TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Letters To The Editor

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 21, 2008

Unrealistic Training

Regarding "Florida Troops Move From Metal Huts To The Holiday Inn" (Nation/World, Aug. 15):

It would appear our Congressional leaders think the National Guard medics going through training in the heat of Texas should be sheltered from those extreme weather conditions. Those medics are preparing for deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. I disagree.

It has been my experience that the more realistic the training, the better our troops will survive the war zones which they will later find themselves in. Certainly, no mother or father wants their Jane or Johnny to suffer, especially when it's "just training," but the brutal fact is that the tougher the training the better the soldier.

You can make the training tough and realistic and at the same time guard against things like heatstroke by making sure the medics have plenty of water to keep hydrated and access to shade on a regular basis, but putting them up in hotels is ridiculous.

JON MUELLER

Brandon

Nothing New Uncovered

Regarding "Records Shed New Light On CIA Forerunner" (Nation/World, Aug. 15):

The article is not news. Arthur Schlesinger, Julia McWilliams Child, Arthur Goldberg and John Ford mentioned in your article along with many, many more OSS operatives, are named in Elizabeth McIntosh's book "Sisterhood of Spies: The Women of the OSS" published in 1998 by the Naval Institute Press.

RICHARD P. FLATAU

Seminole

Fox In The Henhouse
Regarding "Wildlife Act May Be Altered" (Nation/World, Aug. 12):

George W. Bush should be thinking of ways to reduce gas emissions, not reduce the mandatory, independent reviews government scientists have been performing for 35 years. This is like the proverbial fox in the henhouse.

How emissions contribute to global warming is something we should all be worried about. The quality of life for all our children should be everyone's concern.

If Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne thinks that barring federal agencies from assessing the emissions from projects that contribute to global warming and its effects on species and habitats is not "focusing on where it will do the most good," then I suggest he should resign. Clearly this man does not have a clue of what the Interior secretary's job should be, unless it's to do Bush's bidding.

IRENE ROMAN

Tampa

Previous Results Omitted

Regarding "McCain Turns Back On Clean Energy" (Other Views, Aug. 15):

Tom Friedman complains that John McCain missed a vote on a vitally important bill, S 3335, for the eighth time. Barack Obama has voted for the bill three times.

You should have provided context by printing the results of the eight votes. That way we would know if the vote of either senator was determinative and we could judge how "vitally important" the Senate felt this legislation is to our overall energy needs.

RON SCHIGUR

Land O' Lakes

Others More Worthy

Regarding "Trump To Rescue McMahon's Home" (Nation/World, Aug. 15):

Isn't it wonderful that Donald Trump feels so "benevolent" that he bought Ed McMahon's mansion because McMahon can't pay for it? If he wants to rescue someone, why not the thousands of people in America whose homes are being foreclosed on because they have to make a decision as to whether they buy medicine, food or ever-increasing homeowner's insurance premiums and property taxes.

I guess it's because these homes don't have the resale value - profit - that McMahon's mansion will have in the future. Rest assured, Trump doesn't do much that isn't going to profit him.

How about it Mr. Trump, rescue the "little people."

JOANNE O'NEAL

Brandon

Rules Are Against Nature

Regarding "Mounds Of Mulch" (front page, Aug. 11):

Stupid people make stupid rules, and conflicts arise when even more govern-"mental" commandos want to enforce those rules. Those rules are against nature. Having the mulch in big piles allows it to compost and heat in the center turning it into gardener's gold. The two-foot high rule and five-foot high rule is idiotic. The county should have been more responsible with distributing this asset.

Amending your lawn with organic materials such as mulch and manure instead of chemicals is preferable because whatever you put on your lawn percolates through the sand and straight into the limestone aquifer. How long can every household pour a bag of fertilizer into our drinking water?

Rules that go against planet Earth should be repealed. Mulch and compost are good because they absorb water, keep the ground moist and act like a cool blanket on plant roots and also releases nutrients. Letting the grass grow high is good because it shades itself and needs less water. Over mowing and over watering and over fertilizing are bad. Now county codes and homeowner's association rules collide with logic. We cannot continue at this pace without severe consequences.

KRISTY LAWVER

Spring Hill

Keep Up Good Work

There's so much news to plow thorough these days, I'm only just catching up on backlogged reading. But, I must pause a minute to write and tell you that the editorial published on Aug. 3, "DOT Should Review Other Options To Build Commuter Rail In Orlando," was excellent.

I really appreciate the effort the Tribune has made to keep us informed about this risky business the state has got us into with CSX. Thanks and keep up the good work!

NATALIE HALL

Lakeland

The writer is a former Army Paratrooper and Special Forces soldier and Vietnam veteran.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT