Vouchers put unfair burden on taxpayers
I am responding to the recent letter on public schools and whether they really educate kids (“Sarasota School Board member overhypes quality of public schools,” May 18).
I would remind the letter writer that Sarasota County School Board Member Tom Edwards was specifically referencing Gov. Ron Desantis’ universal school policies (“Florida’s school voucher program is the grift that keeps grifting,” May 17).
These policies have now diverted nearly $15 billion from the Florida public education to fund and indoctrinate private and homeschool “Christian nationalist” education!
The National Education Association ranks Florida among the bottom states with the lowest average public school teacher salaries.
Is this R-E-S-P-E-C-T?
I literally cringed recently when I heard a multi-millionaire Sarasota couple from my church brag about how much state funding they receive to homeschool their three children.
I asked for a receipt!
Is it any wonder that private school expansion and voucher programs are basically funded through the taxpayer-backed state education fund?
Doug McClaugherty, Sarasota
DeSantis, others may outsmart themselves
Not to be left behind in the gerrymander wars, Florida Gov. Ron DeSanitis has joined other former slaveholding states that have passed laws to minimize the impact of minority voting and enhance the Republican Party’s chances in the November elections.
But DeSantis and his colleagues in states like Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana might have gone too far with their power grab.
They were so quick to act on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision – which allowed for gerrymandered districts – that they failed to recognize the 2026 electoral environment is not the same as it was during President Donald Trump’s 2024 victory.
Voter frustration on numerous issues – including inflation, gas prices, wars and corruption – has resulted in Trump’s historically low favorability polling.
Recent elections across the country reflect dramatic anti-MAGA voting.
During special elections held in Florida this year, Democrats outperformed their previous margins in districts that Trump easily won in 2024. In addition, the Democrats flipped a state House seat in Palm Beach County, which is Trump’s own backyard.
Instead of trying to grab more power by rigging elections, perhaps Republicans should start paying attention to what people want and need.
Jeanette Daig, Punta Gorda
Trump making America worse
I am taken back whenever I hear people say President Donald Trump is the greatest president that America has ever had.
When I ask people how they reached that conclusion, they always respond, “Look around you.”
Well, I am looking around and this is what I see:
I don’t see a thing that makes me believe Trump is making my life any better – let alone making America better.
Trump and MAGA are not Making America Great Again. They are tearing it down to the ground.
This November, we the people need to stop him and MAGA by voting all MAGAs out of office by huge majorities.
Cynthia Hardy, Port Charlotte
Buchanan won’t tell whole environmental story
While I am grateful that U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan has introduced some legislation to protect marine and land mammals in Florida, it’s hypocritical of him to not simultaneously call out President Donald Trump’s administration for removing protections for endangered marine life in the Gulf.
Recently, Trump’s appointed Endangered Species Committee invoked a national security exemption, which removes any limitations on drilling for oil and gas in the Gulf.
This will imperil many marine species and their environments.
So, Vern, please tell both sides when you are touting your effors.
You want the credit for your efforts while knowing fully that Trump’s administration is rendering it moot.
Your recent guest column, effort and credibility would all be enhanced if you would declare that you are fighting this administration’s profound recklessness with our environment.
Betsy Nelson, Sarasota
Edwards right to call out charter school grift
Thank you to Sarasota County School Board Member Tom Edwards for calling Florida’s charter school movement what it really is – a gift and a grift.
Edwards pointed out the huge conflicts of interest among the administrators of this system while acknowledging that charter schools have given parents hope.
I fear that as Florida accelerates the transition to charters, we are returning to the bad old days of “separate but equal” schools.
In actuality, these schools will be separate and very unequal.
Beth Spencer, Sarasota
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota millionaires are using school vouchers. Seriously? | Letters
Reporting by Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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