Conserving land, water
As someone dedicated to protecting Florida’s waters, I want to thank Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet for their leadership in approving a wide range of conservation projects this week. These approvals covered counties across the state, including Osceola, Martin, Hendry, Putnam, Collier, Duval, Okaloosa, Hardee, Okeechobee, Pasco, Hillsborough, and Leon. Together, these projects will conserve thousands of acres of land through acquisitions, conservation easements, and Rural and Family Lands Protection easements. That means cleaner water, healthier estuaries, stronger wildlife habitats, and more opportunities for Floridians to enjoy the natural resources that make our state so unique. This is conservation at work on a meaningful scale, and I am grateful to see our leaders prioritizing Florida’s environment and communities.
Nyla Pipes, executive director, One Florida Foundation
Feeling safer?
Everyone wants to live in a safe country but are we heading in that direction? Florida passed open carry meaning beware of honking at a car with lights off at dark, forgetting to close gas cover or illegal driver as you may get shot!
We have a president who said, “I hate Democrats.” Ever hear of a president for “all Americans” use such rhetoric? We see hate by killing the Hortmans and school children in Minnesota, a Mormom church in Michigan.
Immigration should not be remedied by temporary ICE agents bullying by men in masks pushing citizens because “they can” or showing the president old pictures of riots in Portland and Chicago to bring in the National Guard who leave their jobs, families and kids’ fall sports to clean up parks! Trying to rule by fear, fake strength, and not following the Constitution only increases the chances for being less safe.
Glenn Mueller, Naples
Book banning?
Wednesday’s News-Press contained two letters with the same theme − stop banning books. Banning books, properly defined, would refer to the government outlawing the publication, ownership, and/or reading of certain books. This is NOT happening in our country! What IS happening is that some states, Florida included, are removing certain books from school libraries.
Both letter writers and I agree that the ONLY persons who can keep children from reading specific books are the PARENTS. What they are ignorant of, or are willingly disregarding, is that said parents can (1) Borrow the book in question from their local PUBLIC library, or (2) Purchase the book from Amazon or any other vendor of books, and (3) Allow their child to read it.
If the state feels that a certain book is inappropriate for children to read for any reason, the parents can overrule their judgment if they feel their child must learn the information contained in that book, thus solving the non-problem brought to the attention of your readers (twice).
Dave Bridgeman, Alva
Democrat failures
The Democrats under Biden, Harris and Mayorkas created the problem of illegals in our country. They just let them in and told us the biggest lie that the border was closed. Now the Democrats are complaining that Trump’s cleanup efforts are illegal and they are fighting him every step of the way.
The level of arrogance displayed by Pritzker and his happy band of incompetents is monumental. They need to help returning America to its honored position.
Michael Zubrow, Naples
Ignoring reality
Last weekend six mass shootings occurred in South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana and Michigan. Outraged at the continued violence, President Trump ordered our military sent to Portland, Oregon to quell the wanton outbreaks of lawlessness in that city. This is the same individual who recommended swallowing bleach to cure Covid and to break up hurricanes using nuclear weapons. Republicans applaud the move while ignoring the reality that each time he has sent American troops for that purpose it has been limited to Blue states governed by Black mayors. Doesn’t seem to be apparent to Republican voters that he is exerting his power to extract vengeance against the portion of the population not voting for him.
The appointment of Robert Kennedy Jr. who has taken steps to reduce the availability of vaccines has resulted in a resurgence of previously eradicated diseases, measles being the main culprit and most accepted by Red state participants. Deaths have skyrocketed, primarily by unvaccinated children, but there doesn’t seem to be any outcry by Republicans. Doesn’t seem to be too bright, but if Republicans don’t care, so be it. Kennedy is another great decision.
I understand acceptance by the Republican voters of the closing of borders, but find it difficult to agree with swooping up of any one with brown skin by masked ICE members and denying them their rights to a fair trial. It doesn’t seem American in nature and is illegal.
One last point. The government has been shut down. The disagreement is over Democrats objecting to the Great American bill and its provisions denying medical protection for the poor and provisions eliminating Obamacare. Republicans staunchly opposed the Democratic attempt to provide those protections because “it’s an attempt to provide coverage to millions of illegal aliens.” Illegal aliens are not eligible for free medical insurance. Stop believing the lies and open your eyes. Start acting as if you have a heart.
Robert F. Tate, Naples
Whooping cough
Whooping cough, also known by its scientific name of Pertussis. I had it when I was very young, about 7 years old and it was a terrible cough. Painful and I will always remember that cough. We did not have the vaccination for it back when I was young. I gave many shots to prevent it at the Health Department when I worked there. And it’s free! Please parents remember to have your children vaccinated for whooping cough!
Alice Mack, Fort Myers, Registered Nurse, retired and a former Air Force nurse captain stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.
Business community splintered
No more business as usual in corporate America. Corporate America is at the crossroads. It wants to live under the law but it is beginning to live under a king. Corporate America can be sure of justice under the law. It cannot be sure of anything under the king, not even economic data. But under the law, corporate America faces the U.S. Supreme Court where a major risk exists: they are overthrowing our Constitution.
Democracy has been good for the economy. Democracies increase GDP per capita by about 20% in the long run, according to a 2019 study titled “Democracy does cause growth” which was published in the Journal of Political Economy, a University of Chicago peer-reviewed journal. Autocracy proves bad for the economy. Autocrats crash at managing economies. They defy Peter Drucker’s principles of management: First they fail to “do the right thing”; then they fail to “do things right.” They operate erratically as they dribble out the elements of Project 2025.
In private, CEOs express major concern about the pressures on democracy in the United States. But they know that if they speak up, they risk drawing the ire of the president. As a result, the business community has splintered as it deals with the president individually or sector by sector instead of speaking with one voice.
When will this change? After the economic damage has been done. “Those who hesitate are lost.”
Sally Lam, Naples
Shutdown solution
I’ve heard the saying, “When your neighbor is out of work, it’s a recession, but when YOU are out of work, it’s a depression.” I guess it means, it’s all about perspective. Currently, we have a government shutdown and hundreds of thousands of American federal employees scrambling to prepare for having no money coming in. Meanwhile, some self-proclaimed empathic individuals, not impacted by the shutdown say, “It won’t be long and everybody should have a at least a little something set aside for these kinds of inconveniences.” Says the person with more than a little something set aside! Again, it’s all about perspective.
In an effort to demonstrate the gravity of our current situation, we have silly memes being posted on social media designed to make light of our serious government shutdown. Even members of our Cabinet and our press secretary suggest our president just likes to poke a little fun every now and then. Somehow now, just doesn’t seem like the opportune time. Some congressional members even feel now is the appropriate time to take a week off. Regardless of your party affiliation, what should be evident to us all is, our congressmen and women had ample time to come to a bipartisan agreement and they didn’t! After all, their deadline was by the end of their fiscal year and their fiscal year is always the same. So they all knew when it was ending and they all had plenty of time to prepare!
When we voted in our members of Congress, we created a legal agreement with them, with our votes. That agreement stated they would work towards our best interests. In this case, our best interest would have been an agreement negotiated in time to avoid a costly government shutdown.
When our parties fail to come to an agreement in time, our parties have failed us, their employers. If regular business employers had given their employees critical tasks to complete by a specific date, and they didn’t, there would generally be some sort of penalty imposed, some kind of forfeiture. Congress has failed to fulfill their legal obligation to us as American citizens and a just recompense is due.
So, as a solution to this shutdown and any potential shutdowns in the future, all members of Congress should forfeit one weeks’ pay at the onset. If the shutdown continues past one week, their forfeiture should double with each subsequent week, until a resolution is reached. As my wise, old mother once told me, “ In order to get people really motivated to do anything, they have to get some skin in the game!” At age 8, I really had no idea what she was talking about, but I certainly do now.
Lance McCormack, Marco Island
One-sided conversations
A few months ago I visited an old friend I had not seen for several years. I took some smoked and fresh salmon, from a recent trip to Alaska, for him and his wife. He is a retired banker and a liberal. I am a conservative. In the past we have had several friendly conversations regarding our different political views. We listened to and honored each others opinions. We agreed to disagree respectfully. That was when his party was in power.
At the onset of my visit, he began telling me that a couple of his banker friends had a bad experience with our President Donald Trump, and what a bad man he is. His attitude was angry and aggressive. A one hundred and eighty degree change from our previous conversations. It was obvious he did not want a rebuttal. He only wished to be heard. I chose not to tell him I’ve known several bankers who were not good people. I didn’t know the details of his friend’s business with Mr. Trump, but it was their choice to do business with him.
It’s a large part of what’s gone very wrong with our country. Far too many people only want to have one-sided conversations. It’s so sad! I hope my friend and his wife enjoyed the salmon, I haven’t heard.
A. J. Cross, Naples
Day the dignity died
I haven’t always agreed with presidents, however, whether I did or not, I marveled at their dignity, intelligence, and speaking skills. Some may not have had all of these attributes, but having some is better than none! For example, George W. Bush was not the most articulate speaker nor was he the most intelligent, but he had dignity and propriety. His father, George H. Bush, was the total package − intelligence, dignity, and verbal skills. Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and many others also provided dignity to the highest office in America. Bill Clinton was the total package until an intern blew it for him.
It was inspiring and an honor to be an American. The office of president was revered around the world. It was must-see TV when our president provided an interview or press conference. The State of the Union address was much anticipated and not to be missed.
Unfortunately, January 20, 2025 will go down in history as the day the dignity died! This may sound like a song title but, forever, will be remembered as a day that will live in infamy! The dignity of the office of the President of the United States has been jettisoned by an odious humanoid without a hint of dignity, intelligence, morals, honesty, or verbal skills! These once required attributes to hold this office have been eviscerated!
Additionally, his recent incoherent ramblings at the United Nations should be an embarrassment to all Americans. Even if you love him for his policies, I can’t imagine that at least a twinge of embarrassment wasn’t experienced. He blathered, “climate change is the greatest con job ever perpetrated upon the world.” Well, he certainly knows a thing or two about con jobs − he’s the king of con jobs! While the climate change “con job” is based on verifiable scientific research and evidence conducted over years by highly trained experts from around the world, his con jobs are baseless and originate from the enormous gelatinous mass of adipose tissue on which he sits! Actually, his entire speech was a con job!
I was more embarrassed than a fully clothed person at a nudist convention! I was so embarrassed that I turned off the TV and hid under the bed with the cats! I haven’t had any desire to leave the house since! If I were a person of faith, I would pray for an end to this nightmare!
Jay Custa, Estero
Dig a little deeper
To the contributor who called those in the Trump administration “psuedo-medicine men (and women)” because of their recent stand on Tylenol for pregnant women, you just may want to dig a little deeper before you decide what is good for these women.
The Birth Injury Center which empowers and supports women who have become victims of medical malpractice has this to say about Tylenol for pregnant women: More than one recent survey said taking acetaminophen under certain circumstances while pregnant may raise an unborn child’s risk of developing ADHD by 30 percent and autism by 20 percent.
Now does the contributor still want to assume that Tylenol is safe for pregnant women? I’m not making that call. My daughter is pregnant and I’ll let her make those decisions based on all the information that is available. Knowing my daughter, I’m guessing she’ll stay away from it if she can. Remember, my body, my choice.
And by the way, this report came out a few years ago when Joe Biden was president. I guess his “medicine men (and women)” didn’t think it was important enough to bring to the fore.
Rick Manuel, Dade City
JD Vance in the wings
As an incapacitated Donald Trump slowly evaporates from the public eye and as his staff slowly rolls JD Vance into the Oval Office during the next 12 months, let’s reflect on what Vance said about Donald before being named his vice president: JD Vance speculated that Trump was “America’s Hitler.” He called Trump a “moral disaster.” He viewed Trump as “reprehensible,” a “total fraud,” and that he didn’t care about regular people. He referred to Trump as “cultural heroin” and “just another opioid” for Middle America. He said he was “definitely not” voting for Trump in 2016.He once tweeted referencing Trump: “Fellow Christians, everyone is watching us when we apologize for this man. Lord help us.”
Will Vance be as kind to his ailing predecessor as he ushers him out of the White House? Will Vance see himself as overthrowing “America’s Hitler”? Will Vance try to cure the “moral disaster” left behind by Trump? Will Vance make amends for the “frauds” which Trump perpetrated on his countrymen? Will Vance bomb the ships carrying Trump’s “cultural heroin”? Will Vance “apologize” to the Lord for Trump’s behavior?
For the sake of the country and for the sake of JD Vance’s credibility, let’s hope so.
Joe Haack, Naples
Only three branches
A letter writer suggests that “instead of furloughing or firing federal workers who actually work on our behalf … we furlough and fire all of the people in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government.” She goes on to make a disparaging remark about the current administration. There are only three branches in the federal government and all federal employees work for one of them!
Gordon Browne, South Fort Myers
Project 2025
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump sought to distance himself from Project 2025, a far-right policy blueprint crafted largely by his longtime ally Russ Vought. Supporters welcomed this cautious approach, convinced that Project 2025’s sweeping proposals — for dismantling federal agencies, rolling back civil rights, imposing mass layoffs, and enforcing radical policy shifts — were too extreme. At one point Trump said he did not know what it was. His supporters believed him so they voted for him.
Yet what critics and many voters once feared has quickly come to pass. Since his inauguration, President Trump has moved to adopt and fully embrace Project 2025 in its entirety. This transformation is no accident: Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget and a principal architect of Project 2025, has become Trump’s closest partner in executing this agenda. Together, they are systematically slashing funding for numerous “Democrat agencies,” enforcing mass federal layoffs, and imposing policies that reflect the blueprint’s radical vision. Vought is a shadow president given that he is the author of the bulk of Trump’s executive orders.
Trump’s recent public endorsement of Vought and the Project 2025 framework marks a stark reversal from last year’s denials. The political distance once maintained has vanished, replaced by open collaboration, particularly in leveraging crises like the government shutdown to push through their agenda.
The initial distancing was political theater; the reality is a full-throated assault on the federal government shaped by Project 2025 and led by the Trump-Vought alliance. It will not MAGA.
Paul Howard, Naples
Alarming trend
In recent weeks, we’ve seen National Guard troops deployed to cities like Portland and Chicago — not in response to violent unrest, but to peaceful protests and stable communities. This alarming trend raises serious constitutional concerns.
The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of federal military forces for domestic law enforcement without congressional approval. It’s a safeguard against authoritarian overreach. Yet federal troops have been sent into cities over the objections of governors, urged to treat urban neighborhoods as “training grounds” for military exercises. That’s not public safety — it’s intimidation.
Courts in California and Oregon have pushed back, issuing restraining orders and citing violations of both the Posse Comitatus Act and the 10th Amendment, which protects state sovereignty. These rulings affirm that governors — not Washington — control their state militias. When that balance is ignored, we risk undermining the very structure of federalism. A court in Illinois is scheduled to rule on a restraining order this week.
What’s most disturbing is that these deployments often target cities with peaceful protests — citizens exercising their First Amendment rights. Using military force to suppress dissent is not just unconstitutional; it’s un-American.
We must remain vigilant. The Constitution is not a suggestion — it’s the law. And when federal power is used to silence voices and occupy streets, it’s up to all of us to speak out.
Linda Lindquist, North Fort Myers
Escalating national debt
The national debt currently stands at $37.9 trillion − the result of both parties disregarding their fiduciary responsibilities. Presented as a temporary stop-gap measure, the generous government-subsidized health insurance plan was justified to assist folks during the Covid-19 pandemic. Democrats now want that subsidy made permanent but without an accompanying means to pay for it. While the Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” did reduce spending by $1.1 trillion, it did little to offset the $4.5 trillion increase attributable to tax cuts benefitting high-income earners more so than low-income earners. If the federal government is to reopen, then bipartisan compromise will be needed. That part, while challenging, will pale by comparison for elected legislators to earnestly address an escalating national debt. Some combination of raising taxes and reducing spending are anathema to congressmen/women seeking re-election.
James L. DeBoy, Fort Myers
Democrats cause shutdown
I cannot believe anyone is confused about who is the primary cause of the government shutdown. The House passed a CR (continuing resolution) that funds the government at the existing levels. No additions and no deletions. This same CR was passed in March to keep the government open. The Republicans have not added anything or taken away anything. In order for the government to stay open, the Senate needs 60 votes because of the filibuster rule. The Democrats refuse to vote for it so it has not passed even though it has been voted on multiple times. All but one Republican has voted for it so only 8 of 47 Democrats are needed to pass the bill and keep the government open. At least 3 Democrats have voted for the CR. The rest of the Democrats refuse to support it, so it is clear who has closed the government. The Democrats want to add additional spending, which is no suprise. We are already $37 trillion in debt and even at the existing spending levels in the CR, the deficit and our national debt will increase. We sure do not need to add additional spending.
Ron Wobbeking, Naples
There’s a recession coming
So, here’s a flash for all you MAGA/RINO/CINO/SOCIALISTS. I know you don’t read the financial section of the News-Press or subscribe to any of the financial newsletters. No, it’s these “Letters” pages here, the comic pages, and maybe the sports section, but, guess what? There’s a recession coming.
According to the folks who know, all the signs are there. Recessions typically begin after the Fed starts lowering rates. That’s what happened before the last four recessions, going back to 1990, and the Fed just lowered rates.
Credit-card debt is at an all-time high and still rising. The average interest rate on credit cards is now more than 20%. More and more folks are falling behind on their credit-card and car-loan payments. Delinquency rates are soaring.
About 67% of the workforce is living paycheck to paycheck today, up from 63% last year. You know, since Trump’s been in office.
And it’s bad for American companies as well. In July, 71 U.S. companies went bankrupt, according to S&P Global. And the number of bankruptcies is accelerating. That’s up from 66 in June. As of the end of July, 446 companies have gone under, the highest total for these seven months since 2010, you know, since Trump’s been in office. And you remember 2010, don’t you? That was the bottom after the 2008 Great Recession kicked off.
And now that Trump’s tariffs (otherwise known as “Trump’s Tax on America) are starting to kick in, since they’re a tax on consumers, that will only slow the economy further.
And don’t forget inflation. The consumer price index (“CPI”) spiked to 2.9% in August. Core inflation – which excludes volatile food and energy prices – is running even hotter, at 3.1%. Not only is this above the Fed’s 2% target, but it’s going in the wrong direction. The CPI has increased every month since bottoming in April at 2.3%, you know, since Trump’s been in office. Cutting interest rates in the face of rising inflation isn’t going to bring inflation down.
So, buckle up, Buttercups. You voted for it and now it’s here.
Ken Brindle, Cape Coral
Quality of GOP recruits
Could not help but notice that the latest recruit to the Florida Family Values Party (FVP)/GOP/MAGA, is none other than former NC congressman Madison Cawthorn, he of the two airport gun violations, smasher of FHP vehicles, leaked pornographic video, numerous sexual misconduct allegations and arrest for failure to appear. Thank you NDN for not shying away from telling the good, the bad and the ugly to your readers of the many stalwart FVP/GOP/MAGA folks of dubious character waiting with bated breath to represent us or in some cases already representing us here in Florida. I wonder why? Who can forget the many misadventures of Boy Blunder Matt Gaetz? Given the caliber of miscreants the FVP/GOP/MAGA seems to be attracting, I offer to them a tailor-made recruiting spiel taken verbatim from actor Harvey Keitel’s famous “Blazing Saddles” line as he recruited for an army to attack “runaway decency,” very appropriate here. Mr. Keitel says he wants “rustlers, cut-throats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperados, pugs, mugs, half-wits, nitwits, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, vipers, snipers, muggers, buggerers, bank robbers, horse thieves, hornswogglers, bushwhackers, (posterior anatomy) kickers, (manure) kickers and Methodists.” For purposes of being PC, let’s give the Methodists a pass. There you are, Florida FVP/GOP/MAGA, a made-for-TV/radio/social media script to bring in even more mini-Trumps. You are so welcome and bless your heart.
Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs
Ability to empathize
My dad was a twice shot by Nazi bullets, WWII veteran whose Greatest Generation saved democracy.Growing up, this hero taught me many valuable lessons. The most important lesson he taught me is that unwavering justice is a loving act to help the recipient of justice overcome selfish, non-empathic misconceptions about their place in this world. Whenever I exhibited childish insensitivity to others, his loving, yet firm, expression of loving justice was swift. After my initial anger subsided for being reprimanded, my dad explained the reason for his intervention.
I’m certainly far from a perfect adult, but I credit my dad for administering the loving justice I needed during my formative years to become an empathic adult. If a child doesn’t receive non-abusive, but loving justice, they could grow into adulthood without the ability to empathize with others. Mr. Trump obviously didn’t receive loving justice as a child. The 2026 midterms will be a perfect time for voters to finally give Mr. Trump the loving justice he and our nation so desperately need.
J. Cant, Naples
Intelligence briefings
Each day I receive an email from The WSJ Politics & Policy. It contains what is on the president’s schedule for the day. I chuckle when I see the schedule includes “President Trump is scheduled to receive an intelligence briefing.” One would think after four years of his first term and eight months this term, some intelligence would rub off on him, alas, none has.
E.A. Blair, Naples
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Letters to the editor for Sunday, October 12, 2025
Reporting by Letter writers / Fort Myers News-Press
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