Affirmative action and arguments
The Supreme Court was right to strike down race preferences | Column, July 10
I was in a group discussion lately including people with very liberal/progressive ideas, those who were more centrist and those who were very conservative. Our topic was the recent Supreme Court decision regarding affirmative action and college admissions. One of the arguments was that diversity in the college ranks should reflect the local community demographics. Such diversity helps others listening to those from a different background; it might even get them to change their way of thinking.
On the other hand, the majority of Black doctors and judges attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as did many other professionals and executives. When HBCU students are asked why they made this choice, the usual answers are they prefer to be surrounded by people who look like them and have similar life experiences. They also prefer making a stronger connection with their cultural heritage.
So which is it? Do we prefer to have quotas based on race for diversity or continue to promote HBCUs? Maybe there is a better answer for both.
Unfortunately, only 45.9% of Black students (40% for Black men) graduate college within six years. The average for other students is 62.3%. Instead of concentrating on college admissions, maybe we should spend more time and money educating everyone from pre-K through high school graduation. Otherwise, we will continue to have students who are not prepared for the rigors of college, often resulting in loans that will haunt them for years.
Tom Craig, Riverview
Where’s our rebate?
DeSantis says no to energy funds | July 12
The governor rejected $377 million in federal grant dollars for an energy efficiency program that would have included rebates to Florida residents for energy efficiency improvements. My wife and I were purposely postponing purchase of new energy efficient appliances, awaiting rollout of the the rebate program. It raises the question: why the rejection? No comment yet from the governor, but it would not be surprising to hear the political rationale in one of his future presidential campaign stops.
What is quite interesting is that the governor willingly accepted billions in federal coronavirus relief fund directly deposited into the state treasury. The governor has had more than two years to reject those federal dollars, but accepted them. The state just recently diverted $92 million of those dollars to accelerate an Interstate 95 interchange that directly benefits a developer who just coincidentally provides his private plane to the governor. Hmm.
Timothy H. McClain, St. Pete Beach
Armed with the facts
How many trans people are in the US — and why Americans often overestimate | PolitiFact, July 19
PolitiFact exists to counter misinformation and disinformation by providing facts, data and science. No matter what Americans think about a supposed wave of transgender people, this analysis found the more accurate number is less than 2%. It noted that people consistently overstate minority group sizes for various reasons. This will not change many minds but at least the new estimate is based on data analysis, not hatred and fears. Nor does the conclusion answer people’s concerns about school and sports, but one lesson is that fears can be dangerously overstated. Another observation is that politicians’ loose use of numbers and constant news reports on the subject can inflame public opinion to the point that common sense takes a vacation.
James Gillespie, St. Petersburg
In the headlines
How many trans people are in the US — and why Americans often overestimate | PolitiFact, July 19
The PolitiFact column on why the public overestimates the number of transgender people omitted one additional obvious cause: that transgender topics are in the headlines nearly every day. A little less attention to this tiny fraction of the population could help put the entire subject back in a more appropriate perspective.
Robert Potter, Seminole
Don’t throw away your vote
Don’t count a third party out in 2024 | Column, June 12
Anyone who runs for president as a third-party candidate has to know that they have no chance of winning. They only siphon votes from a candidate from one of the two main parties. Just ask Al Gore in 2000 (Ralph Nader) or Hillary Clinton in 2016 (Jill Stein). So, Cornell West or Joe Manchin, please keep your name off the ballot so you don’t give Donald Trump enough votes to become our president again.
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Explore all your optionsBill VanHorn, New Port Richey
Quit in protest
Veterans quit State Guard over training | July 15
Thank goodness we have some citizens with integrity and grit. They protested and publicly quit the State Guard once they learned it was effectively Gov. Ron DeSantis’ personal force, not an organization they volunteered for to help Floridians in emergencies.
Steve Kahn, Palm Harbor
What Jesus would do
Jesus and the woke parable of the woman at the well | Column, July 16
I pray that Gov. Ron DeSantis and other elected and appointed leaders in our state who — while claiming a Christian identity — are attacking “wokeness” will read Chris Eaton’s column. I stand with the author when he writes, “Christianity calls for engagement with the marginalized and this requires ‘seeing’ or ‘wokeness.’ ... If you reject the message of ‘wokeness’ you are in fact rejecting the message of the Gospels.” May we all allow the spirit of God to open our eyes so we live the way of love.
Mary Ann C. Holtz, St. Petersburg
Older but wiser
From the left and the right | Column, July 9
Most media outlets, including those considered mainstream, seem to be doubling down on their age bias coverage of President Joe Biden. What began as thinly veiled dog whistles during the 2020 presidential campaign season, when candidate Biden was described as lacking “sufficient vigor in his stride” and being “part of the past,” has progressed into overt ageism. Even with a string of domestic and foreign policy successes, a recent Washington Post-ABC News Poll found that 68% of respondents believe Biden is too old to serve a second term.
To date, the president’s campaign team has failed to implement an effective counter-narrative. Biden’s age should be celebrated. Linking his achievements to decades of acquired knowledge and experience not only shifts the focus to his successful legislative record, it minimizes the risk of surrendering the Oval Office to an anti-democracy subversive, Donald Trump.
Jim Paladino, Tampa
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July 21, 2023 at 04:01PM
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A lively discussion about affirmative action | Letters - Tampa Bay Times
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