Today's Letters: Crist steers a brave course on global warming action

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published July 14, 2007

Crist unveils greener future July 11, story 

I want to express my thanks to Gov. Charlie Crist for his leadership in dealing with global warming head on. In one stroke he has re-framed the discussion of energy use in Florida. Florida needs an energy plan for the future, and we must use our innovative technologies and true free-market capitalism to address climate change.

From his dismissal of the pollution and environmental degradation of coal plants to his gathering of the powers of this state and beyond at the climate summit in Miami, Gov. Crist has demonstrated that he understands that good environmental policy is good for Florida's economy. His commitment to clean energy alternatives is the first big step toward reducing our dependence on oil and coal, and will bring Florida into the forefront of opportunities in the new green economy. His proposals to reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency and create a climate of alternative sources of energy will help save money, create jobs and leave a legacy of a better world for our children.

I salute Gov. Crist's political courage in these efforts. Solutions start at home.

Cathy Harrelson, St. Petersburg

What about costs?

While Gov. Charlie Crist's green initiative sounds all warm and fuzzy, what are the costs? California's Green Power program cost $540-million in subsidies over a four-year transition period.

Silicon Valley Power charges 1.5 cents more per kilowatt-hour for those who desire to purchase renewable "green" energy.

It is one thing for Gov. Crist to say he wants to be green like California, but does he know the cost? Can we afford California electricity prices and taxes too?

Coming clean with "green" must include the cost and who is to bear it. The devil is in the details, not warm and fuzzy executive orders or photo-ops with Arnold Schwarzenegger. How much green will California's "green" cost us, governor?

Gene Wells, Tampa

Green can mean jobs

It's not a secret that carbon emissions are harmful to the environment; the fact that replacing traditional fossil fuels with renewable energy is profitable is hardly known.

Continuing the good work of Gov. Charlie Crist, we as citizens need to persist and keep up this effort on a national level. Establishing by 2020 a 20 percent renewable energy portfolio would not only cut back on global warming pollution but also create jobs and save consumers money.

An estimated 355,000 jobs would open up in manufacturing, construction and maintenance, double the amount of jobs that fossil fuel companies provide, while producing the same amount of electricity. That's not to mention the 30,000 jobs in agriculture combined with $15-billion for farmers producing biomass energy.

The average consumer also amasses money with $50-billion saved on electricity and gas bills. It seems Mother Nature can provide for us in new ways if we decide to treat her with a little respect.

Robert Livingston, Tampa

Leaning to the left

Wind, solar, and nuclear power are substantially more expensive than conventional power sources. If you don't like energy prices now, wait until we see our energy bills after Gov. Charlie Crist signs his executive order requiring energy sources like solar power can be up to four times more expensive than conventional energy sources.

Moreover, isn't the Legislature the proper source of new laws rather than the governor?

In Jeb Bush, we had a governor in the common-sense, limited-government mold of Ronald Reagan. In Charlie Crist, we have a governor in the mold of Reagan's successor, George H.W. Bush, who abandoned the philosophy of his popular mentor and tried to liberalize the party. Gov. Crist would be wise to take note of the fate of George Bush.

James Taylor, Parrish

On health care, be fully informed

It looks like the Democrats (far-left) and Michael Moore are trying to get the wheels rolling on the universal health care issue - again. No sooner had the immigration issue been put aside temporarily (thankfully) than up pops the health care issue. They are unrelenting in their causes.

Before making any decision on this issue, I hope that people will use multiple outlets for their sources of information. It will then require all of us to participate in our government's legislative process and notify our representatives as to what our views on this issue are. The attempt to make universal health care into law is coming. Please don't go and see Sicko and become an instant backer of universal health care without having more information on the issue.

Universal health care is not going to be free and it's not going to be as good as they promise. Sure, Sicko shows isolated instances where it looks like universal health care is what's best for all of America, but what you really have to look at is what is the average care for all going to be.

Many people have their stories about our present health care system, but I suspect most people who are insured are happy with the system as is.

Instead of breaking the health care system for all Americans, let Washington try to fix it for the estimated 48-million uninsured people. I'd be happy with that. Or maybe not, because they will probably screw that up, too.

Donald Skomski, Clearwater

Sicko, the movie

Consider the source

My fellow Americans, when the health care insurance companies start battling back in response to Michael Moore's movie Sicko, remember the "Seven Dwarfs." No not the Disney ones, I am referring to the Big Tobacco CEOs who swore before Congress that they did not believe cigarettes were addictive, as though cigarettes do not cause cancer.

When people or companies have a vested interest in a product, their words are suspect. They most likely have a hidden agenda. Also remember when they start telling you about the evils of systems used in Canada, England, France, ask them why the people over there are not demanding to go back to the type of insurance HMO coverage we have here. While their systems are not perfect, none of those countries want the system we have here.

Our elected officials have said they want American business to compete on a level playing field. How about removing the cost of employee health care and see how we do!

Gerald A. Cerveny Sr., Tampa

Cancerous culture of death eats at Islam July 6, Thomas Friedman column

Politics, not religion

I disagree with Thomas Friedman's premise that the religion of Islam is responsible for producing this death cult. Islam totally forbids suicide and the killing of innocents. And most Muslim scholars have condemned suicide bombing. Muslim extremists are only a small minority of 1-billion in the world.

As an American Muslim I condemn and am pained by the acts of violence being committed by this minority of Muslims against innocents, whether in the United States, Europe, the Muslim world or against their fellow Arabs or Muslims. If any Muslim religious leaders are advocating violence against innocent people, they are wrong and I have confidence that the majority of moderate Muslims and scholars will prevail. However, we must ask ourselves, why is it happening?

It is politics, not religion. A culture of death and oppression has been inflicted on much of the Muslim world from the Israeli occupation of Palestine and Lebanon, to the former Russian, now American, occupation of Afghanistan and to the American occupation of Iraq. As a result, hundreds of thousands of innocent Muslims have been killed and wounded. Around 12-million Muslims are refugees. Is it not human for many Muslims to feel angry and frustrated at this situation? Many also feel helpless and hopeless.

Perhaps if we stop our wars of aggression and our support of occupation and oppression which are against international law, we can turn the tide against terrorism.

Pilar Saad, Tampa

No room for science when politics rules July 12, editorial

Religion has upper hand

Your editorial was not titled correctly. From "intelligent design" replacing science in our classrooms to the blocking of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research in our labs, there is "no room for science when religion rules politics."

Edward J. McDougall Sr., Brooksville

One true religion

Here's the secret

More harm has been done in the world as the result of religious intolerance directed toward non-believers than any other single cause. The world would be a better place if the leaders and followers of organized religions would only love their neighbors.

When I read that the pope says other Christian churches are either defective or not true churches, and when I read that Muslims are killing Muslims, I am reminded of a great line from the 1937 movie Lost Horizon when the dying High Lama, played by Sam Jaffee, reveals the secret to happiness and long-life in Shangri-La: "Be kind."

Fred Jacobsen, Apollo Beach

Growls greet law July 1, story

Wildlife limits welcome

This story talked about a new law that requires exotic animal owners to put up $10,000 or buy $2-million of insurance. I believe you have missed the importance of this good legislation.

I live on a ranch in northwestern Okeechobee County. Our property is adjacent to the 54,000-acre Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park and it borders a 14,000-acre rural-residential area called Viking Estates. A neighbor applied to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for a Class I Carnivore License in order to keep a tiger, a grizzly bear and four black bears on his ranch. The license was granted with no notice given to any of the surrounding landowners that carnivores were now residing nearby. I heard rumors about the animals and verified their existence at my neighbor's ranch by contacting the FWCC office in Tallahassee.

In my book, those who supported this legislation, including Sens. J.D. Alexander and Michael Bennett, deserve praise for providing for the safety and welfare of the general public by bolstering the rules for licensees of dangerous captive wildlife.

Susan Williams, Okeechobee

Mom finds boys dead July 10, story

Unneeded information

The Times has done it again! The article indicates that the police withheld identities pending notification of relatives. Then you proceed to identify the family based on information from neighbors. Why would you do this contrary to the status as indicated by the police?

The general public does not need this information ASAP. This has happened occasionally in the past. It is unnecessary and insensitive.

Richard J. Lewis, Madeira Beach

[Last modified July 13, 2007, 21:40:17]