Help choose Letter of the Month
Letters to the editor offer a significant contribution to the discussion of public policy and life in Tampa Bay. To recognize some of that work by our most engaged readers, the Times will select a letter of the month and the writers will be recognized at the end of the year.
Help us choose from the nominations for letter of the month for December 2014 by visiting the website listed below by Monday. Read through the three letters and vote on the ballot at the bottom of the web page. We will choose the finalists each month based on relevance on topical issues, persuasiveness and writing style. The writer's opinion does not need to match the editorial board's opinion on the issue to be nominated. But clarity of thinking, brevity and a sense of humor certainly help.
To see the three December nominees and vote, go to www.tampabay.com/opinion.
Maintain embargo on Cuba | Dec. 30, letter
Voting bloc fuels embargo
The writer lists his 10 reasons why the United States should not lift its embargo on Cuba. Glaringly absent was the real reason for the continued embargo: the Cuban-American voting bloc. Would there still be a failed embargo after 50 years if anti-Castro Cubans did not reside and vote in Florida? The pandering on Capitol Hill and Florida is what has kept this ridiculous policy alive.
The fact that no other country recognizes this embargo on a country that is no threat to the United States should be a clue that it is a waste of time and a disservice to Cuban citizens.
Our credibility and standing in the world community has been diminished by unilateral intervention and acts of colonialism under the guise of support for democracy for too many years. Maybe President Barack Obama can continue to restore that standing with changes in policy such as these.
Ray Day, Spring Hill
Growth propels Dow to a record | Dec. 24
Oil production is the key
The Times seems intent on convincing readers that the recent improvement in the economy is due to actions of the Obama administration and the Federal Reserve. These institutions have had little effect on the economy for ordinary citizens. The forward movement has primarily been due to the increased oil and gas production in the United States as a result of fracking.
Because of fracking, oil and gas production in the United States has increased significantly in the past six years and caused OPEC to maintain its production to maintain market share. That has brought the recent drop in the price of gasoline at the pump of more than a dollar per gallon.
The increase in U.S. oil production from 2008 to October 2014 has been from 5 million barrels per day to 8.7 million, a 72 percent increase. This allowed imports of hydrocarbons to decrease 57 percent from 2008 to 2013, with the benefit to the economy of keeping more dollars at home.
Robert Deskin, St. Petersburg
Utilities
A better way on energy
I recently received my December statement from Withlacoochee River Electric and was pleasantly surprised that their Capital Credit Refund credited me with enough money so that my December bill was zero. As a cooperative member, I am privileged to be part of a company that is managed in the sole interest of its members, and retains all profit and equity for those members.
Then there are for-profit companies like Duke Energy and Florida Power & Light that buy Florida's politicians with election contributions, and the politicians who in turn appoint stooges to the Public Service Commission. This allows the for-profit utilities to charge their customers for all new facilities, built or not built, and pass on all the costs to their customers while retaining all the profits and equity for themselves.
Ken Lang, Spring Hill
Robbers spark chaos at mall | Dec. 31
Praise to salespeople, police
My wife and I were shopping at International Plaza when the jewelry store robbery took place. In an instant, there was chaos with shoppers fleeing the mall.
We wish to praise the many retail salespeople who assisted the crowds to evacuate to safety and then locked down their stores. There were other salespeople offering shoppers safe haven in their stores until the incident was fully cleared.
Praise also to the numerous Tampa police officers who arrived on the scene within minutes and safely locked down the entire mall area. Although it was a horrific experience, it was an awesome example of how the public and the police cooperated to keep everyone secure.
Bob Scher, Wimauma
Big raise in store at Pasco schools | Dec. 30
3 percent isn't a 'big' raise
As a former teacher I can tell you a 3 percent raise is not a "big" raise. The overall cost of living in Florida is rated lower than the national average, but where you decide to put down roots makes a big difference. Housing, food, energy and medical care all cost more along the coasts of the state.
A truck driver delivering gravel and dirt makes more money per day than a teacher with 10 years of teaching experience and a master's degree. So do not tell us that 3 percent is a big raise.
James White, Clearwater
How to undo the damage | Dec. 31, letter
Sensible steps
This letter was on the money. These steps could improve life for all U.S. citizens. The truth is our elected officials do not want to undo the damage; they are the problem. Party politics is not for the people, it's for corporate America.
Ernie Cline, Palm Harbor