Treasure Coast must condemn antisemitism

The Justice and Honor Committee of First Presbyterian Church, Vero Beach applauds this news orgspannizspantion’s coverspange of recent spanntisemitic spanttspancks on fellow Americans and our democracy on the Treasure Coast.

One might assume that in 2023 we as a people have grown beyond leaving hate-filled message bags on homeowners’ driveways. Sadly, we would be wrong. As law enforcement and the ADL tells us, some still find enjoyment in distributing hate intended to demonize any group not resembling their own. And such incidences are rising.

The Justice and Honor Committee of First Presbyterian Church strongly condemns the actions of those spreading hate propaganda on our doorsteps. We stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters, and all who are victimized simply because they do not look, act or worship the same as others.

As Christians, our mandate comes from Jesus of Nazareth who said: “Love one another, as I have loved you.” We have decided to choose love.

As Americans, our mandate is reflected a pledge often recited: “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Thank you, Press Journal, and Josephine Gon for the sober reminder: “Our democracy is threatened when hate becomes normalized. This is not a Jewish problem to solve. This is an American problem to solve.” We intend to help in finding a solution.

Our View:Trespansure Cospanst victimized by growing stench of hspante; here’s whspant we cspann do

A big question:Are Floridspan lspanwmspankers turning un-Americspann on court spanccess for lspannd-use cspanses?

Rick Scott’s decision-making questionable

Watch out whenever and for whatever reason, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott proposes an action.

As a resident of Florida since 1990, I have seen the damage Scott did when governor.

Two examples: He declined a significant sum of money from the federal government to support construction of a high-speed train service in the right-of-way of the Florida toll road in the center of the state, where it belonged. The result is all of the coastal cities are now trying to cope with the imposition of such a high-speed system on top of existing rail systems along the coast.

Another example of Scott interference: He, as Florida governor, declined significant federal support for Medicaid. Most states accepted. The result is people who need Medicaid have difficulty paying for it.

So, again, if Scott recommends anything, hang onto your wallets.

Removing Clemente book from school absurd

I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, rooting for the Brooklyn Dodgers. They used to do spring training in Vero Beach.

New York ruled baseball back in the 1950s and early 1960s (Yankees, Giants, Dodgers). Everyone knew Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates was one of the very best baseball players of all time.

So now, a book about the late great Clemente has been removed from libraries in some Florida public schools.

Clearly, this is absurd.

All Floridians should call out this idiocy.

Wake up, Florida!

Politics:DeSspanntis dooms Dems; unicorn, lespandership wspany bspanck, ex-Trespansure Cospanst reps sspany | Opinion

More:Don’t let pro-growth forces win bspanttle for Mspanrtin County’s soul by defspanult | Opinion

Abolish Electoral College? Be careful what you ask for

I am wondering if those who want the Electoral College abolished realize that New York City has more residents than 39 states have.

This means those in the less-populous states would essentially be without any vote in presidential campaigns without the Electoral College. We could hold elections in the four most populous states: California, New York, Texas and Florida, and not bother in the other states.

It would also be possible to hold the elections in California and New York, since the population in those two states would overwhelm the rest of the United States. Those other states would save a lot of money! Think of the good we could accomplish: More immigration, more affordable housing, welfare for many more, and so forth.

If we did away with the Electoral College, this could be the result: When our population votes that, for example, women could no longer vote, or Caucasians could not vote, or Asians could not vote, or college graduates could not vote, it might be legal. We may have to do some fine-tuning and adjustments to many laws on the books, but the majority would have spoken.

Majority rules. Mob rule; some say mobocracy. The definition of democracy in many political science circles is: “Three wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner.”

Be awakened from woke propaganda.

Wasn’t it Marcus Tullius Cicero who cautioned us that “those who do not know history remain children”?

If you blame Biden for eggs, slap some blame on DeSantis

Since so many people blame Joe Biden for the price of eggs and gas, I would like to place the blame for my almost $5,000 increase in home insurance (I have a new metal roof and am not in a flood zone) on Ron DeSantis.

How many of his constituents will lose their homes over this abomination? But keep going after those “woke” corporations like Disney. That is so beneficial to — oh, that’s right — no one!

DeSantis good; folks not flocking to Florida for communism

I love reading the letters in this newspaper. There are so many opinions and judgements that can invoke anger, disagreement and befuddlement.

The latter is mine when I read that Gov. Ron DeSantis is marching us toward communism or he is a fascist because he doesn’t bow to the Disney empire. Remember, that big mouse espoused a false narrative about a fictitious “don’t say gay” bill. Having school books that promote closing prisons, queer theory and teaching sexual preferences to 7-year-olds is a step away from a dysfunctional society.

But getting back to the imaginary big red scare that is happening in Florida, my question to those who are ready to take cover under a school desk or in a backyard underground bomb shelter is, when and how have your freedoms been revoked? Has anyone asked for your “papers” while traveling? Were you allowed to vote in the last election without coercion? Does my favorite restaurant and bar still have an early bird special and happy hour? The suppositions are endless.

I believe Gov. DeSantis is doing a fabulous job. He kept our schools and businesses open during a pandemic, which many states now wish they had followed.

There is an unprecedented migration (legal) into Florida by people from all throughout the country. I don’t think they’re relocating here in search of a new Soviet Union.

Beware DeSantis, Chicken Little fable

When the sky hits your head like a big piece of lie, remember the Chicken Little fable!

Ron DeSantis is the fox who devoured all the fowl marching to warn authorities of the pending disaster.

If the ambitions of DeSantis are not stopped by voter defeat in Florida, he will rule the nation as he dictates legislation to his Congress and appoints figures of authority beholding to his rule. He grinds away at all citizens the GOP base would deny constitutional rights. He reminds me of a 21st century godfather!

Republicans, in majority of the federal House of Representatives, gleefully proclaim we will investigate the investigators. Beware the fox appointing his “yes cadre,” building his own armed forces, while spending tax dollars like manna! Our pretender to the presidency is feathering his own nest and, like a brown-headed cowbird, laying his eggs in your nest.

Thanks to citizens Scott Francis and Dan Whisman whose opinions questioning DeSspanntis were printed Feb. 16.

Governing by special session wasteful, unnecessary, harmful.

Gov. Ron DeSantis calls multiple special sessions, costing Florida taxpayers about $100,000 a day, and many ask why. It would make sense to get the work done during a regular legislative session, and be far less expensive.

However, it’s a way to quickly pass legislation that may be unpopular or self-serving, leaving little time to consider or hear opposing viewpoints. Voters have given DeSantis a Republican supermajority that will do — so far — anything he says.

Special rules apply to special sessions. Time frames for notices of bills are reduced to hours, the number of committee hearings for bills is reduced to one, etc.

Passing bills faster with fewer hearings in committee makes it easier to turn a bad bill into a bad law.

This governor may have won his 2022 election decisively. However, according to some recent polls, fewer than 30% of Floridians actually approve of his draconian reforms to education, voting rights and reproductive rights. Few voters want to see intimidation tactics at the polls, and even fewer support banning books from public and school libraries.

Other examples: Parents do not want their students denied access to Advanced Placement credits. No one wants research grants declined, or to lose access to federal financial aid because of DeSantis’ cultural wars on academia. After decades of improving the reputations and performance of Florida’s institutions of higher learning, this governor’s “War on Woke” is likely to cost them their accreditation.

These losses are too high a price to pay for a few headlines and “gotcha’ moments in DeSantis’ quest to live in the White House.

Cancel AP courses in name or equity? A bad signal?

This newspaper and the Wall Street Journal carried stories about a school district canceling Advanced Placement courses in the name of achieving “equity.” This is not the first time.

This leads me to wonder whether this “equity” project ought to include athletics as well. Should interscholastic athletic teams be required to accept and play the less able? As it stands, just because I want to be quarterback doesn’t guarantee I will be. 

The current situation is meritocracy. The best athlete with quarterback skills gets to be the quarterback. How about cheerleaders? Should schools be required to include all students who want to be on the cheerleading squad and allow them to participate fully and equally? Or should schools continue to provide equality of opportunity?

Of course many will argue that “sports are different.” But wouldn’t we be better served to aim for equality of opportunity that allows anyone with the ability and who puts in the effort to try to attain excellence in the classroom as well? This would include providing support for those who want it. 

But in the end, some will achieve excellence and some won’t. This would seem to be a lesson that young people (and their parents) should learn in the classroom as well as on the athletic field. If they don’t learn it during their school careers, they are likely to learn it painfully in the world of work, where excellence and achievement are most often rewarded while mediocrity and failure are treated appropriately.

Future Floridians will reap what DeSantis has sown

Now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has created new laws, revised old ones and is manipulating the state Constitution to somehow centralize all the state’s powers in his office, I wonder if his supporters have considered what will happen after he leaves office.

Those laws will be in effect for all future governors, regardless of party affiliation, political philosophies or aspirations. It brings to mind some old sayings:

“Be careful what you wish for.”

“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

Euphemisms distort American’s reality

Words shape how we think and perceive a topic of interest.

An illegal alien who broke the law becomes an “undocumented citizen.”

“President George Bush’s war in Afghanistan became President Barack Obama’s “overseas contingent operation.” Change a word and end a war?

Global warming is now “climate change,” which tells us the climate is constantly changing.

My favorite: Juveniles who commit crimes are now “justice involved youths!”

One piece of recent legislation that passed is entitled the Inflation Reduction Act. The title leads one to believe inflation will be reduced by passing a new law. After taking a deeper dive into this euphemistically titled act, one discovers in the 2,000-page document, it has nothing to do with reducing inflation.

One notable example contained in the document puts price controls on critically needed research and development. This is a disincentive to free enterprise markets. Competition, supply and demand has been successful in reducing the cost of goods for more than 200 years. It has led the citizens of our country to lead in standard of living and rewards those with innovative ideas.

To use euphemistic terms labeling a law that can adversely affect our economy is nothing more than deception at the highest level. Is it no wonder the public has lost faith with those elected to protect and “build back better!”