Todays Letters: The campaign marathon

Jan. 3, letter  Don't expect any real political change

The letter writer states, "In less than a year it will be over and we will be getting new management in Washington, D.C., whichever side wins."

Say what? In November 2006 we voted in a new Congress, with a different party in charge. Nothing changed. We still have a war in Iraq, troops are still being killed or wounded. Congress just voted on more money to run the war. Both parties are the same, just run by different crooks.

In another letter on the same date (Reality check needed), the writer ends his letter with, "How dumb do they (the presidential candidates) think voters are?" Sir, they think we, the voters, are really dumb. They keep getting re-elected to Washington, D.C., by people in their state every time they run for Congress. Once again, we will have a Republican or Democrat as president and nothing will change because they are already running the government in some position.

Here in Pinellas County, it will be proven how dumb we voters are if:

- Ronnie Duncan and any other member of the County Commission get re-elected,

- Any of the School Board members are re-elected,

- Any state elected officials think they are saving us money in real estate taxes or home insurance.

However, I don't think we will be any smarter because they will all be re-elected. They know how really dumb we voters are.

Robert Blake, Clearwater

A talent contest we are losing Dec. 28, commentary

Americans can do this work

There is nothing that I find more amusing than an executive who makes $1-million-plus lamenting about the lack of "highly educated, highly skilled foreign workers" for placement in U.S. jobs.

This is bunk. Note the fact you will never hear an American technology worker utter the same complaint.

The truth is that there are plenty of American workers prepared to fill these jobs. American CEOs just do not want to pay American wages.

When this country opened the floodgates to the H-1B workers, American technology workers took a huge hit. I witnessed countless Americans lose jobs to foreign workers, and I have witnessed the American technology pay scale take a major hit thanks to these same foreign workers.

The typical foreign tech worker was coming to America and making one-third of the pay of an American. No wonder American CEOs want foreign workers. This has nothing to do with a lack of talent, and everything to do with American CEOs wanting a bigger slice of income for themselves.

Americans need to ensure that these issues stay relevant in the 2008 election. American workers cannot afford to keep losing ground to the foreign workforce with the blessing of American CEOs.

Wake up, America!

Debra Shifferd, Tampa

Keeping the flock faithful Dec. 31, story

Catholics mischaracterized

Unfortunately the two Protestant pastors quoted in the article are unfamiliar with the beliefs of the Catholic Church and pass on this misinformation to the people they want to help.

Catholics do not worship idols! That is laughable. I have pictures of my grandchildren displayed in my home, but I don't worship them. Similarly, in church we may see pictures or statues of saints, people we believe have gone to heaven. Possibly we will reflect on their lives and try to imitate their virtues.

Catholics are never required to pray to Mary, the mother of Jesus, or to any saints! But just as we might ask a good friend to pray for us when we have a problem, we believe we can ask a resident of heaven to put in a good word for us. It's that simple, really.

As for the Catholic Church not helping with personal problems, I'm sure that would be news to any priest!

Kathleen Techler, Pinellas Park

Keeping the flock faithful Dec. 31, story

The Lutheran way

This article, citing the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, lumps all Protestant denominations together as believing "the sacrament, or communion, is symbolic," while Catholics believe it to be the true body and blood of Christ. We cannot speak for all denominations but know that, as Lutherans, we and our church believe that the body and blood of Christ are present in the sacrament (not representative of it). This is affirmed by the pastor on every occasion he administers the service.

Ours is a liturgical discipline, carried through from Martin Luther, a Catholic cleric who disclaimed obeisance to papal authority in matters of conscience.

John and Marian Erickson,St. Petersburg

Model, police clash during traffic stop, and afterward Dec. 30, story

It's a cautionary tale

What a great human interest story. A Playboy model fought off two police officers who were attempting to arrest her for violating the taillight ordinance. She escaped with minor injuries, but those minor injuries may have a major effect on her modeling career.

She did not obey the officers' commands to remain in her vehicle because she wanted to hide a present she bought for her boyfriend, which entailed exiting her vehicle.

Feeling that the officers were not being nice to her, she felt that she would disregard their commands and defy any arrest that would occur. That arrest did occur and she was placed in custody.

What a great story, a story of what happens when you defy the lawful commands of a police officer, and then rely on the press to convey sympathy for your predicament.

Van E. Vergetis, retired police officer, Holiday

Crist earns mixed marks Dec. 31

Foster care kudos

The story by Steve Bousquet on how Gov. Charlie Crist performed this past year was very incomplete. Taxes and insurance are very important, but this is not all Gov. Crist has accomplished.

He took the time to care about the foster care problems in this state. Heaven knows he inherited the problem from Gov. Jeb Bush. Private companies have taken over the system with no improvement that most foster parents can see. These private companies make up their own rules and do as they please. Foster parents have fewer rights now than they had before.

Gov. Crist appointed Bob Butterworth to head up Department of Children and Families. Butterworth not only came down on the Sarasota Family YMCA, he also has made the rest of the state foster care system take notice. Butterworth is not playing games. He cares about our foster children and they finally have a shinning knight on their side. Because of all this I give Gov. Charlie Crist an A-plus.

I want to thank the St. Petersburg Times for your caring stories on foster care. Kevin Graham's Dec. 23 story (DCF helps kids meet families for the holidays) about Butterworth helping foster children go home for Christmas was wonderful.

Delores Wilson, Tampa

[Last modified January 6, 2008, 22:11:44]