Letters
Letters to the editor
Highlands Today
Published: October 2, 2012
Self-induced health crisesPublished: October 2, 2012
Three is no health care crisis in this country. The government has created this problem. How, you ask? If you choose to overeat, do drugs, smoke or drink too much for way too long, you will cause yourself to have more medical problems than I can name. These problems are self-induced.
If you can't pay for care, then the government has a program for you. You don't have to worry about the bill; the government will take the money from someone else or borrow it from China. Therefore, the government promotes irresponsible behavior.
You do not have to exercise any self-discipline nor will you be held accountable. Just have a good time because someone else is paying the bill. If we continue down this path of the government promoting irresponsibility, the country is doomed.
Solution: If you self-induced your own problem, pay for it yourself. If you can't, tough; that does not give the government the right to take food off my table or put us further in debt.
To pay your bills, this country is $16 trillion in debt. We are about to go off the cliff. You do not have to eat like a pig, do drugs, smoke your lungs up or drink till your body shuts down. There is no excuse for anyone else paying for the choices you make.
Get real.
Tim L. Snyder
Sebring
Fleck was not attacking
I was appalled to read the extremely negative letter written by George Hensley (a relative of Wally Cox) accusing Becky Fleck, candidate for superintendent of schools, of being negative in a recent forum.
I have heard Becky Fleck speak numerous times regarding the issues that face the school district and her solutions for addressing them. She speaks with passion, because she cares about the future and safety of our children and employees.
She never attacks Wally Cox; she attacks the lack of action by the current administration in addressing such issues as: 314 weapons incidents on our campuses since Cox was elected, lack of training for administrators in crisis management, low student achievement, lack of a leadership succession plan and the need to use technology for efficiency. She provides examples and facts and most importantly solutions.
Hensley has the nerve to question Becky Fleck's ability to provide leadership — when she has a proven track record of outstanding, award-winning leadership.
We need a leader who is passionate about our children's future. We need a leader who will take action to correct what is lacking in our school system. We need a leader who will be on the job fighting for our children, not one who just wants four more years of a paid vacation. We need Becky Fleck for our next superintendent of schools.
Finally, professional behaviors can be measured in many ways.
When I consider voting for a solid representative who supports public education, I do not consider someone like Wally Cox, who has been appointed by Florida's current Gov. Rick Scott to cut the "red tape" in the public school system, as someone I could trust.
Our governor's history of devastating Florida's public education, coupled with our governor's apparent approval of Wally Cox, makes my vote and support for Becky Fleck even stronger, and Wally Cox's professionalism suspect.
Maureen McKenna
Avon Park