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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

No Official Religion

Regarding "Local Officials Ask God For Help" (Metro, Jan. 16):

Plant City officials asked for prayers from local ministers at a luncheon to help them deal with difficult issues and the ACLU is complaining simply because their prayer requests appeared on official city stationery.

These elected officials did not try to establish an official religion for Plant City. Even more significantly, these officials did not offer favors in exchange for prayers. They simply asked for prayers to help them do the right thing.

An ACLU official was quoted as saying, "It seems to me that when people take public office they have an obligation to represent their entire constituency." My response is that an organization that has the audacity to use the word "American" in its organizational name should seek to represent all Americans.

RICK HUGHES

Valrico

Plant City Is 'Blessed'

As a homeowner, taxpayer, parent and business owner in Plant City, I feel compelled to respond to the ACLU's statements. If they spent any time in Plant City, they'd see that Rick Lott and other Plant City officials very clearly represent their entire constituency. Yes, our government is predominantly Christian, but our officials most certainly do not "divide themselves off from other members of their community." If fact, they are the polar opposite.

Lott genuinely engages everyone. If someone's views are different he'll listen all the more intently. As our mayor, he solicits input and assistance from a broad range of our citizens - and we like that characteristic.

Rev. Blanton is right - "we are blessed in our city." Blessed to have people like Blanton, Lott and many others who've invested in our community and given their time and resources generously.

DIANE BOCHY

Plant City

Never Totally Separate

My, oh my, Mayor Rick Lott of Plant City has had the audacity to ask for prayer for his town - and the ACLU is upset. He crossed the line by showing care and concern about what is happening in his community and printing it on official city letterhead.

Do you think if he had written an official letter expressing what he felt were major areas of concern and not mentioned prayer there would have been a peep out of the ACLU? I doubt we would have heard a word. Prayer must really be a powerful thing when it so terribly frightens those who don't pray.

As much as the ACLU and others would like to keep a separation of church and state, there will always be an intertwining. The two will never be totally independent of each other.

ETTIE McMAHON

Brandon

Try Flashing Yellows

Regarding "Commission Curious About Installing Red-Light Cameras" (Metro, Jan. 17):

I have an alternative that is much less costly and proven to be much more effective in stopping "red light runners."

Prior to moving to Tarpon Springs, I spent my winters in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I noticed that nobody runs red lights in Mexico. The reason is simple. The stoplights that are about to change red are set for the green light to blink for two seconds, then the yellow light blinks for four seconds prior to the red coming on.

If you dare to run through the intersection while the yellow is blinking, you are breaking the law, resulting in a traffic ticket being issued. They also do have some video cameras at busy intersections just in case that some idiot dares to keep going after the red light is on.

I've watched U.S. Highway 19 drivers go through red lights, resulting in a few fender benders. No fatalities so far, thank God.

CURTIS M. THEOBALD

Tarpon Springs

Government Overreach

I notice that Commissioner Ken Hagan advocates installing cameras at traffic lights "to boost ticket revenues." I am English and can assure you that this is the thin end of the wedge to start to bleed motorists dry and compensate for local tax cuts.

Some years ago a similar initiative was started in England which has now blossomed into a multimillion-dollar industry with cameras not only on all highways but also observing all citizens as they go about their daily business.

It is estimated that each person in London is photographed 3,000 times a day when going about his or her lawful pursuits. As far as the traffic cameras are concerned, they are a major part of increasing local and national taxation and have led to motorists feeling persecuted as the intention of improving safety has given way to the naked ambition of increasing tax revenues.

Is this what the citizens of Florida want? At least Hagan is honest when he says he wants to boost taxation, but it is a slippery road he is proposing to take.

BRYAN FIRTH

Clearwater

Sure Way To Tyranny

Commissioner Ken Hagan wants to install cameras to catch people running red lights and fine them using a technology that our governor rightly says can't be used to enforce the law. This is as sure a way to tyranny as I've seen.

When are people going to wake up and demand that their government get off their back! We do not need to spend $100,000 per intersection to do what we already pay millions for law enforcement to do. And if you trust government when they say it will only cost so much, you are in a dreamland.

No amount of extra revenue is worth the erosion of civil liberties. This is a bad idea.

GLENN DILLMAN

Tampa

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