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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 22, 2009

The Horrors Of FCAT
At least this year my son didn't throw up before he walked through the gates of school to face the FCAT. But he lay awake nights, worrying.

His school had Saturday writing camps and after-school reading camps, with teachers working many extra hours to cram advanced curricula and test-taking techniques into children who clearly were not ready for them. Even if the test scores are good, was the effort worth the cost? The pressure will generate more children who hate school and think they're stupid when the failure really lies with the education system.

Cap this off with the fact that state officials cut back on testing, not by suspending the arbitrary and capricious FCAT, but by eliminating a standardized test that would have measured Florida kids' achievement against a national yardstick. Why would anyone kill that test and spend more to keep a state test riddled with problems?

I hope parents and teachers opposed to the FCAT will deluge state lawmakers and the governor with letters and phone calls to get the message across.

SUSAN GREEN

Balm

A Solution For Economy

Since the source of the current economic crisis is the continual decline of the residential real estate market, if we could get this decline to stop, the foreclosures would stop, banks would be saved, and the economy would recover.

Consider allowing the entire PITI (Principle, Interest, Tax and Insurance) to be a federal tax deduction on all residential real estate for a three-year period, to be renewed on a fourth year and beyond as needed (to be eventually phased out over a few years after the recovery).

This would increase the value of every home in the country and have a ripple effect:

• This will encourage investors to jump into the market and buy homes before they are foreclosed upon, increasing demand and therefore increasing the value of all properties.

• This will give some of those in trouble with their mortgages an opportunity to salvage their homes, as they will have more money as a tax deduction, and their homes will gain in value.

• This will reward those who have been responsible with their finances and provide them with more expendable income to add to the economy.

• This will end the devaluation of real estate and therefore help save our banks.

• This may eliminate the need to write multibillion-dollar checks to failing institutions.

• This may allow our kids and grandchildren to grow up without an incredible debt over their heads.

While this may not be the entire solution, it seems a better solution than actions to date.

STEVE TONER

Tampa

Save The Bugs

As a visiting Californian, I was gratified to read your Sunday BayLife article on vegetable gardening, with emphasis on the use of green principles and practices. It was very well organized and full of good suggestions on keeping your garden "green," which many of us on the West Coast take very seriously.

I have to say that I was, however, disturbed and disappointed in the approach toward garden insects. The endorsement of a "Good Bug, Bad Bug" policy is obviously extremely judgmental and fails to recognize the concept that all insects, regardless of the level or nature of their contribution to the welfare of the garden, are entitled to nourishment. Further, identification of types of insects as "bad" constitutes insect profiling, which we consider abhorrent.

You might be interested in following the progress of a bill a large number of us are supporting, AB 1086, through the California Legislature. The "Dignity of All Insect Species Act," when enacted and signed by our governor, will require that all growers, both backyard and commercial, provide sufficient crops in their gardens and fields for the sustenance of all insect species in order to ensure we do not suffer the loss of a single aphid. We are hoping Florida's legislature will soon follow suit.

DON YOKUM

Ventura, Calif.

Path Toward Destruction

Regarding "Wal-Mart To Digitize Health Info" (Business, March 16):

The Obama administration is intent on centralizing and computerizing health care information, doctors' records, etc. Computerizing such information is, of course, an excellent idea - one that many medical offices and most hospitals are already implementing. The problem arises when we consider centralizing these records in the hands of a government agency. Government collection and control of personal information is one more step toward a collectivist dictatorship of one flavor or another.

In offering computerization of medical records, private enterprise, in the form of Wal-Mart, has taken a step ahead of the government. It should take the second step - to place the information in the hands of the patients by providing them an inexpensive memory chip containing all of their medical records, updated with each doctor's visit. This would remove the information from the government bureaucracy and place it in the hands of the patient.

A government that increases itself by the assumption of responsibilities and their corresponding power, rather than decreasing itself by returning all possible responsibilities and corresponding power to the people, is on the road to destruction from within.

JOHN COOLEY

Zephyrhills

Badge Of Shame

I am extremely disappointed with Florida's senators and representatives after reading the list of federal earmarks for the state. It may be a great idea in other times to track migration of fish, for example. But to fund that at this time in lieu of providing food for homeless people, public-works jobs that put people to work and funds going to the school system to keep classes being scheduled and teachers being hired doesn't make sense.

Any earmarks not focused on those issues should be a badge of shame for our legislators who championed them. And there is a lot of shame to go around. What planet are these people on?

I see no difference between those giveaways and the banks giving huge bonuses to the same executives who ran their companies so badly. Enough!

DIANE COLLINS

Tampa

Local School Control

The hard-working Florida citizen will know the state is serious about finding monies to keep the state afloat when they see all state agencies cut back staffing and benefits.

In fact, let's follow the example of the Washington governor in dismissing every advisory board, council and agency that could not prove its worth.

For Florida, I'd say the first to go would be the Department of Education. All America prides itself in local control of schools, and Florida is certainly no exception. I'm sure the millions and millions saved could be easily allocated directly into the hands of hardworking teachers - exactly where it belongs.

WAYNE DOZARK

Tampa

Last Picture Show?

Regarding "Some Say Medians Turn Away Business" (front page, March 14):

After 57 years, "traffic safety" is coming courtesy of the soon-to-be-built shopping center and the state Department of Transportation. The crossovers on U.S. 41 will be closed at the entrance and exit of the Ruskin Drive-In Theatre. You will travel south to a traffic light with no arrow to stop oncoming traffic while you attempt a U-turn. To exit, travel north one-half mile to make a U-turn in an unlit area.

Our drive-in operates at night. We generate no daytime traffic. We are not the problem.

Crossover closings, according to DOT, reduce accidents around 50 percent. Do these accidents move to the next crossover? Traffic congestion has to get worse at the next turn.

Hello traffic safety; goodbye drive-in.

JOHN T. FREIWALD

Ruskin

Right To Expression

Regarding "Ex-GOP Committeewoman Ends Bid To Regain The Seat" (Metro, March 14):

I'm sorry to see Carol Carter give up her fight to be reinstated. The e-mail she sent was no cause for her to be fired. It was simply her opinion, sent to a co-worker. Nothing more, nothing less. This is still a wonderful country we reside in, where "freedom of expression," supposedly, still exists.

I'm a European American, and I'll continue saying what I feel in my heart is true. If someone dislikes it, too damn bad for them.

WILLIAM H. GOLDMAN

Land O' Lakes

Revenue Streams

Regarding increasing the cigarette tax:

It may backfire. People will stop smoking, and the revenue will dry up.

It takes 20 or 30 years for someone to kill themselves by smoking, but on the other hand, it only takes a few beers for a drunk driver to kill a few people on a daily basis or cause millions of dollars in medical costs to repair broken bodies and property damage.

I would suggest the morons we have elected consider passing a tax of $1 for every can/glass of beer sold, and the revenue will last forever.

GLORIA BRACK

Ridge Manor

Cut Mail Delivery

Regarding "Mailbox Economics:" (March 16):

While I congratulate acting Postmaster Michael Figlia and the postal service for all their efforts to run a more efficient service, it is clearly time to stop Saturday delivery. Major reduction in vehicle use, maintenance, (imported) fuel and labor obviously equal less cost.

And for the Greenies, let's not forget the reduction in greenhouse gasses.

JAMES MOLLOY

Pinellas Park

A Vivid Story

Regarding "Do The Homeless Count? Census Taker Tries To Get Accurate Tally" (March 14):

I am an avid reader who enjoys your paper. I would like to tell you that the article by Mary Kelley Hoppe was fantastic! She is an excellent writer.

Your paper is a platform for such talented artists like her. She painted a picture with words that was so real the reader can actually feel the pain of the homeless.

Please tell her how good she is.

KIMBERLY R. WHITE

Thonotosassa

Leave Jeter Alone

I have been reading the Tampa Trib my entire life, and I am disappointed how far the paper has fallen in reporting the news. But to invade Derek Jeter's privacy by putting news of his new home on the front page has taken the Trib to a new low.

I have never met Mr. Jeter, but from what I hear, you cannot meet a nicer person. He has chosen Tampa as his home and deserves the same respect for his private life as any citizen. Did it occur to the editor who gave the green light for front-page exposure that due to Mr. Jeter's status some nut might want to get close and chummy? Decisions like this make it perfectly clear why the Trib is on its way to the graveyard for newspapers.

JIM CORNWELL

Tampa

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.

Also, read and participate in the Tribune editorial board's blog, "Thinking Out Loud," at www.tboblogs.com/index.php/thinkoutloud/categories....

The writer is the owner of United Country-Florida Coastal Real Estate and a member the Realtors Land Institute. The writer is owner of the Ruskin Drive-In Theatre.

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