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Vote for July's letter of the month

 
Published Aug. 2, 2016

Editor's note: 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. 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 and brevity certainly help.

Help us choose the letter of the month for July by reading through the three nominated letters and voting on the ballot at the bottom of the web page.

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DNC emails show hostility toward Sanders | July 24

Parties need to earn our votes

After 28 years, I left the Democratic Party. On Friday (before I learned of the email leaks), I changed my voter registration to the Green Party. Early in the primary election, it became apparent that the process was rigged. The email leaks merely proved it.

I realize that a lot of Democrats and Republicans are scared right now. I'm scared too. But we can't continue to keep our heads in the sand and trust that everything will be okay. The recession in 2008 showed us that our nation's perceived prosperity was an illusion. The economic conditions for the average American are worse now than at any time since the Great Depression, while at the same time, wealthy Americans are prospering from the second-longest bull run in the history of the stock market.

Since the inception of our nation, we have elected the wealthiest citizens to rule over the rest of us. Truth be told, most politicians don't really care about helping the poor, no matter how much they preach about it. During the Democratic convention, you'll hear Hillary Clinton reading from a teleprompter about a rigged economy and systemic racism, and she'll use the word "progressive" about a dozen times. She'll merely be reading the words of the best speechwriters in the business. They won't be her words, opinions or thoughts.

Often, we vote for a party simply because we consider ourselves conservative, liberal, pro- this or anti- that. For the sake of our children, grandchildren and all future generations, we need to stop doing that. The Republican and Democratic parties don't own our vote; they need to earn our vote.

Jason Kofender, Land O'Lakes

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Enough of failure | July 17, letter

Candidate with record of success

This letter sums it up. The typical politicians have done nothing positive; the unconventional Donald Trump is an obvious alternative.

A little "rough around the edges"? Yes. A little politically incorrect? Yes. But Trump is a successful businessman who knows how to win, and no doubt also knows how to listen and take the advice of experts when needed. This is what the country needs now.

The country needs someone with an overall history of business success who does not give up on his passions and who loves his country.

No, I don't approve of some of the verbiage and campaign rhetoric, but in the big scheme of things, did he accomplish the desired result? Yes. We see him as a non-politician. As president, will he also put forth the same passion and dedication to resolve the problems of this country? I think so.

Carol Carter, Spring Hill

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Graham's persistence pays off | July 18, editorial

Graham owed a nation's thanks

Ideologically, I was not always on the same page as Bob Graham, whether he was serving as our governor or as our senator. Nevertheless, I always had — and still have — the utmost respect for him. As someone who no longer has any skin in the game (in other words, he is not running for office), I admire the fact that he is dogged in his efforts to ensure that we all know what connection, if any, the Saudis had to the 9/11 attacks. His motives are pure, and that is something we do not often see in these times.

I long for the days when the likes of Bob Graham walked the halls of Congress.

Bruce Barnes, Safety Harbor