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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

Spend 'Off' Day Home

Regarding "Stay Home On Fridays" (Our Opinion, June 15):

Your suggestion to convert to a four-day work to use less gas, save money and send a message has merit, but you've left out one critical factor: for the tactic to be effective, the fifth day has to be spent at home. Swapping a drive to the beach for a drive to work negates the effectiveness of the program.

In fact, I suggest that the extra day off not be on Friday or Monday. Given our love affair with the three-day weekend, I'm pretty sure that a Friday off would spell "road trip" for many. The regular two-day weekend, often spent shopping and doing chores around the house, would quickly morph into a series of adventures that undo the proposed savings.

JOHN S.V. WEISS

Spring Hill

Wrong Assumption

Regarding "Bring Back Inspections" (Letters, June 13):

It is an incredible assumption that it must have been bald tires that caused the Interstate 75 tanker accident. It was not stated on the accident report or the TV or print news. It was most likely the typical inattentive, careless, inconsiderate, rude driver that dominates the Tampa Bay area.

To then state that inspection stations would have caught that problem before it happened and how they would stimulate the economy through taxes and fees is naive at best.

The people of Florida demanded that those inspection stations be closed back in the 1990s.

An individual repair facility would have to spend tens of thousands of dollars for those emissions machines - money they don't have. They would have to then find and hire competent additional staff to properly perform the inspections. Then they would need a larger facility, more insurance and so on, all for a measly state-mandated fee. Do we assume that all shop owners are rich and have millions in disposable funds?

JESSE JULIANO

Tampa

Help Was Available

Regarding "A Heroic, Tragic Father Haunts Memories" (Commentary, June 15):

My heart goes out in support of Buzz Kelly and the difficult childhood he experienced as a result of his father's World War II injury. I do nonetheless take exception with, "President Bush vetoing an expanded veteran's benefits bill" and "if such a bill had been in place in 1945, my father's life - and mine - might have been different."

Surely Kelly must know that Bush vetoed that bill with a view toward getting a better bill. Currently Sens. McCain and Webb are working on a bill which would reward longer service with greater benefits.

In 1946 I was a freshman at Syracuse University where at least half of my classmates were veterans attending on the GI Bill. Kelly's political bias is showing a bit; he needs to do some research.

GEORGE A. CARLTON

Sun City Center

A Lasting Impact

Regarding "NASA Says Launch Pad Needs Major Repairs" (Nation/World, June 13):

I received a call from my mother asking me if I had read this article. She asked how long those people expect the brick to stay in the launch pad. My response was 40 years.

You see, my father was part of the team that built the launch pads for the Apollo moon shots, and I guess you could say I have followed in his footsteps.

Many of the men and women who worked on the Apollo programs have passed on and I'm sure they would have something to say about it. I talked to my father after I read this and I know how he feels about it: He's not too pleased.

For a job that was done in the 1960s, I think they got their money's worth. Just think of how many rockets and shuttles blasted off from this launch pad in 40 years.

STEVE LONG

Riverview

Smaller Would Be Better

Regarding "Bigger Congress Better For Public" (Metro, June 15):

On Sunday morning I look forward to starting my day with a cup of coffee and reading The Tampa Tribune. The first article I see is the one on a bigger Congress.

We need a smaller Congress. These people don't represent their constituents. Their loyalty is to the party and the lobbyists who fund their campaigns.

An example: 70 percent of the people support drilling for oil and Congress ignores us.

The amount of pork that they attach to bills would surely increase dramatically. How much money would be needed to pay for all these new representatives and their support staffs?

Since we don't seem to be attracting the brightest people to serve in Congress, we will most likely wind up with more rogues who will take advantage of their position.

AL ROSSI

Valrico

Suing For Status Quo

Regarding "Groups Sue To Remove Voucher Issues From November's Ballot" (Metro, June 14):

The suit entered by the Florida Education Association and ACLU against the two school voucher proposals does not represent the dedicated public school teachers who would welcome $1 billion more into their classrooms. Nor does it represent parents of school-age kids who would benefit from having them in a disciplined environment where students really want to learn.

Private schools are much more efficient in effectively teaching students than the public schools. All the FEA wants is to continue empowering itself as a political entity without regard for the students' well being. The ACLU should be defending vouchers if it lived up to its name - promoting the civil liberties of Americans - instead of strangling their freedom of choice for the best education of their kids.

The FEA and ACLU both reveal their ulterior motives and insult our intelligence.

RAY KERKER SR.

Largo

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