Opinion: Consider energy alternatives over nuclear power

Thank you for the great article, and thank you for putting it at the top of the front page so it stands out in the newspaper racks for everyone to see.

We have wasted many years ignoring alternative energy and conservation, and now with the war on terrorism, much talk centers around weaning ourselves from foreign oil. Meanwhile, the nuclear industry is making plans to grow and prosper, hoping no one will notice or that if we do, we will just shrug our shoulders and say it is the price we have to pay for energy and peace.

Until there is an honest discussion about what effect alternative energy, conservation and "clean" burning technologies can have on our current energy consumption and pollution control, we shouldn't just roll over and accept more nuclear power plants or the extension of licenses for existing plants.
-- Darlene St. Martin, Largo

Shipping has a good safety record

Re: Nuclear waste a mountain of a problem.

How can you sensationalize an otherwise balanced story on nuclear waste by using the subheading, Bombs on wheels? Surely your reporters did enough research to know that the spent fuel or other high-level waste that would go to Yucca is not in a form that could explode, which is the essence of a bomb.

If the implication is that some sort of explosive (a bomb) is going to be placed in proximity or fired at one of these robust shipment containers to create a so-called dirty bomb, that may be another matter that should be examined. But you should not have left your readers with the impression that one of these shipping containers could explode on its own.

The safety record for past shipments of nuclear waste is excellent (zero accidents that led to any release of radiation or injury), and with vigilence and careful adherence to existing transportation regulations for such shipments, that can be the case in the future. I sometimes ask people in Nevada, "If this was a shipment of silver dollars for the casinos, could safe shipments be made?"
-- Brian O'Connell, PE, director, Nuclear Waste Program Office, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, Washington, D.C.

Tallahassee leadership lacking

Re: Cut fat from the state budget, editorial, May 23.

So when will Florida voters "get it" and demand a change from our one-party-per-district electoral politics that allows lobbyists, big contributors and big business to dominate policy on a state level? Our Legislature is not "conservative." True conservatives stand for fiscal responsibility and integrity. Our elected Legislature, under the guise of conservatism, has, through its repeated actions, made it clear that it stands for fiscal shenanigans and token responsibility while consistently abdicating its duties to the citizens in this state in regard to the basic needs of fiscal honesty, better schools, child welfare, health care and protecting the environment. After all, how can any conservative justify a $262-million corporate tax break while diverting $100-million from the reserves of Preservation 2000, and $104-million from other environmental trust funds on top of the $75-million "raided last year from environmental trust funds."

At the end of the 19th century our country's political system was, in part, dominated by the scions of the "robber barons," who believed that wealth equaled privilege, and that such privilege should perpetuate itself at whatever cost to democracy and the American people. It was an originally unelected Republican president, Theodore Roosevelt, who stood up to the "robber barons" and their political lackeys, many in his own party, to begin a process of reform that, to date, has allowed our democracy to survive. Theodore Roosevelt's image endures on Mount Rushmore.

In Florida, it appears that our Legislature is dominated by a new breed of "robber barons" who believe that their wealth and success in the business community allows them to run roughshod over the needs of the people. Their disdain for the intelligence of the voters is apparent as they continue to use "smokescreen" slogans to confuse voters as to their true intentions. The original "robber barons" had one thing right. Wealth does create privilege. But that privilege must be translated into a responsibility to uplift all, as the scions of the Roosevelts, Kennedys, Rockefellers and others believed, not to restrict it to themselves and their circle.

We desperately need that sort of leadership again today.
-- Martin L. Altner, Safety Harbor

Foster parents do a wonderful job

I am the president of the Pinellas County Foster Care Association and I have also been a foster parent for the past 10 years, having had more than 80 children in my home.

I am outraged at the negative publicity foster parents get. I feel we do a wonderful job. It is we who are up all through the wee hours taking care of these kids after they have been removed from their unsafe, abusive homes.

When Family Continuity took over from the Department of Children and Families, it was the first time a private entity had taken on such a large project, and, yes, there have been problems. And I'm sure there will always be some -- after all we are human beings. But if we all partner the way we are supposed to, there will be fewer problems. There always has been an open-door policy: If you have a problem with case managers, supervisors or anyone, you can walk into director Jeff Richards' office or anyone else's and get answers or they will go and find answers for you.

I feel a few people have done the rest of us an injustice. If they had a problem, it was up to them to get it solved. After all, when we take a child into our home and we treat it like our own, that means we go to any length to get problems solved. I do hope this negative publicity hasn't put off anyone from becoming a foster parent. It is the most worthwhile job you will ever do.
-- June Ross, Indian Rocks Beach

Learning life skills is important, too

Re: Lifelong devotion, May 12.

I would like to congratulate Geoffrey Powers on his graduation. And with honors in AP classes -- wow! This is truly an amazing story.

As a mother with a 13-year-old child who has Down's syndrome, I think it is wonderful that Geoffrey had the opportunity to do this. I just can't stop thinking about all the academics that Geoffrey is getting and for what? Sure he will have a diploma and hopefully a degree from college, but how will he ever live on his own or be employed on his own? In the article, it said that his mother combs his hair, cuts up his food, etc. How will he ever get along on his own if he cannot manage life skills?

It was very hard for me to finally say my son needed to leave his academic classes and go into a classroom that will teach him skills to be on his own some day, but it is the best thing for him. My husband and I will not always be here and my son will be able to handle life when that time comes because of the hard decisions we made along the way. My son also has many friends in his ESE class and outside of that class. He really cherishes these friendships. I know at school that my son knows his way around his entire campus without having someone with him.

I hope the day will not come that Mrs. Power regrets putting her entire effort into this one child. She should be commended for her efforts, but Geoffrey is not the only child she has and I only hope the other children don't feel bad because they never got part of the attention their brother got. I have tried so very hard to treat both my children equally and give them equal time.

I know my son can comb his hair and brush his teeth; we are currently working on cutting up food. He will be able to run a washing machine, vacuum and take care of a pet. He will hopefully have a simple job and live his life to the fullest on his own, not with mom holding his hand or another one-on-one person constantly with him. Life goes on not just for the child with Down's syndrome, but also for his parents and siblings, and life will go on for this child after we are gone.
-- Barbara Konrad, New Port Richey

Seeing a different side of life

Re: Others' discards are his decor, May 7 and She has no home, but she has a diploma, May 19.

Thank you! We all needed to hear about J.J. King and Jim Snowden. We need more articles like this. They educate us.

So many people are stuck in their boxes (house box, car box, office box) that they have little contact or communication with anyone, especially people outside their socioeconomic level. Since the 1960s, we've had it crammed down our throats that low-income people are all losers, law breakers, psychologically messed up, uneducated and hopelessly stuck where they are. So we believe everything we are told because we have no real life experience.

J.J. and Jim show us the truth. Tough times come. Sometimes we make a bad decision. But if we keep at it, we get back on track, good things come, and we triumph over adversity.

And thanks go to J.J. and Jim for being willing to show us the way.
-- Kimberly Cooper, St. Petersburg

This student should grow up

Re: She has no home, but she has a diploma, May 19.

Am I supposed to be impressed? A woman quits her job, goes to expensive Eckerd College, supports a 21-year-old daughter who should also be working, becomes homeless, then becomes a nervous wreck because she's homeless?

Along the way she has leeched on friends and community resources. Oh, and what a shame -- that wasn't enough to support her. She also needed student loans. And she didn't feel as bad as the next person when she stayed in shelters with mentally ill and addicted persons. She's right. She's worse. She had no excuse.

I, and many others like me, work a full-time job and available part-time work. We make too much money to get grants and other financial assistance available to "needy" people. I attend St. Petersburg College, where the tuition is more affordable and take class by class as I can afford it. I'm 51 years of age, and when I get my degree, it will be at my own expense.

Don't tell me she had to quit her job to finish college just because she's in her 50s and can't take years and years to get her degree. Now this paragon wants to go on to get her Master's degree? Please. How about growing up, getting a job and paying her own way?
-- Eliska Adema, Largo

Taking care of a turtle

Re: With care, humans' park can co-exist with nature, by Howard Troxler, May 22.

Before too much time passes, may I offer a round of applause to Howard Troxler for his kind act of benevolence in uprighting the unfortunate turtle found struggling on its backside in Boyd Hill Nature Park. Best of all, Howard sent the turtle on its merry way without revealing his kind deed to any of the park staff.

A class act, Howard. Thanks from all of us turtles.
-- Bill Dunihue, St. Petersburg

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