Friday's letters: Christmas shopping, sex-capades and more

Friday
Dec 1, 2017 at 4:44 AM

Amid sales and shopping, remember the charities

As I read the newspapers and saw commercials on TV, all I seemed to see and hear was the emphasis on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. No doubt these advertisements are intended to encourage more and more spending.

Obviously there will be more days designated with other adjectives to promote additional sales. How about Wacky Wednesday or Insane Saturday?

As I was feeling a bit downcast concerning the commercialization of our blessed holidays, a wonderful thought came to mind: What if every person in the USA donated to his/her favorite charity an equal amount of money that was spent on gifts?

What a tremendous amount of good and happiness for the less fortunate. It seems that then we could justify our extravagance of money spent on gifts and parties.

Think it over. It might cause some discomfort as we go shopping.

Leo Hunt, Sarasota

Important news ignored as sex-capades reported

What is the latest on the Las Vegas shootings? What is happening on our southern border? How is the investigation into Russian involvement in our elections proceeding? Where is Frederica Wilson? Has the NFL kneeling story finally petered out? Where is ISIS and what is it up to?

How crazy is Kim Jong Un? What real dangers does he pose? How are things in Venezuela? Has patient care improved in the Veterans Affairs system?

These are just a few of the unfinished stories that have fallen off the radar. Instead we are subjected to lurid and salacious stories about the sex-capades of the rich and powerful.

We already know there will be a lot of bluster and no consequences (can you say Bill Clinton?). We already know there is a special set of rules for those folks. We already know they feel entitled and privileged. We already know they are not who we hold up as role models. We already know most of this is for money, for 15 minutes of fame or politically motivated. And we already know that all of the above will be reported with a deep bias.

Americans are eager for a day when the news is real and relevant. We need to hear the rest of the story not just the sensational, headline-grabbing beginning, to be fully informed.

Linda Barrington, Englewood

Tax bill would diminish government programs

Passage of the Republicans' tax bill legislation must be stopped. It is not only a massive tax cut for corporations and the wealthiest at expense of working Americans, but it is designed to do much more than change tax policies.

It is designed to intentionally and deliberately diminish the role of the federal government. As Karl Rove would say, it is designed "to starve the beast."

Besides requiring $1.5 trillion debt in borrowed money, the legislation would greatly decrease federal revenues. "Pay as you go" laws would result in deep cuts over the years to social and infrastructure programs and entire government agencies that Republican have long fought to destroy.

This is not acceptable to the many of us who have fought for or benefited from Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, quality public education, reliable infrastructure, community development, the environment and public safety.

This tax legislation would give nearly half of the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent and give a larger tax break to wealthy corporations.

It does contain temporary tax cuts for some middle-class families, but a fourth of them would see tax increases effected immediately, and by 2027 taxes would be raised on anyone making less than $75,000 per year.

This is not good tax policy, nor is it a fair sharing of the costs of government. It must not be allowed to pass. Please contact our elected representatives and tell them that this legislation is a bad deal for middle-class Americans and for our country.

Geraldine Bernier, Sarasota

The 'public' is missing in Sarasota public art

How many Sarasota residents know the city has a public art collection? How many residents know the collection is ever-changing as new pieces are regularly acquired? How many residents know they have a say as to which pieces of art the city acquires?

The public art committee holds regularly scheduled meetings during which there is an opportunity for citizen input. Unfortunately, the chamber at City Hall is almost always nearly empty during these meetings. We need more members of the public to let their voices be heard about the public art selections.

With each new acquisition the Sarasota landscape changes and it’s important that the changes are reflective of more members of the public. Maybe the public just doesn’t know. Let’s put the “public” in public art.

Kristina Skepton, Sarasota

Friday
Dec 1, 2017 at 4:44 AM

Amid sales and shopping, remember the charities

As I read the newspapers and saw commercials on TV, all I seemed to see and hear was the emphasis on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. No doubt these advertisements are intended to encourage more and more spending.

Obviously there will be more days designated with other adjectives to promote additional sales. How about Wacky Wednesday or Insane Saturday?

As I was feeling a bit downcast concerning the commercialization of our blessed holidays, a wonderful thought came to mind: What if every person in the USA donated to his/her favorite charity an equal amount of money that was spent on gifts?

What a tremendous amount of good and happiness for the less fortunate. It seems that then we could justify our extravagance of money spent on gifts and parties.

Think it over. It might cause some discomfort as we go shopping.

Leo Hunt, Sarasota

Important news ignored as sex-capades reported

What is the latest on the Las Vegas shootings? What is happening on our southern border? How is the investigation into Russian involvement in our elections proceeding? Where is Frederica Wilson? Has the NFL kneeling story finally petered out? Where is ISIS and what is it up to?

How crazy is Kim Jong Un? What real dangers does he pose? How are things in Venezuela? Has patient care improved in the Veterans Affairs system?

These are just a few of the unfinished stories that have fallen off the radar. Instead we are subjected to lurid and salacious stories about the sex-capades of the rich and powerful.

We already know there will be a lot of bluster and no consequences (can you say Bill Clinton?). We already know there is a special set of rules for those folks. We already know they feel entitled and privileged. We already know they are not who we hold up as role models. We already know most of this is for money, for 15 minutes of fame or politically motivated. And we already know that all of the above will be reported with a deep bias.

Americans are eager for a day when the news is real and relevant. We need to hear the rest of the story not just the sensational, headline-grabbing beginning, to be fully informed.

Linda Barrington, Englewood

Tax bill would diminish government programs

Passage of the Republicans' tax bill legislation must be stopped. It is not only a massive tax cut for corporations and the wealthiest at expense of working Americans, but it is designed to do much more than change tax policies.

It is designed to intentionally and deliberately diminish the role of the federal government. As Karl Rove would say, it is designed "to starve the beast."

Besides requiring $1.5 trillion debt in borrowed money, the legislation would greatly decrease federal revenues. "Pay as you go" laws would result in deep cuts over the years to social and infrastructure programs and entire government agencies that Republican have long fought to destroy.

This is not acceptable to the many of us who have fought for or benefited from Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, quality public education, reliable infrastructure, community development, the environment and public safety.

This tax legislation would give nearly half of the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent and give a larger tax break to wealthy corporations.

It does contain temporary tax cuts for some middle-class families, but a fourth of them would see tax increases effected immediately, and by 2027 taxes would be raised on anyone making less than $75,000 per year.

This is not good tax policy, nor is it a fair sharing of the costs of government. It must not be allowed to pass. Please contact our elected representatives and tell them that this legislation is a bad deal for middle-class Americans and for our country.

Geraldine Bernier, Sarasota

The 'public' is missing in Sarasota public art

How many Sarasota residents know the city has a public art collection? How many residents know the collection is ever-changing as new pieces are regularly acquired? How many residents know they have a say as to which pieces of art the city acquires?

The public art committee holds regularly scheduled meetings during which there is an opportunity for citizen input. Unfortunately, the chamber at City Hall is almost always nearly empty during these meetings. We need more members of the public to let their voices be heard about the public art selections.

With each new acquisition the Sarasota landscape changes and it’s important that the changes are reflective of more members of the public. Maybe the public just doesn’t know. Let’s put the “public” in public art.

Kristina Skepton, Sarasota

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