Letters to editor in Naples Daily News Sunday, Oct. 6., 2019

Honored by flight

I am an 85-year-old Korea Navy vet who was on the Collier-Lee honor flight to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29. It was an experience of a lifetime.

I would like to thank the Honor Flight people and my angel, Debbie. When we came back at 9 30 pm., I never felt so honored in my life.                               

Hank Graefen, North Fort Myers

Club aids clinic

As pointed out in a recent Naples Daily News article, the scope of charity care provided by our local Lions Club continues to be impressive.

The Lions have provided special cameras in pediatricians' offices so their young patients with "lazy eye" issues can be diagnosed and treated promptly. The Lions have been equally generous with the Neighborhood Health Clinic.

At the Neighborhood Health Clinic, the leading chronic disease is diabetes. A few years ago, the Lions Club, led by President Dr. Howard Freeman, placed a retina screening camera at the clinic, helping us screen our diabetic patients annually. This is a huge plus for our diabetic patients' quality of care.

Thank you to the Lions Club for continuing great community programs.

Leslie Lascheid, Naples 

FPL's meters

Smart meters are harmful. Analog meters are safe.

FPL installed 12 smart meters on my condo building and every building in my community. Smart meters emit harmful radiation up to 40 feet.

FPL will remove them for a fee of $89 each and charge an extra $13 per month to service them. It is unfair that there are fees to remove and service them; but If people realized the harm these meters create, they would opt out and use an analog meter.

I want to raise consciousness and stop FPL from using these meters as they also invade our privacy. 

Victoria Nicklos, Naples

Candidates' 'bribery'?

In a recent letter, the writer stated, ”Virtually every Democratic candidate for president is guilty of (bribery) by offering payment for votes.”

It is true that bribes are always intended to influence or alter the action of individuals. But for these types of enticements to be considered a crime, there has to be proved a corrupt intent.

I do not believe there is a corrupt intent when candidates offer to improve the lives of U.S. citizens by proposing $200 per month more in Social Security payments or by issuing a $1,000 bond for every newborn or by providing access to more affordable medical care.

I do believe, however, that when our president withholds previously approved military aid to one of our allies for compromising material on a political opponent, he is guilty of bribery with corrupt intent.

Michael Troop, North Naples

Above the law?

We as Americans have to decide: Are we a nation of laws that apply to all, or are some people above the law. Is the Constitution a sacred document, or is it an inconvenience to be pushed aside by those in power.

Unfortunately, now is the time we must decide. This question is above politics or what certain people like or dislike. All must be judged on the facts and found innocent or guilty. Only then will we be true to the spirit of this great country and the sacrifice of preceding generations.

Benjamin Glick, North Naples

Governor's job

The best thing you can do for the American people, Gov. DeSantis, is to know your job. The president has enriched himself, bribed others and ignored laws and morality.

One of our checks and balances is that the House of Representatives (as stated in "The Mueller Report") is the one who investigates the president. The governor's job is not to be asking our people to give money to support our president's mistakes. Your job, Governor, is to make Florida a good place to live.

Beverly Zeldes, North Naples

Democrats 'desperate'

After the failed Russia hoax and the Kavanaugh hoax, the desperate Democrats are now engaged in the most despicable attempt to distort the American system of justice ever, with their latest impeachment hoax.

Until now, the American system of justice required any charge of wrongdoing to include a legitimate complaint from a victim or institute, followed by a thorough attempt to verify the complaint through witness testimony and verification of evidence.

The two earlier cases became “hoaxes” when Democrats failed to find verifiable evidence and in the Kavanaugh case even failed to find verifiable victims. The case failed because it became a “he said, she said” case of unverified hearsay.

In the present impeachment attempt, the Dems are trying to elevate unsubstantiated secondhand rumor issued by an anonymous witness to the level of verified evidence. The case does not even rise to the level of “hearsay,” and it will become another total failure emanated from a hostile, desperate group of deranged politicians dominated by hate. Democrats are committing political suicide.

Bob Jacobs, Estero

Inquiry in Ukraine

None of the articles and editorials I have read calling for President Trump’s impeachment made any mention of Crowdstrike. When Trump asked Zelensky for a favor, it was to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigation of CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity firm that determined the Russians were behind the hacking of the DNC’s servers in 2016.

The FBI was not permitted to look at the servers. The U.S. and Ukraine have a treaty that requires cooperation in such investigations. The president was doing his duty in requesting this assistance. The Biden portion of the conversation occurred later in the phone call, but that is not the narrative the mainstream media is telling.

William Beadle, North Fort Myers

Trump 'whining' 

I have just finished listening to the latest news conference with Mr. Trump and the Norwegian prime minister, which quickly became a mini-campaign rally that quickly turned into a disjointed rant airing Mr. Trump's many grievances.

His petty whining and perceived slights are getting tiresome. We have too many serious issues that the government should be addressing. Instead, the president is worried only about his wounded ego and is sending a message of weakness to the world.

If, indeed, we are the strongest country in the world, it is time our government, in particular our president, shows our greatness to the world. We are not a country of whiners and crybabies.

Suzanne Zinderman, Cape Coral

Vaping's dangers

Some four years ago, the FDA warned of a crisis of addiction when it tried to ban flavored fluid for e-cigarettes.

White House officials were considering including a ban as part of a new tobacco control rule. Over a course of 46 days, they met with more than 100 tobacco and industry lobbyists and small-business advocates. A cost-benefit analysis suggested the economic burden on vaping shops appeared to outweigh potential health benefits of a ban.

They concluded wrongly that vaping was safe. Mistakes are costly, we need to do a better job.

Lewis Robinson, Fort Myers