Letters to the Editor

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Diane Roberts unfairly depicted the Tea Party

[Columnist] Diane Roberts is clueless. I read with mystified horror over her uninformed and stereotypical hit piece in Solares Hill. We are not France nor we are any other country in the world. We are the United States of America -- a country that has done more for the world than any other country in the history of man.

The Tea Party cares more about the course of this country than Ms. Roberts and her liberal ilk will ever care. The Tea Party desires fiscal responsibility -- a concept few on the left can grasp -- and less government intrusion.

To think that the Tea Party is full of fundamentalist Southern hillbillies is almost as ignorant as stating that the economy is the fault of the Tea Party. The Democratic Party controlled Congress from 2002-2010. Who writes and passes economic legislation? Congress.

The Tea Party and most Americans are tired of the government writing checks it can't honor. We are trillions in debt thanks to the Democratic Party's need to pander to a segment of the population who believe they should be supported by the rest of us.

Ms. Roberts' hate-filled diatribe is exactly what is wrong with the left. Anyone who opposes their uncontrolled spending and desire for complete governmental control must be a right-wing, hate-filled Christian fundamentalist.

Carol King

Key West

'Best available science' at refuge is laughable

What a lame-brain experiment being conducted by the biologist for the Key Deer Refuge, putting out canned cat food on Key Deer Refuge land, and setting up cameras to see if cats are attracted by a freshly opened can. Why spend thousands of taxpayer dollars to figure out a question that any second-grader could answer? Here is the question: If you put out canned cat food on the Key Deer Refuge, will cats migrate to the refuge? Will they be attracted by the scent of sliced beef with gravy or perhaps tuna and salmon? Any second-grader knows that the cats will come. I wouldn't call this the best available science that the Key Deer Refuge likes to brag about; I would call it a foolish waste of our hard earned tax dollars.

One hundred and fifteen environmental organizations have signed a letter requesting that this expensive, out of control federal agency be abolished. This would be a good year to put an end to this unscrupulous, self-serving group.

Valerie Eikenberg

Cudjoe Key

Editor's note: According to refuge Manager Anne Morkill, extremely small amounts of bait were used at only two camera trap sites located at unauthorized cat feeding stations, where the cats were already lured by food. The purpose was to get the animals to stop and pause for a clear photo for identification purposes.

Office of the president devoid of pigmentation

Regarding Tim Dahms' letter admonishing us that lack of respect for the office of president of the United States is rooted in racial bias: The position of president of the United States is devoid of pigmentation, so far as I can tell. It is also a position of service. Respect is earned.

Obama has repeatedly shown his disdain for those who do not agree with his vision for this country. Further, he has repeatedly shown a complete lack of respect for the document he is sworn to uphold. If race is the issue, please cite examples where conservative and Republican leaders in Washington have engaged in outright bias or used racial epithets against Obama.

Many of us are tired of hearing the convenient whine that criticism of the man is equivalent to racism. In fact, our criticism stems from living with the adverse effects of his failed economic policies. That criticism is protected by the First Amendment.

Mark D. Firestone

Key West

I misstated a date in my letter to the editor

Thank you for printing my letter to the editor on Friday, Sept. 9. I do want to point out an error I made in regards to a date. The letters of understanding that I wrote about were voted on and ratified in June 2011, and not June 2010 as I had indicated. I apologize for this oversight.

Kimberly Lowell

Vice president

United Teachers of Monroe