Florida lawmakers continue to erode the state’s sunshine

The public is not invited at this hotel May 25th

Good job

The Times’ recent front page report on the mysterious “closed for renovation” governor owned by a well-known GOP donor, fills up Magazine-friendly Florida politicians and staff and doesn’t read like the inevitable next chapter of Sunshine State’s ongoing Saga Backroom Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga Saga, which is full of Magazine-friendly Florida politicians and staff.

Renovations are not allowed on files, but are there many indications that national businesses are not publicly available? What a quaint thing. It is almost impressive that Florida’s anti-eyed warriors continue to shun the very sunlight they have pledged to support. But in reality, what is a bit of transparency when you’re busy saving the state from pronouns and diversity?

We thank the Tampa Bay Times for continuing to peel off the curtains, and remind us that “open government” is clearly another outdated concept of public accountability and ethical leadership. It keeps that light shining. Obviously someone has to do it.

David Berg, Tampa

Florida K-12 students benefit from school choice | Line, May 23rd

Investment, not choice

If you are investing properly in a school, you don’t need to challenge the benefits of choosing a school. The Catholic school superintendent of the Saint Petersburg parish writes in favor of school choice and supports his discussion with per student prices and test scores. Both are metrics that have broken down. The beauty of the industrialized world’s public school system is that they aim to educate everyone. They are not selective. This means that if a student has special learning needs or needs accessibility to learn, public schools should provide accessibility to do so with professionals. It’s fair, but it’s expensive. Private schools have other options. They can reject your students.

This causes the second argument to be pitched by the superintendent. Private school students test better. Standardized tests are a better indicator of student income levels, as used in the superintendent’s discussion. Families with stable income, families who can afford a tutor, and three meals a day generally score higher on any type of standardized test. Therefore, it is easy to speculate, as the manager points out, that private schools should score better. That doesn’t mean they’re superior or worthy of taxpayer funds. Instead, invest those funds in schools that teach everyone who continues to build an inclusive society of capable people, even those who choose private schools.

Brad Rosenheim, St. Petersburg

Old Leader Issues – Sadness during Churchill’s tenure last year | Line, May 24th

Older politicians

In this column, the author asks whether politicians are required to demonstrate their ability to maintain their position. Of course, we can – and should. If public safety is at risk, capacity may be required. To run a country, you need at least as much capacity as driving a car. We should not allow those who lack that ability to run our country.

Age restrictions may be difficult to impose, but ability is a non-discriminatory, non-generalized demonstration. Rather than trying to judge people they don’t know, rather than trying to judge people they have never met from thousands of miles away where the bad qualities covered by their supporters are covered, we can use professionally built competency demos that need to pass before submitting for the office. I was able to do it and need to. This test can be applied to all candidates, regardless of age.

Alain Balfour, Temple Terrace

Major Property Tax Reform Time | Column, May 25th

The other side?

As a decades-long subscriber to St. Pete Times and the current Tampa Bay Times, I’ve become accustomed to a detailed analysis of the major issues facing Floridians. Although reputation is characterized as liberal, I have found your detailed research to be fair and inferred. Where are you on this property tax issue? There was a column in the Sunday Opinion section from the Republican side of the Florida home. Where is the democratic response? Independent response? Analyzing the problem?

I believe property taxes are a critical and widely used revenue stream for funding for school systems, roads and other infrastructure needs, as well as police protection, fire prevention, government operations, safety net programs, and other government services. Am I wrong?

Paul E. Ullett, Spring Hill

More Collapse | Letters, May 25th

Fluoride works

I am a retired dentist. My husband and I practiced in Florida as a general dentist who treated children for 35 years. Coming from New York in the 1980s, I was shocked to see that the water in our community was not fluorinated. During this time we had to treat many children so badly that they had corrupted and remove their teeth. Over time, the water in our area was fluorinated. The rot of children raised on fluoride saw much less rot, including much less ramp-stretched and uncontrolled damping.

A helpful letter from Dr. Keck brought some horrific and heartbreaking memories of treating very young children with many large cavities. I am so pleased to have retired before this crazy, uneducated sentence.

Angelimeson, St. Petersburg

There are no drug ads

I write to express my concern about the broad and problematic role of consumer drug advertising on television. The US, along with New Zealand, is one of the only two countries in the world, allowing this kind of advertising, and the results are both troublesome and expensive.

These shiny commercials often feature celebrity support and emotionally recharged stories, but rarely provide a full picture of the medical conditions and drugs they promote. A notable example is the recent advertisement for Morgan Freeman, a drug that treats the rare heart disease condition, a condition of transciretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATT-CM). While Freeman’s voice gives credibility and compassion, it is important to note that ATTCM affects a small portion of the population. Advertising such a niche drug to millions of viewers is not about public health, it’s about profits.

These ads don’t just notify patients. They will drive demand for branded drugs, even when cheaper or more appropriate alternatives are available. This marketing drive has contributed to rising drug prices and is putting a burden on health systems that are already under strain. It also pressures the doctor to prescribe the medication based on the patient’s requirements rather than the clinical need.

It’s time to rethink the value and ethics of allowing pharmaceutical companies to sell directly to consumers on such a large scale. Our health should be guided by our medical expertise, not by our marketing budget.

Andrew Hanno, St. Petersburg

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