Why say no to the money?

Hurricane Idalia hammers Florida’s Big Bend, leaves Tampa Bay underwater | Aug. 30

I’m guessing all those that voted to give our governor a second term and also lost their appliances to flooding from Hurricane Idalia would love to have some of that $350 million President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act earmarked for Florida so residents could purchase energy-efficient appliances.

Unfortunately, they won’t get a nickel when they desperately need help. DeSantis turned down the money. Perhaps flood victims should call our governor and ask him why he’s playing silly political games when his constituents need his help.

Guy Boero, Palm Harbor

Upcoming Labor Day

This Labor Day, let’s give special recognition to the labor of women, in all its forms in our current time and throughout our history. It’s far too undervalued and taken for granted, and it’s vital for life and the continuation of all we hold dear.

Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach

Don’t let it happen

As we head into the crazy political season with the battle for seats in Congress and for the presidency in the 2024 election cycle, no matter where your particular views fall, far right, far left or anywhere in between, realize this: Candidates who indicate they will refuse to budge from their positions lead to nothing happening and a dysfunctional government. You can see it happening now in Congress.

However, candidates who hold similar views as yours but are willing to work and negotiate with the other side help create balanced legislation. While any particular piece of legislation might not be exactly what you want, it does move the country forward. And over time, as others join with similar positions, the country’s laws will move accordingly.

A member of Congress who insists that certain legislation must be their way or not at all may sound appealing, but it does not help either your agenda or the country in the long run. A dysfunctional government is exactly what enemies of our country want. Don’t let it happen.

E. Seward, Odessa

Telling it like it is

Kitchen table issues | Cartoons, Aug. 31

Cartoonist Lisa Benson’s truthful depiction of families in utter fear of their kitchen table issues is bang on. Her cartoon points out in her graphthe out-of-control domestic issues all American families are experiencing. The faces of the family depict their state of shock over their close-to-home fears of runaway inflation, gas prices, crime, border crisis and failing schools.

Thank you for publishing Benson, for she is different from most political cartoonists. She traditionally tells it like it is.

Dale Kimball, Wesley Chapel

Bidenomics

Much has been said and written about how Bidenomics isn’t working. I believe if we got rid of the Trump-era tax cuts this would all change.

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Food for thought?

Arthur Harris, Clearwater

Tyranny of the minority

Our Founding Fathers were concerned that democracy could lead to a situation where a government would gain just over half of the popular vote and then would ignore minority rights. To avoid the “tyranny of the majority,” they created the electoral college and a two-bodied legislative branch, with House seats apportioned by population and two Senate seats awarded for every state, regardless of population. Unfortunately, clever gerrymandering has given rise to a Congress that has been hijacked by the “freedom” party and the interests of the less-populated states. Did the framers intend for a resident of South Dakota to have greater power than one who lives in Los Angeles?

As a result, we are governed by politicians who advocate for positions opposed by the vast majority of citizens. For instance, almost two-thirds of Americans disagree with the Supreme Court reversal of Roe v. Wade, and over 70% of Americans are in favor of stricter background checks for gun ownership, yet Congress refuses to ensure a woman’s right to choose or pass gun safety regulations. In recent months, one senator — just one — is blocking the confirmation of senior military commanders, potentially harming military preparedness.

In other words, we are experiencing a “tyranny of the minority.”

Richard C. Horowitz, Palm Harbor