Today's Letters: The SCHIP veto override vote
By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published October 23, 2007
Rep. Young deserves praise for standing up to party pressures
Thank you to Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, for standing up to party pressures and voting "yes" to override the shameful veto of the SCHIP legislation that would have provided insurance to at least 10-million children.
At a time when health care is near the top of most Republican and Democratic voters' agenda, it's hard to understand why others in Congress would choose to ignore the bipartisan effort that went into negotiating a bill that our children needed and the public wanted.
It's good to see that some elected officials will set aside partisan bickering and work with other elected officials regardless of party to try to make a difference and try to change a broken health care system. The time to act is now!
Ray Snyder, Treasure Island
Bilirakis' bad choice
When President Bush vetoed health care for millions of children, Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, had a choice: stand with President Bush or stand up for kids back home.
He chose Bush, and was one of just a few votes blocking Congress from overriding Bush's veto. As a result, millions of kids and their families could suffer.
When children are sick, they should be able to see a doctor. As Bush and the Republicans spend billions per month in Iraq, there's no excuse for not taking care of our kids back home.
This isn't a Republican or Democratic issue. A recent CBS poll shows that eight out of every 10 Americans support the kids' health care bill passed by the Democratic Congress - including an overwhelming majority of Republican voters! Why is our representative so out of touch?
Democrats have vowed to bring the kids' health bill back up, insisting that it cover 10-million children. There will be major political consequences for Republicans in 2008 if Rep. Bilirakis and others keep voting against kids' health care.
Joan Wright, Elfers
Tent city to rise with a plan Oct. 19
Misguided help
To say that I am dumbfounded would be an understatement. Unless I am completely misguided in my thinking, the majority, not all, but the majority of the homeless are so by choice. These people have chosen to be homeless due to alcohol or drug addictions, a lack of responsibility and pride or no motivation to be a productive member of society.
I, along with many residents of Florida, work two jobs to support myself and my daughter and still live paycheck to paycheck. Many of our elderly, who have worked hard all of their lives, cannot make ends meet on Social Security and work part-time jobs to supplement their incomes just to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. Hard-working, responsible members of society struggle day in and day out and no one has a second thought for our predicament.
I am the first to help a person who has fallen on hard times due to circumstances out of their control, but to help people who are doing nothing to help themselves, who choose to dig through dumpsters rather than put in an honest day's work, I cannot see.
The effort and monies we spend, donate or contribute, in my mind, could be better spent to help people who are struggling daily to be productive, who are not asking for something for nothing, whose pride and sense of responsibility demand they contribute to their own well-being. Tent city, in my mind, is encouraging individuals with no motivation to continue on the course they have already chosen. On the other hand, if the homeless repaid these efforts (Adopt-a-Mile, for instance), I would commend this effort.
Lorrie Griffin, Largo
Tent city to rise with a plan Oct. 19
Make them give back
Kudos to all involved in attempting to bring a partial solution to the local homeless problem. However, in this article there is no mention of what those who will live there should be "giving back."How about assigning them to jobs within the new city, for example, maintenance, cleaning the toilet facilities, helping in the kitchen, job counseling and other social needs. There seems to be no consequences for these folks. They will never be part of a productive society if we just keep giving them handouts!
Gladys Evan, Largo
Report: Iraq gains small Oct. 19, story
Look homeward
I found it interesting that the "new report" by the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction warns that Iraq "will require years of steady engagement" before there is significant progress in providing Iraqis with power and clean water, jobs, health resources and government that works.
I have to wonder whether we could accomplish those same goals here in the United States for $100-billion a year.
Bob Lindskog, Palm Harbor
A way out in Iraq
Violence in Iraq continues, even though military and government officials in the United States and Iraq say the solution is a political, rather than a military, one.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., has outlined a comprehensive plan for Iraq (H.R. 663) that includes a provision for an Iraqi peace conference.
Rend Al-Rahim, a senior fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace, suggests bringing Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds to the negotiating table and providing their leaders with the opportunity to improve the laws of their nation. Bringing all involved factions to the table is the only way to guarantee this basic human right to the Iraqi people.
The driving force behind the peace conference could be U.S. pressure. It would include appointing a credible sponsor, such as the United Nations, utilizing the services of skilled negotiators who understand the Middle East reality. Also included could be concerned countries, especially Iraq's neighbors, that will accept and respect the created accord. The key goal must be Sunni, Shiite and Kurd agreement.Urgency is key.
Marilyn Elsen, Dade City
There's no pleasing the fringes Oct. 19, op-ed
Image skewed issue
I appreciate that the Times included a large article covering the antidiscrimination bill that will protect gay men and lesbians in the work force.
What concerns me is the picture the Times chose to run with the article, "representing" transgendered people. On the issue of protecting this class of people, the writer points out that "America is not yet ready to take that step." Of all the images of transgendered people, this one probably won't do much to help convince people that transgendered people are people with similar needs, concerns and working lives; people they needn't fear. Why not use a picture of Susan Stanton, whose story personifies many of the issues and concerns around this type of discrimination? While the people in the picture deserve protection from discrimination as much as anyone, the Times' choice in pictures could have gone further to educate people about this pressing concern.
Michelle Flint, St. Petersburg