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Sunday's letters: Threat of entitlement cuts was predictable

 
Published Oct. 19, 2018

Last year Republicans in Congress passed a tax cut even though all predictions were it would produce a trillion dollar deficit. That deficit is now looming and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the solution is to cut entitlements, namely Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Although tax cuts seem to be the rallying cry for the Republicans, the United States worker is not highly taxed. According to the 2015 report of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the tax burden on the average U.S. worker ranks 24th out of the 36 member states. And we have had a tax cut since then.

Social Security and Medicare are programs most of us have paid into for our entire working lives and continue to pay into. This is money we have lent to the government with the promise of a return in our later years. We are entitled to those benefits just as a bank is entitled to get back money it lends to customers.

Perhaps most important here is that many seniors are fully dependent on these benefits and a reduction would have serious consequences for their health and well being.

Barry Kreiling, Brooksville

Schedules, fares, docks set for ferry | Oct. 17

Connecting the transit dots

Reading two stories in the Times this week, I shake my head in wonder. First, it was announced that the Cross-Bay Ferry is returning but that it is now solely a pleasure cruise in the late afternoon and evenings. All the progress that was made developing the ferry service as a legitimate cross-bay transit option is gone. There is much more going on in downtown Tampa and St Pete besides recreation. Job growth is big.

Then came the news about a crash on the Howard Frankland Bridge that backed up traffic into Tampa. How many people were going to the airport and got caught in yet another major traffic jam?

Regions situated on major bodies of water like Tampa Bay have had legitimate commuter ferry services for decades. What do we get? A publicly subsidized ferry for dinners and events, with the voyage times slated when the bridges are least crowded and less prone to back-ups.

What is going on, Tampa Bay?

Jeannie Cline, St. Petersburg

Exceptions for election | Oct. 19

Scott acts in self-interest

I find it laughable and sad that Rick Scott would extend voting times for the people of the panhandle. Everyone knows that area of the state is largely Republican. If the area was largely Democrat you can bet that he would not have done so. It's clear to me that he is clearly doing this for himself and Ron DeSantis.

He is showing us what a horrible choice he would be for the Senate because he would only vote in a partisan way. Bill Nelson has shown that he will cross party lines for the good of real Floridians.

James Harazin, St. Petersburg

Importance of vaccines

Grandma, get your shots

Grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren and are always searching for ways to leave a lasting impact on them. Ensuring there are armed with vaccinations and booster shots is a perfect way to do so.

Many adults aren't even aware of which vaccines and booster shots are available to them. Hundreds of thousands of U.S. adults die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases. Grandparents, especially, should guard themselves from these diseases to ensure a long, happy life.

Immunizations are important for seniors to help prevent diseases such as shingles or influenza and even more important if grandchildren are too young to be vaccinated. Vaccinations can also save money by avoiding extra doctor visits.

Ensuring seniors are up to date on recommended vaccinations is smart, safe and can help them maintain a lifestyle they love. Let's help our seniors leave a lasting legacy by ensuring everyone is current on all vaccinations.

Conwell Hooper, Atlanta

The writer is executive director of the nonprofit American Senior Alliance.

Tampa Bay Rays stadium

Big investment, big payoff

Baseball has a long, important and influential heritage in our community. To continue that heritage we are facing a choice to build an innovative and beautiful ballpark to house the Tampa Bay Rays. The proposed ballpark is a daring and visionary design that promotes year-round activity, inclusiveness, and neighborhood interaction. It will energize the growth of the district, elevate the planning of transportation options, create jobs, and become a center for healthy neighborhood and social activity. Even more importantly, it will offer generations of baseball fans a chance to wear our Rays gear, bring our mitts to the games in hopes of catching a ball, enjoy a ballpark hot dog, and experience a place where the magic of baseball comes to life!

This will be more than a ballpark — it will become a landmark with transformative influence in the future of our region. Yes it will be hard to do, but anything this integral to the growth of our community is worth the effort.

Mickey Jacob, Tampa

Felon disenfranchisement

One sentence is enough

I recently ran into two young people who have lost their right to vote because of their criminal past. They have to pay for the rest of their lives, even though they have already served their time.

I say it is high time that we give these people the right to vote once again. Many have done their time and paid a price; now it's time to forgive and forget.

We Americans for the most part are forgiving people and it is time to give back the vote for those who should be forgiven instead of handing them a life sentence of disenfranchisement.

Donald Lozon, Port Richey