Scott, thank you for continuing to examine the massive stupidity of school book bans. I think parents get to control the meal — not the menu. Mary Anne
Nice analogy, Mary Anne. If you want to deny your own kids something, fine. But don’t try to deny everyone else’s as well.
Politically, I’m a conservative Republican. Not a MAGA Republican but more of a Reagan-era conservative. Having said that, your column on “Kinky Boots” hit the nail on the head: [“Florida’s drag-queen obsessed politicians should see ‘Kinky Boots’ in Orlando“]. Have I seen “Kinky Boots”? No. Am I going to see it? Probably not. Do I care if my neighbor takes his children to see it? No, that’s his choice. We really need to get our elected officials working on the real issues here in Florida and stop wasting time trying to police what should be individual freedoms. Jack
Amen, Jack.
You’re full of sh*t. Chase
Chase, I appreciate your concision. Just four words. It’s like the “Jesus wept” verse in a Bible of profane reader responses.
I think you should write a book. You are as funny as Dave Barry, Bill Bryson and David Sedaris. Pat
First off, Pat. I am not. Second, I think Dave Barry once said: “Every newspaper writer has a book inside of him … which is precisely where it should stay.” (Though, several years ago, I did an event with Dave Barry where I shared that line. Afterwards, he said: “I’m not sure I ever actually said that. But please keep telling everybody I did. It’s very funny.”)
You seem really stupid. Rocky
Rocky, you won’t be asked to write any blurbs for my books.
Your column today detailed a blatant cover-up with double standards. [“Problems in Florida voucher schools: A $10,413 secret“] Our tax money is going toward these voucher schools, and the public doesn’t have access to how they’re being operated. This resembles taxation without representation. Ray
Or maybe taxation with obfuscation.
I enjoy your writing. I often wish I could take a Sentinel Sunday edition and beat some folks over the head with it. Al
Al, I’m not sure I can in good conscience endorse such a thing. Maybe the Monday edition. It’s lighter.
Mayor Demings is correct to appoint a committee to look at the needs of the county. [“Don’t expand the convention center again. Orange County has other needs“] The tourist industry and its companies have done great things for our county, but it’s time to put excess tourist dollars where they are desperately needed. Bob
Bob, your perspective mirrors what tourism execs decided in Las Vegas. They knew they’d done a very good job building up tourism there but decided they needed to build up the community at large as well by steering hotel taxes to local needs. And most everyone there says the community is better for it.
An uprising? Mayor’s hotel-tax task force suggests overdue changes | Commentary
Excellent piece today. [“As DeSantis relocates migrants from Texas, Republican legislators beg them to keep working in Florida“] It’s hard to fathom how anyone familiar with the basic concepts of the agriculture-construction-hospitality industries didn’t realize Florida’s economy would suffer instant and Richter-scale disruption if the the hard-working, non-citizen migrant community all called in sick. Kathleen
Kathleen, I think a lot of these politicians don’t really care about the impact of their actions — until it affects them personally. Then they want to know why they can’t find anyone to fix their roof.
Did Publix and Kroger ever join the Fair Food alliance? I know Publix has been beaming about record profits recently. John
No, they did not. Many major restaurant and grocery chains — everyone from Wal-Mart to McDonald’s — agreed years ago to do something about the exploitative working conditions in Florida’s tomato fields by paying an extra penny per pound to farmworkers. But Publix always refused. The Fair Food folks confirm that’s still the case.
My homeowner’s insurance is being canceled next month and I’m about to pay over $2,000 more for a new policy. This is a huge problem, yet the governor is out campaigning, and the legislature is taking baby steps, mostly catering to the insurance industry. It makes my blood boil. Craig
Craig, I believe this is the most under-discussed problem in this state right now. This state’s leadership seems either indifferent to the problem or simply incapable of coming up with meaningful solutions. So they keep screaming about Disney and drag queens instead.
My policy went from $2,000 last year to $3,895 this year. I’m retired with a small pension and social security. I don’t know what to do next year if the policy increases again. There is nothing left after paying for a new roof this year. I don’t want to leave the state I’ve lived in for 68 years. Mary
Mary, I’ve gotten way too many notes like yours.
Scott, I’ve figured out a way to get the governor to pay attention to this real crisis in Florida instead of made-up ones. You should print a rumor that the insurance companies are using climate change data and ESG to determine the high rates they charge Floridians. Then mention that they use the high profits to fund drag shows and give their executives free Disney annual passes! Don
We could even say some insurance companies allow their employees use preferred pronouns.
Florida’s insurance crisis: 2 special sessions, little help | Commentary
Scott, I read the column about your 25th anniversary at the Sentinel. Well done! A robust fourth estate is a marker of an advanced society. I did my part in the military, standing against “enemies foreign.” Your standing against the “enemies domestic” ilk is no less patriotic. I’ll make you a deal: You keep writing, and I’ll keep reading. Alex
Alex, your note is particularly humbling, given your service. Deal.
My opinion of your opinion is that it sucks. Chris
Chris, I was tempted to give you my opinion of your opinion about my opinion, but it felt like that might make the universe collapse upon itself.
smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com
25 years at the Orlando Sentinel. What a long, strange, amazing trip | Commentary
