Climate solutions
The House Climate Solutions Caucus, founded in 2016, has now grown to 66 members, half from each major party. The hope is to produce a bill capable of slowing climate change before it permanently alters our world and way of life in highly dangerous and costly ways.
The caucus evolved from an initial encounter Florida Rep. Ted Deutsch had with Citizens’ Climate Lobby member Jay Butero while waiting for lunch orders on Capitol Hill. Their conversation about how to get bipartisan action on climate change eventually led Deutsch, a Democrat, to join with Florida Republican Carlos Curbelo to found the caucus.
Hopefully, a bill, ideally based on a carbon fee and dividend — which will cut pollution, grow the economy, create clean energy jobs, spur clean energy innovation and cut carbon emissions — will get passed this year.
Contact your representative and urge him or her to make this happen.
John Ward, Gainesville
Better off
I'll bet there isn't one thing that Donald Trump did that Nathan Crabbe, or Leonard Pitts, can name that made them worse off in 2017 over 2016 or previous years (column, Jan. 7).
For most of us who are here legally in this country, we are better off. Congress passed and Trump signed a tax cut for the vast majority of Floridians. He is trying to keep us safer by stopping terrorists, drug dealers and assorted criminals from coming into this country.
He is tightening immigration so that people don't come here illegally and take jobs from real Americans. Unemployment is way down for all groups of Americans, including blacks and Hispanics. The stock market is way up, which not only helps direct investors but also those in pension plans. We have had no new wars, except on Twitter.
So what is there not to like, except maybe Trump personally, which I can see?
Jerry Kramer, Gainesville
Drug war casualties
Opioid deaths in 2016 in America increased from 52,000 to 64,000 and exceeded deaths by guns, car crashes and breast cancer combined. American life expectancy dropped in 2015 for the first time when opioid deaths exceeded the total deaths of the Vietnam War and AIDS at its peak. The increase is affecting all classes and races.
Last year, $10 billion in legal marijuana was sold — meaning $10 billion was taxed in states where it is legal. What is important is that $10 billion went to small American farmers and businesses and did not go to Mexican drug cartels that send most of the heroin and synthetic opioids to America.
There has never been a reported death from ingesting marijuana but a tremendous number of Mexicans have been killed in cartel wars south of our border over the illegal importation of marijuana and opioids. Please think about these facts and comparisons when you are expressing an opinion on the drug war.
Tom Lane, Gainesville
Research law firms
We see many ads on TV about how friendly and helpful the law firms are. People should do research on them. If we could get information on all these law firms, we might be more selective on who we choose.
Recently one of these firms was fined $9 million for filing false claims against tobacco companies.
When I see these ads for this firm, it makes me sick. Why only a fine and not remove their law licenses?
Jim Jones, Gainesville
Write a letter
Letters to the editor should be emailed to letters@gainesville.com. Letters should be 150 words or less and include the writer’s full name, city of residence and contact information.