Today's Letters: How wise is majority rule in an ill-informed nation?

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published July 9, 2007

Voters' wants vs. needs July 5, David Broder column  

I find myself wondering about the single greatest drawback to majority rule: What if the majority of the people want something that they shouldn't have?

In the country's early days, a majority of people or, at least, a majority of the Founders, recognized that the majority could be wrong. A system of checks and balances was created to give minorities a voice and to keep them from getting swept under the rug. If nothing else, majorities always have had to reconcile their agendas with the Constitution.

The American style of democracy has been successful and, over time, folks have become more comfortable with the idea of majority rule. What has changed today is that that comfort is no longer an informed comfort. It has become a sort of blind faith. It's not adequate to believe that if a majority wants something, it is right for the country. It is necessary to thoroughly understand the underlying logic, motives and long-term consequences. If we don't inform ourselves, no one is going to do it for us. That understanding cannot come from 30-second sound bites.

Having been a news junkie all of my adult life, I've noticed that media outlets that have conservative leanings tend to report statements issued by government officials exactly as they are received, with little commentary or fact checking, and tend not to follow up should any of those statements be later found to be wrong. More liberal leaning outlets tend to try to find "opposing points of view" to any comments they receive, report both, and allow consumers to decide which they believe, again with little commentary or fact checking.

It seems as though the conservative crowd is afraid that critical journalism will make them seem unpatriotic, and the good folks on the left are laboring under the twin misconceptions that all stories actually have two sides, and that all viewpoints are equally valid.

The "majority" can now say or do anything, no matter how irrational it may be, and it will be accepted by a large number, simply because it is accepted by a large number. We're all watching television while Rome burns.

Michael Pettay, Largo

Budgets may trim benefits July 5, story

Follow the money

I find it ironic that the cities and governments in the Tampa Bay area pay out $135.4-million to subsidize employees' health benefits, for maybe 20, 000 employees. That amount of money will just about cover the CEOs' annual pay and perks for 10 HMOs. That amount of money has nothing to do with health care of the employees.

Imagine if that amount of money went into the Medicare trust fund and offered Medicare for everyone, while removing the for-profit aspect of our health care system.

Everyone should see the movie Sicko. It was a great movie.

Burt Kauffman, St. Petersburg

Budgets may trim benefits July 5, story

Benefit envy

Kudos to the St. Petersburg Times for exposing the scandalous practice of providing adequate health care benefits to some government workers.

By blowing the lid off this reprehensible situation you've helped raise the level of knowledge and public discourse on this vital topic. I can already hear the conversations around the water cooler: "Those d*&n government employees! They should be getting screwed on their health benefits just like me!"

Keep up the good work!

Jim Barrens, St. Petersburg

Local control is better

The decision by the Hillsborough County Commission - sitting as the Environmental Protection Commission and without prior public hearing - to strip protection of wetlands from local government is bad public policy.

The League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County has consistently advocated that local agencies have responsibility for oversight of land use policy and resource protection. Quite simply, local government provides better protection and service than either state or federal agencies can muster in these areas.

The current Hillsborough County EPC program has long been recognized for its steadfast protection of wetlands. The same cannot be said of state agencies charged with similar responsibilities.

If the decision of the commission stands, Hillsborough County will inevitably lose wetland acreage. As wetlands acreage gets reduced, citizens of Hillsborough County will encounter increased pollution and flooding. They will also be forced to pay for cleaning up the resulting disasters. As our county becomes more developed, environmental protections should be increased, not reduced.

The League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County disagrees with the commission's recent vote. The League continues to support the conservation of two things we all treasure: the environment and local control.

Richard Brown, Ph.D., president-elect, League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County, Tampa

Commission's Blair all wet June 30, editorial

We're watching

Thank you for keeping the public aware of the ridiculous abuses of power by our elected officials. I will make the entire Hillsborough County Commission aware that we are paying attention to their actions by writing to each of them. Thanks, and keep up the good work.

Rick Woods, Tampa

Perplexing Islam

Is today's Muslim violence committed in the name of Islam done by a "few" radicals who have "hijacked" Islam? Islam is a religion of peace, moderates say. But what are outsiders to believe since there are various interpretations of Islam and each faction claims authenticity? How do apologists know, as they claim, which faction has "hijacked" the religion?

When Hamas flew a green flag after its victory in Gaza, was Islam "hijacked"? When Muslims kill in the name of Allah, shout slogans of death to the West, destroy Muslim holy sites and scream "God is great" while slashing throats, is that face of Islam not as credible as the one claimed to be a religion of peace?

Do moderates tacitly approve of the destruction and vilification of the West done in their name? When ridiculous claims are made that the West is trying to destroy Islam, do moderates offer a strong and appreciative defense for an inclusive and generous Western society, one that has welcomed millions of Muslims as citizens, has educated millions more to take their skills home and has given billions in aid to Muslim countries?

Millions of American Muslims contribute to our society and share its benefits, but what we hear most are tepid protests against the violence and complaints of bigotry. Some Americans would like to know if American Muslims are part of the "Muslim world, " often portrayed as unified and anti-West, or does their loyalty to America transcend the "Muslim world"?

Bob Womack, Crystal River

Katrina fixes may hike risk July 2, story

A job for the Dutch

This is the first time I have ever written to a newspaper, but after I read your article about Katrina's levee problems and that the people there are in more peril than before, I got upset.

I was born and raised in the Netherlands (Holland). We lived below sea level all our lives. During World War II, the islands of Zeeland were flooded. After the war, they fixed this. Then, in 1953, we experienced an act of nature - full-moon, high tides and storms, and once more the islands were flooded. This time the Dutch had had enough. They built the now-famous Deltaworks and are now able to control the flooding into these islands.

The Dutch are famous for building and fixing dikes and reclaiming land. My suggestion is to let the Dutch take care of the New Orleans levees. Instead of wasting time and money, I am convinced that they will be able to solve the levee problems once and for all.

Johanna Lacomble, Brandon

Jogger runs into path of freight train July 6, story

Listen for danger

How sad for this young woman that she will jog no longer, another apparent victim of self-imposed deafness.

Like the boomer who can't hear the ambulance over his stereo and the mother who is brain-damaging her children by strapping them in next to blasting speakers, Cheryl Ann Risse forgot that the human body's ears evolved not to support jewelry but to alert us to danger.

Judy Ellis, St. Petersburg

[Last modified July 8, 2007, 19:58:03]