Re: In party line vote, FCC eases ownership rules, June 3.
The implications of the Federal Communications Commission ruling relaxing media ownership are frightening. Although proponents argue that Americans have more choices than ever in regard to media, including the Internet and cable TV, the FCC decision will drive ownership of the free or low-cost media outlets, namely network TV and newspapers, into the hands of a very small minority of people. These people, and their companies, will be able to control the information that people who cannot afford Internet and cable will receive.
That is not a democratic media. That is another example of our leaders pandering to their greed and the money waved under their noses by huge conglomerates. On June 2, the FCC left the American people behind in one of the saddest days in our nations' history.
-- Terry Neal, Tampa
Opening the way to media monopolies
Re: In party line vote, FCC eases ownership rules.
It was disconcerting to find that the Times had relegated the Federal Communications Commission story to the Business Section instead of splashing it across Page One. The FCC commissioners' 3-2 vote to consolidate ownership of the media into a handful of big companies is a major story in the White House's march toward plutocracy and away from democracy.
President Bush, with the help of FCC Chairman Michael Powell, has given media conglomerates a gift of monopoly in many U.S. markets. This effectively curtails free speech by cutting the little guy and local media out of the marketplace. The new ruling vests the great powers of the press in the hands of a few big players.
Congress has a chance to put things right. As Powell said, Congress is closer to people than the FCC is. Congress has a clear duty to reverse this disgraceful decision that favors the rich and the powerful.
-- Edward Rapp, Inverness
Too many Chicken Littles
Re: In party line vote, FCC eases ownership rules.
I think all the "the sky is falling" predictions from opponents of the new FCC rules only need to look at Tampa, where the same company has owned the Tampa Tribune and WFLA-TV/Channel 8 for some time. This hasn't caused any kind of problem at all, and I bet that the other cities where a paper and a TV station were grandfathered in haven't seen a problem, either.
It might be a problem in a town where only one paper is available, where there is only one or two TV channels available, no cable, and satellite TV is outlawed. I don't think there are many towns like that, and we shouldn't make policy as if they were common.
-- Ernest E. Lane, Trinity
Money is needed now
Re: State to stash $1-billion windfall, May 31.
Can Florida use this money now?
Our great lawmakers just passed a budget that, among other things:
- Raised college tuition.
- Didn't give education money for teacher pay increases.
- Made massive cuts to juvenile crime-prevention programs.
- Did not restore the sales tax holiday that gave parents the opportunity to purchase clothes for back-to-school without sales tax but continued to ignore politically motivated sales tax exemptions.
- Ended funding for cancer-screening programs and raided trust funds to pay for other expenses, showing that the word "trust" is meaningless to politicians.
But after all that and more, Gov. Jeb Bush figured Florida was in good enough shape to give $300-million in tax cuts that will mostly benefit the wealthy and big business. Now Gov. Bush says we don't need this $1-billion; let's stash it away and use it to make next year's budget look better when, conveniently, his brother will be running for a second term as president.
Does Gov. Bush really feel this state doesn't need $1-billion for economic stimulus now, or is this just more of his devious plan?
-- Daniel Favero, St. Petersburg
It's a ploy, not a windfall
Re: State to stash $1-billion windfall.
To portray the $1-billion federal aid to our state as a "windfall" is ludicrous and that's being kind! Con job, hoodwinking or fraudulent ploy would really be a better description.
Since the federal government is in deficit, it can only take money from other programs or go out and borrow the money and encumber our children for the future. Either way, it's our money they're giving us and calling it "aid to the states."
What really gets me is they do it with a straight face and expect me to believe they're helping me!
As with our state budget, the federal budget is being done with smoke and mirrors!
Better wake up, voters. These guys keep trying to buy their re-election with your money.
-- Jim Harpham, Palm Harbor
It's important to buy American
During this time of heightened patriotism, maybe it's time to examine the kind of American each of us is. Certainly we support our troops overseas. That's American. Do we also support our friends, neighbors and relatives who toil in American plants and factories, who bring us products to make our lives better and to protect our standard of living?
Maybe it's time each of us understands that we all benefit when we buy American - that everyone's standard of living is affected positively when we buy products made in American plants. Whether union or not, these plants and factories and the people who work there buy our goods and services, pay our taxes, support our Social Security system, contribute to our charities, participate in our city governments.
Maybe it's time to tell the elitists who run our "American" companies, that we will no longer support or tolerate those who move their headquarters overseas to avoid taxes and to line their own pockets. That we will no longer buy products from companies that move manufacturing operations overseas for the sole purpose of taking advantage of "slave" labor - without any concern for the people they are employing or the people they leave behind.
Maybe it's time to tell the foreign companies who take our American dollars back to their countries, contributing nothing to our way of life: No more! Do we really need to buy products from countries that don't support us when the chips are down? Do we need products from countries that hate us and riot in the streets and hang our leaders in effigy?
Maybe it's time to look at the clothes on our backs and the shoes on our feet, the cars in our driveways, the computers and video games in our dens, and the film in our cameras, and say if it isn't made here we don't want it anymore. If we all tell Washington that America is taking the industries back that we have given Europe and the Far East through the magic of "free trade" and a "strong" dollar, Washington can make it happen.
Maybe it's time to really be an American.
-- Bob Granger, Clearwater
Where is the help for our own?
Re: Refugee family at home in Tampa, May 23.
A family of seven arrived in this country recently through the Lutheran Services Florida. I noted that they will be receiving Social Security numbers, food stamps, welfare assistance, jobs and schooling.
My son was born in the United States 47 years ago. He is a Navy veteran of six years, disabled, with no assets, and I'm still trying to get Medicaid assistance for his January and February needs. Do the "wheels" turn faster for foreigners? It will be interesting to chart their course.
How can we afford to take care of a family of seven when we can't take care of our own American citizens?
I am a 70-year-old woman, working full-time and paying taxes to the U.S. government. If this is "the land of milk and honey," someone should tell the U.S. veterans and senior citizens where that is... perhaps in that fabled city where the streets are paved in gold!
-- Nancy Evans, Port Richey
Law enforcement isn't easy work
Re: It's easy work, letter, June 3.
In answer to the letter writer who maintains that the "seat belt wars" are "easy work," I suggest he ride a few shifts with a law enforcement officer.
I am the mother of two police officers, and the mother-in-law of a deputy. I have watched the commitment and hard work these young people have put into becoming law enforcement officers. They work difficult hours and face down danger every day. Even citing someone for a seat belt violation can escalate into a dangerous situation. I don't honestly think there is such a thing as "easy work" in law enforcement.
My daughter, for one, has experienced a concussion and severe sprains in the line of duty. Yet she puts on her uniform every day and heads out to do her job. I am sure she tries very hard to deal with a myriad of problems, such as a barking dog or a loud stereo, but she is also very busy taking impaired drivers (hundreds at this point) and drug addicts off the streets. I personally consider the latter type of calls high-priority. How about you?
Deriding and ridiculing law enforcement officers - calling them "Andy and Barney," for example - demeans the law enforcement community and is disrespectful and inexcusable.
If citizens are unhappy with law enforcement agencies, there are avenues for them to express their concerns. Ridiculing law enforcement officers and minimizing the job they do accomplishes nothing.
The letter writer should do a few ride-alongs. I would be interested in seeing what kind of letter he would write then.
-- Karen Phifer, St. Petersburg
Police try to protect us
Re: The death of Tom Wallace.
Many people say the St. Petersburg police handled the Tom Wallace case wrong. My plant is next to the jungle and tank that housed him. He was only the latest of the homeless to be there. Over the last 15 years that I've been here, many homeless people have tried to live there. Many were drug users and drunks, who were totally antisocial. The police were often called and would move them out.
No one ever came to us and said that Tom was an intelligent guy who needed help. Did any of his friends go to his church and tell them he was down here? To us he was another antisocial drop out. When he threatened my plant supervisor, we called the police. The officers probably handled the case the same way as they had before, but when Tom tried to kill the officers, they protected themselves.
I am glad we have a police force that tries to protect us. There is plenty of failure and blame for all of us, for not being more caring of our fellow man.
-- Dean F. Johnson, CEO, RXP Products, St. Petersburg
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