Readers comment on political candidates, FPL, Rubio

Questions from candidates

Each candidate must answer these two questions. Otherwise, they must sit down.

Was Joe Biden legitimately elected on November 3, 2020 in free and fair elections?

Were the events of January 6, 2021 at the United States Capitol “legitimate political speech” or were they a violent insurrection aimed at preventing the peaceful transfer of power?

Sue Sefscik, Dunnellon

corrupted power

This letter is inspired by a recent cartoon and a guest column published in the Star-Banner. The sun’s energy and clean water from Florida’s aquifers are public goods. In principle, no one, as a private resident or a corporation, should be allowed, let alone encouraged, to take ownership or control of any of them, but with political aid and encouragement some private companies have – and others aspire to do so. These facts exist because the Florida Legislature not only allowed it, they were active co-conspirators in the grand theft of public property by private corporations.

This typifies what Florida Power and Light does. I see promotional videos on FPL television using massive fields of solar panels as a backdrop for image management – that FPL is doing its part to supplement electricity generation using alternatives to fossil fuels in the power stations. The message is that “we (FPL) are responsible citizens of the polis”. Propaganda, properly defined as information presented in such a way as to influence or persuade, regardless of its truthfulness.

At the same time, FPL is determined to extend monopoly access to electricity to its captive consumers. Shame on Florida Republican Senator Jennifer Bradley (SB 1024) and Florida Republican Representative Lawrence McClure (HB 741). These twin laws penalize the initiatives of private residents concerned with the public good by reducing carbon emissions through the installation of photovoltaic panels on their property. Some cases – such initiatives by private residents – result in what is called “net zero” energy consumption on their property.

Both bills only serve the interests of private corporations such as FPL. In this case, new meaning is given to the 19th century observation by British statesman Lord Acton: “Power corrupts”. The second part of this observation is that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Girard Krebs, Ocala

Freedom

In response to Senator Rubio’s CPAC speech, yes, freedom is worth fighting for – but what he doesn’t tell you is that his party has limited our freedoms left and right. For example, if there are now four or more Democrats or Republicans on a street corner protesting something, they can be arrested in Florida.

Voting rights were limited. It’s now harder to get a mail-in vote (due to alleged fraud) as his own party’s commissioner says the election was exemplary.

Freedom of expression? A history teacher cannot use the analogy of slavery as our nation’s original sin or as the treatment of Native Americans as a close second. (It was almost a genocide – look at the population estimates before the Puritans and after Wounded Knee.)

More freedom of expression: don’t say gay. If a child who is being bullied comes to me and I comfort him, I must report it to the director, who must report it to the parent who may be the bully!

Finally, what morally gives the right to a bunch of old men to tell a woman that they don’t have the right to an abortion, if they have been raped or victims of incest?

Well, Rubio, I think I’m gonna drop teaching in your state – even if you had to pay a living wage.

Joseph F. Moia, Ocala

Write U.S

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