Why is state ‘dragging’ its feet on transparency?
The report (Scott Maxwell: “Fine tried to add drag queens to ‘bestiality’ law,” October 25) featured an ongoing problem in our state government. The often used term “slow walking” defines the constant delays that postpone action in hope that the interest of the inquirer will diminish to the point of disappearance. The technique is “dragging’’ out response to legitimate questions about state actions. “Dragging’ out expensive lawsuits defending illegitimate actions of the state. Generally using delaying tactics to resist attempts to uncover information that should be transparent and readily available under the state’s Sunshine Law.
There was a time when Florida was hailed for the openness of its government through the exercise of those laws and their implementing regulations. Now, the state is characterized by almost wholesale obstruction of all requests for information about actions throughout the departments and agencies of our government. It seriously challenges the constant trumpeting of the claim of “The Free State of Florida.”
The pervasiveness of this condition justifies changing the term “slow walking” to define response workers as “drag queen.” So Rep. Randy Fine, Gov. DeSantis, et al, if you want to attack “drag queens” why not start here? Certainly, they are doing more harm than some guys and gals engaging in some clear and undisguised cross dressing which we can choose to see or avoid at our option. Don’t need your help here; thank you very much!
William E. “Bill” Thompson Apopka
Can’t deny Biden’s negatives
A recent letter to the editor (“Find good things Biden has done,” Oct. 26) appealed to the Sentinel to stop printing articles on how the GOP is messing up to the exclusion of stories on accomplishments of the Biden administration. Could it be keeping negative stories about the GOP front and center allows the compliant liberal press to cover up the failings of the Biden administration with nothing positive to report?
Currently, Biden’s approval rating stands at 37%. Since Biden came to office inflation surged to a 40-year high with consumer goods up 17% and gas up 50%. Real weekly earnings have dropped almost 4%, public debt has increased 22.5%, home prices are up almost 30%, mortgage rates are at a 22-year high (more than doubling since he took office). His regulatory impositions through 2022 have cost the average household $5,019. And finally, there’s his epic failure to secure the border.
It is rather apparent the press is keeping Biden bubble-wrapped and off the radar to mask the multitude of failures. The press has decided “if you can’t say something nice about Biden, say nothing at all.”
Mark W. Needham Clermont
Don’t forget the terror in Israel
Another front page picture of the situation in Gaza. While I recognize that the people of Gaza are in dire straits with the actions that Israel has been forced to take, I think that not showing all the terror, the destruction of Israeli homes, the kidnapping of innocent citizens, the massacre at a music festival, the beheading of little children, the burning of homes with people still inside, etc., is creating a false narrative of what is behind the reason for the Israeli response. Please keep reminding people that Israel did not start this war; they are defending themselves against a brutality that has not been seen since the days of the Holocaust.
Judi Carey Orlando
