Opinions and Letters

Special session on oil drilling: People deserve to vote on ban

With a few exceptions, the Republican members of the Legislature have completely lost sight of why they are in their positions. They are so immersed in a "tiff" with the governor (who left the Republican Party to get elected to the U.S. Senate), that they have forgotten that they represent the people of Florida, not their own selfish interests.

The "take their ball and go home" childishness of the Republicans is an embarrassment to the people of Florida. The fact is that these legislators were sent to Tallahassee to represent their constituents. Instead, they allow their childishness to keep the people of Florida from deciding the future of the state. These small-minded bullies are uninterested in the serious problems facing the state. They only want to keep Charlie Crist from success.

As a Democrat, I don't want Crist to succeed either, and I am very dubious of his supposed change of heart. However, in this case, his flip-flopping has resulted in a call for an extra session to give the people a chance to save Florida's waters by deciding on a constitutional amendment to ban drilling off our coasts. In this instance, it does not matter that Crist cares only about himself. These bullies have no right to deny this opportunity to the people because they are mad at Crist.

I call on all the people represented by Republicans to call the offices of their representatives and senators, and tell them that the people should be allowed to make this decision.

Mary Lou Ambrose, Belleair Bluffs  (Club member)

Published as feature letter in the St. Pete Times July 20, 2010

Rep Markey: .... Foreign oil ... keeps US troops in harm's way. (video)

Rep Markey " The BP oil spill highlights our need to move to clean energy alternatives to oil, but it is not our only oil problem. Foreign oil continues to account for 1/2 our trade deficit and keeps US troops in harm's way. "

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse: "America . . must never be on it's knees before Corporate Power!" (C-SPAN video)

This is a very powerful speech.  This sums up the damage done by decades of deregulation and worshiping at the altar of greed and profit.  I have always been impressed by Sen. Whitehouse, but this..... wow.   This says it all. 

Mr. President, we have watched with horror the unfolding disaster in the Gulf. We have seen precious lives lost; hard-earned livelihoods hammered; treasured ways of life imperiled. We have seen the largest deployment of resources ever against an environmental disaster. We have seen astonishing corporate negligence. But we have seen something else too-something that ought to be a lasting lesson from this catastrophe: we have seen the revolting specter of an agency of government subservient to - captive to - the industry it is supposed to regulate. ... ...What lesson of history, if left unlearned after this disaster, are we condemned to repeat? I hope that the lesson we learn is this one: that we can never, never, never again let agencies of the government of the United States of America fall so far under the influence of the corporations they are supposed to regulate.... ...This American government of ours should never, never be on its knees before corporate power, no matter how strong. It should never be in the thrall of corporate wealth no matter how vast. This American government of ours should never give the American citizen reason to question whose interests are being served. Never.... ...We must act in defense of the integrity of this great government of ours, which has brought such light to the world, such freedom and equality to our country. We cannot allow this government - that is a model around the world, that inspires people to risk their lives and fortunes to come to our shores - we cannot allow any element of this government to become the tool of corporate power, the avenue of corporate influence, the puppet of corporate tentacles.

Please make the time to watch the entire video (click below).   The transcript is also <<here>> with commentary added by MinistryOfTruth.

BP quietly works the Florida angle in Washington

BP hired a lobbying firm to arrange a private meeting this afternoon with the Florida delegation in Washington. A notice from the Podesta Group stresses that it is "NOT open to the press."

The meeting was with Ray Dempsey, lead of BP's effort in Florida, and Darryl Willis, a VP in charge of claims. "They will be available to answer any questions your boss might have regarding the BP oil spill," reads a message from the lobbying shop.

A staff member inside described the meeting to the Buzz as not quite tense but peppered with pointed questions, mostly from Reps. Connie Mack and Kendrick Meek. A large contingent of lawmakers attended and the "take away," according to the staffer, was that BP needs to develop a Florida specific plan.

via blogs.tampabay.com

a "Florida Specific Plan" indeed. I've talked to individuals who have TRIED to volunteer to help with preventing the oil from spoiling our shores, but who were TURNED DOWN because "BP is hiring their own folks". 

 
We need to protect our sensitive wetlands and rookeries, as well as our beaches and bays. Why has BP not already formulated that plan? 

 
Why isn't our delegation fighting this battle more publically?

Wanda Schwerer - Club Member

The Raging Grannies

I agree!  

posted by Wanda Schwerer