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Saturday's letters: Put focus on nation's needs, not morals

 
Published May 29, 2015

More help needed for poor areas and A majority says soak the rich | May 10

Put focus on needs, not morals

This month in the Perspective section, two articles held my interest: the Times editorial More help needed for poor areas and the item A majority says soak the rich. A few years ago I would have raised a fist and shouted, "Right on!" Now I'm not so sure either measure would help in solving the complex problems facing the country. Before significant improvement can be made, we need to clearly define the operating parameters for governmental legislation.

After World War II the government concentrated on concrete issues of developing the country's infrastructure and returning a wartime economy to domestic production. The government focused precious resources on building roads, railroads, water and electrical distribution, housing and educational benefits for returning servicemen. The country grew and prospered.

At the same time moral issues like abortion, capital punishment, birth control and premarital sex were debated in churches and within families, not in the government. When moral issues are codified into law, a theocracy is born and diversity of thought vilified. To move the country forward, this practice needs to end before we become an American version of Sunnis and Shiites.

Chuck Sackett, Valrico

Scholarships don't hurt public schools May 27, commentary

Progress in Pinellas

I read with great interest Frank Peterman Jr.'s column on the need for resources to support African-American students in Pinellas County. His respected service to this community lends a valued perspective.

Pinellas County schools are seeing steady gains in black student achievement thanks to strategic planning, diligent action and community support. According to the Florida Department of Education, the 2012 Pinellas graduation rate of African-American males was 45.62 percent. By 2014, the rate increased nearly 10 percentage points to 55.26 percent. Pinellas saw an overall black graduation rate of 60.73 percent in 2014. For the first time in years, the overall graduation rate in Pinellas County of 76.2 percent surpassed the state graduation rate. The dropout rate in Pinellas for 2014 was 2.1 percent, the lowest among the nine largest Florida districts.

While we recognize these improvements, we must still be relentless. As superintendent, I will not rest or be satisfied until every student in Pinellas County earns a high school diploma.

We are also increasing access to rigorous coursework. In 2002, 100 black students took at least one Advanced Placement college-level exam. In 2014, the number was 449. In the 2010-11 school year, 134 black students participated in dual enrollment college courses. This school year, 246 participated. Honors course enrollment among black students increased from 4,117 courses in 2010-11 to 5,275 in 2013-14.

We are grateful to the community's involvement with our Bridging the Gap Strategic Plan to close the black achievement gap, especially the support from the faith-based community. I agree with Frank Peterman: Children in Pinellas County need our collective help. We look forward to more community members being a part of the solution.

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D., superintendent, Pinellas County schools, Largo

Solar power

We can do better

Let's suspend for a moment the arguments about global warming, whether it's really happening and whether or not man is contributing. Focus instead on the amount of waste we generate each day burning fossil fuels to commute, to generate electricity, to move goods and for industry.

The United States, as of 2010, led the world in carbon dioxide emissions at 17.56 metric tons, with Russia at 12.23 and China at 6.19. The majority of those emissions come from generating electricity, then transportation, industry and other sources. Burning fossil fuels not only produces carbon dioxide but many pollutants that cause lung diseases and even pollute our fish with mercury.

Isn't that enough reason to look for alternate fuel sources such as solar? You would think that the Sunshine State would be the "Solar State," but California leads the nation in solar use. We can do better, and must do better, if we hope to stop polluting ourselves off this planet.

Joe Yarborough, St. Petersburg

U.S. case slams FIFA | May 28

Millions vs. billions

Millions of dollars in FIFA corruption leads to arrests and charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering. Billions of dollars in Wall Street corruption leads to bonuses and golden parachutes. Isn't this a great country?

Ronald Frase, Largo

Widen the net

How very interesting. The Justice Department has indicted FIFA organizers with corruption for "shopping" for bribes to influence what nation earns the prestigious World Cup.

Should I expect a similar probe into elected officials at the federal and state level? Our elections are won by the candidates with the deepest pockets via contributions. Since "corporations" are now legally "people," with pockets far deeper than individuals, they can and do purchase our elected officials.

Does anyone else see the irony in the FIFA story?

Christel Vinson, Clearwater