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Florida should seek to set a good example in energy use

Re: Oil drilling off Florida's coast .

Florida is at a crossroad. How can we justify to an oil hungry nation our fight against any oil drilling off our coast when we are among the highest energy consumers? The only way we can stand on moral high ground is by implementing policies that make us a model of energy conservation and development of renewable energy resources.

If the public will is there, the government can be pushed to offer significant tax incentives to businesses and private citizens to make these changes. Florida's state, county and city governments could become models for change, as well.

We want to keep our beaches clean, for they are the life blood of our tourism industry. Let's face it, oil is a finite resource, and more drilling is only going to be a temporary fix to our energy problems. Now is the time to begin making the transition to a sustainable energy system.

Lawmakers in a nutshell

Re: Ground shifts below the feet of drilling opponents , Nov. 3.

Howard Troxler's one sentence sums up the gang in Tallahassee:

"The Florida Legislature would stuff nuclear waste into school lunches if you gave a big enough campaign contribution."

How about some free air?

Talk about the straw that broke the camel's back. I know the news about gas prices has been done over and over again. We know it's high. So, I won't add to that. But I realized something the other night as I was fumbling through my ash tray for the "quarters only" air machine at my local gas station: The least we deserve as consumers is free air for our tires. Doesn't proper air pressure in our tires help to save on gas mileage? It's not like these gas corporations are so hurting for money that they will go under for providing free air.

We also are not paying for an attendant to come out and provide some kind of customer service. For younger readers, yes, actual people actually came out and helped you with gas and car concerns. They would even ask if you needed air in your tires. Checked the pressure and put in the air.

Now? You find yourself fumbling for quarters in the dark for an air machine that barely works and runs out of time before you can fill up all of your tires anyway.

Dispense gas right from trucks

Why can't gasoline tanker trucks have special equipment to dispense fuel right from the truck? In case of power outages or floods they could park in service stations, shopping centers, along highways, anywhere available. Method of payment would have to be worked on.

An insult to veterans

About-face, by Susan Aschoff, Nov. 1.

Your sympathetic article on Fayette Amsden is an insult to millions of veterans who have served honorably, some unwillingly, in America's wars!

Amsden's made comments of "running behind in life," "couldn't tie knots," "jamming his weapon," "lost paperwork," "nervous he'd screw up," etc. Then when ordered to serve in a combat zone he goes AWOL! Being kicked out of school for sleeping also shows a lack of character.

For his mother to refer to the Army as a service for "grunts" is an insult to the millions of Army veterans now residing in VA hospitals with missing arms and legs. As for Amsden saying military jobs are boring, he is the bore!

How confused can a person be when he can't make a bed? I'm sure that many of us who served in combat had "anxiety attacks," but we didn't think of hurting ourselves or acting crazy to avoid service. This deserter admits that he really didn't care, he just wanted out!

Thank God there aren't too many "confused" men and women serving in our armed forces.

New calendar good for churches

Re: Hillsborough County school calendar.

As a religious leader, I appreciate the Hillsborough County School Board's recent decision regarding the school calendar. No longer will students and their families be permitted to mark the crucifixion of Jesus with a trip to Disney World. However, they will still be excused to worship at a church of their choice. Additionally, I find no evidence that Easter Monday is a significant Christian holiday, though it does make a nice four-day weekend.

My experience tells me that the true loss in this will be Easter weekend attendance at our local amusement parks and beaches. Churches, by contrast, will benefit.

Curious timing on complaints

Re: Citizens rightly seek to end undemocratic gerrymandering, letter Nov. 4.

I'd like to know where the letter writer and other critics of redistricting were when the Democrats ran this state and were in charge of the gerrymandering.

The Democrats used to own nearly every state in this country and held a firm grip on their power for decades through gerrymandering. And now, all of sudden the process is unfair? Get real. The Democrats perfected the art of the gerrymander.

Measuring for flood insurance

Re: New map puts more at risk, Nov. 3.

This editorial states that 25,000 new parcels of property will be added to the "high risk" category, causing owners to purchase flood insurance if they have a mortgage on their property.

Mortgage companys require flood insurance if the foundation of the building, home, etc., is in the flood plain, not just that the property boundaries are in or abut the flood plain.

Flood plain is measured in feet above the mean sea level in the designated area. Say the flood plain is 3 feet above MSL all across the back yard of your property, but your house foundation is at 5 feet above MSL. Although your property is located in a designated flood plain, the mortgage company cannot make you buy flood insurance, because the building is not in the flood plain.

I doubt that 30 percent of those 25,000 parcels added will be required to buy flood insurance.

Have Halloween on Saturday

I was just wondering: Why couldn't Halloween be the last Saturday of October? Think about it. When you were younger and Halloween was coming did you really learn anything in school that day. Heck, you were thinking of candy and costume s, not school.

Now, there is only a very short time to enjoy walking around with family and friends. People are too afraid to let children out late and most parents work and can't get going until late. If Halloween were on a Saturday, kids and family would have a lot longer to enjoy the day.

One more item: Children will always eat candy as they walk, so by the time they get done they are "wired." This is not good if they are going to school the next day. If Halloween were on a Saturday, then they would have Sunday to mellow. We have already changed national holidays to accommodate a few. Why not for our children?

[Last modified November 7, 2005, 12:58:26]