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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2009

Single-Payer Health Care

The USA must join the modern world by establishing health as a right of the population. Our weak, wasteful and convoluted method places America at greater competitive risk without a single-payer health system.

Every day people are dropping through the "safety net" like BBs through a platinum colander. Failures are glaringly and increasingly evident, and the time to change is now.

CHRISTOPHER POTTER

Tampa

No-Jobs Package

In reference to the breakdown of the economic stimulus package (estimate $12,542,400,000) and "What's In It For Florida?" (front page, Feb. 14): Where are the jobs?

Health and assistance programs: 45.47 percent. This is all additional welfare.

Education: 39.71 percent. Less than half of this will create jobs in school construction and renovations.

The single item that can be implemented in a short time and create jobs right away is the $1.3 billion for infrastructure projects, and this is only 10 percent of the total.

Granted, the states are hurting and need help, but as only about 10 percent of the stimulus law will help jump-start the economy, it is easy to see why the cooler heads in Congress did not support this measure.

HENRY D. FULLER

Sebring

Lousy Leadership

When the people's governor, Charlie Crist, was elected in November 2006, the Florida unemployment rate stood at 3.3 percent, the lowest rate among the 10 most populous states. Florida had the distinction also of being the greatest job creator among the top 10 largest states.

Now, the Florida unemployment rate stands at 8.1 percent - 752,000 Floridians are out of work. And that number is climbing daily. Does the blame belong to the overall national economy or to a lousy governor? I contend both are to blame.

Crist has done nothing to encourage employers to locate their business to Florida. To the contrary, with his regulatory and environmental policies, he has discouraged employers from conducting business here (State Farm, U.S. Sugar, Florida Progress).

Here's hoping that in November 2010 there will be one more person added to the unemployment line: Charlie Crist.

LEE GETTER

New Port Richey

Optimism Vs. Criticism

Regarding Ginny Brown-Waite's "Getting Fooled" (Other Views, Feb.18):

Leadership and optimism expressed by our elected officials in government is what our country needs now, not criticism. Being critical of approved bailout programs as if they were someone else's is immature behavior. Her contribution during the development of these programs is in question, and politics were a component of the comments.

We elect individuals to represent us in Washington and to guide our country through perilous times. What is not needed is wasting critical time criticizing what fellow legislators have done.

ROBERT G. VANCE

Apollo Beach

JOIN DISCUSSION

The Tribune welcomes letters and e-mails from readers. The text should be original and no longer than 150 words. By making a submission, you agree the Tribune may edit the letter for length and clarity, and publish it in any medium.

Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Mail to: P.O. Box 191, Tampa, FL 33601-0191. Or e-mail without attachments: tribletters@tampatrib.com.

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