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Today's Letters: Put school bus riders in seat belts

Letters to the Editor
Published October 30, 2007

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Riding the bus Oct. 29   

Your story regarding the relative safety of school buses was interesting, but a few of your statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are rather misleading. The NHTSA has been misrepresenting the value of seat belts on school buses for years. In spite of this organization's distortion of the truth, we are seeing state after state enacting laws to require seat belts on school buses.

You won't find unbiased statistical analysis comparing the safety of school buses with seat belts against buses without them. What you will find is the NHTSA's concern for seat belts being used as weapons. (Solution: Kids who beat other kids with seat belts can't ride the bus.) They say that kids just won't wear them. (Solution: Rule No. 1: Wear your seat belt or get off the bus.) They even claim that by adding seat belts it would reduce the number of kids who would fit on the bus. (Translation: We can't overcrowd the bus if we install seat belts.) Their most ludicrous suggestion is that seat belts may actually harm the child. General ly speaking, when people are injured by their seat belts, they were in an accident where they would have been injured worse or killed without them.

Another myth the NHSTA likes to scare people with is the one where the bus catches fire or rolls over and the kids panic and are trapped in their seat belts. Is that even a legitimate argument? If there is a kid left in America that doesn't know how to use a seat belt, then his parents have some explaining to do. This argument is akin to the people that refuse to wear seat belts in their cars because they are afraid of being trapped if they drive into a lake. (Solution: Don't drive into lakes. If you do, remove your seat belt.)

Seat belts save lives. By now everyone knows this. From the very first time they ride in our cars, kids are restrained. First in car seats, then seat belts. But then we send them to get educated and we take away one layer of safety. Anyone else find this ironic?

Let's send our kids to school the smartest and safest way possible: buckled up.

David Fraser, Clearwater

A convention without relevance Oct. 27, editorial

Convention was no circus

I just returned from the Democratic convention in Orlando to find a Times editorial comparing that gathering to a carnival freak show. Interestingly, the article was written before main convention events. Thousands of people came to Orlando this weekend, demonstrating their civic duty to participate in rallies and peace marches, grass-roots organizing seminars and fundraisers, and to prepare for the 2008 campaign. Granted, Democrats weren't able to rub shoulders with their presidential favorites, but we are far more disappointed, as are a great majority of Americans, with the Republicans' disastrously failed leadership. That's why Democrats from all over the state showed up in droves.

The editorial also disparaged our speakers, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Sen. Bob Menendez. The $100- and $175-per-plate events at which these distinguished leaders spoke were sold out. We came to Orlando to get fired up, and were. Witness Sunday morning's two-hour, standing- room-only forum led by Florida CFO Alex Sink in the main convention room. No circus there.

By the time any Floridian voted in the 2004 presidential primary, it was apparent that John Kerry was the nominee. This time, Florida will play an influential role in selecting a presidential nominee because the last major headline going into Tsunami Tuesday, when many states will hold their primaries, will be, "What did Florida say?"

Toni Molinaro, chair, Pinellas Democratic Party, St. Petersburg

A convention without relevance Oct. 27, editorial

Votes cast will count

A St. Petersburg Times editorial called the Florida Democratic Convention a "freak show," and a Tampa Tribune columnist said that anyone who attends the convention is a "damn fool." Having attended, I can state with confidence that I am neither a freak nor a fool.

These comments make me wonder what the media thinks goes on at state conventions, which occur every year, not just during presidential election cycles. There is much to be learned each year about the evolving technology of voter outreach and precinct organizing. Communicating with other counties, especially those with similar demographics, is also very beneficial. Of course, there's some cheerleading, and motivation is a great tool for success.

Let me also encourage my fellow Democrats to vote Jan. 29. Your vote most assuredly will count, in spite of the media mantra that indicates otherwise. Howard Dean said that the presumptive nominee will seat all the Florida delegates. And if anyone thinks the media and nation won't take full notice of the Jan. 29 outcome of the third-largest and most pivotal state in the election, remember the fuss over the meaningless Republican Iowa straw poll this summer. It inexplicably made headlines for a day. Florida's vote will make national and world headlines for days, and turn the tide to the Florida winner. Votes will definitely count if they are cast.

Bonnie Agan, St. Petersburg

A convention without relevance Oct. 27, editorial

Chasing votes

Your editorial says, "This debacle goes hand and glove with the DNC's decision to treat Florida voters as though they are illegal aliens."

I'm not so sure about that. If we (in Florida) were all illegal aliens, I suspect that the DNC would stumble over itself racing to make sure all our votes counted.

Bob Klase, Largo

'Reporters' actually were FEMA workersOct. 27, story

Accountable? Hardly

So the White House scolded FEMA for its fake news conference on the devastating California wildfires. One would think that more than a scolding would be in order, but this is an administration whose hallmark hardly could be considered accountability.

That said, I would not be surprised at all to see George W. Bush standing in front of an "Accountability in Government" banner at his next appearance, given his party's penchant for revisionism.

If I were to fake anything at my job, and it was discovered that I had done so, I would expect to be fired immediately. What great examples of accountability Bush's administrations have provided today's youth.

Frank Van Atta, St. Petersburg

'I'm not a criminal. I'm just a dishwasher'Oct. 28, story

Justice denied

I was outraged about what has happened to Pedro Zapeta as reported by David Adams. Although an illegal alien, the poor man has worked hard for 11 years in our country and paid his taxes faithfully while asking nothing else in return. Now, when he wants to go home to Guatemala, authorities in our government seize his money. It shows the unfortunate truth that justice and fairness, as so often depicted before our legal buildings, isn't really blind, but too often favors the rich and privileged while abusing those who are not.

Ralph Madison Jr., St. Petersburg

'I'm not a criminal. I'm just a dishwasher'Oct. 28, story

Illegal means just that

Although you try as hard as you can to elicit sympathy for this man and quote him as saying he is "not a criminal," let us not forget he is still an illegal alien. Last time I checked, to be an illegal means you have broken one, and as is the case with illegal immigrants, several, of our laws.

I have no problem with immigration. Our country needs immigrants, as long as they are legal. And yes, I too am an immigrant. A legal one.

Vilmar Tavares, Spring Hill

[Last modified October 29, 2007, 21:19:23]

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