A nod to poll workers

This year, I was afforded the opportunity to work for the first time as an equipment technician with the Martin County Supervisor of Elections Office in the August primary and the November general elections, along with four days of early voting in October and on Nov. 1.

The experience was rewarding and exhausting and is one I look forward to doing again. Contrary to what many believe, it is a paid position, not a voluntary one — although I did “volunteer” to be considered for the job.

Kudos to Vicki Davis, supervisor of elections, and to Kherri Anderson, deputy of elections outreach, for their professionalism and courtesy in training workers.

I also was fortunate to work alongside enthusiastic and friendly team members, at the Palm City library, where I was assigned during early voting and at the Woman’s Club, where I was stationed on primary and general election days.

My job as equipment technician was to open and close ballot boxes and to supervise and verbally assist voters with submitting their ballots (without my touching the ballots) into an electronic scanner. It was a pleasure to deal with members of the general public who, with only a rare exception, were pleasant and easy to assist.

I fully intend to be available for the same position should the need arise in 2023 for poll workers; and including 2024 when races heat up, especially in the race for president.

I urge anyone who is interested (especially retirees) to consider applying for the job of poll worker (several other positions will be available) by contacting either Vicki Davis or Kherri Anderson at 772-288-5637 in the coming years.

Elon Musk gets Donald Trump call right

Hooray for Elon Musk allowing former President Donald Trump back on Twitter, although the president has his own social media company.

The woke mob is filled with hate and now its resentment and vitriol are beyond measure because Musk took this action. Twitter belongs to him and he has the right to allow anybody he chooses to participate, just as the previous owner made the choice to kick various users off Twitter.

Many Democrats are filled with unreasonable anger and hatred, especially toward anyone who doesn’t agree with them. Their constant bragging about being tolerant is laughable. The liberals have brought America to the brink of financial ruin and international shame. 

The remarks posted on the internet by Democrats manifest a lack of class and tolerance on their part. They certainly are not an example I would want my grandchildren to follow

There is a cost to new developments

Regarding the unanimous vote to spanpprove more high-density housing at 43rd Avenue and 13th Street Southwest in Indian River County:

The developer promised other upgrades to infrastructure further away from the site “at no cost to the county,” according to Development Chief Ryan Sweeney. “So those will be straight donations.”

No cost?

These upgrades will do nothing to ease the traffic congestion, especially while they are under construction. The water table, the river, the schools and the roads, which are already overburdened, can’t handle all this new development.

More high-income housing without any new low-income housing in sight.

So, all the new services that these people require, will also require people to provide them and they most likely will have a hard time finding a local place to buy or rent.

I had to run a two-mile errand last week and it took 45 minutes. Good thing there’s no cost.

Vote on the merits of a bill

Why was the sole focus of this election the control of Congress? 

Are we, as a nation, at the point where we expect our elected officials to have no minds of their own, and mindlessly vote at the direction of their party leaders? A razor thin majority in either house should not preclude the stopping of an agenda. 

If our leaders had any integrity, they would consider every bill on its merits, and vote with the best interests of their constituents at heart. Term limits or a third party would seem the only way forward.

Critical race theory is ‘true history’

Regarding the Nov. 16 article “Conservatives’ school board push falters,” there is a picture of mostly white parents holding signs protesting critical race theory.

How shameful of them to feature two Black children with the same signs up front. Those two children do not understand critical race theory, which is probably true of many of the adults. 

After World War II, returning soldiers had the benefit of the GI Bill to help them with education and economic prosperity. That is history. Critical race theory goes on to explain that those benefits were not available to returning Black soldiers (see this spanrticle by Erin Blakemore).

Put the blame where it belongs — be it the bill’s author, the white administration, the Legislature or the armed forces.

What matters is this is true history. This is what critical race theory is.

Strive to build a more perfect Union

Recently there has much discussion in our country regarding how we should view American culture and tradition. 

Traveling back in time has been a popular sci-fi device and often portrays the ability to create change. With that said, should we become alert to what is occurring in the Ukraine and direct our concern and energy toward President Vladimir Putin’s underlying intent? 

Perhaps it is the beginning of a return to the former Soviet Union. This would represent a prime example of what “building back better” may constitute: a return to a time in which their citizens were victimized and/or prosecuted if total allegiance to the ruling party was not accepted in daily life.

From the beginning, our country hailed the concept of forming “a more perfect Union” as a grand endeavor always striving to move forward for the benefit of all.  

Don’t blame global warming on our elders

The epitome of the blame game has made its way into comic strips. The younger generation points fingers at parents because climate dysfunctions are ravaging the planet!

A look behind the curtain of time shows when hunter gatherers settled in large interdependent groups, the law of supply and demand for what your neighbor had was birthed. The resulting industrial revolution produced more carbon emissions than did livestock poop. Leisure time prodded population growth, adding to envied goods and demands.

Whippersnappers can blame carbon emissions on their parents or grands, but where would they be if their elders were not equipped to care for the youngsters from conception to enlightenment?

It is illogical to blame the ad man for exploiting the coveting of your neighbors’ possessions. Satisfaction of envy  is driving Earth’s top predators to self destruction. Unresolved envy expedites our breaking point. As you travel life’s twisting roads, keep your eyes on the doughnut, not on the hole!