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Letter to the editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2009

'Fair and balanced'

Thank God for the First Amendment, and I can choose to purchase The Tampa Tribune every day. Because of the First Amendment I chose not to purchase the other paper across the bay. That is my right.

Just because I find the Tribune more "fair and balanced" than the St. Pete Times doesn't mean that they should be shut down or not allowed their opinions.

This ridiculous fight between the White House and Fox reminds me of the segment on "Saturday Night Live" when Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtain used to do "Point, Counterpoint" and Jane would end up being labeled an ignorant slut.

Fox has Hannity and Beck, MSNBC has Matthews and Olbermann; take your pick, or change the channel. If the White House is so sensitive to the criticism and hard questions asked by Fox, it won't be long before they start dodging the other networks that haven't been blackballed yet.

RAYMOND BROWN

Apollo Beach

Let Wal-Mart do it

Here's how to fix health care: Just let Wal-Mart do it. We go there for everything else. Why not medical care? At least you know they will undercut everyone else's price.

CHARLES KORMOS

Tampa

Save gopher tortoise

It is extremely important that the gopher tortoise's protection status be increased to "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.

Many developers believe that this will be catastrophic for Florida's ailing economy. Many times builders find loopholes in legislation and seal these creatures underground with development.

If these interest groups want to continue to build, they should focus on areas that are already built upon. This way, there is land for Florida's prized wildlife and still room for economic growth.

The gopher tortoise burrows provide shelter for over 300 species of invertebrates, small mammals and amphibians. Also the Florida scrub-jay uses the burrows and is a legally protected species, which adds to the tremendous value that the tortoise burrow has in the ecosystem.

Florida needs to protect its environment and gopher tortoises from rampant development.

E. HERNANDEZ

Tampa

Crew art?

Walls painted by gang members are graffiti. Walls painted by college crews are art?

DON YOUNG

Tampa

Homeless need help

I work with the homeless on a weekly basis. They were called hobos and tramps over the years, but there are a large number who are law-abiding citizens who live this way through no fault of their own.

They are U.S. citizens and under the Constitution and Bill of Rights have just as many rights as you and I do. But they're treated like lepers with a disease that must be stamped out.

I have seen firsthand how the county and the city of Tampa have treated them - trumped-up arrests, intimidation and outright criminal abuse. Every day we read about Third World countries with people who are literally starving, and our hearts go out to them. Many open up their pocketbooks and send money to help.

Isn't it time we looked in our own backyards and started helping our fellow Americans who are now in the same situation?

JEAN BATRONIE

Brandon

Ready to leave

I am disgusted with the increases in motor vehicle registration and license fees because of a state budget shortfall.

Didn't we know we were in trouble? Who was watching the budget?

Perhaps the lawmakers in Tallahassee who were elected to represent "the people" haven't heard that the economy is in the toilet. I have been unemployed for almost a year, and, along with many other Floridians, can ill afford these higher rates.

Yes, the state will get additional revenue from this, but I wonder how many more unregistered vehicles and unlicensed drivers this will add to Florida's highways.

I also wonder what will be targeted for increases next year when our budget falls short again. Sales tax? Gas tax? How far away are we from a state income tax? It's no wonder more and more people are leaving Florida every day. My family and I are not far behind.

STEVE GERENSKI

Plant City

Costs going up

We have provided health insurance for our employees since 1986. In 2004 we had to start having our employees pay 40 percent. We are soon up for renewal and find that once again we are going to have to sacrifice something else to make it more affordable for both the company and our employees.

Why is it such a battle to have what other leading countries have?

If the present trend continues, we will definitely have to give this up as we also have liability and worker's compensation and licensing costs in order to stay in business.

This country needs President Obama's heath care reform.

ELAINE ASHLINE

St. Petersburg

Get out now

Pakistan is where the "terrorists" are now. Why are we still fighting a few leftover al-Qaida in Afghanistan? Besides, no country that has attempted to fight the Afghanis has ever been victorious.

Get out now while the going is only bad.

BOB FAY

St. Petersburg

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