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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 1, 2008

Plan Isn't Bipartisan

Regarding "Erase Political Favoritism From Legislative Redistricting" (Our Opinion, July 24):

You charge that the present redistricting system by the Legislature is "seriously flawed," and you have found a plan that can bring "sanity and fairness" to the process. Although you claim the proponents of change are bipartisan, they aren't.

Except for your newspaper and the respected Bob Milligan, the plan is pushed by people who always vote for the Democrats. Essentially, it guarantees that the courts must intervene with wording that only the courts can interpret. The court then will become the last institution to decide the "fairness" of the lines. The Florida Supreme Court is the only political institution in Florida that is still controlled by the Democrats. I have not forgotten the Florida Supreme Court's decision in the disputed presidential election of 2000.

It is naive to believe that anyone can draw lines without any consideration to political consequences. The Voting Rights Acts requires consideration be given to minorities. There are so many questions that need to asked and answered that the people's elected Legislature is proper place to debate and vote upon the redistricting lines.

MIKE M. ANDERSON

Clearwater

Bring Sanity To Process

The editorial "Erase Political Favoritism From Legislative Redistricting" was a welcome item. I hope Bob Graham and Bob Milligan do bring some sense to the districting in this state. The gerrymandering is so bad I received literature from two representatives claiming I was in their district. How Gus Bilirakis belongs in Valrico is beyond me.

Perhaps, when they get the districts apportioned fairly, this bipartisan group might address term limits next. It seems at least a third of Congress has been in office since I started to vote. That was over 50 years ago.

Maybe if the citizens vote out these incumbents, the country might have a chance to move toward energy independence before it is too late. The current members of Congress have shown no inclination to solve our crisis.

PEG TYSKA

Valrico

Vote Out Incumbents
Our country is in big trouble right now, and it's because of spending - our politicians are destroying our country by spending, spending and spending.

But there are others who are also responsible. Who are they? The people who continually vote to keep them in office.

If we are going to save our country and economy, we must vote these culprits out of office. We must take responsibility to know who these politicians are who continuously vote for countless, meaningless spending projects. Vote them out of office, and vote for those who actually care about our country more than themselves.

F. JAMES FAIRCHILD

Tampa

An Alternative Plan

Regarding "Insurance Rate Hike Divides Lawmakers" (front page, July 24):

We had some attractive pre-election insurance promises from our now-governor Charlie Crist, none of which have materialized.

State Farm is now asking for a 47 percent rate hike which it claims is needed in the event of a hurricane. Fine, approve the hike but with the proviso that in the event of another hurricane-free season, all the insured get a refund. With this plan, everyone is covered: the insurance companies in the event of a hurricane and the policyholders in the event of a no-hurricane season.

This is something our governor could do with no problem, and it could make him smell like a rose.

RICHARD WILSON

Safety Harbor

No New Policies

I know that there is no simple solution to the insurance crisis in Florida. Our governor let us all down with talk of large cuts that never happened. I know that certain businesses strengthen certain parts of their business with profits from another sector.

State Farm is certainly making a hell of a lot of money on car and life insurance. I say if they cancel peoples' insurance, they cannot write any new policies in Florida. Let's talk about how we can throw State Farm out of Florida.

BOB PELLERIN

Wesley Chapel

Look Outside St. Pete

Regarding "Baseball Group Needs Regional Focus" (Our Opinion, July 23):

I read with interest the last few articles about a baseball coalition. The ground rules for prospective members are great. However, I disagree with only looking at sites within the St. Petersburg area.

Obviously the St. Pete mayor would like that. However, if you want to draw more fans from other areas, maybe they should look at areas that are more easily accessible. If only one-third of the season ticket holders are from Hillsborough County, it seems they are being a bit myopic in their search.

There have got to be sites along the Interstate 4/75 corridor which would make the ball park connect to the entire community. After all, it is the Tampa Bay Rays, not the St. Pete Rays.

GEORGE VANDER VEER

Valrico

Rethink Water Policy

I feel it might be wise for politicians to rethink their current water policy.

Keeping our river - or more accurately, our estuary - at such an abnormal level during hurricane season seems to me a bit unpropitious.

In doing so, to quench the thirst of their policy of overdevelopment, it may turn into a nightmare if one or more storms decide to pay us a visit.

The turmoil produced would be on their collective conscience.

After some thought, to couple the terms "politician" and "conscience" seems to be a bit of an oxymoron.

WARNER WOOD

Temple Terrace

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