Letters to the Editor: June 2, 2006

Daily dose of comment and insight from our readers.

The Naples Daily News welcomes letters of up to 250 words. We reserve the right to reject letters or edit for clarity, brevity, good taste and accuracy, and to prevent libel. No poetry, attacks on private individuals, or letter-writing campaigns, please. Writers should limit submissions to one letter every two weeks. Include a phone number and make certain you have signed your letter.

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My experience

Editor, Daily News:

Re: Article on the “Kidney Connection” on May 22.

As a kidney donor to my brother 8½ years ago, I’d like John Stevens to reconsider the offers from his children to donate one of their kidneys to him.

The new method of harvesting a kidney allows the donor to be back on his/her feet in a much shorter time period than the old way, like I have done.

Laser treatment was too new in 1997, but I understand it is done routinely now, with only a small scar.

I have not had any problems or complications after my initial recovery from the surgery. (As far as I know, no donor has ever lost his/her life because of the transplant.)

My brother’s life is so much improved than if he would have had to stay on the dialysis he was on for two-plus years, and we believe it has extended his life span. It definitely gave him a better quality of life, and he is now enjoying his new granddaughter.

So, Mr. Stevens, I urge you to reconsider, and I’m sorry your brother didn’t opt for any kind of treatment.

M.C. Baker/Naples

The boating angle

Editor, Daily News:

Years ago I wrote a letter about the dangers of not having a no-wake zone at New Pass in Bonita Springs and today I read again of a family being thrown from their boat due to a large boat’s wake.

If anyone has ever been to New Pass they would know the dangers. I ask again, how come we cannot have a no-wake zone from the bridge to the pass? Could it be because if there was one we would all be able to park our boats along the beautiful pass and enjoy the beach?

But wait, then we would be joining all the guests of the Hyatt enjoying the beach. The way it is now, if you decided to park there your boat will get destroyed by the wakes. And where would all the Jet Skis run at 60 mph? Before it’s too late we need to wake up and no-wake New Pass from the bridge to the pass.

Let’s replace Jet Skis and 50 mph boats with kayaks and family picnics.

Jim Allen/Bonita Springs

Are we that stupid?

Editor, Daily News:

It is our sovereign right to enact immigration laws that protect this nation.

Illegal immigration is a problem only because our leadership hasn’t cared if we’re deluged with illegal aliens. They’ve refused true enforcement. They’ve disgustingly spent billions of our dollars appearing to do something, when in reality they’ve been doing nearly nothing.

And now they seek to favor and reward illegal immigrants with citizenship, giving them voting rights, welfare and unending family reunification. That’s a blatant blow to our citizenry. That’s amnesty! Stop the insulting word games.

So while our citizens try to conserve energy to lower its costs, our president and Congress turn a blind eye as 2 million more immigrants annually negate our efforts and burden us with yearly $68 billion in costs.

And environmental preservation? Present proposals would increase our population over 100 million people in only a few decades.

Our culture? With this invasion, assimilation is impossible.

Our struggling citizens contend not only with this, but also with government’s phony propaganda, useless wars and egregious spending and raping their Social Security Trust Fund.

Our CIA is merely a glorified “hit” organization, dishonestly twisting and fabricating information for political purposes instead of honest intelligence-gathering.

The economy? On Jan. 14, 2000, the Dow hit 11,722.98. On May 22, 2006, it was 11,125.33.

On March 10, 2000, the NASDAQ hit 5,048.62. On May 22, 2006, it was 2,172.86.

President Bush stupidly praises this.

Jane Varner/Naples

Home of the brave

Editor, Daily News:

Kudos to Harvey Swope and Jane Varner. They are true Americans, not just party hacks spewing “my party right or wrong” such as the “Dems are Demons” letter writer.

They represent what all Americans should emulate — voters of conscience, not party.

No party stands for everything to which one subscribes. One chooses a party which represents his beliefs and preferences more than any other. When that party strays too far to one side or the other, it is our duty as Americans to make a course correction.

That doesn’t mean one has forsaken his party. Rather it means for the good of the country (not the party) he is choosing to exercise his right and votes against the party.

The fact that these two Americans were ostracized for standing up for that which they believe indicates a party in trouble and possibly a country in trouble. And for those remaining few supporters of this administration, I remind you: When President Bush was elected, the universal cry was that he received the majority of votes, so live with it.

Why is that not your logic now when 70 percent of the United States believes this administration to be bad for the country?

Pull your head out of the sand and once stand up for America rather than the party.

My voting record: Ronald Reagan, twice; Jimmy Carter, once; George H.W. Bush, once; Bill Clinton, twice; George W. Bush, never.

James C. Athanas/Naples

Get over it and get real

Editor, Daily News:

I read the newspapers and I watch and hear the TV economists.

These are sources open to all people, but I am baffled by the Democrats (I have to assume they are Democrats) who refuse to see, not to mention admit, that our economy is very strong and that this strong economy is creating new jobs at an unprecedented pace — especially here in Florida.

My bafflement comes from their consistent ignoring of the statistics that seem to come out every other day saying that we here in Florida have a booming economy and skyrocketing job growth.

In fact, Florida employers are having problems filling the jobs. I’m sure that the Democrats are benefiting from this growth, so why do they complain?

My advice to the Dems? Get on the bandwagon and work with the Republicans to help the growth continue instead of pretending that it doesn’t exist.

Jim Burke/Naples

Losing control

Editor, Daily News:

This is in response to the letter from Dr. Stanley A. Scheiner that was headed “So what’s the problem?”

Though I certainly agree with the good doctor that the county’s code enforcement system “is not performing adequately,” the problems with substandard housing and structures being built or modified in violation of building codes originated with the lax oversight of immigration, growth and development for many decades past.

But to now try to play “catch-up” by using such drastic methods as allowing the county’s supposedly impartial “special master” coach code inspectors how to win their case hearings, or suddenly slamming a mobile home park owner with so many fines that he is forced to sell the property and make his tenants homeless, is not the right way of going about improving the living conditions of the non-wealthy here in Collier County.

Collier Code Enforcement should be working with the property owners in order to bring them up to compliance, not as revenue agents for the county’s treasury.

Every domicile should be inspected prior to occupancy, and the owner advised what needs to be fixed in order to receive a certificate of occupancy.

Only if, over a reasonable time, the property owner demonstrates no progress towards making the recommended improvements should penalty fines be levied.

It is important to remind ourselves once in a while of the spirit of our Constitution and the United States of America for which it stands.

Bruce J. Kennedy/Naples

Now honestly

Editor, Daily News:

The director of the Collier County Abstinence Program’s recent letter is deceitful.

How do anti-choice people, those working at medically-incomplete “crisis pregnancy clinics” and those preaching “abstinence only,” live with themselves when they lie about and misrepresent Planned Parenthood?

The letter ignores the continuing Planned Parenthood efforts to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections, as well as ignoring Planned Parenthood classes run to improve parent-child communication.

Planned Parenthood literature and counseling are clear: Honest talk between parents and children and abstaining from sexual relations are the best ways to avoid teen pregnancy or STDs.

Planned Parenthood doesn’t “bury its head in the sand.” If teens insist on having sexual relations, Planned Parenthood urges them to practice safe sex. Twisting Planned Parenthood’s message into promotion of promiscuity is engaging in the big lie technique. Why is the immorality of lying used to promote abstinence as a moral position?

Wouldn’t it be fabulous if those wishing to prevent teen pregnancies and STD infections would unite with Planned Parenthood to educate teens fully and accurately about sexuality? Does it make sense only to promote abstinence when research reveals abstinence is effective with only a small fraction of teens? Should teens not convinced by abstinence teaching be consigned to unwanted pregnancies, STDs and abortions?

The ultimate tragedy is that promotion of abstinence without comprehensive, conservatively compassionate sex education increases abortion, which is chosen by many teens who become pregnant through not practicing abstinence.

Robbins Winslow/Naples

Or else

Editor, Daily News:

It is way past the time for beginning impeachment proceedings against George Bush and Dick Cheney for so many things, beginning with the lies which led to getting us involved in the Iraq war.

If you members of Congress don’t want to get it done, then we need to elect those who will actually stand up for the people’s interests and begin impeachment, now!

Eleanor Parrish/Naples

In summation:

Editor, Daily News:

For the past five years, it was my pleasure to care for the heart failure patients of Naples Community Hospital.

It was a job that I loved and it nearly broke my heart to walk away. But the volume of patients and intensity of the workload was simply too great for one person.

To my patients: Please remember all that I taught you. Weigh yourself daily, take your meds and watch the salt intake!

To the physicians: Please care for these patients as though they are family, for they are someone’s family.

To the NCH administration: I am profoundly disappointed with the way that these patients were treated — dismissed after my resignation, with their cries for help ignored.

The reluctance to even share the truth with them was astonishing.

It is time to end the era of the “good old boy network” and abandon the Peter Principle as a promotion strategy.

Do you really need 13 vice presidents? You are accountable to this community and by this community you will be judged.

Finally, to the NCH Board of Trustees: Isn’t it time we put patient care before politics?

Sara Billings/Naples

Ready, set, GOP

Editor, Daily News:

The recipe for cooking up a “class society” is as follows:

First, tax cuts! Tax cuts benefit those who pay the most taxes. It allows the rich and privileged to maintain their position in society monetarily much more easily than if they had to deal with a more commensurate schedule relative to their exposure within society.

Second: Smaller government! This allows for less regulation and oversight of business transactions that provide and create the maximum profit and utilization of investment. In addition, it is particularly useful if the elite rich and privileged are able to control government through the election of their representatives.

Third, a strong military! The best insurance in securing the status quo as a result of the manipulation of the free enterprise system and capitalism is a strong military to protect and ensure the continuance of the realized accomplishment of the rich and privileged. Introducing patriotism to confirm this dominance is a clever device in sustaining the advantage gained by this political policy.

Gee, if there were only a political organization that promoted this recipe to provide the security all of America desires.

Of course, there is one — the Republican Party! How lucky can we be?

Al Stack/Marco Island

Life, death and truth

Editor, Daily News:

This is in response to the letter which attempts to berate and demean the humanitarian role Planned Parenthood plays in our community.

I recently accompanied staff members of Planned Parenthood to Tallahassee to lobby our legislators to support bills which would prevent unintended pregnancies. Florida has the sixth-highest teen pregnancy rate in the country, averaging 50,000 teen pregnancies each year. AIDS-related diseases are the ninth leading cause of death among 15- to 19-year-olds in Florida.

Beneath these devastating statistics are human dramas filled with despair, disgrace and hopelessness. That is why 85 percent of parents say that in addition to abstinence, age-appropriate sex education should be taught in the schools so young people can develop responsible decision-making skills and recognize the emotional consequences of sexual activity.

This is substantiated by recent studies which show that sexually knowledgeable young people are more apt to abstain than those who are denied truth.

Arlyne Goodwin/Naples

Top banana

Editor, Daily News:

There is a fabled study where a dozen monkeys are placed in a cage with a ladder inside it. At the top of the ladder is a bunch of bananas. Whenever a monkey tries to climb the ladder, the entire group of monkeys is showered with cold water. Eventually, they learn not to climb the ladder.

Then one monkey is removed and a new monkey is placed in the cage. When it tries to climb the ladder, the other monkeys pull it down before the cold shower happens. That monkey learns not to climb the ladder from its peers, even though it has never experience the cold shower.

Then another monkey is replaced and the new one learns not to climb the ladder. Eventually, all of the original moneys are replaced and learn not to climb the ladder even though none has experienced the cold shower — the moral being because that’s the way it has always been done.

Now, enter “The Da Vinci Code,” an apparently blasphemous story that suggests that Christ took a wife whose lineage truly would have made him King of the Jews. They say that if you insult the prophet, a Muslim will kill you; if you blaspheme Jesus, Christians will shun you; and if you slander Buddha, Buddhists will smile and chuckle.

With that in mind, please consider that the notion of the immaculate conception of Buddha came nearly a century after his death, even though he knew his parents quite well.

David Calhoun/Naples and Cape Cod

Above the law?

Editor, Daily News:

The laws don’t apply here.

The FBI requested a federal judge to issue a search warrant for U.S. Rep. William Jefferson’s office based on a videotape and evidence of a crime. Yet, the speaker of the House and House majority leader are complaining. Are they worried that their offices may be searched based on evidence of criminal activity?

Criminal laws don’t apply to congressmen? They consistently exempt themselves from laws they pass, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that they consider themselves to be above the law. What brazen hypocrisy by Republicans, especially when Jefferson is a Democrat.

Those offices belong to the taxpayers. We only let congressmen occupy them.

God forbid that Dennis Hastert would have a CD of child pornography in a federal office. He might be facing 10 years in prison.

John Hooley/Naples