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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 19, 2008

Mandate Generators

We here in Tampa Bay have watched a parade of hurricanes swirl around us and breathed a collective sigh of relief when they did not directly hit the area. Is Florida really as ready as we can be for the next "big one?" I've watched the news and see cities without power for days, and lines for relief and supplies. Since the weather is so unpredictable and we don't or can't all evacuate, I think our Legislature should pass new laws that mandate that all gas stations and grocery stores in the state have generators to keep them running when power is out. That way, those who endure the aftermath will have access to food and gas to keep things running until things are repaired and moving back to normal.

RAY KRUELSKIE

Riverview

What Is Price Gouging?

Recently, there has been a reminder to call in and report price gouging at gas stations. Still, I have a question: What is price gouging? If price gouging is considered a more than 25-cent jump in prices overnight, then I plan to call in numerous violators. If price gouging is only for gas stations that have spiked to $6 or $8 a gallon, then I guess I'm stuck in silence, forced to supply gas tycoons early Christmas presents.

I also wonder why this rise in price has suddenly occurred. Is this truly from Hurricane Ike? Did a Category 2 storm cause that much damage to oil production? I know there was a disruption, but I'm still skeptical.

ADAM ALVAREZ

Tampa

Free Market Rules

What is price gouging? Florida Statute 501.160 states that during a state of emergency, it is unlawful to sell, lease, offer to sell, or offer for lease essential commodities, dwelling units, or self-storage facilities for an amount that grossly exceeds the average price for that commodity during the 30 days before the declaration of the state of emergency, unless the seller can justifying the price by showing increases in its prices or market trends. Examples of necessary commodities are food, ice, gas, and lumber.

I understand that many people are frustrated and upset concerning the price increases that are occurring with respect to gasoline and numerous other commodities, and from a personal standpoint, share their frustrations and concerns.

At the same time, however, I'm a firm believer in a "free market" economy and the right of a given retailer within such an economy to price his products as he/she pleases. Absent such a "state of emergency," however, the last thing we want to see occurring in a free market economy is a government that's dictating prices.

CHARLIE TOUCHTON

Tampa

The Right To Bare

Regarding "Judge: In Court, No Ifs, And Or - Baggy Pants" (Metro, Sept. 12):

Judge Daniel Perry is exactly right. Although they must have misspelled it, the U.S. Constitution, Amendment Two, very clearly gives citizens the right to bear arms but says nothing about bare bottoms!

SYDNEY K. POTTER

Tampa

Fashion Insanity

Regarding "Speed Trap Gives Way To Pants Trap" (Metro, Sept. 6):

Although an arrest is a major overkill, I have to agree with Daniel Ruth on the issue of the sanity of such a fashion decision.

I have been trying to find someone who can explain the rationality of choosing to have your pants fall down all day. It used to be a complete embarrassment if you had a knicker failure. It is just sad that all these people just can't see it.

JAMES JONES

Tampa

They Are Adults

Regarding "Don't Lower Drinking Age" (Letter of the Day, Sept. 13):

Why would you run a letter like this? His opinion is totally out of touch with reality. He may call them kids, but the law treats them as adults.

When you are 18 you can vote, be held responsible in a contract, go to war for your country and be criminally sentenced as an adult, to name just a few things. The United States leads the world in per-capita incarcerations. Florida is at the top of the individual states lists. I'm guessing that he wants to see this current law ruin as many good students as possible. College students who are adults under the law (with the exception of a tiny group of 17 year olds) have been drinking since the university system began.

Prohibition did not work in the 1920s and the prohibition against 16-to-20-year-olds is not working now. So drop the drinking age to 16 like in most European and South American countries and stop trying to make criminals out of good people for doing something that we all have been doing since mankind began.

ANDY YORK

Brooksville

Lower Age A Bad Idea

As a high school student you can't help but overhear teens talk about how amazing their parties are going to be over the weekend, and it's not because of the great music. It's because they look forward to the alcohol. I may be the only one, but I get scared knowing something can happen to somebody that I know. If teens can get ahold of alcohol now when the drinking age is 21, imagine how much they could get hold of if it's lowered to 18.

When people drink and drive, they don't think. They don't think about the consequences or that they could become one of those drinking-and-driving accident statistics. You don't think about being on the front page of the paper with your car, or daddy's car, on the cover totaled. Lowering the drinking age is a bad idea - point blank.

JESSICA CIPRIANO

Tampa

Inviting More Trouble

Two years ago, while I was stationed in Sicily as a firefighter, my co-workers responded to a fatal motor vehicle accident. A young man, not much older then 22, tried to pass a car in his lane and crashed his motorcycle head on into an oncoming semi-truck. He died instantly. The driver of the semi walked away with a few minor bruises. The cause of the accident was drunk driving on the young man's part.

If adults of legal drinking age cannot always act responsibly when they drink, why would we as a society even dare to think about lowering the drinking age to 18? It is just inviting more trouble that we do not need.

LINDSAY SARTORY

Tampa

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