Campaign 2016

To fix system, add instant runoff

Our antiquated plurality voting system favors only two parties. Those two parties like it that way. It keeps out the competition and better ideas. When we vote for the viable-least-worst candidate, time and again, we wind up with worse and worse candidates. We now have Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the two lowest-rated presidential candidates.

Instant runoff voting, or IRV, ends wasted votes, spoilers and splitters, ends wasteful runoffs, and guarantees majority (50 percent-plus) winners. With IRV, voters rank by preference: first, second, third. When the ballots are counted, if there is a majority winner, that is the winner. If there's no majority winner, the lowest-polling candidate is eliminated and those ballots are recounted for the voters' second choices, which are redistributed to the remaining candidates until a majority winner emerges — in other words, instant runoff. It's simple enough to hand count if necessary, but works in present machines with an upgrade.

Many politicians, newspapers and voters endorse IRV, Ireland and Australia have used it for decades. Twenty states are pushing it. Voters understand and like IRV where it is used. It raises voter interest and brings better candidates.

William Gilbert, Weeki Wachee

A 'rigged' election? Not in Florida | Aug. 16

A history of suppression

Steve Bousquet seems to have forgotten that elections in Florida have been rigged by Gov. Rick Scott and his friends in the Legislature. Consider the gerrymandering, purges of the voter rolls, shortening of the early-voting days (including not allowing early voting on Sunday), allowing early voting at very few sites, and the closure of polling sites during an election, leading to long lines. Then who can forget the rule passed in 2008 that changed the amount of time between registering voters and submitting the paperwork, a period so short that even the League of Women Voters would not participate due to penalties to be levied if the forms were late.

So perhaps Donald Trump doesn't have to worry and, hopefully, none of the above will be in place this year and we, the voters, will not have to worry either. However, I will be alert for anything Scott may have in mind.

Alice Smith, St. Petersburg

Nurses, seniors lobby to keep home open Aug. 18

Trying times for elderly

This Times article reported that "Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration this month issued an order to revoke the license for University Village's nursing home by Sept. 3 because its owners failed to provide proof of financial stability." The report also mentioned that employees and seniors associated with the facility are lobbying the state agency for a solution. I am a senior who lives at University Village. I decided to come to live in Florida after retirement, encouraged by Florida's Department of Elder Affairs and strong statutes about retirement communities and nursing homes.

The problems at University Village have been ongoing for over two years. The state agencies have repeatedly found the owners of the facility to be at fault on many grounds, and lacking certification to own or operate such a facility. Residents of the facility have felt a deteriorating comfort level and quality of service over these couple of years. Some residents have even moved out, losing money.

This is not what I expected as a retired senior when I chose to move to Florida and into a continuing care retirement community that I thought would protect me. I am saddened that the state has not enforced the statutes and regulations in time to bring these owners up to legal standards. Instead, the state is about to revoke the license of a facility, forcing aged and disabled people to move out. Most of them cannot even move out by themselves. Where is the justice in elder care?

Alex Mathew, Tampa

Private school aid upheld | Aug. 17

Program changes lives

I am a Spanish teacher at two Catholic schools in Pinellas County that receive students on the tax credit scholarship. It was good to hear that a court decided to dismiss the lawsuit that the teachers union filed to end the scholarships, but the union said it might appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. I'm hoping it drops the lawsuit instead.

I've worked with Mexican families, helping them with applications and documentation, and I've seen how this scholarship changes lives. Parents are appreciative and follow requirements to the letter. Students work hard, and their performance and attitude improve with every day.

Let's help the families who come here seeking a way out of poverty, rather than fight them.

Chely Hernandez-Miller, Redington Beach

Donald Trump apologizes for painful comments | Aug. 19

Regret isn't an apology

Donald Trump did not apologize, which the Associated Press article itself makes clear. Regret does not equal apology. Apology is not in Trump's nature. Your headline writers must be more diligent and careful so as not to mischaracterize what was actually said.

Scott Hopkins, Brandon

Social Security

Seniors need a pay raise

This voter has yet to hear any candidate address the outdated formula the government uses to calculate Social Security cost of living adjustments, which have not been given three times during the present administration. Meanwhile, seniors are being shafted at the grocery store, at restaurants, at auto repair shops, and even at drugstores where pharmaceutical corporations are gouging us for the medications we need to stay alive.

Anyone in government supporting bill S 2251 would get both my attention and my vote. It would give seniors a one-time payment of $581 to cover the increase in living expenses we have endured this year. It would help seniors a lot until action is taken to correct the old, unfair formula presently used to determine the percentage of our COLAs. For me, $0 just didn't cut it!

Adele Ida Walter, Tampa