Rep. Fine is wrong: GOP leaders are failing
Rep. Randy Fine’s commentary Sunday (“Democratic shutdown is devastating Florida residents in the midst of hurricane season”) misleads Floridians by blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. To me, the truth is that shutdowns are a failure of leadership, and this one rests squarely on Republicans who control the agenda in Congress.
Democrats have not asked for a “radical liberal agenda” or “illegal immigrant health care.” They have asked for a responsible budget that protects seniors, veterans, families, and yes — disaster relief for Floridians. In my view, Republicans could have avoided this shutdown by negotiating in good faith, but instead chose brinkmanship, forcing a crisis in the middle of hurricane season.
To claim Democrats don’t care about Floridians is especially disingenuous when it seems Republican leaders repeatedly threaten programs like Social Security, Medicare and FEMA funding. Flood insurance and disaster preparedness should never be used as political leverage. The families who are now worried about mortgages or hurricane recovery are not victims of Democratic priorities — they are victims of Washington dysfunction driven by partisan gamesmanship.
Floridians deserve truth, not scare tactics. Blaming one party while ignoring the obstruction and extremism of your own does nothing to solve the problem. If Fine truly cared about protecting Florida families during hurricane season, he would demand bipartisan cooperation instead of repeating talking points designed to divide.
Joel McPherson Merritt Island
Switching parties isn’t always cynical
While I agree with Scott Maxwell that partisan rancor and machinations muddy elections (“Party-switching politicians play partisan voters for fools,” Oct. 2), ditching state-level party labels would confuse voters more. And our true problem is not party-switching (unless done cynically to fool voters about a candidate’s true allegiances), but rather, voter negligence/apathy and closed primaries which weight outcomes toward the extremes. An individual’s principles and character — not just party — guide his/her actions once in office. And only informed voters can discern integrity through the noise.
I don’t agree that Charlie Crist was a rudderless opportunist when he switched parties. As a Republican governor, he took action that saved imperiled species and fragile landscapes from bad development — thanks to his moral compass, not the GOP. He went blue to reflect who he was. I believe David Jolly similarly is now a Democrat, to show his heart and not to “fool” voters. NPAs can’t win against the two-party machinery. Jolly appeals broadly in polls and town halls. He both espouses progressive goals and seeks consensus across parties on housing affordability, insurance, environmental protections, choice, human rights, less gun violence and restoring sunlight to state government. In the sense that Jolly’s mission to unite is nonpartisan, Maxwell is right: the two parties fail us when they perpetually divide.
At this point, normalcy — a calm wherein new dragnets and vendettas aren’t launched daily from Tallahassee; nor vaccines snatched from CVS; nor joyful life-celebrations in rainbow chalk erased at midnight by humorless squads — is a goal.
Why candidates switch parties matters far more than that they do.
Rebecca Eagan Winter Park
Leaders had the right to gather generals
A recent letter to the editor concerning our president gathering generals together (“Trump is trampling Constitution,” Oct. 3) reads like some Facebook comments. They ignore knowledge concerning chain-of-command and the oath that all officers take before commissioning. There really is a reason that the president is the commander-in-chief. I have direct knowledge of this, as an officer retired after over 20 years of service.
I am proud that our president and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with some of their generals to discuss standard operating procedures. That is true leadership.
Ronald M. Brooke Orlando
Theme parks need regulation
The front page of Sunday’s paper asks if theme parks should self-regulate (“Coaster death reignites debate”). Of course theme parks shouldn’t self-regulate themselves, any more than food processors should self-regulate their products or air plane manufacturers should self-inspect their planes. But as long as some politicians refuse to fully fund the agencies that should inspect and regulate these and other industries, then there will be more deaths and injuries or food-borne illnesses without consequences. Just get used to it, it’s what a lot of people voted for.
John Goonson Satellite Beach
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