Keep private schools accountable
If the Legislature is going to give taxpayer money to private schools, there must be standards and accountability. Whenever any government body spends our tax dollars, it establishes requirements that the recipient must meet. Private schools receiving public money should be no different. “Schools without rules” is not about accountability — it is a misuse of public funds. I and thousands of other concerned Floridians have serious questions about what is happening in Tallahassee. We will remember this when we vote.
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— Roger McDonald, Orlando
A fitting namesake
To those in Central Florida: Why is South Florida getting to name so many things to honor Donald Trump? First it was the Palm Beach airport. Now he wants one of his golf courses (which already has his name on it) to be the permanent presidential golf course. I think we owe it to him to name something after him in our community. I propose we christen the Donald J. Trump Sewage System. After all, it reflects the “mess” he has gotten us into.
— Susan Zwer, Orlando
GOP all about profits for wealthy
Tuesday’s article, “GOP candidates outraise opposing Democrats,” was no surprise to me. It’s obvious to me for the last 25 years, Republicans have been the primary beneficiaries of donations coming from corporations, super PACs and dark money.
It’s the “pay to play” system of politics made possible in 2010 when the Supreme Court ruled on Citizens United v. FEC. In a nutshell: the 5-4 ruling concluded that under the First Amendment’s free-speech clause, corporations, labor unions and other associations should be granted the same rights as individuals. In other words, corporations are people. It opened the floodgates for corporations to buy the loyalty of individuals who could help them increase profits.
Historically, Democrats have championed social issues — things like healthcare for all, paid maternity leave, free childcare, reproductive freedom, gun control, climate change, and equality and inclusion. On the other hand, I see business-friendly Republicans and their donors as critical of social safety nets and anything that might get in the way of corporate profitability.
When you go to the polls on Nov. 3, consider that Democrats are concerned about the welfare of individuals while Republicans are more concerned about corporate profits and pleasing their donors.
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— Violet Irminger, Mount Dora
Electric scooters need more training
I feel that we are at the beginning of a tsunami of death and injuries of people piloting vehicles which they are either unskilled or unprepared at operating. Any experienced bicyclist or experienced motorcyclist understands the risks, dangers and physics involved in traveling on two wheels at 20 mph or faster. But a child or a new rider on a two-wheeler with an electric motor may easily be dazzled and distracted by the ability to move at over 20 mph with just a little pressure or twist on the “throttle” (depending on the vehicle) without truly appreciating the forces at work if they were to be involved in a crash at speed (“Car vs. electric scooter leaves 1 dead in Orange County, FHP says,” Sept. 5).
I say this as a lifetime bicyclist and a motorcyclist who has survived over 55 years of riding. Some bicyclists and most motorcyclists understand that, when faced with an emergency situation while riding on two wheels, often the instinctive reaction is not the correct one.
This is then aggravated by the situation of some riders not wearing helmets. What scares me is to see so many people traveling so fast with electric power and with, presumably, no training!
At least, when the crashes are reported, let us call them what they are. An electric scooter operator is not a pedestrian, as the Sept. 5 article called her.
— Robert Foldes, Mount Dora
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