Re Andrew Carroll's May 6 Other Views column How to spend your stimulus check: As a former Army soldier, I appreciate any effort by civilian organizations to support troops during conflict.
But we cannot lose sight of the decisions that this administration has made, with tacit agreement from the Republican-controlled Congress, that created additional problems for service members, including involuntary stop-loss actions, extended deployments and, most important, grossly inadequate funding of Veterans Affairs support activities for after these brave Americans return home.
I've donated to similar military-support causes and will gladly do so again. But encouraging private donations is no substitute for requiring that the federal government honor its obligations to our veterans.
DAVID KERSTETTER, Cooper City
Protect river port
The city of Miami is trying to eliminate the Port of the Miami River in favor of more-dense residential high-rise development. A well-functioning government would be offering incentives and energetic support for this shallow draft port in its river and the significant trade and employment opportunities that such a port provides. The city should be encouraging the port to grow, as the Planning Advisory Board has done in its recommendation to protect the port.
Instead, a dysfunctional city government seems determined to eliminate the port, perhaps as soon as Thursday. The service that the Port of the Miami River provides to the Caribbean and a potential free Cuba is obvious to all, except those who don't understand.
RICHARD BUNNELL, Miami
State budget cuts
Many Floridians complained that taxes were too high and wanted to cut them. But many of these homeowners voted to increase their taxes. They agreed to cut class size, fund the Children's Trust, improve parks and libraries and provide voluntary pre-kindergarten, among other things.
Where did they think the county and state would get the money to pay for all this? People are still screaming that their property taxes are too high, but now cry foul that programs are being cut or funding reduced. Many of these programs are good programs and, yes, the current tax system is unfair to first-time home buyers. But those who voted for the programs should pay for it and stop whining.
THEODORE SAYRE, Miami
Clinton is wealthy
When Hillary Clinton talked about taxes on Fox's O'Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly said that he was rich and didn't want to see his taxes increase. Clinton laughed and said, ``Rich people, God bless us, we deserve the opportunities to make sure our blessings continue to the next generation.''
Is this the same Hillary Clinton who portrayed herself as a shot-drinking, beer-swilling, truck-driving, gas-pumping, coffee-making blue-collar woman who claims to understand what we middle-class folk need? She admitted that she hadn't pumped gas in years. And that shot she drank in a Pennsylvania bar was Crown Royal, the one that comes in the velvet pouch, which most of us blue-collar types don't drink because it is too expensive.
PHIL SHARLET, South Miami
Wright vs. Falwell
In his May 4 Issues & Ideas column, Carl Hiaasen tries to draw a parallel between Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson and Jeremy Wright.
But there is a big difference between an assertion that the hand of God is on this country because of the sins of its people and one that our government is waging a war of extermination on its citizens.
Pembroke Pines
Making a bomb?
Re the May 5 story Explosives trial nears for student: The fates of Youssef Samir Megahed and Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed should not be decided on evidence that they were carrying items that might have been explosives.
The charges should be changed to ''stupidity in the first degree.'' A conviction would be assured. Anyone carrying anything resembling the ingredients for an explosive device after 9/11 should be convicted and locked up for 10 years.
NATALIE LONGURL, Miami
Short on funds
I was picking up my son from Jack D. Gordon Elementary School's aftercare program last week and asked him to go into the restroom to wash his hands and face. He came out shaking his hands and with his face soaking wet. I asked why he did not dry off first. His replied: ``The school doesn't have any money for paper towels, so we have to shake our hands.''
Way to go, School Board.
LYDIA CZECH, Miami
U.N. is `weak'
The United Nations and the free world have to be concerned over the failure of Iran to comply with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. They must question Iran's reluctance to do so. Iran seems to have something to hide, though it signed the treaty.
Many other countries, however, including Israel, haven't signed it. Why hasn't Israel signed? Certainly it has nothing to hide, does it? This makes this treaty and the United Nations weak and ineffective. It's the League of Nations all over again.
RICHARD SCHULER, Plantation
