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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 3, 2008

Decriminalize Drugs

Regarding "Semi-Subs, Used To Carry Drugs, May Be Outlawed" (Metro, June 27):

My God, Colombian coke subs! Yankee ingenuity replaced by Colombian ingenuity! It is a testament to the pull of a lucrative market, strong enough to risk an ocean transit in "floating coffins." Even Columbus' crew didn't face such danger.

Some day we will wake up and take the profit out of the trade, then tax the stuff and use part of the revenue for counseling and treatment. That day would come sooner if the Tribune printed more articles from nongovernmental organizations like Common Sense Drug Policy and The Sentencing Project and Criminal Justice Policy Foundation.

JOHN CHASE

Palm Harbor

Not A Victimless Crime
Regarding "Drug War Is A Waste" (Letters, June 27):

There are no injuries in drug crimes?

Did you ever sit in on a classroom of adult females in jail who tell stories of days and nights jumping into eight to 10 strangers' cars to feed a crack addiction? These ladies, once upon a time, were someone's daughter, someone's pride and joy.

Did you ever talk to a parent whose only son was gunned down at 19 years old because he was addicted to the hustle of dealing drugs? Have you noticed our neighborhoods being polluted with aspiring young gangsters making a name for themselves?

The argument is tired and outdated. The race for a satisfying high has led to far more potent and dangerous drugs. These narcotics and chemicals of today suck the soul right out of our young people. By portraying the injectors of these poisons as victims only perpetuates problems that our children, nephews, nieces and neighborhoods are all so very vulnerable to. But I guess it's not the dealers fault, is it?

STEVE JOHNSON

Tampa

Follow The Money

As I evaluate most decisions in life, particularly those thrust upon me, I follow an age old maxim - follow the money.

Almost overnight gas stations in Florida have changed their gas formulation to include up to 10 percent ethanol. Without any real effort researching, I found that ethanol contains far less energy than gasoline. What does this mean for me?

It means less miles per gallon, which means I will need to purchase more gasoline. It also means that the state of Florida receives more money from tax that is levied on every gallon of gasoline. Empirically, it appears that I am losing 3 to 5 percent of my miles per gallon because of the addition of ethanol to gasoline.

I look forward with great anticipation to vote against Charlie Crist in the next election. It may be that the ethanol additive to gasoline is not completely about being green; it's about the money.

TIM SCHELL

Lakeland

Ethanol Hurts Mileage

I have a fairly new automobile, less than 10,000 miles. My tire pressure is on the mark and services exceed the manufacturer's specification. However my fuel mileage has dropped from 31 mpg on the highway to 27.2 mpg and city driving dropped from 25.4 to 22.5 mpg. Don't get out your calculators; it's about 10 percent less.

Have I mentioned ethanol yet? Ethanol produces 30 percent less energy than the equivalent amount of gasoline. My, my. The last time I viewed the gas pump information tag, it educated me to the fact that there was no more than 10 percent ethanol added to the fuel.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out what lowlife thought up "squeeze the corn" and we can screw everybody - the people who eat and the people who drive.

BYARD D. COLEMAN

San Antonio

Look At Bigger Picture

All the people who claim drilling off our coast won't result in any quick economic gain should spend less time hating Bush and more time looking at the big picture.

After high school I moved from Tampa to the New Orleans area. All my Tampa friends who joined the work force had jobs in department stores and fast food and some in construction, but few made little more than minimum wage.

In Louisiana, oil-related jobs were in abundance. Anyone who wanted to make more than average and was willing to work could do so.

My first job was working 20 days on and 10 days off on a supply boat making $50 a day. It was a great adventure and I was doing a lot better than my Tampa buddies.

The tourist industry doesn't do much for the blue-collar worker in Lutz, but a local, thriving oil industry would give him enough extra cash that he could afford to spend time off with his family at one of our great beaches or recreation areas.

Because of logistics, Tampa could be the next great oil mecca, and the economy would boom - even for environmentalists.

DAVE SCHELLINGER

Land O' Lakes

Art Is In Good Hands

Regarding: " 'These Works Belong To People Of Cuba' " (Metro, June 23):

The Museum of Arts and Sciences has cared for, preserved and protected the Cuban Foundation Collection which it received from the City of Daytona Beach more than 30 years ago.

The collection and original Cuban museum was donated to the City of Daytona Beach by the Cuban Foundation that was set up in 1957 for this purpose. Since then, the collection has grown over 400 percent through gifts from various donors. We invite people to visit and experience the collection first hand.

Museums have dealt with ownership issues of art and artifacts for many years and it is this museum's commitment to continue to safeguard our collections on behalf of the public and to ascertain the answers to any questions about our collections, including ownership, as an accredited institution by the American Association of Museums for more than 30 years.

WAYNE DAVID ATHERHOLT

Daytona Beach

The writer is executive director of the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach.

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