Letters: Florida residents must vote to save the future of health care – The Florida Times-Union
As a physician in practice for more than 40 years who is now a consumer of health care and a Medicare recipient, I am very concerned about the future of health care in our community.
The greatest risk to the health for the families of Florida is failure to vote in the upcoming elections. The contrast between candidates is clear and important — locally, statewide and nationally.
Democratic candidates are more likely to support legislation to lower the skyrocketing price of lifesaving insulin and other spiraling drug prices for seniors by empowering Medicare to negotiate with drug companies. Democrats support improving access to health care through the Affordable Care Act. Republicans wish to dismantle ACA and have failed to offer alternatives.
Marco Rubio has stated he will oppose efforts to ensure access to insulin and reduction of drug prices for seniors, while Val Demings supports ACA and controlling the rising cost of medications. Locally, Donna Deegan has a history of supporting access to health care for Floridians.
The candidates we elect will be enacting, supporting or opposing policies to address the lingering effects of COVID and prevention/treatment. Their policies will also cope with the increasingly engrained opposition to vaccines, not only for COVID but also well-established ones for polio, measles and others with very well-known safety and effectiveness. The differences between the candidates and the parties are stark and meaningful.
The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy. Our votes will influence health care for years to come. It is vitally important we all exercise that right.
Donald E. George MD, Jacksonville
DeSantis right on education
Gov. Ron DeSantis is fighting to promote a common-sense education agenda in Florida, and parents and students are better off because of it.
In a bold move, DeSantis challenged powerful liberal teachers’ unions and endorsed 30 local school board candidates who agree that the classroom should be for educating students, not indoctrinating them.
Democrats backed by unions have generally won most of the school board races in years past. But on primary night in August, 25 of the 30 candidates DeSantis endorsed either won outright (19) or advanced (6). In Sarasota County all three of DeSantis’ endorsed candidates won.
While his opponents want to mandate masks for kids and force their politics through curriculum, DeSantis is focused on providing Florida’s students with a high-quality education that doesn’t include indoctrination. Legislation like the Parents’ Bill of Rights signed into law last year, ensures that parents (not the government) have the strongest say in how their children are educated.
The numbers don’t lie: Florida parents clearly want a curriculum that focuses on math, science, reading and writing — not things like Critical Race Theory. DeSantis is implementing common-sense education policies in our state, and what these school board victories tell us is that Floridians are all for it.
Debbie Plotts, Jacksonville
Don’t be naive about Seahorse plans
It’s fine and dandy for the owners of the Seahorse Inn and Lemon Bar to sell their property to Shad Khan’s investment group. God love them, they built a cool place. But if you believe Rory Diamond — that the new owners will care one iota about Neptune Beach and its unique charms — I’ve got some Enron stock certificates just for you.
As I’m sure we’ll find out sooner rather than later, Iguana Investments will unveil grandiose plans for the Seahorse that will be touted as just the thing to put Neptune Beach on the map. Right along with all the other overdeveloped, characterless, Florida beach towns, like Daytona, Panama City and Miami Beach. In the process, they’ll probably demand code changes and variants from what is usually a pretty pliable Neptune Beach City Council (who, of course, all want to be “on the map,” too).
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the company isn’t really interested in getting an extraordinary return on its investment, or maybe Khan just wants to “keep us quaint,” like all the community yard signs in the neighborhood say. Either way, it’ll be fun to watch.
Mike Disch, Neptune Beach
Applause for mobile health ministry
I’ve just come across your heart-warming Aug. 10 article by Beth Cravey regarding health care in an RV (“Hospital’s mobile ministry is on the road to help end health disparities”). Providing access to free health care for uninsured vulnerable populations in their own neighborhoods promotes the public good. People who read this article and need medical care have a pathway to access health care.
The number of uninsured Americans is growing, which threatens access to care, and this is a social problem in America. According to the National Health Statistics Reports, the shocking data as of 2020 shows 31.6 million (9.7%) people of all ages were uninsured.
I wholeheartedly agree with a companion article by Ms. Cravey, “’Concerted effort’ is needed: Jacksonville’s deep-rooted disparities can impact lifetimes.” I want to thank all the health care professionals on the front lines providing these services to those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.
My sincere thanks also a million times to the Florida Times-Union. You make a difference by publishing this article — because you care.
Jamie Pearl, MSW student, Jacksonville Beach
More GRASP schools needed
I very much enjoyed the Oct. 15 letter about GRASP Academy. This is a wonderful concept and much-needed facility.
The only thing I am not thrilled about is there is only one campus, located in the Regency area. Not all families may have transportation to get their children across the river from the Westside or Northside. I am not sure if bus service is provided for families, but also those with younger children might not like them having to travel that far alone by bus.
Jacksonville is a vast and large city. I think that Duval County Public Schools should consider getting another facility like GRASP somewhere on the Westside or Northside to facilitate more children with dyslexia. I am sure there are enough students with the special needs required for GRASP who live on both sides of the river to fill two locations.
I hope they find a way to do this. I personally know of several children who would benefit greatly with an addition of a second campus.
Cindy Strickland, Jacksonville
Welcome to Jacksonville
As I exited I-95 to Union Street recently (the main entrance to downtown Jacksonville) I saw this poor veteran, who is often panhandling at the entrance of the Jacksonville Urban League building at the corner of Union and Davis. This is the very first traffic signal drivers approach after exiting from I-95, both northbound and southbound, which is also just after I-10 East ends.
This man is usually the first thing people see when coming downtown from I-10 East, as well as I-95 North/South. He literally welcomes both first-time and repeat visitors to Jacksonville.
This poor man needs help, not a panhandling law that’ll fine him $100. When he can’t pay, he’ll most likely be arrested and jailed, which will effectively criminalize his state of being — namely, homeless.
A. Wellington “Al” Barlow, Esq. Jacksonville
Oil reserves there for a reason
The importance of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve should not be underestimated. During World War II, our Navy patrols kept the Japanese from their oil suppliers in Southeast Asia. They were being starved for oil and it affected their war effort. During the last two years of the war, the Japanese could not use their two huge battleships because they used so much fuel; they were literally port-bound.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is more important to the security of our country than an election. No one knows what China is planning vis-a-vis Taiwan. But if a conflict were to break out, we don’t want to be in the same situation Japan was in during World War II.
Judith Daniel, Jacksonville Beach
Some teacher rebellion might help
Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law is wrong-headed in so many ways. Apparently, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican legislators think that a child can become gay just by reading or hearing about it. In light of the education department’s threat to strip the license of any K-3 teacher who intentionally mentions gender identity or sexuality in the classroom, I have a suggestion.
All the thousands of teachers in the state should exercise civil disobedience by intentionally using those words (when appropriate) in the classroom. What are they going to do — fire all of you?
Roy Goldman, Jacksonville Beach