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Friday, February 2, 2007
Health costs finally exposed
WASHINGTON - We are awash in health care proposals. President Bush has one. So does California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden has a plan, as does a coalition led by Families USA (a liberal advocacy group) and America's Health Insurance Plans (a trade group). To some extent, all these plans and others aim to provide insurance to the estimated 47-million Americans who lack it - a situation widely deplored as a national disgrace. But the real significance of all these proposals, I submit, lies elsewhere.
She served outrage with a scoop of joy
WASHINGTON - She explained her views on gun control this way: "I am not antigun. I'm proknife. Consider the merits of the knife. In the first place, you have to catch up with someone in order to stab him. A general substitution of knives for guns would promote physical fitness. We'd turn into a whole nation of great runners. Plus, knives don't ricochet. And people are seldom killed while cleaning their knives."
We brought peace; they chose war
WASHINGTON - This week the internecine warfare in Iraq, already bewildering - Sunni vs. Shiite, Kurd vs. Arab, jihadist vs. infidel, with various Iranians, Syrians and assorted freelancers thrown into the maelstrom - went bizarre. In one of the biggest battles of the war, Iraqi troops reinforced by Americans wiped out a heavily armed, well-entrenched millenarian Shiite sect preparing to take over Najaf, kill the moderate Shiite clergy (including Grand Ayatollah Sistani) and proclaim its leader the returned messiah.
Times Editorial: Crist casts a ballot for trouble
If Gov. Charlie Crist thinks $32-million and a simplistic paper-only approach to voting will end Florida's ballot-counting woes, he's in for a big surprise. On Thursday, Crist said he would ask the Legislature for that amount of money to help 15 urban counties switch from touch screen voting machines to hand-marked, optically scanned ballots for the 2008 election. Crist should have no illusions; the switch will cause as many problems as it cures.
Times Editorial: From court fight to caring
Good intentions, goodwill and a sense of cooperation can do wonders. Florida's new secretary of the Department of Children and Families, Bob Butterworth, has demonstrated that by handling the controversy over mentally ill jail inmates in a way that puts state resources into helping people rather than into protracted court battles. The deal struck between DCF and the local public defender's office bodes well for the beleaguered agency and the vulnerable population it serves.
Letters To The Editor: Property tax system needs to have a complete overhaul
While I applaud our governor for recognizing the need for property tax relief, I am afraid his proposals will do little to help those who need it most and will only perpetuate and magnify current inequities.
Editorials and letters from the Times regional sections
CITRUSFebruary 1, 2007
Deputies' actions feed cynical views of law
A Times Editorial
It is easy to look at the circumstances surrounding Martone's latest brush with the law and conclude that the longtime officer and personal friend of Sheriff Jeff Dawsy received a tremendous break from his colleagues after a recent traffic stop.
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January 24, 2007
High impact fees could hurt county
By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
When we contracted to build our new home, the base price was $200,000. But we knew, and the builder knew, that there would be change orders. It is expected, and the builders never beg the buyer to not add to the cost of building the home because they are going to get a markup on whatever is added to the contract.
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HERNANDOFebruary 1, 2007
A concrete example for county to explore
A Times Editorial
As they continue to wrestle with the problem of where and how to expand government facilities to meet public demand for increased services, Hernando County commissioners don't have to look far for a rock-solid idea about how to do it faster and less expensively.
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February 1, 2007
Tickets are better than accidents
Letters to the Editor
It is my feeling that Mrs. B. Turner has missed the point of "speed traps," as she calls them. There is not a person who has a driver's license who has not exceeded the speed limit or committed some other driving violation.
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NORTH PINELLASFebruary 1, 2007
Largo needs sign law that is fair and firm
A Times Editorial
Once upon a time, the city of Largo created a sign ordinance. And it was good. Then, merchants and others complained that the ordinance was too strict. The people who created the ordinance had second thoughts.
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February 2, 2007
'Problem' isn't with the homeless
Letters to the Editor
How remarkably original that the St. Petersburg Times will attempt to incite pity over the homeless "problem" in Pinellas County.
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PASCOFebruary 2, 2007
Civil court as code enforcer a smart plan
By Times editorial
New Port Richey wants to switch a citizens panel with civil court. It's a logical swap to enhance code enforcement in Pasco's largest city. The plan, being drafted by the city staff and requiring council approval, will rely on Pasco County Court judges to enforce city codes.
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February 2, 2007
Public apology is great deterrent
Letters to the Editor
Sorry surprises School Board Jan. 28 story
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