Letters to the editor: Traffic safety, ‘want-to-be dictator’ Donald Trump and the ‘socialist’ Democrats | Bradenton Herald

Make roads safer

I read with interest the report on the Manatee County Commission’s consideration of roundabouts to address traffic problems, especially out east (“Could roundabouts be the answer to this neighborhood’s traffic problems?” Oct. 16, 2018).

As a resident who faces a daily challenge exiting my neighborhood, Watercrest, with the traffic’s excessive speeds and the lack of visibility due to the road curvature, and who has seen my neighbor “t-boned” last spring, I am extremely concerned with the failure of the commissioners to deal with this problem.

In my view, the commission should not let the perfect — roundabouts — be the enemy of the good — relatively inexpensive stop signs. The traffic problems on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard are only going to intensify with the extension to Fruitville, when the roadway will become an alternative to I-75. Already, the speed limit of 35 mph is honored more in the breach, and not by a mere 5 or 10 mph.

This is a dangerous situation, and should be dealt with sooner rather than later, before there are more, and potentially, tragic accidents. Whatever the solution, I agree with Commissioner Jonsson, who suggested moving funding from lower priority projects.

What is a higher priority for government than the safety of citizens? Surely it should be a higher priority than pickle ball courts, or handing over millions to a developer who essentially bribed the county to buy a preserve. And isn’t it a higher priority than the multi-million purchase of the Premier Sports Campus from another developer?

At the very least, while the county “studies” the problem, and attempts to find potential funding for roundabouts, I very much hope commissioners will consider stop signs or other inexpensive interim solutions. Every day they delay, they place their constituents’ safety in jeopardy.

Kathleen Grant

Lakewood Ranch

Save the greyhounds

Grey2K and PETA have tried to brainwash the residents of Florida into believing that greyhounds are being mistreated. Nothing can be further from the truth. Trainers work morning, noon, and night to keep the greyhounds in their care happy and healthy.

Greyhounds go back to the time of Cleopatra They are an exceptional breed of dog and are born to run.

Ten years ago I adopted (not rescued) a greyhound who brought us joy each and every day until her recent passing. There are over 100,000 adopted greyhounds in the US. If amendment 13 passes greyhounds will become extinct within the next decade. If you do not want this to happen, Vote NO on 13.

Warren Peck

Port Charlotte

Buchanan is a proven leader

From the moment Vern Buchanan first stepped foot in Congress, he has proven to be a leader who puts the interests of his community before any others.

As co-chairman of Florida’s 29-member bipartisan congressional delegation, Buchanan is unafraid to publicly challenge the administration on important issues we care about. He opposed the White House’s proposals to cut children’s health care, drill off Florida’s gulf coast, back out of the Paris Climate Accord and weaken the Endangered Species Act.

It is no wonder Ocean Champions endorsed Buchanan for his work to combat red tide, making him the only Republican in Florida to receive their backing. Buchanan recently got legislation signed into law — his 16th legislative measure to date — to provide $8 million in funding to fight red tide and the spread of toxic algae.

Buchanan rightfully opposes government-run, one-size fits all health care that would cost $32 trillion and bankrupt Medicare and Social Security and put veterans’ benefits at risk.

Congressman Buchanan is a blue collar kid who came from very little and was the first in his family to graduate college. He has experienced the American Dream and wants to keep that dream alive for our children and grandchildren. That’s why he helped pass the biggest tax cut for working families in decades. The typical family in Sarasota and Manatee counties will save $2,400 in taxes and the economy is starting to boom.

We need to re-elect Congressman Buchanan so he can continue his efforts on behalf of all the people of Florida’s 16th District.

Steve Jones

Bradenton

‘Silent majority’ backs Trump

It’s amazing reading the various opinion pundits from the most notable newspapers. This hatred of the president and every policy regardless of its positive outcome, and the belief that every American believes the way they do or ought to believe the way they do is hilarious.

The president has many faults, as many would agree. Where they differ is these pundits somehow believe they are speaking for the masses. The pulse I feel is that many people silently support him and the left is a much smaller group than they realize. These crazy ideas that everyone supports or should support open borders, climate change without dissent, every abnormal degree of human existence accepted, and socialistic programs that lean communistic is ridiculous.

The continued support of the president by the silent majority is a resounding rejection of those ideas. It should be noted that the liberal media outnumber conservatives 5 to 1 and still their message doesn’t get through. What the tells you is immense.

Mark Jones

Bradenton

Say ‘no’ to ‘want-to-be’ dictator

Think it can’t happen here? Think again.

Fascism, Nazism and now we face Trumpism. Tyrants are emboldened by enablers. Let’s not enable the enablers.

The mid-terms may be our best chance to say “no” to a “want-to-be” dictator.

Jim Padden

Bradenton

Democrats are socialists

I don’t understand why the left wants quick action on the murder case against the Saudis but after seven FBI investigations on Justice Kavanaugh they wanted more investigation when there is no evidence of any evil doings.

Why were they questioning things written in his high school year book of nearly 40 years ago. I’m certainly not anxious for musings in my annual to be broadcast. How many of you during your raging hormones days haven’t engaged in something you wouldn’t publicize today? It seems President Trump was persecuted about the prostitute scandal when he was a private citizen but If you mention former President Clinton’s affair with a 22-year-old intern in the Oval Office, the Democrats scoff at the mention.

The left leaning media never mentions Trump’s accomplishments of the last 21 months with no cooperation from the socialist Democrats. Newspaper headlines blast Gov. Scott for alleged involvement in a Sunpass scandal two weeks before the election and having never mention the many decades of Sen. Nelson’s do-nothing reign in the swamp. Is it any wonder conservatives like me and my president hate the media wing of the socialist Democrat party?

As a history buff I see the Democratic party reflecting the actions promoted by Karl Marx. We are fortunate in having President Trump in office with the current invasion of Central Americans. The videos show thousands of strong men in their 20’s & 30’s coming who should be in their country converting it to a constitutional republic like ours. Maybe the reason they haven’t done so is because they don’t have a 2nd amendment like we have. The millions we send their countries are stolen by their corrupt government much like the Democrats we have in the swamp.

Frank Eldridge

Palma Sola