Work together
I personally don't think our leaders of this country are speaking for all the people of the USA. We are strong people and our strength is being tested.
The beauty of United States is just that. We are united in every way through the free democracy of this country which is being chipped apart little by little each day. Malls and stores are closing.These are our jobs for many of us. Some say we shop online too much and why is that? The corporations can save money on less employees, your health care, overhead of real estate, utility bills, taxes and much more but who will buy there products? The retail companies that are still operating pay and average of $10 an hour and who can live on that? How much are you really earning with the health care going thru the roof with co-pays and drug cost and their high profits? How much do you think you are earning on that $10 and hour, $5 an hour or rolled back to the '70s hourly wage of $2.50 an hour?
The strength is in our numbers and unite at the polls to save our families, ourselves and the future of our democracy. I love my freedom to speak, eat, breath, love and live to watch my family have the same things we had.
God bless, USA.
Lynne Sparrow, Fort Myers
Potential consequences
The Johnson Amendment wisely prevents intervention in a political campaign by 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, including churches. Yet, Donald Trump has promised to an important component of his base – white evangelicals – that he will overturn this amendment.
Rep. Francis Rooney plans to co-sponsor the Free Speech Fairness Act (HR 781) that would repeal the Johnson Amendment. His stated rationale in a letter I received is, “Faith-based organizations should be able to speak openly and freely on issues that are important to them ... as long as a group's religious beliefs are not forced on others”
However, clergy are already free to express their political beliefs and can sermonize on moral issues such as civil rights and poverty. The Johnson Amendment only prohibits them from endorsing candidates from the pulpit and using tax-exempt donations for political purposes such as distributing campaign literature.
The potential consequences of allowing tax-exempt money to be used for political purposes are horrific. Large political donors would get write-offs that would cost taxpayers billions. Churches could be turned into super PACS.
Carol Montgomery, Naples
Russian relationship
Why has Donald Trump been and continues to be, a surrogate for Russia?
Beginning with his bromance with Putin during the campaign; then refusing to believe 17 intelligence agencies that Russia interfered with our election; then his willingness to believe Putin when he says that there was no Russian interference, and now finally, to have the hubris to suggest to the G-7 that Russia should be let back in.
All of this while Robert Mueller investigates the possible collusion of the Trump campaign with the Russians.
A witch hunt? I think not.
Roger W. Quagliano, Fort Myers
Spotty record
There is no way in the world I could vote for Adam Putnam. Anyone that was around when the canker scare hit our area should remember that the Department of Agriculture took our fruit trees whether they were infected or not.
Then they had the audacity to give us gift cards for Wal-Mart that could only be used in the nursery. Well, gee whiz, they did not carry fruit trees. We had a Myers Lemon and Calamondin tree.
Since the holidays were coming we thought we’d get our Christmas tree and were told they no longer carried Christmas trees. Now all these years later, court cases done and Putnam has placed a hold on the payments to those affected.
Even though Putnam is the only one talking about getting kids into trade schools and learning other skills (which is a darn good idea) his track record is not good. So what would make me think he would follow through with his ideas? Therefore, I can not vote for Putnam.
Donna Loibl, Matlacha
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