Letters to the editor: July 23, 2017

Need more old-fashioned respect

Bill McMaster's comments on July 16, as well as many other pieces on the pages of our informative local newspaper, were discouraging. I am in my mid 80’s and have lived throughout the east and the Midwest.

I happened to be at the Republican’s Women’s Club luncheon and really appreciated the fact that U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney could be relaxed with about 50 folks that would be interested in learning his thinking and what he is trying to accomplish without a rude noisy element in the audience making sure he could not be heard or at least hoping to intimidate him.

I felt the discussion was rewarding and that he knew he had a job to do for us and he would do his best. I came away with the knowledge that he understood the phrase, “What do you do when you run out of other people’s money,” to achieve your goal of staying in power and living the plush life of a legislator as it has evolved.

There is only so much money to be spent. A large contingent of our citizenry does not seem to understand this fact. We might have to do without or put more effort into finding fraud and give away programs that do not produce results.

Certain aspects of education spending come to mind and the fact that the government cannot be all things to all people in every aspect of life. I am sure that Rooney and others would have more open meetings if the old-fashioned idea of respect and listening to different views came back into fashion.

Virginia Bailey, Naples

Be attentive, respectful

Ed Feldman's letter of July 15, "Trump removal a long shot," is a well-written explanation of our country's impeachment process. He ends his letter with the question: "Who honestly thinks Congressional Republicans ... would complete the removal process?"

Had I written this letter I would have changed the question to: Who honestly would not complete the removal process? And, I truly believe many sensible and fair-minded Americans would agree with me.

But I do not pretend to devalue the strength and thinking of President Donald Trump's base. They have good reason to be fed up with the inaction and selfishness of politicians of the past 20 years.
And, I understand the severe distaste they had for Hilary Clinton. She was a flawed candidate who ran a poor campaign.

I think the time has come for all of us to listen to and respect the arguments of all of us because none of us has all the answers.

Robert Mills, Naples

Get the facts

What does the word assume mean? It seems people have forgotten what it stands for.

Take for example U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney and the subject of school "safe zones." Rooney states he would introduce a bill to stop funds to schools with "safe zones," not knowing what they are. He assumed he knew.

Once he was educated as to what they are, he is not doing that anymore. We all need to stop assuming and get the facts. With all our technology and information at our fingertips, we should not be passing judgement on assumptions.

It seems people are in a hurry, read a headline (or half a headline), assume they understand and go riot for it. Well, let’s not ass-u-me anymore; gather your facts, make sure facts seem accurate and then decide, or we can keep assuming and Elvis is still alive.

Brigid Soldavini Clapper, Naples

For equal health care treatment

First and foremost, as a former member of the armed forces, I admire the honorable senator from Arizona. His service to our country and his men is remarkable.

However, in light of the current situation in Congress in relation to health care reform, I must ask, would the average person be treated at the Mayo Clinic or other facility under the proposed health plan now under consideration in the Senate? Who would pay and how much in co-pays, deductibles, etc., would be required from the patient in order to receive the care?

If he or others would agree, why not use their experiences in health care as strawmen or ladies, to test the proposals on health care reform?

Thomas Ruple, Naples

No basements here

Neapolitan columnist Jay Schlichter can’t possibly consider himself the “greatest geek on the planet.” Living in your mom’s basement is next to impossible in Naples.

Lynn J. Pattyson, Naples

Consider the source

Let’s put it this way: Would you have more confidence in a doctor who had a formal education in medicine and subscribed to the Hippocratic Oath than in one who dropped out of school and “ picked up learning along the way?”

Think about your answer the next time someone blusters about “fake news.” In 1914, a professional newsman, Walter Williams, founded the nation’s premiere journalism school at the University of Missouri. His “journalist’s creed” requires aspiring newsmen and women to state that they believe their profession is a public trust; that clear thinking, clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental and, among other things, “a journalist should write only in his heart what he knows to be true.”

That creed has been taught and is part of the curriculum at schools all over the world, including some in censors-ready China. Basically, agreeing with its principles automatically conditions every reporter, correspondent or editor calling himself a journalist to sneer at the mere idea of fake news.

The list of newspaper writers, TV commentators and digital-media news people who have taken William’s words as gospel is long. Moreover, the list is studded with legendary names of journalists who have lived — and died — in their efforts to give the American public the kind of news Williams believed it deserves.

As an erstwhile student who long ago adopted the creed, it is particularly galling to realize that the “fake news” cries emanate from groups which get their “news” from such sources as Matt Drudge, who barely got through high school; Sean Hannity, a two-time college dropout; Rush Limbaugh, also a dropout, and two men whose college studies did not include journalism: Steve Bannon and President Donald Trump.

Don Dunn, Naples

Diagnosis: 'opinionitis'

There is a brain cancer spreading. It is severe on the left side of the brain. The right side really cannot function without the left.

You see, the left side is now full of negative opinions. Cerebral gossip taken to self-destructive levels. Incoherent noise that is not easy to translate.

The brain is made of grey matter and white matter. It cannot function without both. The right side is mired in righteousness (just making this up). In any case, you get the drift.

How come Advil sales are going up? Headaches.

Or drug abuse? And all the other forms of abuse?

We just can’t deal with all the opinions from all the experts. Advanced degrees flaunted as their weak assertions are made. Biased reporting is accepted as the new norm.

We turn off the TV a lot more.

It is safer for the young to do video games and the elderly (me) to now play “Las Vegas Slots” on my iPad. The evening news is incestuous gossip.

Opinions no longer come from informed facts, they are now driven by emotions. Like, “I don’t like that guy because his blonde hair is funny,” except that men’s hair is now over the top ridiculous anyway.

Opinionitis.

Yep, the beds in the cancer wards are filling up with people who have given too many opinions and who have listened to too many opinions.

What is right is wrong. What is left is nothing.

Pelosification has set in.

What’s your opinion?

Christopher Bent, Naples

Drumming up attacks

USA Today is trying its best to drum up feminist attacks on President Donald Trump and create controversy that women on the LPGA tour are significantly underpaid compared to men playing on the PGA tour.

Christine Brennan writing for the national periodical refers to the 45th president of the United States as the “controversial host” of the 72nd women’s United States Open golf tournament being played at the Trump National Bedminster — Old Course — in Bedminster, N.J.

Joe Kiernan, Estero