TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Letters To The Editor

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2008

West Coast 'Lite'

Regarding "Clean Florida's Air with New Rules" (Our Opinion, Oct. 24):

Your editorial contains inaccuracies which should be noted. If adopted, vehicles sold in Florida equipped by California standards will not exhibit improved efficiency and will certainly not offset the added cost of adhering to these standards. Vehicle EPA MPG ratings for vehicles sold in both states are identical, as EPA's own Web site will affirm.

California's rules include a requirement to monitor emissions, which Florida will not adopt, making the rule largely unenforceable. California's rules include the requirement that vehicles sold in border states must adhere to California emissions standards to prevent that state's residents from crossing state lines to buy less expensive vehicles sold in Arizona and Nevada. Florida's rules will not adopt this requirement either.

Adopting "California Emissions Lite" is another example of Gov. Crist's infatuation with California and its governor. Florida consumers and businesses should object strenuously to the adoption of this pointless example of government regulation at its worst.

Why, when Florida's air quality is among the best in the nation, do we need an emissions regulation with no accountability, and the only tangible result will be increasing the cost of vehicles for Florida's consumers?

BOB STANTON

Bartow

Ken Ayers' Wisdom

Your recent editorial endorsing the incumbent Hillsborough County property appraiser failed to note the most serious problem we face today: Property taxes have soared and "relief" given by the Legislature last year was disappointing and confusing. We live in hard economic times, and our citizens don't need exorbitant property taxes, a controllable factor, to weigh us down as we proceed through this very tough period in our history.

The current property appraiser has been merciless in taking on value to business properties when it's not justified and increasing residential values at a time when a market for housing is at its lowest point in many years. Ken Ayers, the Democrat in the race and a former Tampa fire chief, may not be as experienced in mass appraisals, but he is far ahead of the incumbent in organizing staff and recognizing the personal needs of the people to pay reasonable property taxes.
Ayers has the wisdom to know humans have limits, and I know he will work within the law to see that fairness and flexibility are dispensed within the confines of the tax laws.

ERNEST CARRERA

Tampa

Sidewalks To Nowhere?

I would like to comment on the installation of sidewalks along U.S. 92. I lived for 15 years on route 92, and there was talk of widening, but I never heard of sidewalks from County Road 579 to Thonotosassa Road in Plant City.

The Tribune reported that the sidewalks would help the safety of children walking to schools along the way. I can think of about five schools. But from Gallagher Road to Plant City is a long way, and I don't believe any parent is going to let young children walk to school.

There is more danger from predators today than ever, and with the speed of cars on this highway, an accident is waiting to happen - with the cars coming onto the sidewalks.

This is a huge waste of taxpayer money when there are so many programs in need. I know this letter won't stop the project, but I wonder if there was a survey to see how many kids walk to school these days.

CHARLES LLOYD

Plant City

Follow The British

McCain vs Obama. What have we learned about the candidates?

Both are equally good at bashing one another. Both have plans for saving our economy and ending the war in Iraq but fail to elaborate with specifics as to how they would accomplish this.

And both have running mates who cast doubts about their effectiveness as VPs.

I'm for change, but whoever is elected can't do a thing unless Congress gets its act together and works for the betterment of America.

What happens if we really don't like either party, and neither has shown the competence to do the job as president and vice president? Why can't we say "hell no" to each party and request different runners for this important job?

Maybe a third party wouldn't be so bad after all, as it would give us more options. Of course, if elected, we could adopt the British system and kick them out of office with a "no-confidence" vote after two years.

RONALD MORROW

Valrico

Third Party In The Mix

All you hear in the campaign is "change." I don't see change in a tried and failed idea such as turning America into a stale Euro-socialist country (Obama) or a "Maverick's" ideas on bad legislation again and again (McCain). There is only one way to get this "change" - voting for third-party candidates.

Let's show these two stale old parties we want real change. Vote on all levels for third-party candidates or candidates with no party affiliation. Let us show the status quo we are tired of the same corruption and lies that have ruled politics for decades.

ADRIAN CORNELLIER

Odessa

The Mean Season

Why is it that every four years two adults get into an immature match of flinging insults and simply mean comments about one another to get a job?

The sad part about it is that one of those two juvenile men will become our next president. When did it become that running for president of the United States meant that you had to prove why your opponent is incompetent rather than campaigning on how you are the right man for the job? Either potential president should get out of the race, or grow up and run a clean campaign.

DARIUS THIGPEN

Tampa

Reasons Not To Vote

Maybe we should also turn to quotes to dissuade individuals from voting. Thomas Jefferson believed "people are the only safe depositories" of liberty, and liberty would be short-lived if people weren't "informed to a certain degree."

Since informed citizens are crucial to our continued liberty, how about this? If you have never read the Constitution of the United States don't vote.

If you are willing to give up some liberties for additional personal security, don't vote.

If you don't know anything about the proposed amendments to Florida's Constitution and nothing about a candidate for a judicial, legislative or executive office, don't vote.

If you are partially informed, just skip a question or two.

Voting is not a test. The only way you can truly fail is if you randomly vote for a person or issue with no real comprehension about who or what you just voted for.

PAUL PHILLIPS

Valrico

Out Of Touch

Regarding "Congress Members Get 13% Richer" (Nation+World, Oct. 28):

This is really the core of what is wrong with our government. How can they address the issues of the average, working-class citizen when they have no idea what those issues really are? I'm sure they receive all kinds of reports and assorted literature on what is happening, but unless you have been there, you can't know what it feels like. That feeling is what drives people to want to actually improve their situation.

JAMES JONES

Tampa

Inequality Of Wealth

The Rev. William Boetcker, an early 20th century clergyman, maintained that the shiftless poor are responsible for their condition, no doubt aligning himself politically with his benefactors. The fact that there is some truth to this is now used to mask the real and growing problem of inequality of wealth.

Cruise ship-sized yachts of the wealthy are 95 percent built overseas, and many homes of the wealthy are in foreign resort areas. The wealthy also don't restrict their investments to U.S. securities. Trickle-down doesn't work.

Unfortunately, the problem has gone so far that simply raising taxes a smidgen will not solve it, any more than preventing flipping of real estate after prices had escalated beyond reason would have prevented the real estate crash.

But eventually, something will happen to end the era of excessive CEO compensation and other incentives that lead to income inequality here and throughout the developed world. To minimize this problem is to keep one's head in the sand.

YOLANDE KERSEY

Tampa

Destroyed From Within

The Republicans have finally told the truth about Sen. Barack Obama's plans for the illegal aliens in our country. First, he will allow them to have drivers' licenses. Second, he will allow them to tap into our Social Security and also provide them with government assistance.

With Obama's tax plans and entitlements, we are doomed.

If Obama is elected as our president, he could destroy our country by stripping our military's defense budget, eliminating nuclear weapons and leaving us defenseless and financially broken.

As Abraham Lincoln once said, "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

Voters, beware.

BETTY DOBSON

Brooksville

Pie In The Sky

The economy is in recession, the stock market is down, money is extremely tight, and yet Barak Obama is spending upwards of $600 million to get elected president. Did all that money come from the little people or is there something else going on here?

If it will take several trillion dollars to fulfill all the campaign promises. Where will all that money come from? Soaking the rich?

Face it America, you're being sold a promise of free bubble-up, rainbow stew and pie in the sky. It just doesn't add up.

DAN GILLER

St Petersburg

Bring Back Old Tribune

I've been waiting patiently for your newspaper to change back to the former format. I thought that would happen after seeing all of the complaints you have received. The present format is too difficult to read, making it almost not worth the effort.

Please bring back the separate Metro and Business sections. If I don't see the change soon, I'll be switching to the St. Pete Times.

TOM ANDERTON

Apollo Beach

Self-Serving Politics

In Friday's Tribune, Politico blogger Ben Smith was quoted as saying that Gov. Crist "just blew Florida for John McCain" in response to the governor expanding early voting hours. It appears Smith is more concerned with keeping his party in power than preserving the right of eligible voters who wish to vote.

Perhaps Smith has forgotten that one of the most precious rights we in this country have is the right to vote, and if that means extending hours so everyone is given that opportunity, then so be it. With all the hateful things that have been said in this campaign, the special jury award should go to Smith for one of the most self-serving, vile comments yet.

Bravo, Gov. Crist. Shame on you, Smith; shame on you.

BOB EMERY

Apollo Beach

Remember Whole Team

You really blew it in your Season Salute section. Joe Maddon had to make the agonizing decisions to only include 25 players on his playoff roster, but you had no such restriction. Perhaps you don't think the contributions of other members of the team - such as Jonny Gomes, Dan Johnson, Justin Ruggiano, Shawn Riggans and Troy Percival - were significant enough to include them on your roster page. Apparently your editors felt the efforts of their own staff in putting together their 7-page season salute was more worthy of recognition, as evidenced by the 3x7-inch box of credits on the page.

I hope those guys know that this community does not share your opinion. We know that it was the collective efforts of all of the team members that allowed the Rays to achieve the remarkable accomplishments of this season, and we appreciate all of them.

LAURA WEST

Riverview

Thanks, Rays

To the Tampa Bay Rays, thank you for a very exciting season. You made this transplanted Mets fan relive our 1969 season.

With a bunch of talented young players along with a few veterans, you made a lot of new Rays fans. Hold your heads high. You were great. Good things are to come for years. Go Rays!

FRANK PEPPACENO

Sun City Center

Just Get A Job

So a volunteer sent an e-mail to local Republican Chairman David Storck commenting on how he had seen car loads of inner city blacks casting their votes for Obama. He also commented on how they cast their ballot based on his "blackness," not on his lack of experience or accomplishments.

Storck then forwarded this profound statement to the rest of his Republican executives.

The "racial pimps" got a hold of this and went into a crying fit over the content. Storck did not stand his ground but apologized to these people. What a shame!

Just another example of the cow-towing that is being done to the rabble-rousers of our society. Where are the people with the backbone to tell these people, "Get a life," or heaven forbid, "Get a job!"

RONALD BOND

Clearwater

Ability Vs. Needs

In his January 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy stated, "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

My great concern about the slogan change in this election is the direction our government is going. I only hope and pray that sometime in the near future the slogan will not be "From each according to his ability; to each according to his needs."

BILL COLLERAN

Sun City Center

The writer is director of Polk County Fleet Management.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT