Voice of the people: September 3 2023

Gov. DeSantis wrong for rejecting federal funds for energy upgrades

Ron DeSantis supporters should be livid with him after he turned down $377 million in Federal funds to implement rebates to Floridians to make household energy upgrades. Low- and moderate-income residents will get nothing next year unless the Florida legislature passes a budget that will restore these funds. Failure to do so will mean those funds get dispersed to the majority of other states that had enough sense to accept free government money.

Need a new A/C? Gone is a $4,000 upfront discount to moderate income people and an $8.000 discount to low-income people to buy a new heat pump system. Great deals on upgraded wiring, electric stoves, dryers and hot water heaters are all history thanks to DeSantis.

This money was about helping people in need and cleaning up the environment at the same time. Instead, DeSantis just made it impossible for people struggling to make ends meet to lower their electric bill or get help with home repairs.

The only recourse we have is to complain to your state politicians in Tallahassee to restore this money. Send a clear message to Ben Allbritton, Colleen Burton, Josie Tomkow, Jennifer Canady, Sam Killebrew and Meloney Bell.

Judy Haberek, Polk City

The issue of abortion is complex

Ethical issues such as the right to an abortion are often viewed as black and white when in fact, they are not clear cut. Whatever your position is on this deeply personal issue, you should be concerned about how abortion bans are impacting the ability to access quality reproductive care.

Miscarriages or spontaneous abortions are often conflated with voluntary terminations or abortions, resulting in many cases where pregnant people do not receive appropriate reproductive care or are criminalized for miscarriages.

We have one recent example in Polk County where the mother of a baby with a fatal fetal abnormality was not able to get an abortion, even though it would have been legal under current law, due to fear of litigation on behalf of medical providers. Even before Roe was overturned in 2022 women ran the risk of being prosecuted for miscarriages. Today, in many states, due to the way miscarriage is referred to medically as spontaneous abortion, women are unable to get any treatment for a miscarriage unless they present with a life-threatening infection.

All this highlights the point that abortion is complex, and that legislation requires a thoughtful look at multiple sides of this issue to prevent unintended consequences.

Jo Shim, Lakeland

The truth of my history

Curriculum is defined as academic content used to educate students on the truths of life. One of the truths should remain present in curriculum is slavery.

When I attended Elementary School, I remember my third-grade teacher taught all subject areas including history. I can recall him teaching from a curriculum that included the truth about African American history and slavery.

As a Caucasian male and dedicated educator, he did not sugar coat or whitewash facts related to the: Forced labor, rape, mistreatment, and lack of education inherit to slavery and human trafficking. Many African American slave families were often split up by the sale of one or more members, usually never to be seen or heard of again. Their stories were told in the classroom.

I believe when educating our students to understand their history, they need to know the whole truth without cherry picking facts or introducing lies to support one agenda or the other. The facts are undeniable. Slavery was human trafficking and forced labor with dehumanizing activities; You can’t hide the truth.

The truth will be uncovered whether in an elementary school classroom, high school textbook or an institution of higher education. The truth can assist on keeping African American youth out of prison.

Shandale Terrell Ed.D., Lakeland

Gov. DeSantis policies to blame for Jacksonville shooting

Thank you to the crowd in Jacksonville, Florida, that clearly and loudly booed Governor Ron DeSantis after the racially motivated shooting there.

He has no place condemning any shooting in Florida after the pro-gun legislations he’s passed since he’s been governor, after his anti-woke dog whistles and anti-Black rhetoric he’s been flashing around the nation.

He is the anti-governor. If he doesn’t know by now, someone should tell him, it was his policies and divisive rhetoric that caused the Jacksonville shooting.

Darhlene Zeanwick, Davenport

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Voice of the people: September 3 2023