Charlie Kirk’s words were hypocritical
The Sept. 13 guest column “How Charlie Kirk inspired a generation” quoted Kirk referring to the Constitution to “establish justice,” but Kirk never called out Trump for his abuse of justice. Kirk said “big government sucks,” yet he witnessed his hero abuse government for his own protection from justice.
He reportedly disliked the word “empathy.” Would he want empathy for his family following the tragedy of his own unjustified murder? He proposed that Taylor Swift “submit to her husband;” what century is he living in? Despite the heroics of the Tuskegee Airmen he opined: “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified.’”
I disagree with most of Kirk’s musings but I do agree with his quote: “When you deliberately distort and selectively present the truth, you lie.”
Choice Edwards Clermont
Utility commission serves utilities, not customers
Guest columnist Ronald Brise (Sept. 7) thinks the Public Service Commission is operating just as it should. My view is that the PSC is operating for the benefit of the utilities it regulates and their shareholders, as well as the major corporate clients. The everyday resident customers of the utilities, who have no power over the franchise agreements by which they are served (the utility is a monopoly), were mostly locked out of the secret meetings where the rate increases were negotiated. As the saying goes, “if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.” Our consumer representative to the PSC, the Office of Public Counsel, was not included. There were no transcripts available, so our only recourse is to sue in state courts.
The PSC has effectively been “captured” by its regulated utility companies. The governor appoints the five commissioners, and they do his bidding, to serve the utility companies they regulate. The companies make huge campaign contributions, through dark-money industry groups and PACs, to the governor and GOP. Of the rate increases negotiated by FPL, fully 50% went to stockholder dividends. These utility companies operate in a no-risk environment – all of their costs are paid in full by their customers’ monthly electric bills. The FPL return on equity is approved at 11%; some argue that it should be much closer to the zero-risk return of about 5%. Tell our state legislators to put the “public service” back into the PSC!
Tom Caffery Orlando
Trump tariffs ignore economic risks
President Donald Trump’s tariffs continued to add billions to U.S. coffers. In July, customs duties brought in a record $29.5 billion, according to the Department of the Treasury.
Who pays and where does the money go? Simple math – the U.S. importer pays the $29 billion at the dock to the U.S. government for the goods. Next, importers supply the wholesalers and retailers. They, in turn, supply retailers, manufacturers or distributors, who in turn either eat the increased cost or pass the cost on to consumers.
Regardless of who pays the $29 billion, eventually the cost must pass on to consumers.
Tariffs are a tax on you and me. Do not think we’re getting a deal to charge importers tariffs.
Tariffs have historically been used as a scalpel to keep foreign and domestic production in balance among international producers. Trump uses tariffs as a bludgeon with total ignorance of the economic implications.
Marty Sullivan Winter Park
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