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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2008

Huckabee Speaking Out

Of Both Sides Of His Mouth

In 2005, presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee asserted that an immigration bill proposed by then Arkansas Sen. Jim Holt, was un-Christian and anti-life. The state Senate bill called for the banning of state services for illegals, required proof of citizenship to register to vote and required state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally.

Huckabee justified his pro-life stance (this isn't the type of pro-life stance we usually support conservatives) on the issue by stating, "They pay sales taxes on their groceries. They pay fuel taxes. If they're using a fake Social Security number, they're paying Social Security taxes and will never receive any benefit."

Well Mr. Huckabee, last time I checked, robbers, rapist and murders pay sales taxes on groceries, fuel and Social Security, but then again, you allow those type of people to run free in your state, i.e. Wayne Dumond. With the way things are going, before we know it, Hucakbee will be passing a national bill declaring voting rights for illegals.

Huckabee preached more, stating, "I don't understand how a practicing Christian can turn his back on a child from this or any other state." No governor, I think you do understand. You turned your back on American children when you offered illegal aliens scholarships. Maybe next time you try and assert a Sunday morning service to justify your liberal stances, you should try quoting some relevant scripture. Romans 13:2 affirms, "Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves."

There is nothing immoral, irrational or un-Christian about deporting every single illegal immigrant who has illegally walked across our boarder. Before you try moving into the White House, figure out within yourself the balance between laws and your own distorted moral conscience.

Now, just in time for the presidential election, Huckabee has vowed to send all illegal immigrants home. Huckabee has either turned his back on thoughts of equality for all legal and illegal taxpayers or has embraced a more conservative tone since leaving his home state. Either way, it scares me that a man running for the highest office in the land can drastically change his stance on an issue this important.

Blake Bell

Brooksville

Independence

Must Be Earned

The Spring Hill Fire District would like to be independent from the county.

They transport a "healthy" person to the Fire Board meeting, and they want their independence.

They make purchases, and at a later date, ask for Board approval; and they want to be independent.

The Fire District has a chaplain whose job is to counsel employees concerning moral conduct, but he acts like a hatchet man, and rants and raves directed at one of his bosses - a fire commissioner - and they want to be independent.

The Board chairman says, "We don't save pennies here; we save lives." Very eloquent.

Can't we do both? We have the most effective EMTs and paramedics in the state. If they gain independence, will they not save pennies, save dollars? Maybe ease the burden on the poor taxpayer?

Independence has to be earned - earned by their actions - sensible actions. If a fire commissioner asks for information, he is speaking for himself and his constituents.

Fighting the problem will never earn independence.

Nick Morana

Spring Hill

Maglio Fighting For Children

Thank you for the article by Dr. Dominick Maglio in the Jan. 16 edition of Hernando Today. It says better what I would like to say, and I agree with him 100 percent. Thank the good Lord there is someone out there fighting for our children.

Most everyone I know is on some kind of mind drug and so are their children. This is not good. I don't trust people on mind drugs as much as I trust people not on mind drugs. There are countless stories of people, especially school shooters, who have lost control of themselves and have murdered, committed suicide or acted in a manner not appropriate while on prescription drugs (ssristories.com).

I really wish I could help somehow to rid this world of the evils of drugs, legal and illegal.

I believe it starts with people taking responsibility for themselves and their families and not giving control to opportunists out there wanting to exploit them and their problems for profit. We are all human, and the human condition being what it is, we are not perfect. But our imperfections are sought out, given a label (diagnosis) and drugged (medicated) as if we are being helped.

Even our youth in their formative years cannot be children as they are seen as having a "problem" and in need of help. Then everyone, including the school system, profits. That is not right.

There are people who would do anything (including maim or kill) for a dollar but are not really getting away with it. I would say that they are the ones who have a problem and in need of some help.

Mary Powers

North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Kudos To Dr. Maglio

However, I am terribly confused. The FDA says no to cough syrup for little ones. At the same token they let psychiatrists recommend and prescribe mind-altering drugs to women with babies in their wombs, kindergartners who can't read and toddlers who are undisciplined.

Your family doctor who allows this is just as criminal. I would like to see more doctors who have signed the Hippocratic Oath "Do Not Harm" blow the whistle on big pharm, FDA and your local shrink.

Karen Kettner

Hernando Beach

No To Tax Amendment 1

This Tax Amendment 1 is a subterfuge by our Florida lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Crist. This is an attempt to mislead Florida taxpayers in believing that they are concerned about high property taxes.

They are passing the buck to local governments to impress their constituents, when the lawmakers are derelict in their responsibilities.

Florida lawmakers have diverted funds for their pet projects such as Transportation Trust Fund and Water Protection and Sustainability Trust Fund. They instituted a voucher program that drains funds from public school education.

They have also failed in oversight responsibilities to protect the local government investment pool.

Legalized gambling (Florida Lottery) was supposed to supplement state funding and end the disparity of funding for public education; 39 percent of lottery proceeds are earmarked for educational purposes.

It has not been an enhancement to education because they have replaced about 10 percent of the portion of the general revenue dollars that were allocated to education prior to the lottery.

Gov. Crist was wrong in accepting million of dollars from special interest groups for his campaign to promote this amendment. Florida property owners do not have the financial resources enabling them to campaign and present their arguments against this proposal.

Unfunded mandates by both federal and state governments have placed burdens on local governments that result in increased property taxes in order to provide the services such as education, law enforcement protection, road construction and repair, etc. that are required for local constituents. The correct way to keep property tax levels reasonable is to demand the practice of unfunded mandates be discontinued and hold state and local lawmakers accountable for their actions.

Darrell Weston

Beverly Hills

Pharmacist Sets

Record Straight

In response to your feedback column by Ms. Craun-Wuest, I feel obligated to set the record straight. As a pharmacist with quite a bit of experience in pain management, I must say certain antidepressants do have a valid role in the treatment of chronic pain.

By altering the way nerves transmit pain impulses, they can be very useful in certain types of pain, usually in addition to more "traditional" pain killers.

Some anti-seizure medications are also used for this purpose, even if the patient has no history or risk of seizure. I urge all patients to discuss with their doctor or pharmacist why a medication is prescribed and how it is going to help.

Tom Uehlinger, R.Ph.

Spring Hill

Punish Drug Pushers

I liked the article "A Drugged Nation Is Not Healthy," by Dr. Domenick J. Maglio.

This is indeed a druggy society and it is going downhill as a result. Let's reverse the trend and say no to mind-altering prescription drugs and the people who push them.

Rick Schott

Torrance, Calif.

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