Opinion: Fundraising isn't a clear sign of the people's support

I read with unsettled amusement the comment by Gov. Jeb Bush's campaign spokesman, Todd Harris, on the overwhelming cash raised: "It is a clear sign that the people of Florida are not only happy with the governor and his policies, but are looking ahead to four more years."

Come on, Todd -- I realize that you can take some liberty in your enthusiasm for your boss, but truly the only thing clear so far on this issue is that his brother was responsible for half the fundraising, and that the other half came largely from those special interests whose stake and access to Tallahassee, unsurpassed in the last few years, would benefit acutely from four more years.

I sincerely hope that voters will take a good, hard look at the dear concessions that have been made at their expense environmentally, in education and through corporate giveaways before Harris obtains his premature mandate.

I, for one, a Republican having voted for Bush four years ago, have no intention of repeating my misguided "clear sign."
-- Jeffrey Wm. Pearson, Tampa

Redistrict with ZIP codes

Re: Butterworth opposes redistricting plan, April 9.

Unfortunately the politicians at all levels government have forgotten the basic principle of our system "of the people by the people for the people." That principle has been replaced with "power by the party for the party."

Both parties could demonstrate real statesmanship, fairness and leadership by the common-sense redistricting plan of using ZIP code boundaries in redistricting. ZIP codes are geographically drawn on a population base, respecting community borders, the same as legislative districts should be. The bonus is that voter registrations all have zip codes, and a simple computer search could determine the districts equally and fairly by sorting the Zip Codes.

Is it too much to ask our elected representatives to do the right thing and represent the people before the party? Probably.
Paul Dobbin, St. Petersburg

Consistent views

Re: The politics of redistricting, editorial, April 10.

This may sound like a broken record from this avid reader, but it is like a breath of fresh air in this wonderful Sunshine State when one can read editorials such as this one in the St. Petersburg Times, which is predominantly people-oriented with views that may be considered contrary to a local constituency that is predominantly Republican.

It speaks well of the Times editorial board when it maintains a perspective regardless of the contrary views of others and unlike most politicians who are influenced by the persuasions of those who represent the special interests of the few.
-- Russell Lee Johnson, St. Petersburg

Right wing a threat to Social Security

Re: Talking down Social Security, by Paul Krugman, April 4.

If seniors and near-seniors read this column, they will think twice before ever casting a vote for the charlatans that control the Executive Branch of our government. I am thoroughly disheartened that they would mislead the most vulnerable people in our country about Social Security, the sole livelihood of so many of us. I believe that the right wing is out to destroy Social Security, and the Krugman column has removed any doubt.

Most people are not aware that the huge tax cut for the rich is now being paid from Social Security funds. In my honest opinion the Heritage Foundation, which is the brainchild behind the misleading information about Social Security, exists to mislead us and is filled with unscrupulous people. This is the kindest language I can use to describe the Heritage Foundation.

If being honest and telling the truth makes me a liberal, then I thank God every day for making me one.
-- Harold Teague, Madeira Beach

Dowd's criticism is misplaced

Re: Faiths are failing us in a time of need, by Maureen Dowd, April 9.

I hope Maureen Dowd does not take offense at receiving advice from someone who is not a child of Abraham. Institutions are not religions. Individuals are not religions. A religion is the way you choose to live. In each case she cited, the culprit was either a human or an institution, not a religion. It is almost a given that people let you down. And how much sympathy has anyone ever received from an institution?

There are too many reasons to list here as to why we are confronting the problems we are now. You can start with poverty and ignorance, but it would take weeks to list all the rest. But you must definitely include the loss of faith. Maureen states that "just when you wish to flee to religion, we find ourselves fleeing from it." We are not fleeing from it, we are fleeing from the humans and the institutions they created.

Humans let down their religion by losing faith. And in doing so, they let down themselves, and their fellow humans. I consider Maureen Dowd to be a very intelligent person. I just wish she had used her column to encourage all people to find peace and faith within themselves and had not misplaced her spear into the side of what may be the only real hope to get us out of this mess.

Here's hoping she finds peace and faith in something, anything, and hopefully herself, at the very least.
-- David Osborne, Clearwater

The failure is man's

Re: Faiths are failing us in a time of need, April 9.

If we represent our faith well, we will follow in the footsteps of a patient, compassionate, understanding, forgiving and eternal God. Any deviant path we take admits our failure to our faith -- not the failure of our faith to make the "unbearable slightly more bearable." I understand the cynical words of Maureen Dowd as she recounts the hypocrisies of faith as evidenced throughout history and in our world today. However, these hypocrisies illuminate the failure of man -- not the failure of faith in a loving and true God.

It is ludicrous to attempt to defend or cover up the abhorrent atrocities that have conspired in the name of religion. But as dark as the world may appear, as unlikely or transient our faith, we journey on as God patiently continues to build a church that will exemplify his truth. I think we've been warned many times of the wolves in sheep's clothing.
-- Mrs. Jan Avery, Clearwater

Helping achievers to succeed

Re: Pricing the poor out of college, April 1.

This New York Times editorial places the onus on elite and other colleges to ensure that low-income high-achievers have access to post-secondary education. I just visited the 20 high schools in Hillsborough County. My purpose was to meet black male freshmen taking English I honors. I met 159 of them from Jan. 22 to March 22. Collectively, they account for 1 percent of the more than 15,000 freshmen in our public schools.

Most of the students, I dare say, do not fall in the categories of middle- and upper-income students. Nevertheless, they may continue to take rigorous academic classes the next three years. If they do, they stand an excellent chance of going to college. By the time I finished my last visit, I realized that these young men could each receive $15,000 per year in merit scholarships as Class of 2005 graduates. Some of the students did the math with me. We calculated 159 black males from one Florida school district could account for $9.5-million in merit scholarships.

To turn this into reality, it will take more than school guidance departments. Our community leaders and just plain folks can contribute to the success of these young men. We might let them know that they are special and that we value the road they are traveling.

I handed each one the USNews.com list of the top national universities. I personally know that two of the schools will provide the financial aid young high achievers from Hillsborough County need to seize these opportunities. Knowing this, we have no one else to blame if we do not help them achieve their potential.
-- Jason D. Mims, Tampa

Visitors will be hurt by INS

Re: INS requires students to have visas before starting classes, April 9, and Proposal to limit foreign visitors will hurt tourism, letter, April 11.

We share the same situation with the letter writers: We are Europeans from Germany, we owe property here, we stay here within the six-month limit, and we come on a tourist visa. Legally we are foreigners and tourists. What we feel, however, is, that we come as friends of this nation.

Please take the following in mind: German and English troops and those from other European nations fight terrorism side by side with Americans in Afghanistan. Our chancellor announced "undivided commitment to the United States" and acted to his word. Deaths already have to be mourned. This is hardly mentioned in American papers. Why should people of a nation that follows the same ideals of freedom as America be a threat to this country?

Furthermore, the mentioned reduction in tourism in this country might not be the right term. I would rather say that the economy as a whole will be affected. We are no-shows in any tourism statistic that counts hotel occupancy. We have our own house and address, our own phone, our American cars, our banking account, our health insurance and our own not-insubstantial yearly tax payments. We are law-abiding. We are open to all sides and can be tracked by everyone.

We innocent visitors are the ones who are being hurt by the INS, which would do well to train its people so that mistakes could be avoided in the future, mistakes like sending visa extentions to suicide terrorists six months after their attack.

The INS won't give us and thousands of other part-time residents in Florida any other choice but selling here and finding vacation homes in southern Europe. Is that really this country's aim?
-- Christel Domscheit, Tierra Verde

Make room for the manatee

Re: A quarter for Florida's thoughts, editorial, April 12.

Perhaps another symbol for the state quarter to go with the "ray of sunshine" should be the manatee. The manatee is such a lovable creature and is truly a Florida symbol.
-- John and Marge Ralph, Dunedin

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