Diamond Member Pelican Press 0 Posted August 25, 2024 Diamond Member Share Posted August 25, 2024 This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Letters to the editor for Sunday, August 25, 2024 data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== Editorial cartoon data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== Editorial cartoon Letters to the editor should be 250 words or less. Include your name and city or community of residence. Guest opinions should be 600 words or less and include a brief summary of the author’s credentials relevant to the topic. Guest opinions may include a head shot of the author. For the Fort Myers News-Press, email submissions to *****@*****.tld and for the Naples Daily News to *****@*****.tld Vote yes on Amendment 4 Governor Ron DeSantis stated this past week, “If you look at the state of Florida, we do not have a pro-life majority. We’ve got a big chunk, but we don’t have a majority.” Nearly one in five reproductive age women in Florida report they have ever had an *********. 72% of reproductive age women living in Florida think ********* should be legal in all or most cases (KFF Women’s Health Survey). Over 60% of U.S. adults believe that ********* should be legal in most or all cases (Pew Research Center). Why are a select few making decisions for the majority? This is why voting YES on Amendment 4 is crucial. It reinstates the will of the people and excises the select few who insist on promoting their own political agenda over their role as a public ********. The current 6-week ********* ban is detrimental to reproductive care and ********* access. Most women do not even know they are pregnant at six weeks, being only a week or so late with their *******, that is IF a woman even has a regular menstrual cycle. Per the NIH (National Institute of Health), an estimated 14-24% of women of childbearing age have menstrual irregularities. Factor in time to confirm the pregnancy, time to assess options and modes of care, time to have the required consultation and waiting *******, and then the actual scheduled procedure itself. It is no time at all. And, the above mentioned is all under the most privileged of circumstances: if an individual has the means for pregnancy confirmation, if an individual can take off work, if a person has access to transportation, if abortions are accessible in an individual’s county or town. Women deserve proper health care. Reproductive care IS health care, and that includes *********. Vote YES on Amendment 4. Molly Franken, Naples Clean water roulette In my opinion our government is spinning the wheel and hoping for the best when it comes to providing clean water to the people of Florida. Recently I’ve seen articles about high fecal (*****) bacteria counts in many of our waterways. This is nothing new. It has been going on for many years. Some months are better than others, however, the long-term trend is the same — poopy waters! So far, the children and adults that fish, swim and play in these compromised waters, with few exceptions, are not showing up in our medical facilities. I do wonder though how many infected wounds, sore throats, runny noses and upset stomachs are the result of the contaminated water. I think it’s a matter of time before people get severely ***** from the lack of proper stewardship of our waters. The most common response from most officials is that cleaning up the water is too expensive. Yet, they continue to undercharge development fees for new construction. Local governments are kicking the can down the road then complain that the cost has gone up so much that they cannot afford to provide clean, safe water for the residents. What good will parks be if the water that flows through them is contaminated and unsafe to use? If the same standards that apply to swimming areas were applied to our recreational waters, the governments would be required to close access. It’s just not right! Please add your signature to the petition at floridarighttocleanwater.org. Dan Carney, Cape Coral Retain the Marco charm During the Marco Island Council meeting of August 19, Collier County Tourism provided a presentation. It included valuable information regarding tourism in our county. It struck me that the report markets Marco Island as quaint and charming. One councilor consistently votes on attempting to retain the charm being threatened by constant commercialization. The Comprehensive Plan was brought up for discussion. The plan serves as a framework for development in our city. The same member of Council referenced items contributing to continuous decisions by past and current city decision makers that chip away at that plan. This potentially increases future commercial development within certain districts, including structure heights, setbacks, etc. It opens a host of future growth problems that are not necessary to retain tourism or the charmed island plan. There were several individuals running for future council seats in the audience. My hope is if elected they remember and implement through their decisions how important charm is to tourism and residents as well. Ann Sepe, Marco Island GOP mudslinging isn’t working Wow! Republicans are running scared if the letters to the editor this Sunday are any indication. Actually, ever since Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden and subsequently picked Tim Walz as her running mate, the howling of scared Republicans has been cringeworthy. From the mundane cries claiming the mainstream media “doesn’t point out the stupidity of her position” to the claims that Walz lied about his service record (and we all, everyone of us, know that someone who ***** should be disqualified from running for public office), there is an air of desperation. Take a minute and compare Walz’s military record with that of Donald Trump and his multiple deferments and obvious scorn directed towards the military. Winner! Walz! Another writer calls for a “fact check” of Harris’ record. Why no demand for a fact check every time Trump opens his mouth. In reality, Republicans don’t really want fact checks universally, but rather only on Democrats. Other criticisms range from her laugh (there’s a disqualifier if I ever heard one) to her lack of press conferences. What is it they want? Perhaps they want to see a reporter from Fox News ask her why she recently decided to become ******. Otherwise, no big deal! Then we have an accusation that Harris is afraid to debate Trump on Fox News but only on ABC. Fact check! Trump was scheduled to debate Joe Biden on ABC where he again expected to “kick *****.” All of a sudden Harris is going to debate him and it becomes “unfair” (the ***** kicking might be reversed). Trump immediately claims ABC would not be appropriate and wants to hold the debate at Fox. Donald Trump and his rabid followers had better get used to the reality of a new sheriff in town and adjust accordingly. The mudslinging isn’t working any more. Fact checking, even occasionally, seems to be foreign to Republicans but they should try it. It certainly would reduce some of the more ******* beliefs they expound. Robert F. Tate, Naples Democratic way I read somewhere that Trump was going to repair the economy the “capitalist” way and not the ********** way. My question is, what’s wrong with the Democratic way, everyone has a say and everyone benefits, not just the capitalists? Are you better off now, than the capitalists who have increased their wealth in the last 4 years? How are you doing? Any “trickle down” come your way? Can you afford a decent home to live in? Corporate manipulation and collusion to keep raising their salaries instead of trickling down the profits, by lowering prices. Kathrine Hamilton, Estero Unfit to lead nation In my 30 years as a Marine, I had the privilege of working for and with two Medal of Honor winners. Both were humble, inspiring men with backbones of steel. Our would-be-again president Mr. Trump says he attaches more value to the money given him from a financial megadonor than he does to the military’s highest honor for valor given to those soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have heroically risked and often lost their lives in combat in defense of this country. Those military heroes have “bullets in them or are *****,” says Mr. Trump, and do not comport with his affinity for all things aesthetic (Mr. Trump is better looking than Kamela Harris, his own words) and things that lend themselves to being monetized. Cue up Trump golden calf Bibles and golden calf shoes. With those few words Mr. Trump cut to the essence of today’s *********** Party. It is a party that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. This is why the country sees a party that no longer chooses leaders who possess character, honesty, integrity, honor, morality, selflessness, any sense of shame, common decency toward their fellow human beings and the self-sacrificing kind of genuine patriotism unlike the Trump/MAGA fake flag-waving patriotism that sacrifices nothing but wants everything. Medal of Honor winners represent the best this country has to offer and yet Mr. Trump has found a way to demean even that. Mr. Trump and his enabling eunuchs do not deserve to be in the company of these brave men and are most certainly unfit to lead them and this nation. Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs Inflation ****** foiled Stop calling it inflation.It is corporate greed that is keeping prices high.Procter & Gamble recently boasted an $800 million profit increase. Despite costs going down, P&G kept prices high to increase profits. Other companies actually raised prices while the costs of goods were dropping. Without corporate greed, inflation now would be at or below 2% a year.Kroger’s profit was up 35.6% from ’22 to ’23. Publix was up 49% from ’22 to ’23. That’s why food prices are so high.Kamala Harris and the Democrats have a multi-faceted blueprint that seeks to make housing more affordable, ease health care costs, expand the child tax credit and ****** down on corporations that are unfairly milking consumers.Trump has asked top oil executives for a billion dollars in campaign donations and promised, if elected, to give them a continuation of 2017 tax cuts for only the big corporations and the 1% Americans, leaving out the rest of us.The reason the Biden administration could not address inflation more robustly is because Republicans in the House and Senate blocked every effort to do just that. Biden’s “Build Back Better” legislation would have lowered inflation by reducing costs in a wide area of sectors such as child care, health care and more.The Republicans opposed Build Back Better and every single inflation reducing proposal Biden offered because they wanted to run on the issue.Trump fights for billionaires and large corporations. Harris fights to give money back to working and middle-class Americans. Dennis Raube, Fort Myers Trump support implausible It’s natural to try to figure out why people vote the way they do. Some issues that concern people are race, the economy, the border, and women’s rights.It is not overstating things to say that Trump is a *******. He cluelessly condemned the Central Park Five in 1989, asking for the ****** penalty — they were exonerated in 2002. This list is incomplete but telling: his proposed ******* ban, his labeling ******** immigrants as ********** and rapists, his slights of Native Americans, the birtherism issue with Obama, the focus on Harris’s ethnicity. His perception of so many people as inferior begs the question — what group does he somewhat tolerate? White people, preferably rich white people. Maybe some of his supporters identify with his racism.The economy is a big issue. The numbers and the trends clearly favor Harris (jobs, GDP, CPI, wages, oil production, etc.). Trump says we’re a “third world nation, a banana republic.” Can’t we stick to the facts?Trump screams about the chaos at the border. A comprehensive border bill is available but has been submarined by Trump. He’d have nothing to rant about if they passed the bill. The bully’s threat to deport 20 million ******** immigrants is harsh bravado. Both sides should choose a firm, fair, compassionate path.Why do independence loving Americans deny women their reproductive freedom? Implausibly, despite Trump’s history of groping and ******* ********, many women will feign ignorance and vote for him. Thoughtful Republicans should ask themselves why. Kevin McNally, Bonita Springs Disrespect toward military Donald Trump’s comment comparing the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Medal of Honor is a blatant display of ignorance and disrespect toward the military and its values. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the ******* States, awarded to those who have shown extraordinary bravery and sacrificed their lives or well-being for their country. By claiming that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “better” because it is awarded to civilians who are not physically harmed or *****, Trump dismisses the profound sacrifices made by military personnel who receive the Medal of Honor. This statement is not just insensitive — it is a clear indication that Trump lacks basic respect for the men and women who serve in uniform. As a potential commander in chief, this attitude is not just inappropriate; it is deeply troubling. It shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the military’s values and the significance of the honors bestowed upon its members. Moreover, this kind of rhetoric reveals a disturbing reality about Trump’s relationship with his MAGA followers. His dismissal of military sacrifices resonates with a broader trend among his supporters, who often prioritize his polarizing rhetoric over the respect and dignity owed to those who serve. Trump’s comments reflect a culture within his base that is willing to overlook, or even endorse, his disrespect for foundational ********* values like honoring military service and sacrifice. In short, Trump’s remarks are a disgrace, and they highlight a dangerous disregard for the very people he would be expected to lead as commander in chief. His MAGA followers, by continuing to support him despite these kinds of statements, are complicit in this erosion of respect for those who have given everything for their country. Paul Howard, Naples Voting on pocketbook issues Upon electing a president, there is a honeymoon ******* giving the new president an opening to push a new agenda with big changes. Looking back, Obama had this honeymoon and passed Obamacare. Trump pushed a tax reduction plan and that passed. Biden pushed his IRA plan and the new president will most certainly have major legislation to push. We all know what Trump would do, drill baby drill, and push for new tax relief, but what would the first 100 days look like for Kamala? Kamala must have an agenda but as of now, it is unknown. She hasn’t pushed any specific policies because her team has not told her what they will be. But let’s take a look down the yellow brick road for some hints. It won’t be tax savings but lots of social programs. I suspect a weak push for illegals to become citizens, I doubt there will be a push for more education and I don’t think it will be for health care. Social security? Medicare for all? Peace in the Middle East? I do suspect these things to happen; lapsing of the Trump tax cuts. A big push for the Green New Deal, and re-imagining police and prison reform. You can expect trillions of dollars to be requested and spent blowing a ***** so large in our economy, the debt and deficit will finally crush the ********* way of life. Finally, everyone will feel the sting of ******** and evaporating wealth. I don’t care who you vote for but for me, it will be to protect my pocketbook. After all, someone has to pay the bills and it’s not the 20 million ******** immigrants, the bottom 65% of taxpayers, and it certainly will not be the ultra-wealthy. Looks like we are on our own. Jack Holt, Cape Coral Dangerous times These next few weeks may be some of the most dangerous times for the ******* States, and for the whole world, because the perceived weakness and incompetence of the worst administration in ********* history could be coming to an end.We seem to be closer to world war than any time since WWII because the world’s dictators sense our present disarray and they are considering taking advantage of this window of opportunity. Keep in mind that these same dictators didn’t risk war during 2017-2021.But if the ********* democracy is to survive the looming threat of becoming another Marxist state of enslaved people, what true ********* would not want to restore the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag and defend our Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic?The ignorant masses that fall for the promise of unearned handouts should be made to understand that their cornucopia could soon dry up because just the interest on the national debt is a billion dollars a day!Every ********* is being slapped in the face daily by the ****** of allowing millions of unvetted aliens to cross our borders who have earned nothing but have access to that same beleaguered cornucopia.And you women who think our despotic Deep State values your rights, think again. This is the administration that showed its incompetence and cowardice to the entire world by sneaking out of Afghanistan, allowing the Taliban to strip 20,000,000 women of their rights to education, voting and even showing their faces. Dr. Robert A. Strohaver, Naples Vote for ******* America While reading the Naples News editorials, I noticed one of the Republicans’ main gripes is providing safety nets for the poor and disabled, which does cost taxpayers approximately 18% of our tax dollars per year. On the other hand, tax loopholes cost taxpayers approximately the same amount of money going directly to wealthy Americans. With additional tax breaks given in the Reagan, Bush and Trump presidencies, have cost the ********* taxpayer in lost revenue approximately another 16 trillion. Now we have over 1,000 billionaires whose wealth equals more than half of all Americans. I’m not against individuals making huge sums of money, however not paying their fair share of taxes is just wrong. America can’t survive without proper revenue to help not only the vulnerable but also sustain a strong economy for all Americans to thrive and prosper. Remember, ******* we stand divided we fall. Vote for a ******* America not for division. James Ford, Naples Ignoring economic principles Isn’t it odd how Democrats always run on fixing the problems they have either created or avoided in the previous term? Many voters fall for it every time. It is also a shame how people never ask the question, where is the money coming from? Price controls, increased government handouts. Harris’s housing plan is also nothing more than a ploy to buy votes with taxpayer funds. The game of evil corporations, taxing the rich and paying your fair share is nothing else but ways for politicians to forever increase the share of the nation’s productivity that they control. Americans contributed an average of $15,098 per person to federal revenues in 2022, income tax, at $7,898 per person and payroll taxes, at $4,510 per person on average. Up 14% from 2021. This is the greatest annual increase in federal revenues and the second greatest year-over-year growth since at least 1980. The government taxes your Social Security out of your paycheck and then taxes it again when you start receiving Social Security. She says she wants to stop price gouging, start with the federal government.It’s telling when even a ******** outlet like The Washington Post criticizes Kamala Harris’s economic proposals, calling them “populist gimmicks.” Why would a sitting vice president opt for ******* strategies like price controls that mirror *******-style economic policies? Do we really want to repeat history’s mistakes? Price controls didn’t work in the 1970s under Nixon, and they’ve ******* in every socialist regime that tried them. Her plan ignores basic economic principles. She wants the first-ever federal price-fixing plan for corporations. The federal government takes 18.4 cents per gallon of gas and nationwide gas taxes average about 57 cents a gallon with no risk. Exxon Mobil and other oil producers on average get between 7 and 13 cents per gallon with all the risk. Supermarkets have some of the lowest profit margins of any business, 1% to 3%.Harris has a three-part plan: Tell people what they want to hear, use her role as tyrant to penalize free trade, when elected, don’t do anything for the average *********. Lou Walker, Cape Coral Undistinguished presidency The mark of a great leader is having the ability to have the best people working for him / her and with him /her. Reviewing the people that Biden chose or had chosen for his Cabinet by Obama speaks volumes as to his undistinguished presidency. It would be difficult to find anyone in his Cabinet that exceled in their position. Yellen, secretary of the Treasury, oversaw inflation’s rise to 9% and she said that she never noticed the rise in prices when she went food shopping. Lloyd Austin led the Afghanistan departure that sealed the diminishing of U.S. global respect. His two top generals after resigning admitted that the departure was a total ********. Jennifer Granholm, secretary of Energy, led the demise of our energy independence and the ******* Green New Deal. Merrick Garland, the attorney general, only had revenge in his mind as the Republicans denied him a seat on the Supreme Court and then spent the next 3 ½ years going after political enemies. Antony Blinken achieved nothing in respect to diplomatic relations with China, Russia and Iran. Throw in John Kerry, Iran’s favorite U.S. diplomat and the failures multiply. One would be hard pressed to find any of Biden’s choices that made any significant improvement in our position domestically or internationally .We must not forget his choice of VP, Kamala Harris, who now is saying that on day 1 of her presidency that she will mend all that the Democrats spent four years breaking, sort of like Humpty Dumpty. “…all the king’s men could not put him back together again.” We can begin the mending process by not voting for Kamala Harris. Michael Zubrow, Naples Policy drives inflation The housing and stock market collapse in 2008 was fueled in part by the government giving up to $35,000 to first time home buyers. Many purchasers defaulted on their mortgage payments which triggered bank failures which required a massive federal bailout. It is deja vu all over again with VP Harris’s strategy to give first time homebuyers a $25,000 downpayment assistance. Kamala Harris’s plan to fix America’s home ownership crisis, which the Biden/Harris administration has been party to, also includes a tax incentive to builders for low-cost housing and establishes a $40B for city grants to find innovative solutions to meet housing needs. We are $35T in debt today and Harris’s proposals have no funding source and will exacerbate our ballooning debt. This Biden/Harris fiscal policy is what is driving inflation and every home-seller will just increase their ***** price by $25,000? When you are in a debt ***** you need to stop digging and making it worse. If we want to solve the nationwide housing crisis, deport the millions of ******** aliens who are taking up housing units that should go to ********* citizens. Illegals are costing us $451B a year for health care, education housing and food. Environmental and building regulations increase the cost of new homes up to 50 percent. The Harris plan to build 3 million homes to prevent displacement of 10 million illegals is laughable. We have met the ****** and it is the Biden/Harris agenda. Frank Mazur, Fort Myers This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up #Letters #editor #Sunday #August This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up For verified travel tips and real support, visit: https://hopzone.eu/ 0 Quote Link to comment https://hopzone.eu/forums/topic/109178-letters-to-the-editor-for-sunday-august-25-2024/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
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