You can safely enjoy life during a pandemic
In response to “Vaccination records would enforce childbirth”, a letter published on March 31st said: “Vaccination records” will not enforce solitary confinement.
We have to live in an alternate universe here in Sarasota. I don’t understand why the writer whines about not being able to “go anywhere” when our family enjoys our beautiful beaches, walks the Ringling Bridge and visits our many parks while social distancing themselves.
My husband has emphysema, but we found masks that he can comfortably wear indoors.
During the pandemic, we ate al fresco at many fine restaurants and did not restrict our active lifestyles because you can safely enjoy life if you are smart with the virus.
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Many of us welcome vaccination cards so that we can board our next flight or cruise ship and feel safe. People need to stop hearing conspiracy theories, be on the go and see that our city is full of people enjoying paradise!
Theresa Williamson Hoban, Sarasota
No political attraction, no COVID-19 vaccine
Reading the Herald Tribune on March 29th was very depressing.
Specifically, the article (“Farm workers excluded from the COVID response”) and the editorial (“Fla. Guards, inmates prioritize vaccine”) about farm workers and inmates unable to receive COVID-19 vaccine.
The above should not be a surprise, as I am sure Governor Ron DeSantis knows full well that farm workers and inmates do not vote or contribute to political campaigns.
Robert T. Hildebrand, North Harbor
Georgia’s electoral law is portrayed as racially misrepresented
I’m so tired of reading letters with misinformation about the new Georgia electoral law and tweets from celebrities who don’t know what they’re talking about.
The law is not racist.
It is not forbidden to get water or food while standing in line. It prohibits any National Rifle Association or Planned Parenthood from handing literature or water while waiting to vote.
The law will lengthen, not shorten, election times. And it adds ballot boxes in counties where there weren’t any.
The racist perception boils down to the fact that ID is required to vote. I find it racist to assume that minorities are not intelligent enough to receive photo ID. How do these poor people survive in this world?
Read what’s on the bill before you take action.
Also compare Georgian law to that of Delaware, which is much more restrictive. Our president is from Delaware. Georgian law is not racist.
Mary Gick, Nokomis
State lags behind Medicaid’s expansion
The March 27 editorial in the Herald-Tribune, “Just take the money, Governor DeSantis – and expand Medicaid,” gives many reasons why expanding Medicaid is logical and good policy.
Additional considerations were not taken into account. Florida is one of only 12 states not expanding Medicaid and the fourth lowest of all states for the percentage of residents who have health insurance. Of the six states with the lowest insured percentage, none have upgraded Medicaid.
The National Institutes of Health published a meta-analysis of numerous studies examining the relationship between health and insurance. The analysis found that health insurance is associated with better health outcomes and the receipt of adequate care for preventive, chronic and acute illnesses.
People with health insurance are generally healthier than people without health insurance. Healthy Floridians form healthy communities in Florida.
Other studies show financial benefits for healthcare providers, including rural hospitals.
Indeed: “What is he waiting for?”
Glen Peterson, Venice
Return to normal with a vaccination certificate
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says he will ban the use of vaccination cards to gain access to business, entertainment, or crowds. Such passports could allow people to give up masks.
New York State is ready to take this approach in order to return to normal. A digital “passport” was introduced on March 26th.
I compare that to needing a driver’s license to drive a car.
Fred Bingman, Englewood
Training on the misuse of our groundwater
Thank you for publishing the excellent Gainesville Sun editorial, “Florida Should Have a Water Bottling Fee.”
Our natural springs are used by companies around the world to make huge sums of money, but they hardly pay anything for the water.
Florida taxpayers are billed for water management while giving away billions of gallons of pure water.
If Nestle and others threaten to get water elsewhere, let them go. Today we need our good water for our people.
I think the editorial, with all its information about the misuse of our groundwater, is worth reprinting.
Eleanor Diesing, Bradenton