Wednesday's letters: Governor, SCOTUS dragging us back to bad old days

DeSantis wants to drag us back to 1950s

No one had a problem when Robin Williams dressed in drag as “Mrs. Doubtfire” or when Dustin Hoffman did it as “Tootsie.” What’s the problem nowadays?

When did drag become something so despicable?

Gov. Ron DeSantis seems intent on taking America back to the 1950s. I grew up in the ’50s and miss the innocence I had back then. But we are now in the third decade of the 21st century. What’s wrong with acting like it?

The Constitution guarantees rights, but the Supreme Court is intent on taking rights away.

More: How to send a letter to the editor

No longer can a woman take charge of her own body. No longer may race be considered when determining whom to admit to a college, but legacy admissions for those from rich families are exempt from the ruling. “We the People” are now “We the Corporations.”

Is democracy dead or is it on life support?

Only real people who breathe and bleed real red blood hold the key to the answer and the future.

I only hope that my grandkids have an America they can be proud of and a future to grow old in.

Dave Hilsheimer, Bradenton

FPL bill jacked up 74% in 6 years

I am a single homeowner. I have lived in the same Sarasota house since 2015 without any real changes in my living situation.

After receiving a record electric bill of $309 from FPL, I decided to do some research.

From 2018 through 2023, my electric bills have increased by 74%: In 2018, my average electric bill was $113; in 2023, the average was $197.

The totals have increased each year, by these percentages: 19%, 4%, 1%, 26% and 10%.

Has the climate gotten warmer? Yes.

Has the cost of fuel risen? Yes.

Has there been a need to invest in new technology? Yes.

But I refuse to believe that these factors have combined to cause my electric bill to nearly double in six years.

Take my rate increases and multiply by several million other FPL customers and now you’re talking about real money.

Where is all that money going?

NextEra Energy Inc. is a majority owner of FPL. Therefore, the profit motive is alive and well at FPL. Is it possible that these rate increases have gone mainly into the pockets of FPL’s executives and shareholders?

Michael Phelan, Sarasota

An easy choice: Why to vote Democratic

Recently, the Herald-Tribune has printed letters warning its readers against voting for Republicans. I would like to respond. Here are some reasons to vote for Democrats:

• If you think that providing a voter ID is too much to ask, and we should make it as easy as possible to submit a vote (legitimate or not).

• If you think people should be able to steal from stores and be released back on the street with no consequences.

• If you think bail is racist, and criminals should be released to control the streets and subways of our cities.

• If you think that the president should be free to ignore the law and allow millions of illegal immigrants to enter our country, despite our legal immigration system, which admits 1 million per year.

• If you think every person who disagrees with your point of view is racist or "anti" some other selected group.

More: DeSantis signs bill banning funding for college diversity programs

• If you think that the main purpose of a public-school education is diversity training, rather than English, math and science.

• And, finally: If you think that an 80-year-old man with an undistinguished record as senator and a proven record of incompetence as a president – who is clearly failing both physically and mentally – should continue to deal with the great challenges we face as a country.Artie Reiss, Sarasota

Immigrants may be afraid to seek care

It is appalling for the governor of Florida to go looking for immigrants who may be here illegally. The inscription on Lady Liberty – “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” – means something.

All of us are immigrants except the native Americans. We stole their land, pushed them onto lands we didn’t want and called these remote areas “reservations.”

The governor professes to be a Christian, but Jesus was allowed to go into many countries to spread the word and was welcome everywhere he went. Instead of being welcoming, the governor wants us to complete a form declaring our citizenship. His excuse is that government shouldn’t pay for the health services of noncitizens.

We have paid in the past because it is our duty to care for people in need. His wife was treated for breast cancer, but now, if you’re not a citizen, you could be denied that same health care.

This is not democracy!

The governor considers himself a Christian, but in my opinion he is far from it.

Sandra Brinker, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Stop governor from dragging us down