Too many of us not a good thing

Florida’s population growth

We have been coming down here to the Indian Rocks Beach area for 12 years, escaping the cold Minnesota winters and greatly enjoying it. I read with some alarm that Florida expects some 900 people a day to keep moving to the Sunshine State, with maybe a third coming to the Tampa Bay area. Really? Does anyone think that is possible or even a good idea?

In the relatively short time that we have been coming, we have seen how busy and crowded the streets, beaches and restaurants have become. I grant you that we are here during the snowbird invasion, but if those estimates are real, it seems to me that this state of affairs will become a year-round thing making life very unpleasant for residents. (Hello, Los Angeles!) I’m not a resident, so it may not be any of my business, but you all may want to think about how to deal with this. Warm weather and no state tax will only go so far versus gridlock.

Sadly, for us, I guess we need to look for the sun somewhere else — which will also eventually be ruined by us.

Doug Pederson, Minneapolis

Better off under Trump

Gallup poll

President Donald Trump arrives to speak to a campaign rally at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) [ EVAN VUCCI | AP ]

Gallup’s January 2020 poll asked “Are you better off than you were three years ago, or not?” The “yes” answers are enlightening for the five most recent presidents in their third year. George Bush, the elder, was at 50 percent, Bill Clinton was at 50 percent, George W. Bush was at 50 percent, Barack Obama was at 45 percent, and President Donald Trump is at 61 percent.

Clearly, the current president has made many more Americans lives better than his predecessors. If you are among the 36 percent who feel you are not better off than three years ago, why not? I wonder what percent of people in the top four socialist countries (China, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam) feel they are better off than they were three years ago? Do they even have the freedom to answer the question?

Jim Ewing, Apollo Beach

He got what he asked for

Intel officials say Russia boosting Trump candidacy | Feb. 21

In this June 28, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan. [ SUSAN WALSH | AP ]

I remember when President Donald Trump said: “Russia, if you’re listening, blah blah blah.” Now that Russia listened, is listening loud and clear, and is trying to help him again get re-elected, he’s irate that his own intelligence community’s reporting that Russia, indeed, is helping him. He asked Russia for help, he’s getting it from them, so what’s his problem? He should be happy, right?

Robert Parissi, Tampa

Best use of Bloomberg bucks

Ruling a victory for Amendment 4 voters | Editorial, Feb. 21

Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks during a campaign rally at the Buffalo Soldier Museum in Houston, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner stands at right. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via AP) [ ELIZABETH CONLEY | AP ]

There are as many as 1.5 million Florida residents who may not be able to vote for president in 2020 because they are felons and can’t pay their outstanding court fees, etc. Michael Bloomberg, a recent addition to the field of Democratic candidates running for president, insists that he is in the race to beat President Donald Trump.

If you take him at his word, then a good use of only $1 billion of his $60 billion would be to pay off Florida’s felons’ miscellaneous fees, fines and court costs. The Democratic contender, whomever that may be, would win Florida, one of the biggest swing states, and might go on to win the election. Problem solved.

Frances Lovallo, St. Petersburg