Letters and feedback: Feb. 13, 2021 – Florida Today

'Small glimmer of hope' for democracy

I was startled and delighted to read Crossing lines, Manchin endorses Murkowski by Hope Yenin FLORIDA TODAY on Feb. 7.

There appears to be a small glimmer of hope that decency and concern for the fate of our democracy can still be found in the U.S.Senate. The Founding Fathers did not include parties in the Constitution. Many of those founders hoped to avoid parties altogether. The new government was created for the benefit of the union, and it was the union, not parties, to which the members of Congresswere expected to be loyal.

Things have changed, and not for the better in that regard, which is why it was such a joy to read that these two senators put their mutual respect and their respect for the well-being of our increasingly fragile union above the pressures being placed on them by their respective political parties. Ive just become a fan of two inspiring senators whose names were unknown to me a few months ago.

Frank Merceret, Merritt Island

Im finding the gigantic fashion ads in my Sunday paper full of fancy expensive clothing andgear very demoralizing.

Our democracy depends on fairness. And in my eyes we are devolving into Singapore, with an oligarchy of the mega-richat the top, and all the rest just worker bees at the bottom.

Im personally privileged and well educated and able to enjoy a well-funded retirement but Im not blind.People around me are hurting. I feel that America is now playing with loaded dice, economically disenfranchising millions of our citizens. And then, changing the rules for voting to keep the status quo in place.

I worry that we will rue the day when real freedom was completely undermined by the upper 1% of our country, and its essential nature as an engine of ingenuity, enterprise, brilliance and success for many will be utterly compromised.

America is an idea, as much as a country. We are dangerously close to losing everything that made it a great one.

Ruth Lambert, Melbourne

Are youfrustrated?

A while ago we decided to donate to several charities to help where we could.We had no idea we were about to unleash a flood of unwanted mail upon us.

We quickly realized each charity had sold our information to many organizations who then have endlessly solicited us.Out of 10pieces of mail we receive, nine of them are solicitations.

Its apparent our USPS isnt in the business of delivering important mail, theyre in the business of delivering unwanted junk mail.Repeatedly, we get the same mail from the same organizations.

Youre likely thinking, "Whydoesnt he contact the organizations to be removed from their mailing lists? Done, and have been told they will do so immediately.We continue to get the same solicitations.Then why not write Return to Sender on it and put it back in the mailbox? Done;I was told the USPS doesnt return mail like this. Do they not realize they are spending more to send these solicitations than we have donated?

Question: With this volume of mail how can the USPS be losing so much money?

Answer: The bulk rate these organizations pay is so inexpensive that it incentivizes them to continue with these unwanted marketing programs.

Solution: Eliminate the bulk rates and have them pay what we do? It might even mean over time that our USPS can achieve a break-even operation.

Gary Doyle, Indialantic

House Bill 747,Protections of Medical Conscience, iscosponsored by local Representative Thad Altman. This bill allows health care providers and payers to refuse to treat or pay for services based on their "conscience" an obvious ploy to garner votes.

If passed this will cause citizens, hospitals, and health care providers problems. How will we know what procedures a health care provider will not participate? Do hospitals create lists detailing what services they will provide? What if a health care employee does not agree? Can a nurse or doctor can decide their conscience yay or nay the day of a procedure or do they need to provide some sort of itemized list prior? Can they be hired or not hired based on their list? Do I pay for the office visit after I find out the doctor wont treat me due to a conflict with their beliefs?

I suspect, if this nonsense gets through the Florida Legislature, there will be lawsuits. People will be denied coverage. It is a slippery slope. Dangerous to our society and costly to us taxpayers.

Jere Smith, Melbourne

I am happy letter writer IleneDavis has read a book from the last century that has had such a profound effect on her life. As she often does, she references "Atlas Shrugged"and from it she promotes "Galts Gulch," where the red states join together in what she describes as "citizens that believe in traditional values that made America so great."

I am wondering if this philosophy was the basis of the Tea Party and the now out-of-touch right wingof the Republican Party. As writer Charles Blow stated, "One does not have to operate with great malice to do great harm. The absence of empathy and understanding are sufficient."

In Galts Gulch, I imagine a world of selfishness and a small minority thinking that they know what is best. Nope, Ilene, youre not getting Florida. I suggest you head to the Dakotas, Mississippior Texas and perhaps you can start your vision of Utopia there.

Alane Cunningham, Melbourne

$4 billion dollars: That is the latest forecast of Floridas budget surplus as outlined by the Legislature.

News came at the same time I was lucky enough to sit down with Rep. Michelle Salzman as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network during the Florida Cancer Action Week.We discussed priorities for the surplus and policies that address the impacts of the pandemic.I stressed that at the top of the list should be increasing funding for our Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and how important it is to be able to continue our states fight against cancer.

By providing underserved women with the lifesaving screenings they need, the critical program breaks through the most significant barriers of access and affordability which have caused a large portion of the screening delays during the pandemic. Additional funds will allow the program to reach more eligible individuals and help build the long-term viability of the program.

An estimated 20,920 Floridian women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022.When cancer is discovered early, treatment is more successful.With so many in need of such a program and as breast cancer remains one of the leading cancers in Florida, its due time we adequately fund such critical services.

Jackie Hoskins, Viera

Jan.6, 2021, according to the Republican National Committee, was a "legitimate political discourse."I guess the RNC would qualify Sept.11, 2001, as an appropriate method for responding to philosophical political ideologies.

Adding to the delusional declaration of the RNC, some high-level Republican representatives are not only failing to refute this critique, but attempting to sugarcoat a violent insurrection, thereby giving credence to this outrageous commentary. The RNC is undoubtedly living in a fictional universe.

Even Sen.Mitch McConnell, staunch believer in Republican Party dogma, asserted the Jan. 6 event was an insurrection. McConnell further rebuked the RNC for their censure of Sen. Cheney and Rep.Kinzinger, putting principle ahead of reprisal.

Gregory W. Hewitt, Melbourne

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Letters and feedback: Feb. 13, 2021 - Florida Today