There has been a lot of discussion about the new health care reform bill before Congress and I would like to add my perspective. First I would like to agree with the conservatives that claim that this is a government intrusion into the private business of health care. Second, I would like to assert that this is a good thing, although I think this assertion is a matter of perspective. If you think Social Security is government intrusion into the retirement planning that we should do on our own, then you will hate this type of government action. If, however, you think we are a society that should and can provide for the health of all of our members then you will agree that this bill is long overdue. The simple issue is this: Do we as a society think it is our duty to make sure health care is available to all, or do we believe that those that want good health care should have planned better and gotten a career that provided health insurance for life and that those that didn't plan better, can simply die from lack of services brought on by their own lack of planning, or inability to get such a job? ...more

November 12, 2009

I find it disheartening how people seem so distrusting of the government when it comes to health care, but love the idea of government intrusion into our daughters' bodies. Pro-abortion advocates want to use government to control what our daughters can and cannot do. I find this despicable. Abortion is a personal matter, not a decision that can be decided by sweeping laws. I want my daughter to be able to make her own decisions. No government official will tell her if she can or cannot have an abortion. To make matters worse, these same people who want government intervention into our daughters' wombs go into a fury when the government tries to make us healthier. ...more

October 27, 2009

Florida lawmakers soon will consider bills that would allow law enforcement officers to pull over drivers for not wearing seat belts and to stop new teenage drivers from carting their young pals around. ...more

December 3, 2008

Two road-safety proposals will soon be under consideration by Florida lawmakers. House Bill 1 comes this year from Republican Rep. Rich Glorioso, who wants to allow police officers to pull over drivers for not wearing seat belts. Democratic Rep. Kelly Skidmore, meanwhile, wants to stop new teenage drivers from carting their young pals around. ...more

December 2, 2008

I'm afraid that my patience with this newspaper has finally worn so thin that I feel compelled to voice my opinion. Scarcely a day goes by that your publication doesn't print a rant from one of the faithful churchgoers with a pitiful understanding of the Constitution and American history, your primary source for a "liberal" view is extremist Ted Rall, who is so far to the left it's a wonder he isn't whirling counter-clockwise and the remainder of the columnists are hard right. ...more

October 18, 2008

Republican Jack Mariano's first County Commission District 5 re-election bid will be opposed Nov. 4 by Democrat Virginia "Ginny" Miller. ...more

October 18, 2008

The Bush administration is working to combat the country's severe housing crisis but there is no simple solution, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Monday, adding that a correction in the housing market is "inevitable and necessary." ...more

January 8, 2008

It's Government Intrusion Or Not John Boyle's simplistic and hyper-partisan view of the world is that Democrats are evil and Republicans are responsible for everything good. He makes the absurd assertion that the Democratic Party deserves no credit for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I think that even he would concede that President John F. Kennedy, whose administration first put forth the bill, was a Democrat, as was his successor, Lyndon Johnson. ...more

January 2, 2008

After another trip to my local pharmacy to buy my husband his much needed allergy medication, I have come to the conclusion that this ridiculous law requiring photo ID and a one box limit per 15-day period for allergy and cold medication is ridiculous. It certainly isn't stopping the criminals from manufacturing illegal drugs. Surprisingly, they manage to supply their drug without any problems, as you can see if you watch a newscast or pick up a paper. ...more

December 22, 2007