Reader asks: What exactly can the "Can Do" party do? Letters to the Editor, May 12, 2024

Crony corporate welfare

The panhandling situation in Brevard is officially out of control. I speak not of the folks on the side of highway exits, but rather the billionaires who beg for — and receive — millions in taxpayer funds from gullible local politicians.

Once it was Jeff Bezos — the world’s richest man — getting millions in “incentives” from our county commission. Then a posh Miami developer, Driftwood, snagged $30 million for a hotel. And now, the Brightline Train — which is backed by a $45 billion hedge fund — has obtained $5 million for a station.

This isn’t conservatism nor capitalism; it is crony corporate welfare. You can’t blame the businesses of course. They’ve found a proven blueprint for fleecing Brevard County. They simply claim “no, I won’t build my (insert project here) unless you give me (insert outrageous dollar value here).” Our politicians, most of whom who have zero business experience, never vet these claims. They never call anybody’s bluff. They never ask why a corporation would pass up hundreds of millions to save $5 million.

Additionally, they lack the economic expertise to recognize that “tourist tax money” is not magic fairy money that falls from the sky. A lower tourist tax would keep the market price of a hotel room in the entrepreneur’s pocket. Reinvesting tourist taxes in critical needs — as opposed to handouts for billionaires — would alleviate the need for other regressive taxes, such as the lagoon tax.

At the end of the day, ordinary citizens pay the price, despite our elected officials’ shell game.

Nick Tomboulides, Cocoa

So many have short memories

Are you better off than you were four years ago? Wait! Before you answer, consider the fact that we were in the midst of a mishandled pandemic and much of America were either laid off, on unemployment, working from home or were laying in the hospital on a ventilator.

Millions of Americans died needlessly, because recommendations based on facts and science were ignored, rebuffed, made fun of or offered some “alternative” treatments based on ignorance, such as, (paraphrased) “we can maybe inject bleach or some disinfectant, you know, on the inside.”

Many of us lost loved ones, husbands, wives, children, grandparents and even co-workers. Many lost their jobs, resulting in foreclosures, and repos. Whole families were suddenly homeless or living with relatives due to no fault of their own.

Unemployment April 2020 was 14.8%. We are currently at 3.8%, the lowest in several decades. 14.3 million new jobs, 4.9 million more than the pre-pandemic numbers. Wages are up significantly. The stock market? The highest ever. Is everything perfect? No, and it never will be.

Are prices still high? Yes, artificially so in my opinion due to corporate greed and as long as we are willing to pay what they ask, it will continue to be so. As much as I love a ribeye, I’m not paying $21.99 a pound.

How short our memories are! Would I want to go back to 2020? No, I would not and chances are neither would you. Unless you are in the 1% or you drank the Kool-Aid, you must put politics aside and look at the facts and agree that we are all better off than we were four years ago, even if some prices are still a little high.

Ricardo Alvarez Jr, West Melbourne

What can the Can-do party do?

It seems the  more I read the more I read about the “can’t do” party. They can’t seem to form a consensus in congress: they can’t seem to agree on leader-of-the-house; they can’t accept that the earth is warming; they can’t accept that DEI is important and here to stay; they can’t accept that alternative fuel is necessary for the future; they can’t see that EV cars are the future and internal combustion simply won’t be around in a few years; they can’t seem to respect the privacy between a doctor and a woman patient; they can’t accept that this is a multicultural nation and wonderfully so. What exactly “can” they do?  Please vote wisely and vote for the party that will move America ahead, economically, culturally, environmentally, and morally. We are a great nation let’s work on this!

Laura Petruska, Melbourne

Economy was not better under Trump

Trump leads Biden on the 'economy' in polls by 12 points.  Let’s look back — ignoring any negative pandemic effects on Trump’s economy.

On policy, Trump's China tariffs cost average families over $1,000 annually.  Instead of balancing our trade deficit, it grew!   It cost over $32B a year in farm subsidy in 2020 (up from $11.5 in 2017) once China cut back on farm imports.

'Infrastructure week' was a running joke. Trump’s big achievement?  In Wisconsin, Foxconn promised a $10B investment and 13,000 new jobs at a new manufacturing plant.  Trump touted it as the ‘8th wonder of the world’.  It fell to a $670M Foxconn promise that led to no jobs.

The DJIA peaked at 29,400 right before the pandemic. Today it is over 39,000 (up 32%).

We survived the pandemic.  Interest rates are high, but no higher than peaks in 2000 or 2007.  They will come down.  GDP is up almost $6T since Trump's peak.  Wages and Social Security increases have kept pace or exceeded inflation. Prices are higher.  Even under Trump they rose 2-3% every year.

Biden’s $1T infrastructure bill has $470 billion in projects underway, supporting manufacturing, housing, and road and bridge improvements in 50 states.

Now, Trump promises 10% tariffs on all imports, 100% tariffs on non-US-made cars, and 60% tariffs on Chinese goods. The perfect recipe for a new inflation crisis!

Was the 'economy' better under Trump?  No. GDP wasn’t. The stock market wasn’t.  And now Trump is promising to screw it up again.

Jeff Dorman, Satellite Beach

Social Security benefits

Don’t cut your own throat.

As of 2022, 547,653 Florida residents received SSI. I’m sure more do now.

Republicans have tried to kill it. Yet some SSI recipients are registered Republican!

It's ironic that some on SSI slit their own throats.

About 20% of the general population needs a hand-up. I'm so old I remember when there was little hope — before SSI came to the rescue in 1973. SSI gives people a chance to survive. Before age 65, it's limited to families who qualify economically and usually due to "disability" as that term is defined in the Social Security Act. The money comes from the general funds of the US, not from the two Social Security trust funds. Anyone over the age of 65 now qualifies if they are destitute and can show that have some kind of legal status.

Every dime an SSI beneficiary gets proves that John Maynard Keynes was right — they must spend it — causing a positive ripple effect. “Demand creates its own supply.” Those benefits go into the hands of practically every business in the state.

Daniel F. Solomon, Miami

Posey dishonest about running again

A politician’s goal throughout their career should be to be as good on their first day as their last. Rep Bill Posey failed that objective. The voters of the Space Coast deserve a full airing of differences among the republican candidates for the 8th district, not a coronation. It strains credulity that Mike Haridopolos did not have inside information on Posey’s decision not to run again. Why else did he file at the 11th hour? Sen. Debbie Mayfield asked Posey two months ago about his political future. Mayfield said “I took him at his word” when Posey indicated he was going to run for reelection. The phrase taking someone at their word is a passive aggressive way to communicate the individual in question lied to their face. A stand-up-guy would have told Mayfield: 1. I will let you know if I change my decision; 2. Posey should have indicated to Mayfield that he would endorse Haridopolos. Shenanigans and Haridopolos are nothing new. He was paid $152,000 to write a book with one copy. The voters of the 8th district  can only assume that Mr. Posey’s health isn’t well. However this most recent episode demonstrates the good ole boy network is.

Kevin Beverly, Titusville

Kristi Noem story is NOT Old Yeller

The first lesson I learned as a staffer for former Florida US Senator Connie Mack was simple — Floridians, regardless of their politics, love animals from the iconic manatee to the family dog and cat. Thirty years later that is still true. This is why I am surprised to learn that the Brevard Republican Party invited South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who is promoting her book that contains her story of shooting a 14-month-old puppy, to headline their May 24 Lincoln/Reagan Dinner.

Party chairman, Rick Lacey, is doubling down on his decision by inaccurately referencing the heartbreaking Disney classic movie “Old Yeller” as an ok excuse to gun down her dog Cricket. I urge him to watch the movie because the story is about a dog giving his life to defend the young boy in the story. That tale breaks the heart of any dog lover, as it should.

In such a divided time, family companions bring us joy and to condone the senseless killing of a dog, is the opposite quality in a leader as she is trying to portray herself.  It was the cowardly way out.  My question is, why couldn’t the Governor control her dog? Sounds like failed leadership.

Everyone I have talked to is shocked to learn they are allowing her to come and promote the book. I urge party leaders, sponsors, and ticket holders to pull back, cancel her appearance and invite someone who can unite the party and promote the values I picked up all those years ago.

Chris Heyde, Merritt Island

Why change voter laws to still question results?

Is it just me or has the absurd taken on a new, expanded, form? Can someone explain to me the total lack of common sense on the part of certain members of congress? To say that they aren’t going to believe election results unless 'Dishonest Don (DD)' is the winner? This absurdity after you’ve forced unnecessary changes in all these states — make voting “better and more honest” with your actions — you’re going to pre-claim that all your changes to eliminate voter fraud were for naught. I’m kinda confused here… if that’s not what all this effort is supposed to do — to secure a fair election — then what the heck were you doing other than wasting taxpayer money and confusing an already well-working process with your moronic actions?

In case you missed the memo, the 2020 elections were reported by all states as the most secure and fair elections ever… ever! Not sure what exactly DD has on all these folks that has them on their knees for his lies.  Power, money, what? Why not elect people with integrity? People who are not beholden to a third-rate charlatan for their positions? Whose loyalty is to the constitution, not some philandering old goat without a soul. Power to the people… not the person. Just saying.

Gordon Hemphill, Satellite Beach

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Social Security, Trump, economy: Letters to the Editor, May 12, 2024