Letters: DeSantis pandering to fringe with investigation into COVID vaccines

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent attack on the public health response to COVID-19 is a new low, even for him. He reversed himself to align with fringe vaccine-denier scientists and panders to political groups promoting distrust of the government.

During his Ivy-League education, DeSantis was exposed to critical thinking, using facts and data to analyze and solve problems. Instead, he has chosen political expediency over truth. Tragically, if he succeeds in forcing policies that undermine public health measures, it is his constituents who will suffer.

DeSantis recruited two authors of the debunked 2020 Great Barrington Declaration to guide a grand jury investigation into COVID-19 management. The declaration argued that encouraging massive COVID-19 infections among low-risk individuals would create “herd immunity,” thereby reducing serious illness in the general population.

The theory is deeply flawed. Because COVID-19 is a unique virus, no one had ever previously been exposed to any disease like it, which might have offered partial protection. This virus is extremely efficient at spreading and causing serious illness. Even so-called low-risk individuals can suffer severely.

During the months it would take to infect the herd, elderly and otherwise compromised individuals would have to live in isolation — or face exposure. Initially, credible physicians and scientists considered the Great Barrington Declaration approach but concluded that waiting for natural acquisition of immunity would result in high mortality. Safely achieving that immunity would require vaccinations.

Contrarily, Sweden took the infection route with bad results. Its COVID-19 toll was 50-100% worse than any of its Scandinavian neighbors.

Experience disproved the declaration theory, and continuing to promote those principles is irresponsible. Even more appalling, DeSantis’ political strategy is pivoting even further toward pandering to fringe political supporters. This time, he is risking our lives.

Stephen S. Entman, M.D., Jacksonville

Compromise needed on statues

I enjoyed reading Mark Woods' Dec. 16 column regarding Confederate statuary in Jacksonville. He referenced the recent removal of statues in the former Confederate capital as a model for how other cities in the South may deal with the issue.

I'm very familiar with Richmond, Va., thanks to two lengthy periods of residence in that city. I was a child there in the 1950s and ‘60s, when the “Lost Cause” was celebrated. As an adult, it was in Richmond that I read Mary Chesnut's “A Diary from Dixie,” a view from an elite Confederate insider that exposes its true colors. The diary also depicts the real horror in a Civil War of brother against brother, father against son.

Recent strife in Richmond over Confederate statuary was rampant and included rioting that verged on mob rule for a prolonged period, as well as protracted court battles.

The mayor of Richmond began removing statues before he was legally authorized to do so. He also hired (outside of proper bidding), an out-of-town shell company — owned by one of his campaign's financial backers — to take down the statues at great public expense.

There was posturing and animosity on both sides of the debate, but now that the deed is done, hindsight says it is a model for others to follow: Simply remove the offensive objects.

However, citizens of Jacksonville need to compromise and remove all reference to the Confederacy on existing pieces of public art. We should unite on remembering the terrible cost to families and civilians — whether sympathetic to one side or the other — of a common history full of vainglory, with loss of blood and treasure, so that we do not repeat history.

Rob Richardson, Jacksonville Beach

Redistricting fight shows power vs. the people

Citizens of Jacksonville are once again watching their tax dollars be wasted in a frivolous lawsuit decided in back-room discussions without regard to transparency.

The Jacksonville City Council has made it clear that nothing will impede their determination to retain their power and position. This council lost twice in court and were severely chastised by the judge for prioritizing self-interest when they drew a map designed to secure incumbent retention. Nevertheless, they held a closed meeting to discuss what action they would take, if any, to the judge’s ruling.

Given the public discourse on redistricting, and the volume of facts publicly available, meeting in private can only be for one reason: to hide their comments from the public. The silence from individual council members leaves one to believe they must all be on board with the decision to draw out the process and (yet again) spend more taxpayer money in court.

Just who does this decision benefit? What relief does it bring to an already divided citizenry? Certainly not the citizen taxpayer.

When you vote for a council member you are proclaiming your trust in their commitment to represent you and do what is best for the city. Given their most recent actions of hiding their individual position and decision it is fair to ask — do they deserve your vote? The disrespect of the City Council and its current leaders must be remembered when we go to the polls in March 2023.

Bonnie Hendrix, committee chair, Democratic Women’s Information Network

Glimmer of hope for Hamlin, NFL

As the severity of the Jan. 2 injury to Damar Hamlin began to be realized on the field, it wasn't just the nine minutes of near instantaneous and professional medical attention that offered a glimmer of hope. It was also the response from both the Bills and the Bengals, with players taking a knee not in protest, but to offer a prayer to God in support of Damar. They prayed for him to have strength and to ask for the hand of healing for his survival.

Then, another expression of grace was followed. Both NFL players and fans showed tremendous support for Damar's nonprofit, which is dedicated to helping children in his hometown. Millions of dollars were contributed to Damar's effort, far exceeding his goal. That support may not heal Damar's medical injury, but it may well help his spirit during his recovery.

Perhaps the taking of a knee to pray will become more common and contempt for country less so. The NFL needs it, the fans want it and the country deserves it. As America's motto reminds us: "In God we Trust."

Bert Watson, Jacksonville

What is Davis trying to say?

I noticed that Daniel Davis is running a media campaign, but he does not actually mention that he is running for mayor. In one ad, he has a number of people expressing their support for him. One such person is Ronnie Fussell.

For those who may not recall, Ronnie Fussell was the Duval County Clerk of Courts who was vehemently opposed to the concept of gay marriage. When it became legal in Florida, he closed down the ad hoc wedding chapel in the courthouse building, apparently so that such unions could not become legal in the county building.

Is Mr. Davis hoping that people remember Ronnie Fussell’s actions — or that they don't?

Jim Kavanagh, Jacksonville

City sure looks racist

It is really embarrassing to have Jacksonville end up in the national news because we have a city council that seems to only care about getting themselves elected, even if it means continuing well-established racism.

Here is a chance to right some long-standing wrongs and what does the city council do? They follow the example of all the other redistricting done by previous city councils, which attempted to get as many white council members as possible by jamming all the black voters into four districts. Very sad.

Peter Bishop, Jacksonville

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Letters: COVID vaccine research just more pandering from governor