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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 12, 2008

Bubble Popped Too Soon

Regarding "Blame Cindy Crawford For Recession" (Other Views, Oct 8):

In his usual good-humored satire, Carl Hiaasen blames the current financial crisis on our spendthrift ways, abetted by the likes of Cindy Crawford. But the problem started before Cindy came on the scene. If you want to blame someone, blame Bill Clinton for doing so little to prevent the dot-com crash.

Clinton enjoys accolades for presiding over the longest financial expansion in recent history and the budget surplus that went along with it. Lucky for him, the cost of all this didn't show up while he was in office.

In case right-wing Republicans are gloating, let me add that I heard day-traders during the Clinton administration gleefully remark, "Clinton is a Republican!" I supposed this was partly because interest rates were kept low during the dot-com boom to put off a recession, and little was done to control margin buying sufficiently to prevent rampant stock speculation.

The rising market created a tax windfall, but President Bush inherited a huge tax-loss write-off. So taking the cue from Clinton, the Bush administration allowed ridiculously excessive real estate speculation and risky credit default swaps to prevent any recession on his watch. Too bad for him - the bubble burst too soon.

YOLANDE KERSEY

Tampa

Put A Cork In It

The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the best sports stories of the year; their achievements have earned our respect. This team, even if it doesn't win another game - perish the thought - is richly entitled to honors and celebrations.

But how about some innovations in the latter? Taking nothing away from their glory, could attention be given to a more dignified, classier ritual of exultation?

Should our guys whip the Evil Ones from Boston, might that great victory be marked by an alternative to the traditional alcohol-soaked frenzy? The fizz fests modeled to every Rays fan in recent weeks, including the impressionable young, have a "Joe Camel," frat house quality - wasteful, grotesque and unfortunate. It looks stupid and gross.

The unspoken image is unmistakable - booze (even expensive champagne) is essential to experience joy and happiness. In fact, exuberant good times are available with other forms of refreshment.

DONALD B. ARDELL

St. Petersburg

It's Only A 'Do

Regarding "His Rayhawk Strikes Out" (Local News, Oct. 9):

Lighten up guys! Young Master Zachary Sharples is not the Unabomber. He is getting into the spirit of things (the success of the Tampa Bay Rays). The produce manager at my local Sweetbay market was doing the same thing, and it offended no one. His "Rayhawk" haircut inspired nothing subversive as he was displaying lettuce.

I know you will argue that if you allow this for one, what will come next? Well, you may have to deal with that one, but I trust you will exhibit the wisdom of Solomon and be more sensible.

I would ask the lad to address the school and discuss why he was so inspired. Now, there's a lesson!

DON JONES JR.

Safety Harbor

Campaign, Not Incite

Political campaigns have become a game of verbal treachery, but for a vice presidential candidate to incite a crowd to yell out threats of violence against his or her opponent crosses the boundaries of acceptable campaigning, particularly when the candidate does nothing to calm the crowd.

This type of behavior on the part of Sarah Palin is moral turpitude. This is a campaign like no other I've seen, and I hope to never see this again.

Campaigning is one thing, threats of violence quite another. The presidential candidate has a moral obligation to put a stop to this kind of rabid vitriol because violence has no place in American elections.

JULIE BLACKWELL

Tampa

Buddy's Bum Rap

Your articles and editorials about Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson are unfair. In the past several months I have called and visited the supervisor of elections office many times and have been met with professionalism and courtesy every time.

Under his leadership, the VoteHillsborough.org Web site has become so comprehensive that I challenge you to find another county in Florida with as much organization, information and statistics as this one. As for "outrage" over the cost of 100,000 black pens, I can imagine the uproar if they were to run out of black pens Election Day.

In addition to changing the organization of your newspaper, perhaps you should also change the name to "Phyllis Busansky Campaign Headquarters."

JEANNE GRILL

Dover

Advertising Campaign

My wife, daughter and I received a letter from Buddy Johnson containing voter information and an application to register to vote if we were not registered. Since it was two days' past the cutoff date to register, I would judge it a total waste of money and a total lack of being on top of the situation. The only thing it has done of any value is put Johnson's photo in everyone's mailbox and have taxpayers pick up the tab.

M. BLAINE JESSEE Jr.

Tampa

Who's Trustworthy?

I was somewhat surprised to see there are 13 candidates for president. General consensus indicates there are only two who stand a chance, but the choice is still difficult.

What criteria do we use in making our choice? Certainly, we cannot rely on promises made by any candidate. From experience we know none can, by virtue of our form of government or the nature of politics, produce on their verbose pre-election rhetoric. It seems to me to boil down to trust. Who do we trust to make the best decisions to get us out of this mess?

It is imperative we look at past actions and experience to help us in our decision. Of those two, past actions should be given the most weight.

Which of the candidates do you trust to make all the demanding decisions of the office based on the principle objective of what is best for all of the country? That's the man we need to elect.

JOHN H. BOYET

Tampa

Buyer's Remorse Possible

I remember a class I took back in junior high called "civics." I would assume that most voters know the president does not "pass" tax laws or budget bills. I am beginning to believe that both John McCain and Barack Obama are working together to further confuse the American electorate.

Whatever plan they may or may not have has to make it through Congress first. Even assuming that either has a bill drafted already, whatever actually passes could be a far cry from what either is saying they propose.

No wonder the American people have lost so much faith in their leaders. What we get is nothing resembling what they present themselves to be.

Both candidates might as well not say anything. From the looks of it, Obama is running against George Bush. Nobody can keep up with Obama's promises, but he will nevertheless benefit from a large protest vote of people fed up with the Republican label.

In 1966 we had something similar going on with Lyndon Johnson. The Democrat label had become so tarnished by, among other things, the Vietnam War that the Republican Party could run just about anybody and win. In Florida we elected a complete unknown, Claude Kirk, as governor.

If Obama is elected on the same basis, a lot of his supporters will develop a case of buyer's remorse soon after the election.

LEONARD MARTINO

Tampa

Send Checks To Us

If the federal government is going to give banks nearly $1 trillion, they should use the American homeowner as the middle man. The Treasury Department should put two names on the check - the homeowner's name and the bank that holds the note. The homeowner should get the check first, sign off on it and send to the bank.

This would stimulate the economy because people will have money to spend elsewhere. The banks' obligation is taken care of as well, and their recovery can begin. This incentive could also help correct the problems of the other economic markets as well.

However, the recent AIG scandal on perks is just another example of how we all pay for the riches of a few individuals. This solves everyone's problems, not just the rich.

JANE JULIANO

Tampa

Change Could Be Positive

Regarding "Who Will Help Disabled As Cuts Destroy Lives?" (Our Opinion, Oct. 8):

No ones ever talks about the benefits of the group home and institutions versus staying at home in an overprotective family environment. They may have chances for more freedoms that we all have come to enjoy.

The $60,000 may actually end up being cheaper because we can concentrate services to just group homes and institutions. Our goal with the disabled was always to have them live more independently, right? There are families out there living on that type of money or less.

That is a lot of money that one person is getting. Everyone has to give something back for tax cuts to happen.

JACQUE CAMPBELL

Land O' Lakes

Fannie and Freddie

The U.S. government is now attacking the American free enterprise system. The government should let the free market work.

Congress also is at fault. They have weakened the regulations that in a free economy are needed to protect the banking system from itself. Now we are paying the price with a bailout that is needed but is also attacking our free enterprise system.

Now that the government has nationalized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a solution is simple. The government should lend money to these two institutions for lending purposes. This will help reduce the tight money problem the government says we are experiencing. If the banks and other financial institutions do not want to lend money, let them sink.

TONY MENENDEZ

Tampa

When All Else Fails

After five days of stumbling through the bewildering maze known as "The New and Improved Tampa Tribune," I've been rewarded by discovering a true "diamond in the dung."

Rod Dreher's column, "The Speech John McCain Should Give," (Other Views, Oct. 10) digs through the avalanche of political rhetoric that has covered the nation to a threatening depth.

Though Mr. Dreher has wisely chosen not to run for office, he should be in Washington coaching candidates and counseling politicians. His message is profoundly simple and embraced by millions of Americans: When all else fails, try the truth!

W.R. MC GEHEE

Tampa

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