Florida fluoridation

Florida bills target fluoride | March 20

Outlawing fluoride in municipal water is about the nuttiest idea to come out of our nutty Legislature in many years. I recall when fluoride first gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, and dentists were amazed at the number of kids coming in with no cavities. Fluoride in our water was and is a medical miracle. For most of human history an infected tooth meant a gruesome extraction at best and death at worst. Growing up in a home with well water — no fluoride — doomed me to a life of expensive and often painful dental procedures. If I had the money spent on my dental care by my parents, the U.S. Army and myself, I would now be a wealthy man.

Pete Wilford, Holiday

Florida and fraud

Florida seniors the target of many scams | March 15

As a Floridian, I love when our state ranks high for beautiful beaches and winning sports teams. But there’s one ranking I don’t love: Florida is No. 1 in fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission, and scammers are using cryptocurrency ATMs to steal millions.

Crypto ATMs are everywhere — gas stations, bars, supermarkets — especially across Tampa and St. Petersburg. Most experienced crypto investors use their phones or laptops, not these machines. Based on data from the trade commission and FBI, many crypto ATM customers are victims of fraud, and they are often over the age of 60.

I have met a victim of a cryptocurrency scam and know of cases where Florida victims deposited as much as $30,000 to $40,000 into crypto ATMs at a time. The felons who perpetrate these frauds are using crypto ATMs as their “bag man” to collect their ill-gotten gains.

Meanwhile, companies behind crypto ATMs are making huge profits with no state regulations or consumer protection standards. Under current law, operators can charge 25% or more in transaction fees in our state, and all they need to do to in Florida is register as an limited liability company.

Let’s do something about it! The Florida Legislature is considering bills to regulate these machines. Reach out to your legislators and ask them to support House Bill 319 and Senate Bill 292.

Bill Herrmann, St. Petersburg

A more perfect union

Former USF diversity officer resigns after comments | March 20

In a more perfect union, we are educated, liberated and inclusive. We believe in human rights, women’s rights and equal rights. We understand that in protecting and nourishing the planet that gave us life, we will thrive, not perish. We greet differences with an open heart, not ignorance and fear. We honor creativity and a future enhanced and advanced by empirical science. We fight hard for a disease and hunger-free world. We cherish those who have defended our country, including our neighbors and allies abroad. These truths may be self-evident, but when in danger of extinction, they are well worth repeating.

Georgie Ann Weatherby, St. Petersburg

Is that improvement?

Fla. graduations are up, but metrics are dim | March 23

Ah, yes, another victory for Florida’s education system. High school graduation rates are up. Break out the confetti! But before we start celebrating, let’s take a moment to look beyond the glossy headline. It turns out that these “improved” numbers are thanks to a conveniently easier alternative exam, which effectively turns diplomas into participation trophies. But hey, who needs academic rigor when you can just lower the bar?

This is just the latest installment in the slow-motion train wreck that is Florida’s public education system, a disaster set in motion by the Gov. Jeb Bush administration and enthusiastically continued by our current anti-woke governor and his legislative cheerleaders. Instead of actually improving education — like, say, strengthening graduation requirements and providing real support for struggling students — our leaders have opted for the much simpler approach of making it easier to pass. Problem solved!

Of course, the MAGA crowd will see the headline, pump their fists, and declare that the GOP is doing a fantastic job. Meanwhile, we’re sending students off into the real world unprepared and clueless. But as long as the numbers look good, who cares about the future, right?

David Burg, Tampa

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