Letters to the editor for Sunday, May 1, 2022

Biden team restoring world leadership

Biden has done a great job restoring America’s world leadership, and kudos to the strong team he has fielded to make it happen. I was very impressed by Defense Secretary Austin and Secretary of State Blinken this week. NATO is alive and well, and it’s not just lip service. Our allies are putting real resources into the revitalized partnership.

You may have missed it, but Treasury Secretary Yellen was on TV with Christine Lagarde who runs the European Central Bank. They were also singing the same tune. Bravo to the financial gurus during very difficult times. People think energy prices, inflation, supply problems are somehow Biden’s fault, but they are really global problems, and Yellen is working to provide U.S. leadership in solving them.

Can’t mention the entire Cabinet, but I've been impressed by how most of them seem to be doing a solid job getting things accomplished without a lot of fanfare. They all deserve a shout out.

Bob Schmidt, Sanibel

Democrats' policies destructive

Remember folks you have witnessed the past 15 months how the Democrats have all but destroyed this great country of ours. In case you have forgotten, the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle, highest gas prices ever, low stocked grocery stores with the highest prices ever, rampant inflation now out of control, a war going on, well you know the rest.

We had the wonderful news that a Florida conservative judge appointed by President Trump has shot down the dreadful mask mandate put in place by the worthless Biden administration.

So please folks if you want a continuance of the dreadful Biden policies, vote for Crist but if you want to return to normalcy then please re-elect our outstanding Gov. Ron DeSantis.

When will someone well respected in the business community like say Jamie Dimon or Warren Buffett talk to that clueless Powell and tell him to keep his mouth shut. Every time he opens it he tanks the markets. The man is worthless and needs to go.

Michael R. Adler, Miromar Lakes

Floridians, stand up to this tyrant

This letter is for: 1. All conservatives who have said the government should stay out of our business; 2. All teachers who have to live in fear of saying the wrong thing; 3. All African Americans who want to vote in fair elections; 4.All readers of books who do not want to be told what to read; 5. All people who do not want to see thousands of math books destroyed for no apparent reason; 6.All people who went to Disney as a child, and will continue to take their children and grandchildren; 7. All people of all faiths who know that lying and cheating are not the religious values we were taught in order “to win;” and 8. All people who have gay family members and friends. This one’s for you.

Wake up Florida! We are not going to relive the Dark Ages! We will not live in a totalitarian state!

Brave Floridians, stand up to this tyrant and those of his ilk. Before it’s too late.

Barbara Gribin, Fort Myers

DeSantis, Putin both punish their critics

What has happened to freedom of speech? Florida is becoming just like Russia. DeSantis is just like Putin. They both punish their critics.

Chuck Ryntz, Naples and Washington, MI

Governor a majoritarian bully

Some who fear LGBTQ+ folks accuse them of being “predators,” who “groom” children to practice a deviant form of sexuality that will destroy a child’s prospects for a normal life. Many of the people in Florida who want to criminalize abortion also long for the “good old days” when gay people were legally stigmatized.

“Normal” is a social construction. Norms are the way things are done in a particular society. In authoritarian societies, norms are usually dictated by the majority. While the protection of minority rights is a distinctive feature of democracies, many who don’t conform to the majority’s definition of appropriate behavior are strange, wrong, and maybe/probably evil.

Majoritarian bullies, like DeSantis, incessantly proclaim themselves to be vigilant protectors of normality against various kinds of un-American degenerates. They delight in stirring up the fears of the majority. They frequently concentrate on topics that have to do with sexuality, women, nonwhites, and non-Christians. They demand that books, teachers, ideas, cartoons, rituals, ceremonies, and a very wide variety of everyday behaviors conform to their beliefs and practices. Divergence from their definitions of right and wrong are tolerated at best and frequently attacked and eliminated where possible. Majoritarian don’t realize or believe that their indoctrination of kids is “grooming.” It’s seen as preparing children for “the real world,” the good world, their majoritarian world.

Requiring the regimentation in thought is brainwashing. It’s a tactic of communists, fascists and cults. It does not make America great.

Michael Sales, Naples

DeSantis trying to load the dice

The audacity of our governor seems to know no bounds. After the 2020 election when Florida's process was declared to be nearly flawless we are now expected to believe that a special group of "election police" is necessary. Not only is this a solution in search of a problem but it is a clear indication that DeSantis is following in the footsteps of his mentor. Despite the fact that provisions of the last voter suppression bill were declared unconstitutional, DeSantis continues to try to load the dice. I look forward to his being voted out of office. But nobody should be surprised if that does happen and his "election police" manage to manufacture voter fraud when none exists.

Hope Holleran, Fort Myers

Dems, the left are the biggest liars

I feel compelled to respond to the letter in Tuesday’s paper railing on about the alleged lying of the Republican Party. This was obviously written by a Democrat who must have a serious memory loss of all the lies perpetrated by the Democratic Party members. How about these all-time zingers: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman;” “You can keep your own doctor;” “We have incontrovertible evidence that Trump colluded with the Russians” (Adam Schiff); “peaceful protests” while the buildings are burning behind them; “no crisis at the border” and on and on. Believe me, the Republicans don’t have a monopoly on this, in fact, they are Boy Scouts as compared to the Dems and the left.

Joseph Vizzini, Cape Coral

DeSantis should address real issues

I sometimes question Gov. DeSantis' impact on worldly issues. Going up against Disney is a prime example. Does he know how many people visit Disney World every day? The income generated for Orlando and surrounding cities and businesses is extensive. Not only restaurants, hotels, even airports benefit immensely. Disney is a worldwide attraction. Foreign guests flock to Disney each year to take in the amusement park. It also benefits other attractions in Orlando. DeSantis should address real issues impacting Florida and the world. Disney is a blue chip company that investors keep in their portfolios. It is an asset to the state of Florida and the United States. Maybe DeSantis has forgotten how to wish upon a star!

Mickey (no lie) Healey, Naples

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Sunday, May 1, 2022