Letters and feedback: Nov. 20, 2021

DeSantis is misguided on mandates

Surely Gov. DeSantis must know that no child can attend public school until they have had their mandated vaccines for polio, measles, tuberculosis and other deadly diseases. 

Why is he so against a vaccination in order to eliminate a contagious disease that has caused more than 700,000 deaths in our country and more than 60,000 deaths in Florida? I would think he should thank the federal government for mandating vaccines to eliminate this pandemic.

Jacqueline Dunkel, Melbourne

Our Social Security rights under fire

Every day it seems as though a federal government spokesperson or politician refers to the Social Security program as an entitlement program that we can no longer afford. 

However, in many cases, participants who actually worked and paid into the program will have paid more, including interest, into the fund than they will ever receive in benefits.

In my case, at retirement, the value of my Occupation and Survivor’s Insurance trust fund should have been $804,064 using the interest rate tables in the Sept. 21, 2021, Congressional Research Service report titled "Social Security: The Trust Funds." Updating that balance for payments to me and additional Social Security taxes since 2009, the balance as of the end of 2019 should have been $642,901. At the current rate of payment, that should last another 20.6 years, assuming no additional contributions to the trust fund from me.

In the 1960 Supreme Court case of Flemming vs. Nestor 363 U.S. 6031960 the government successfully denied benefits to a participant who claimed he had a right to those benefits. However, the Supreme Court left a door open for further action by stating, “This (ruling) is not to say that Congress may exercise its power to modify (Social Security) free of all constitutional restraint. The interest of a (Social Security participant) under the Act is of sufficient substance to fall within the protection from arbitrary governmental action afforded by the due process clause.”

In the event the federal government attempts to severely limit Social Security benefits, this case may provide a basis for defending our rights.

Raymond J. Land, Satellite Beach

'Don't expect a fix from the Dems'

Wouldn't you think that before they crushed oil, coal and natural gas production, they'd have the alternate energy sources in place? But they see high gas prices at the pump and to heat homes as a good thing since it makes alternate energy more attractive. They've changed the country from one that was energy independent and an exporter to one where the president pleads with OPEC to produce more. Don't expect a fix from the Dems.

Wouldn't you think that before they canceled the policies that had the southern border pretty much under control they'd have new polices in place to take their place? But they want to let as many folks in wearing Joe Biden T-shirts as possible, then change the voting laws on a national basis that removes all forms of voter ID so these folks can vote Democratic. Don't expect a fix from the Dems.

Wouldn't you think that before removing our troops from Afghanistan they'd get the civilians and military equipment out? Instead the president tells us none of the military advisers said we should keep troops there, which was then contradicted by the generals.

Wouldn't you think that with inflation running rampant they'd be hesitant to pump more money into the economy? Maybe "Build Back Better" should be renamed "Build Back Broke."

My big fear is that the Biden administration is going to spend us into a hole so deep the country will not be able to work back out.

David Lynn Anderson, Melbourne

Letter's 'malevolent' language offends

With disbelief, I read a Nov. 17 letter by Mr. Alan Bergman in FLORIDA TODAY. Mr. Bergman scolded our fellow Republicans who — in his view — had the audacity to vote in favor of the infrastructure bill that will allow for repairing our dangerous bridges, crumbling highways and deteriorating airports that used to be the envy of the world. I fail to comprehend why any congressman would be against appropriations to remove lead pipes for drinking water in America in the 21st century.

The malevolent language of the letter openly threatens the levelheaded congressmen with phrases such as "due notice will be taken of this act.  Further, using Benjamin Franklin's irrelevant quote, the letter implies that those who do not follow the party line "will hang separately.” If that is not enough, Mr. Bergman -- emphasizing that such threats do not warrant his apology -- states that actions of those reasonable Congressmen are "an indelible stain upon the fabric of our Constitution."

Mr. Bergman proudly signed his letter as "a former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida District 8, now District 15."  It appears to me that — undiscouraged by his previous failed attempt — Mr. Bergman may be running again; then, such a political manifesto should be printed in FLORIDA TODAY as a paid political advertisement, not a letter to editor. However, the letter also explains why Mr. Bergman is a "former" candidate. Let's hope he will forever remain a "former" candidate for any office.

Warren Charminski, Indian Harbour Beach