Letters to the Editor

The readers’ forum

What are Florida’s priorities?

 

Florida legislators are once again pulling out the “Retirement Systems: Killing America playbook” to cause fear and unrest in order to deflect the real issues facing our state. Claiming the need to resolve Florida’s economic crisis, they want to close the Florida Retirement System — a retirement program that in the governor’s own words is one of the best run retirement plans in the nation — and allow the investors on shady street to do the same thing Washington legislators allowed them to do on Wall Street: gamble with the savings of Florida’s workers.

While legislators continue to claim that closing one of the nation’s best retirement systems is good public policy, they fail to mention that doing so will push unfunded mandates down on local governments causing higher contribution rates which will result in higher taxes and fewer services.

Floridians need to ask themselves what are the state’s priorities? Do we really want to lead the nation in gun permits rather than high school graduates? Are higher taxes really keeping first-time home buyers from achieving the American Dream, not the 100 percent increase in home owner insurance rates when we haven’t had more than a thunderstorm since 2005?

While large insurance corporations continue to line the pockets of our legislators, the rest are left with making a choice: Pay higher deductibles to care for loved ones, or risk their well being in order to pay the higher cost of gas? Do we not see that this philosophical issue has pitted American worker against American worker while politicians continue to cater to shady street investors and insurance lobbyists?

No worries, though. Teachers will continue to teach, law enforcement will continue to fight crime, and fire rescue personnel will continue to respond to your everyday emergencies all while legislators convince you that their “playbook” will help Floridians keep gas in their car, a roof over their heads, and health insurance for their families.

John K. McNamara, president, Broward County Council of Professional Fire Fighters, Pompano Beach

Read more Letters to the Editor stories from the Miami Herald

  • The readers’ forum

    Unethical tutors cause Florida’s children to lose out

    As a district coordinator for a tutoring company that received an ‘excellent’ rating from the Florida Department of Education (DOE) for the 10 years that we have been providing services in Florida, I must respond to the May 12 article Fight over money for tutoring went down to the wire.

  • DCF fails again

    Another innocent child has died because of the blatant incompetence of the Florida Department of Children & Families. The little arms of Rilya Wilson and Nubia Barahona have stretched out to embrace the latest victim of neglect, infant Bryan Osceola.

  • Larger type, please

    I am always proud of the Silver Knight nominees from Miami-Dade County. When the winners are printed in The Miami Herald, the categories, from art to world languages, can be easily read. But even with the best of bifocals, I need a high-power magnifier to read the students’ names. The Herald should print the names a little larger to honor these outstanding students more fully.

Miami Herald

Join the
Discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere on the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

The Miami Herald uses Facebook's commenting system. You need to log in with a Facebook account in order to comment. If you have questions about commenting with your Facebook account, click here.

Have a news tip? You can send it anonymously. Click here to send us your tip - or - consider joining the Public Insight Network and become a source for The Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald.

Hide Comments

This affects comments on all stories.

Cancel OK

  • Videos

  • Quick Job Search

Enter Keyword(s) Enter City Select a State Select a Category