Letters to the Editors

Put patriotism into action: Get out and vote

Re: Patriotism and the vote.

There is a lot of talk about patriotism these days. Let's put our talk to the test by the simple act of going to the polling places and casting our votes. That is how we participate in the future of this country.

There is a primary election for the Democrats to choose their candidate for governor on Sept. 10 along with a host of local offices. The Republicans know whom they want for governor, but they will choose candidates for many local offices.

Then there is the general election on Nov. 5. There we get to choose between Jeb Bush and whomever the Democrats come up with for governor, plus the candidates for all the other offices. There are major differences between Republicans and Democrats in this race, no matter what Ralph Nader says, so get out and support your candidates. It can make a difference, as we saw in 2000.
-- Ed Rapp, Inverness

Debate thoughts

I read with interest Florida newspaper accounts of the recent Democratic gubernatorial debate. I was confused by some common criticisms in these articles. To wit: The candidates did not attack each other. No, they didn't, and I can't thank them enough.

Oops. I forgot the 11th Commandment: If the contestants do not behave like pit bulls, something is terribly wrong. Corollary: All debates must ape the televised food fights on cable "news" shows.

The candidates offered few specific solutions to the problems that face Florida. Oh, really? I heard several participants present remedies for the education mess, the environmental morass and the health care crises. But because there were no attacks, there was no debate. Ergo, no one won the undebate. Hogwash and piffle.

I thought that one candidate was especially dynamic and articulate. Furthermore, he already knows how to deal with the state Legislature. His name is Daryl Jones. Unfortunately, he is classified as black. His candidacy confronts us with the stomach-curdling realization that bigotry still runs much of this state.

I predict that Darly Jones will be a major party candidate for governor just after the winner of the ice sculpture contest in hell is announced. One fine day, I hope that prediction will be proven wrong.
-- Patricia J. Higgins, North Fort Myers

Candidate spouses not appreciated

Re: Wives drawn into campaign fray, Sept. 3.

I would be appalled if I were to receive a letter from the spouse of someone who is campaigning for public office. I would not, under any circumstances, vote for any candidates who can't make their own decisions. These politicians have every opportunity to voice their own opinions to the public. Or if they are judges, they can provide a long history of stellar legal service. But they still seem to think we care about what role their spouse is playing.

I do not want to see the candidates' home movies or pictures of their spouses, kids and family members in my mailbox or on my television. It might be touching and they might be proud of their families, but it's not important to voters. There have been masses of single politicians who have been elected as a result of their expertise, without the advice of a spouse. As a voter, I would like to believe that our legislative and judicial candidates can make decisions all by themselves without the advice of a spouse or family member. If the spouses of these candidates are interpreting the law for the judges, or enacting laws for our Legislature, then maybe the spouse needs to run for public office. If that's not the case, then they should step back and let the candidate handle the job at hand.
-- Beverly James, Tampa

A constitutional joke

Re: High court hears arguments over ballot initiatives, Aug. 31.

It is my understanding that constitutions are fundamental laws and principles that establish governmental bodies, define the parameters within which they function and enumerate the basic rights of the governed. As our founding fathers so succinctly put it, "to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure Domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity . . ."

State constitutions serve a similar purpose, enumerating broad guidelines for the government and protection of their citizens. Now, if I read your article correctly, we will be given an opportunity on the November ballot to amend Florida's Constitution by approving a provision that will "ban close confinement of pregnant pigs."

You've gotta be kidding!
-- Bill Crawford, Palm Harbor

Prosperity and the workers' plight

I am greatly disappointed by the lack of recognition by your newspaper of this Labor Day holiday. There seemed to be little interest by your staff in discussing the contributions and challenges of working men and women.

Labor Day is a good time to remind your readers about why they have it so good in this country. A productive, well-paid labor force has lead us to prosperity. It is not the big corporations or the politicians. The buying power of well-paid workers and their ability to educate their children are the primary reasons so many working people have been able to retire to Florida and live an active life.

Your newspaper and the other news media need to also acknowledge the major threats to our prosperity. The big tax breaks being given to corporations to move their factories and jobs to other countries. The lack of tariffs and other trade barriers to China, and other countries dumping cheap products in our markets, making it impossible for factory workers in America to get raises or even keep their jobs.

The United States cannot maintain its prosperity when the jobs that have allowed poor Americans to move up the economic ladder are being eliminated. Americans need to be made aware that the reasons they are working more hours and having trouble finding good work are directly related to the cheap goods that they are buying at their local discount or department store.

When you went into a store on Labor Day and bought that $60 DVD player, or that cheap dress, or even that American flag (labeled made in China), remember that the reason you are able to do that is that several working citizens of the United States lost their jobs so you could buy cheap goods.

Tomorrow when you look at your credit cards and checking account and wish you were earning more money to pay for those cheap goods, look in the mirror and see if the person looking back voted for politicians who supported 'free trade."

Remember nothing in life is really free, and if it's cheap there has to be a reason.
-- How long can we prosper when there is no real growth in wages in this country?
Garry W. Miracle, Brandon

Throw-backs on the links

Re: Keeping women out at all costs, Aug. 31.

As I went out to pick up the Times Saturday morning, the word "atavistic" was rumbling through my mind for some reason. After looking at the front page, I checked the dictionary. Atavism has to do with throw-backs. Seems to describe the gentlemen of the Masters Tournament perfectly.
-- Martha A. Smith, St. Petersburg

Attacking the plague of jaywalking

Re: Target: jaywalkers, Aug. 31.

Thank goodness the St. Petersburg Police Department is finally cracking down on this terrible plague that has cast itself upon our fair city! Of course, I refer to jaywalking, the long-ignored threat to the fiber of our very being.

Goodness knows our Police Department has done such an incredible job eliminating prostitution, drug dealing, car theft, home robberies, violent crime and the like that we can now finally turn the microscope on the biggest problems our city faces. Hopefully we can eliminate spitting on the sidewalk and littering as well, and then we will truly be living in utopia.

Maybe I can convince the drug dealers and prostitutes who work out of the hotel behind my house to go downtown and cross the streets against the lights. Perhaps then they would finally be doing something worthy of police attention.

I certainly know that I will sleep better at night knowing that those jaywalkers have received the swift justice they deserve! Kudos to the St. Petersburg Police Department and the mayor's office.
-- Matt Simmons, St. Petersburg

Other areas for enforcement

Re: Target: jaywalkers.

This article was quite amusing to me. I feel that the city is getting quite petty. First of all, if you cross at the crosswalk, those buttons that are on the poles for pedestrians to use to change the light are a waste of time, as they don't work.

I feel that police should be giving tickets to cars that block the crosswalk or don't give a pedestrian the right of way. I also feel that the police could be giving out tickets to all the cars that have loud music coming from them.

How about all the people who are preoccupied on their cell phones while driving. They can't be paying attention. How about some tickets to some of these drivers?

How about starting full vehicular inspection in this state?

How about getting some of the elderly off the road! After a certain age, you have no business behind the wheel. It's high time to start retesting drivers once they reach a certain age.

How about throwing some tickets at the people who are using the handicapped parking and aren't handicapped?

There are a lot of things that the city could be doing other than targeting jaywalkers.
-- Steve Oromaner, St. Petersburg

Productive police work?

Undercover cop (with backup) busts man in wheelchair for jaywalking.

Oh boy. I think we could find more productive pursuits for our trusted public servants. What will be next -- undercover agents at Baywalk watching for line jumpers or policing the City Council meetings for the dreaded snickerers?
-- Dorian Levy, St. Petersburg

Not the best of ideas

Re: Gator's jaws close around swimmer's head, Aug. 28.

Talk about thinning the herd. To go swimming in a river known to be heavily populated with alligators is not the most intelligent thing to do, but to do it at dusk when the creatures are most active -- and with two dogs (also known as food to gators) -- is just plain dumb. The most amazing thing about this story is that it didn't happen sooner.

You may be lucky enough to run across a golf course during a thunderstorm holding a nine iron over your head and not be struck by lightning, but it's probably not a good idea.
-- Pete Hines, Tampa

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