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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 15, 2009

Political correctness

The price for being politically correct is killing us.

You know you just might be a redneck if you have rebel flag waving from the back of your pickup truck and a bumper sticker proclaiming, "The South Will Rise Again.

But if you scream "Allahu Akbar" while killing American soldiers, you're somehow just a poor misunderstood, disturbed Muslim who was a victim of circumstances, which led him to act criminally.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the alleged shooter at Fort Hood, Texas, was already on the radical radar screen, but for some reason, he wasn't intercepted before he apparently pulled the trigger on the real victims, the brave American soldiers who gave their allegiance to protect Americans. Their duty was cut short by a jihadist on our own soil.

So I say, if he walks like a terrorist and talks like a terrorist and kills like a terrorist, do you think that just maybe he might be a terrorist?

The point is, Hasan voluntarily joined the Army and it looks like he volunteered to kill for Allah. Osama bin Laden would pin a medal on him right now if he could.

That's about how politically correct we need to be.

RAY BROWN

Apollo Beach

Chasing money

If people wonder why we are losing jobs overseas and why domestic services (like health care) cost more each day, look no farther than the federal deficit.

Government borrows internationally, pouring foreign money into our economy through government salaries, entitlements and (through "Buy American" policies) domestic goods.

Most of that money stays in the domestic economy. When more money chases the same amount of goods and services, prices go up. Foreign goods are cheap so we choose to import goods rather than make them ourselves. Manufacturing jobs disappear and are replaced with service jobs.
Deficit spending sends the wrong signals to our economy. Our manufacturing base shrinks, making it more difficult to repay our debts and diminishing our standard of living.

It is either arrogance or foolishness to assume we can fight expensive wars and finance endless bailouts without suffering. We are already paying the price; most just don't realize why.

JEREMY DAVIS

New Port Richey

The good guys?

Some of you may be surprised to learn that not all uniformed officers are the good guys.

Some jail guards will try to provoke a fight with the inmates, gratuitously make inmates submit to a body cavity search, not allow them to take their medications or refuse them access to medical care.

Criminals do not routinely view the police as their friends. Apparently, Hillsborough Deputy Sheriff Moon is a decent person and did not treat the inmates in his charge badly. Otherwise, I can assure you that the other inmates would not have come to the deputy's aid.

J. D. WRIGHT

Land O' Lakes

More health debate

I might be just a poor old retired guy who finished school long before the advent of new math, but there are some things that just don't make sense to me concerning all this talk about improving health care.

How are they going to accomplish this feat?

I'm told they are going to insure an additional 40 million people and continue all existing programs with no cuts and no additional costs.

Sounds more like magic to me than math.

Let's agree the system is a mess and needs straightening out. Many of the problems are caused by rules put in effect by the government, rules and regulations that might have made sense when enacted 60 or 70 years ago, but do they continue to have a purpose?

Such as: Companies can deduct the full cost of insurance; individuals cannot. Insurance companies don't have to compete across state lines, meaning individuals cannot always locate the best price on insurance; and too many more rules to mention here.

Now, if I understand correctly, the government doesn't want to change any of these existing rules but only add 2,000 pages of new rules.

Does this straighten out the problem or just give the government more control of our lives?

BOB ALLEN

Apollo Beach

Family assistance

I have a real issue with the assistance a family receives, or does not receive I should say, with child care assistance through the state Department of Children and Families.

I moved down to Florida with my six children in July of this year. I get assistance with food stamps and health care for my children because I couldn't find a job.

I finally became fully employed on Oct. 11. I called DCF to see if I could get help with child care for my youngest child who is 4. They told me that I have to be on welfare receiving "cash assistance" to get help.

Does anyone else feel that this is wrong on so many levels? That people who stay home and receive cash from the state are eligible for child-care help, but those of us who are working full time cannot get help with child care?

No wonder so many people aren't even looking for employment. They get everything handed to them.

Is that their fault or the state's fault?

KARA SILVA

Tampa

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