Letters: Self-proclaimed ‘patriots’ are just Trump apologists; Withdraw Israel support

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Self-proclaimed ‘patriots’ are just Trump apologists

As I sit here watching the news, I can't help but wonder how anyone would claim to be an American patriot and still make constant excuses for Trump and his minions?

Republicans complain about the massive budget deficit but refuse to fund the IRS, whose whole purpose is to make sure that everyone pays his fair share of taxes. On top of this, they bend over backwards to let millionaires and billionaires get away with cheating on those taxes so they can donate to Donald Trump to fund his legal problems!

Now, these same flag waving, gun toting, ‘America Firsters’ seem to have no idea that as we help fund Ukraine, we weaken Russia so that we do not fight them here in the US. World War II showed that when we pull out all the stops to fight dictators in their continent, we are protecting our way of life and the freedom and democracy of the whole world.

Thomas Kaiser, Milton

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Time to withdraw Israel support

You won’t read much about it in the news, but why did Hamas attack Israel to begin with?

Israel continues to build illegal settlements outside its borders on land Palestinians want for a potential state. The UN has sanctioned Israel more than any other country for its illegal settlements.

In addition, Israel has boycotted Gaza from goods and people, making the Gaza Strip practically a prison. Thus, the tunnels.

It’s time the U.S. withdrew support for Israel, which was re-created in 1948, displacing over 700,000 Palestinians.

Thomas Johnson, Gulf Breeze

Align solar policy with "Sunshine State" moniker

As a retired Navy veteran, I urge Florida to realign its solar policies with its "Sunshine State" moniker. Florida ranks 10th in solar irradiance despite abundant sunlight, behind states like Arizona and Nevada. This discrepancy between natural solar potential and actual policy underscores a critical misalignment.

Florida's solar capacity, mainly from utility-scale projects, doesn't match its irradiance levels, necessitating a policy overhaul. With increasing energy demands from AI and technology, the state needs robust solar solutions. My discussions with regulatory bodies and legal actions emphasize the need for policy reform.

Current regulations stifle solar energy's equitable adoption, conflicting with Florida's environmental goals. To embody the "Sunshine State," Florida must advocate for diverse solar infrastructure, supporting utility-scale and residential solar projects. This transition will match Florida’s natural potential and promote sustainability and economic growth.

It's time for Florida's leaders to enact progressive solar policies, making the state a true renewable energy leader.

Jim Darenkamp, Milton

More to chlorine dioxide than meets the eye

It is hard to believe the EPA would have chosen a chemical like this - chlorine dioxide. In the early 1990s when we heard about dioxin and the dangers of chlorine bleach in the paper industry, we were told by regulators that chlorine dioxide was the “safe” chemical.

But I was doing research in Perdido Bay at the time, and in 1995, I couldn’t get algae to grow on glass plates I placed in Perdido Bay. I wrote letters to all the environmental agencies. EPA was going to adopt chlorine dioxide as the technology of choice in the paper industry. Testing the Elevenmile Creek, we found both chlorine dioxide (a disinfectant) and chlorate (a potent herbicide).

As the years went by, life in Perdido Bay just disappeared and so did the algae. In 2017, the pH in the bay started going up. There was even less life, but there was plenty of oxygen. Perdido Bay, once devoid of oxygen because of papermill discharges, turned out to be supersaturated in oxygen. The change in pH worked.

That chemical, chlorine dioxide, was now breaking down into chlorate and oxygen. No longer would the paper industry have to worry about low dissolved oxygen or algae blooms. Chlorine dioxide to the rescue.

Jacqueline Lane, Pensacola

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Measured alcohol consumption on the rise

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to think about your alcohol consumption to ensure you are enjoying alcohol responsibly and in moderation. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, this means limiting alcohol to two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less for women.

While any alcohol abuse is too much, the good news is federal data indicate harmful drinking in the U.S. is declining. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows binge drinking among adults ages 21 and older decreased 11 percent from 2018 to 2022, and nine out of 10 (89 percent) say they drink the same amount or less than they did pre-pandemic.

Adults who choose to drink should commit to mindful drinking year-round. There are some people who should not drink alcohol at all, and talking with healthcare providers can help determine what is best, based on individual factors and family history.

Amanda Berger, Ph.D., vice president, science and health, Distilled Spirits Council

Nudist camp could be gold mine for some

The article about the Hidden Lake Nudist Camp south of Jay may offer an entrepreneurial opportunity for those so inclined. A business selling insect repellent and sunscreen should do quite well.

Darrell Griffin, Pensacola

Let’s humor Trump and suspend Constitution. What then?

We have, in the upcoming presidential election, at least two questions that must be separately considered:

Trump has made several statements over the years. Often these statements have been later confirmed by him. In one of these statements, he has suggested we suspend the Constitution. So, the first question is how do we discard this document and what to we enact to replace it?

To discard our Constitution, the mechanism described in the Article V agreement must be reached by two-thirds of each house of Congress and ratification by legislatures of three-fourths of the states. The fundamental source of this change must be, as with all Constitutional change, the will of the American people. Whatever would replace the constitution would also be enacted by this authority.

If having agreed with the changes described above, the second question is who heads the non-democratic government? The only current contender who has advocated this change is so far below minimal acceptable standards that his candidacy must be completely ignored.

We would obviously need someone with the wisdom of Lincoln or Washington, but no such candidates appear to be interested.

Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others.”

Clay Molstad, Pensacola

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Letters: Self-proclaimed ‘patriots’ are just Donald Trump apologists