Monday's letters: Sexual harassment, tax reform and more

Monday
Dec 18, 2017 at 5:10 AM

Women need to support each other in workplace

The number of women who have been victimized by men in regard to sexual harassment is astounding. We work as hard and harder to contribute to progress in multiple genres of the workforce. Women are not things to be “jollied” with, as though we were cheap toys.

There is another ugly underbelly to sexual inappropriateness. It is the backlash felt from other women when a “story” emerges in a corporate setting.

Two physicians on two separate occasions at a hospital in Detroit put their hands on me where they did not belong. Though, here’s the kicker: I was written up for being disrespectful to both men.

And these women — my supervisor, the director of nurses, and the personnel director — “helped” me write a letter of apology to both men.

I carried that shame for many years, but today I hope women in all workforce settings stand tall for each other!

Beverly Trebesch, Venice

Provide disaster relief, not tax cuts for rich

Our nation is in crisis. Many of our citizens need federal disaster relief. We need billions of dollars to help people — in Houston after flooding, in Florida after Hurricane Irma, in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and in California after fire destruction.

But our Congress, in Republican control, has decided that the nation's greatest problem is tax reform.

Every reputable tax-analysis organization calculates that the proposed plans will add more than a trillion dollars to the national debt in 10 years. And the wealthiest 1 percent will receive the most in tax reduction.

Call or email your congressmen and tell them to give disaster relief to people who need it. And do not give tax reductions to people who do not need it.

Remember in 2018 which your congressmen voted for in 2017.

Eugene Miles, Venice

Published votes reveal lax attitudes on guns

I am writing to express my gratitude to the Herald-Tribune for publishing the votes of members of Congress from this area.

Without your assistance, I might not have known that the votes of Reps. Thomas Rooney and Vern Buchanan would make it easier for those convicted of violent crimes to carry concealed weapons into a state with strict gun-control laws.

Ignoring the gun laws of another state in is wrong. Permitting violent criminals to do so is despicable!

Judy Mulligan, Englewood

Ban on greyhound racing should be put to voters

On Nov. 30, a Florida Constitution Revision Commission committee unanimously approved a proposal to ban greyhound racing, bringing the proposal closer to placement on the November 2018 ballot.

Grey2K USA, the world's largest greyhound protection organization, reports that commercial greyhound racing is illegal in 40  states. Florida remains one of only six states with operational racetracks, and our state tops that list with 12 tracks.

Not only is greyhound racing cruel, but it also faces rapidly declining profitability. Since 1990, state taxes and fees collected for live greyhound racing have declined by 98 percent.

Furthermore, vague state regulations allow trainers to administer anabolic steroids to maximize the dogs' performance and profitability. The side effects of such drugs can directly lead to liver, kidney and heart damage.

I urge the Florida Constitution Revision Commission to place the proposal to ban greyhound racing on the upcoming ballot to permanently end this cruel business.

Catherine Csaky, Venice

Young people recognize churches' moral lapses

I am deeply concerned and saddened by the inevitable exodus of young people from our Christian churches. Even my own grandchildren are hinting at this. Their sense of a moral society is being violated before their very eyes.

White evangelicals, especially Southern Baptists in Alabama, and ultra-conservatives around the country have sold their souls for a piece of rancid political pie. Eighty-two percent of them voted for Donald Trump (exposed as a groper before election). Then the Republican leadership supported Roy Moore, a suspected pedophile.

Don’t think for one minute our young people are ignorant and don’t care about these blatant inconsistencies and moral lapses. They do!

Stephen G. Prichard, Venice

Shark abuse draws outrage, but sick children ignored

Gov. Scott said he was "outraged by the sickening image of a shark being horribly abused," etc., etc. So will someone please explain to me why he and other Republicans are not sickened by depriving children of medical care?

While I'm at it, a note to all those who came out mourn the death of Snooty (not necessarily unwarranted): Can you ever put that much — or even half that much — energy into fighting for medical coverage for children or adults?

I wish us all a year in which there is a universal outbreak of sanity.

Arlene J. Pearlman, Sarasota

Monday
Dec 18, 2017 at 5:10 AM

Women need to support each other in workplace

The number of women who have been victimized by men in regard to sexual harassment is astounding. We work as hard and harder to contribute to progress in multiple genres of the workforce. Women are not things to be “jollied” with, as though we were cheap toys.

There is another ugly underbelly to sexual inappropriateness. It is the backlash felt from other women when a “story” emerges in a corporate setting.

Two physicians on two separate occasions at a hospital in Detroit put their hands on me where they did not belong. Though, here’s the kicker: I was written up for being disrespectful to both men.

And these women — my supervisor, the director of nurses, and the personnel director — “helped” me write a letter of apology to both men.

I carried that shame for many years, but today I hope women in all workforce settings stand tall for each other!

Beverly Trebesch, Venice

Provide disaster relief, not tax cuts for rich

Our nation is in crisis. Many of our citizens need federal disaster relief. We need billions of dollars to help people — in Houston after flooding, in Florida after Hurricane Irma, in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and in California after fire destruction.

But our Congress, in Republican control, has decided that the nation's greatest problem is tax reform.

Every reputable tax-analysis organization calculates that the proposed plans will add more than a trillion dollars to the national debt in 10 years. And the wealthiest 1 percent will receive the most in tax reduction.

Call or email your congressmen and tell them to give disaster relief to people who need it. And do not give tax reductions to people who do not need it.

Remember in 2018 which your congressmen voted for in 2017.

Eugene Miles, Venice

Published votes reveal lax attitudes on guns

I am writing to express my gratitude to the Herald-Tribune for publishing the votes of members of Congress from this area.

Without your assistance, I might not have known that the votes of Reps. Thomas Rooney and Vern Buchanan would make it easier for those convicted of violent crimes to carry concealed weapons into a state with strict gun-control laws.

Ignoring the gun laws of another state in is wrong. Permitting violent criminals to do so is despicable!

Judy Mulligan, Englewood

Ban on greyhound racing should be put to voters

On Nov. 30, a Florida Constitution Revision Commission committee unanimously approved a proposal to ban greyhound racing, bringing the proposal closer to placement on the November 2018 ballot.

Grey2K USA, the world's largest greyhound protection organization, reports that commercial greyhound racing is illegal in 40  states. Florida remains one of only six states with operational racetracks, and our state tops that list with 12 tracks.

Not only is greyhound racing cruel, but it also faces rapidly declining profitability. Since 1990, state taxes and fees collected for live greyhound racing have declined by 98 percent.

Furthermore, vague state regulations allow trainers to administer anabolic steroids to maximize the dogs' performance and profitability. The side effects of such drugs can directly lead to liver, kidney and heart damage.

I urge the Florida Constitution Revision Commission to place the proposal to ban greyhound racing on the upcoming ballot to permanently end this cruel business.

Catherine Csaky, Venice

Young people recognize churches' moral lapses

I am deeply concerned and saddened by the inevitable exodus of young people from our Christian churches. Even my own grandchildren are hinting at this. Their sense of a moral society is being violated before their very eyes.

White evangelicals, especially Southern Baptists in Alabama, and ultra-conservatives around the country have sold their souls for a piece of rancid political pie. Eighty-two percent of them voted for Donald Trump (exposed as a groper before election). Then the Republican leadership supported Roy Moore, a suspected pedophile.

Don’t think for one minute our young people are ignorant and don’t care about these blatant inconsistencies and moral lapses. They do!

Stephen G. Prichard, Venice

Shark abuse draws outrage, but sick children ignored

Gov. Scott said he was "outraged by the sickening image of a shark being horribly abused," etc., etc. So will someone please explain to me why he and other Republicans are not sickened by depriving children of medical care?

While I'm at it, a note to all those who came out mourn the death of Snooty (not necessarily unwarranted): Can you ever put that much — or even half that much — energy into fighting for medical coverage for children or adults?

I wish us all a year in which there is a universal outbreak of sanity.

Arlene J. Pearlman, Sarasota

Choose the plan that’s right for you. Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Learn More