Message of ‘joy’ at Democratic Convention hides Kamala Harris’ poor track record | Opinion
Can’t trust Kamala
The Aug. 23 Miami Herald online editorial, “At DNC, Democrats were joyful. What a contrast to Florida men Trump and DeSantis,” celebrates the joy felt at the Democratic National Convention, This message, however, is not only naive, it is completely out of touch with the reality most Americans face today. With wars raging around the world, security risks increasing at home and our wide open borders due to the Biden-Harris administration, there is no cause for celebration. This “joy” is nothing more than a distraction from the serious problems that must be addressed and that were created by the administration.
Between ex-President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, it’s clear that only Trump has the proven track record and the strength to fix these issues.
Why should we trust Harris to solve the crises she helped create?
Also alarming is that the Herald continues to oppose laws that give parents rights in their children’s education. Our state has implemented the most robust school choice initiative anywhere in the country. Here, tax dollars follow the backpacks and families are able to decide what school or educational options are best for their children — not the government. These laws ensure transparency and empower parents, yet the editorial board seems to have a problem with that.
Moreover, it’s ironic for Democrats to accuse Republicans of being anti-democratic when they have undermined their own primary process. After endorsing President Joe Biden, they then sidelined him in favor of Harris, who didn’t earn a single vote in the primary elections.
How can she claim to be a candidate of change when she’s been part and parcel of the administration’s failures?
Even the Herald concedes that Harris has failed to explain her policy positions, especially on key issues like housing and federal price controls. These so-called solutions won’t combat the inflation the administration has caused. Instead, they’ll create more shortages and economic hardship for American families. It’s time for real leadership and real solutions, not more of the same from a candidate who has yet to prove she can deliver anything but more problems.
Thomas P. Fabricio,
state representative,
Miami Lakes
Park preservation
As president of the Loxahatchee Battlefield Preservationists Board and resident of St. Johns and Palm Beach counties, I oppose any golf courses in any Florida state parks, including Anastasia and Jonathan Dickinson parks.
Johnathan Dickinson in Martin County and Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County are among the most significant multilevel historic sites in both counties. The prehistoric and historic habitation in these state parks date back as far as the Archaic Period or at least 5,000 years ago.
The primary goal of our parks is to preserve and protect these cultural resources, while providing education and passive recreation opportunities for the public to experience these beautiful places and our state history.
Jonathan Dickinson includes a historical portion of the Second Seminole War. This ties directly to Treaty Park, Castillo de San Marco and Fort Mose in St. Johns County. In Palm Beach County, the Second Seminole war history connects to Riverbend Loxahatchee Battlefield, Jupiter Lighthouse and Museum and Fort Jupiter,
If we open the door to “any development” in any park, we are opening a Pandora’s box that’ll never close. We must remain vigilantly and stand up to any and all development in any local or state park.
Derek Boyd Hankerson,
Jupiter
Pointed questions
Fleta Stamen’s Aug. 25 letter, “Let’s get serious,” was spot on.
During the Republican and Democratic National Conventions speeches, I commented to a friend as to how many hallow promises our politicians made in their campaign speeches without setting forth any specific plans on how they would go about accomplishing their goals.
Perhaps in media interviews of these aspiring candidates, reporters’ queries can be focused on holding them accountable by committing to solutions.
Let’s remember to vote for those who tell the truth come Nov. 5.
H. Allen Benowitz,
Miami
‘Billionaire bunker’
While the ultra-rich can mingle with folks of the same “kind” at the elite haven of Indian Creek Village — according to the Aug. 25 story “Why do the mega-rich drop millions to live here?” — there was a time when not all of their cohort could call each other neighbor.
When the tiny municipality in northeast Miami-Dade was chartered in 1939, the deed restrictions were, well, quite strict. No people of color and no Semites of any persuasion could buy one of the 41 plots along Indian Creek Drive.
Now colloquially named “Billionaire Bunker,” Indian Creek is one of four municipalities in the 33154 Zip Code and is open to folks of all creeds and religions, just like Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, and Surfside. That original charter was abolished in 1955.
Norma A. Orovitz,
Bay Harbor Islands
Lost, then won
During the Aug. 20 primary elections, Broward County voters rejected Daniel Foganholi, a Moms for Liberty-backed candidate for the county school board. Days later, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he was appointing Foganholi to the State Board of Education.
That is just nuts!
Republican Party zealots consistently ignore or disregard the will of the voting citizens. We have become fascist Florida.
Don Deresz,
Miami
Equal votes
Without question, the biggest diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in the United States are the Electoral College and U.S. Senate. These two Constitutional institutions give more voting power to rural Americans than to urban or suburban Americans.
Rural voters did nothing to deserve extra representation. They don’t pay more taxes and they aren’t suppressed. Rural Americans get more federal handouts per capita than anyone else. These voters were born in predominantly rural states and generally stayed put, forming a voting class with unearned political advantage.
If DEI rubs anyone the wrong way and they want to give everyone in America equal access to power, then support ditching the Electoral College and the Senate, so every vote counts the same in choosing the president, creating laws and appointing judges to the federal bench.
Philip K. Stoddard,
South Miami
Bringing up ‘baby’
The Miami Herald’s editorial board used about 500 words to champion abortion in the Aug. 23 editorial, “Floridians must listen to DNC speakers on abortion.” And only one of those words was “baby,” in a sentence that included the phrase “fatal abnormality.”
What about the millions of perfect “babies” killed in the womb in America because they are “inconvenient?”
How about an editorial calling attention to those babies who will never take a breath in life, nor become “champions” in a multitude of chosen fields?
Allen Smith,
Palmetto Bay
Florida football
Re: the Aug. 25 Miami Herald online story, “Five story lines to watch as Miami Hurricanes get set to begin season vs Florida Gators” by reporter Jordan McPherson.
Everyone thinks they know how the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will wind up this year. Then Georgia Tech will dominate the Seminoles at the line of scrimmage, regardless of the closeness of the score.
I’d love to see Miami (whose vintage early 1990s Starter jacket I still have from the Big East days) or another team representing the ACC in the new 12-team playoff.
For what it’s worth, the Big 12 can’t catch them, no matter how many press releases its commissioner hands out.
Adam Silbert,
New York City