color in their school.

Not enough “diversity.” Wait, how many LBGTQ+ handicapped Asians do you have at the college now? Not enough “inclusion.”

If the New College graduates everyone with a B+ in core courses, is there any room for a summa cum laude organization or a valedictorian? Equity is the very definition of everyone getting the same results from different levels of accomplishment. This doesn’t feel like your daddy’s school.

The president of the United Faculty of Florida said the impending insurrection would bring a choice of “freedom” or “fascism.” Is that the same freedom as the Air Force Academy mandating classes on “white supremacy,” West Point cadets appreciating “systemic racism,” or Annapolis’ future warriors taking classes in “queer theory” or “implicit bias”?

The governor says $34 million is spent on these “woke” programs and hiring radical teachers to push them.

“If you’re just hiring the best, you’re part of the problem”?

Bring in the large vacuum cleaner fast.

Norman Grant, Vero Beach 

Who should judge whether someone's American?

I often read letters to the editor about how lefties and Democrats are un-American.

The DNA thing is wonderful. It tells a lot about where you came from. According to my DNA tree, my mother's family came to Massachusetts in the 1690s. My father’s family landed in Virginia in 1705. I was born in Florida to a father who was a combat veteran of Vietnam. I’m a combat vet from the Gulf War, and my son is a combat vet of Afghanistan.

Right-wingers do not get to decide who is American and who is not. Real Americans don’t play the victim; real Americans don’t attempt to overthrow the federal government. The Republican Party will never decide who is an American and who is not.

Don Whisman, Stuart

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: DeSantis, Biden, Trump take hits; Medicare costs; books, guns; Ukraine