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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2007

A Waste Of Money
Regarding "Grand Jury Indicts Bonds" (front page, Nov. 16):

Too many of our taxpayer dollars are being used by prosecutors who seem to have too much time on their hands to pursue presumed, highly subtle violations of the law that have no apparent affect on taxpayer safety. A few serious baseball fans want to know when steroids are used and when not. But the rest of the world doesn't need to have their scarce funds spent this way, particularly when under the best of circumstances the money is being used to ensnare someone who may have lied about what might have been a crime, even though the crime itself cannot be prosecuted.

Our taxpayer dollars would be far better spent resolving crimes that can dramatically impact us, such as uncovering true and obvious terrorism cells, not terrorism cells inspired by government informants; and by pursuing rapists, murderers and other criminals who obviously and dramatically endanger the public safety.

Once that priority is met, there is education and health care, both of which are far more important to me than seeing Barry Bonds go to jail for perjury about steroid use. Who cares about this kind of thing?

GEORGE BLANCK

Tampa

What's The Big Deal?
Barry Bonds has been indicted for perjury stemming from the steroid investigations. So what's the big deal? I wasn't affected by anything Bonds did. Were you?

If these athletes want to pump up, they probably know the risks, and as long as the owners pay the big bucks for performance, who can blame the athletes? It's a small difference between a loaded bat and a loaded batter.

This trial will benefit no one except those involved in the "injustice" system.

JACK PEEL

Tampa

Knowing All The Answers

Two articles on opposite pages of the Nov. 11 Nation/World section were most intriguing.

One states, "At the time (beginning of the Tertiary period) sea levels were higher and New Jersey was warmer. The proto-Atlantic waters. ... standing more than 60 feet deep here, where on a recent day paleontologists were up to their ankles in a creek." Later, "The extinction of dinosaurs might have had multiple causes, not the single asteroid impact and almost instant death as hypothesized in 1980."

The article on the opposite page begins, "Endangered humpback and fin whales swam hundreds of miles north of their usual habitats this summer in what environmentalists say is another sign of global warming." The very end of the article states: "The humpback sightings may indicate a recovering population of whales expanding its range - or desperate animals in search of food."

How strange we mortals don't have all the answers but are often so insistent we do.

JACK SCHOFIELD

South Pasadena

Enjoy Your Freedom Now

Regarding "Cities Putting GPS In Vehicles To Fight Unauthorized Use" (Business, Nov. 16):

Get used to it! In a few years, car insurance companies will require you to keep a GPS monitor in your car. They will then know exactly where you are driving and at what time. They will know how fast you are going compared to the posted speed limit. They will know how quickly you accelerate and step on the brakes. They will know everything you do in your car. Do something wrong and your rates will go up. Turn off the monitor and your insurance is canceled. Enjoy your freedom now - it won't last much longer.

CHARLES KORMOS

Tampa

Try Common Sense

Regarding "Mailbox Supports Pondered" (Metro, Nov. 17):

I can sympathize with Jay Romer's feelings regarding the hardened mailbox supports that may have contributed to a passenger being killed in the vehicle his daughter was driving. It is impossible to immunize us against ourselves and the poor choices or mistakes we make.

Hardened mailbox supports are a beneficial, cost-saving measure to the homeowner. When my wife and I first moved into our home, we had a mailbox on a 4x4 wood post and at least once a month we would find the mailbox laying in our yard after a vehicle sideswiped it or teens broke it with baseball bats.

After and considerable frustration, we hardened our mailbox support and now we have a collection of rearview mirrors from a variety of vehicles that got too close.

Government cannot protect us from ourselves. Education, training, intelligence, common sense and parents are our best line of defense from bad choices.

ROBERT WEISMAN

Tampa

Don't Blame Mailbox

It never fails to amaze me when people don't take responsibility for their actions and blame it on someone or something else. In this case, a mailbox that jumped out in front of a speeding car and killed a young woman.

Now because of someone's irresponsible actions, it is proposed that mailbox posts be changed. It was not the mailbox that caused the accident, and as long as the post meets postal service height requirements, whatever the homeowner wants should be allowed.

It is high time that parents teach their children to take responsibility for their own actions.

JOAN KUNKEL

Tampa

Doesn't Miss Writers

I totally agree with the two Nov. 14 letters concerning the writers' strike and the "drivel that passes for TV shows" today. Where, oh where, are the excellent writers of "M*A*S*H," "Frazier," "The Golden Girls," etc? They covered all the "forbidden" topics of the day, but by innuendo, not in your face. They were funny, entertaining and enjoyable to watch.

Thank goodness for TVLand, Hallmark and the other stations that provide shows with outstanding writing, and that offer good humor and great entertainment.

JERI COLENDA

Sun City Center

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