LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Paving Paradise

For Parking Lots

Re: Your story from last week on the new 3,700 home development off U.S. 19 from Hexam Road south to Star Road.

I was glad to see that at least one county commissioner, Diane Rowden, had some sense. As for the other four, they should explain how they are carrying out the will of the people of this county. That is what the Constitution says - our elected representatives are supposed to represent us.

I don't know a single person who thinks adding another 5,000 to 7,000 lawn-watering people is good for anyone, except the greedy developer and the corrupt county commissioners who approved the plan. The absolute destruction of more than 800 acres of peacefully undisturbed land, which is home to what is left of our natural wildlife, is unthinkable.

Did our county commissioners forget what spurred the population growth here in the first place? We were the Nature Coast. We had turtles and Florida bears and deer. When does this all stop? When we destroy absolutely every inch of natural beauty we have? And for what? Another subdivision? They can't sell the houses in the subdivisions we already have.

And what about the drain on our resources? We don't have enough water for the people who are already here. The landfills are filling up faster than we can find new places to put our garbage. No one I know wants more of this. If anything, our county representatives should be conserving our resources and not making stupid excuses as to why we need to destroy 800 acres for more houses.

There is neither justification nor the need to create more of a housing glut - unless it is the intention of our county commissioners to further devalue our land and make Hernando County as unattractive as possible to anyone considering living here.

Just in case they haven't noticed the statistics, Florida now has more people moving out than moving in. Do you suppose it's because we don't have a new 800-acre subdivision for them to move into? Or do you think it's because Florida, and particularly Hernando County, has become famous for being an overpriced suburb that has little to offer outside of a corrupt "good 'ol boy" network of greedy government representatives who care only to represent their own self-interests.

Maryann Russo

Brooksville

Understanding The

How And Why Distinction

Now that that Florida Board of Education has decided that "evolution" is a "scientific theory," maybe we can get back to the business of educating our young people so they can live in the 21{+s}{+t} century.

I once asked a Methodist pastor about the supposed conflict between science and religion. "I don't see any," he said. "Science answers the 'how' questions, religion answers the 'why' questions."

Young people really do need to know about the religious beliefs of the world's population so they can function in the global society, but religious beliefs are not science.

How about this? Teach evolution as a "scientific theory" in the science classes and Judeo-Christian creationism and "intelligent design" in elective philosophy or comparative religion classes without advocating belief in any of them.

Come to think of it, maybe we adults could benefit from seeing this distinction and do a little broader studying ourselves!

Gail B. Leatherwood

Spring Hill

Giving Back To Take Away

Re: Mrs. Rocco and Mrs. Rowden, who seem to feel that the county employees are getting too many holidays is a big laugh.

May I address them? You, dear girls, are high dollar on the pay scale - the county employees, as well as state employees, are low-dollar employees. Isn't that why they were always given a better fringe benefits package? Because of their low pay, they need a good package to keep up their morale.

Please try to live on what your lowest paid employee receives. You will be surprised that some don't qualify for food stamps. Yes, dear girls, if I made your salary, I may feel the same way. Please walk a mile in their shoes before you are so vocal.

I feel that in hard times they should be asked! I'll bet, if given a choice, about 80 percent would agree, but only temporarily.

Ladies, I do know both of you are real charitable in our town. Mrs. Rowden and Mrs. Rocco, thank you and others who gave up your raise and bought blankets and other gifts for the less fortunate.

Yes, I have been reading what the county commission has done with your raises. Each and every one of you who could afford to, did your very best. I want to thank those of you that could. Some of you were better able to do so than others. Don't feel like your actions have gone unnoticed.

Thank you for giving back, but don't take away.

Emma Lou Amoss

Ridge Manor