Friday's letters: Tariffs, women's health care, more
Who cares about tariffs? We'll make our products
They tell us a Chinese-made car will cost us $1,000 more because of tariffs. Some say they like tariffs. Some say they hate tariffs. I say: Who cares?
We know how to make cars. Who needs a Chinese-made car? We know how to make televisions, computers and anything else we need. We know how to grow food. We know how to obtain raw materials. What's the problem?
We buy foreign products because it's cheaper. They have cheap labor because some use child workers.
If we made our own products, we'd have full employment and more tax revenue to spend. We'd save on unemployment, welfare and other programs.
In the end we may be better off. If they want to exchange products with us, then play the game fair. Why should we always be on the losing side?
Tariffs aren't our problem. Politicians are. We pay them to protect us and solve our problems.
All we get in return is a waste of time and money listening to them trying to destroy each other. Maybe it's time to find some new employees.
Larry J. Tracy, Sarasota
Trump-Pence 'gag rule' kills health care access
Title X ensures that people with low income have access to health care that gives them more control over their lives, health, careers and economic security.
This coverage includes affordable birth control and family planning, cancer screenings, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, and general health exams. Men have access to health services as well.
The Trump-Pence "gag rule" destroys this access. Doctors in at least 4,000 health care centers will be banned from providing information on safe legal abortions and access to birth control. Four million people, mostly living in poverty and without health insurance, will be affected.
The gag rule will result in an increased birth rate for women who are physically, emotionally and/or financially unable to raise these children.
Add the lack of living wage, access to affordable health care, paid family leave, or lack of a partner or family member to help raise the child, and you have women giving birth to children for whom they cannot meet the needs.
Restriction of health care leads to unforeseen financial, social, educational and emotional impacts on the community. All women should have the human right to make the medical decisions for their bodies.
Sharon Carloni, Bradenton
Buchanan's next step on climate change
We should all thank Congressman Vern Buchanan for his vote in favor of H.R. 9, The Climate Action Now Act, which directs our president to develop a plan for the United States to meet its nationally determined contribution to the Paris Climate Accord.
You may remember that Mr. Buchanan had already written directly to the president to express his concern about this matter. The congressman's action emphasizes his concern about the economic, national security and health impacts of climate change.
Locally, while we are beginning to prepare our infrastructure for the impact of rising seas due to climate change, it has become obvious that sea level rise worsens beach erosion and also slows estuarine drainage, which prolongs algal blooms.
Climate change comes with too many bad surprises. It must be stopped.
The best way available for the United States to meet and exceed its Paris Climate Accord obligation is to enact the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.
Co-sponsoring and supporting that act should be the next step for Mr. Buchanan and the next step for all U.S. policymakers.
John E. Darovec Jr., Citizens' Climate Lobby, Bradenton
Happy to pay more to keep the lights on
You have run several articles about the costs of Florida Power & Light putting its lines underground.
Recently, I was reading a Zac Anderson column titled "Expect Higher Power Bills" when I heard a "Kaboom!" and the electricity went out.
This was the third time in eight weeks that my power had gone out. How many other customers know FPL's number by heart?
The power was restored in a short 45 minutes, and the reason given was "small animal on the wires"; think fried squirrel.
The first time was also attributed to small animal, and the second was blamed on a tree branch falling on the wires.
Just before your article about FPL going underground and the exorbitant costs appeared, FPL had a meeting with neighbors, explaining that the wires should go underground as our area is prone to outages. It has been an ongoing problem in our area for years.
We need to get 100 percent of the customers on our neighborhood grid to sign a consent form to convert.
I would be happy to pay more if I could experience fewer power outages.
Elizabeth Webster, Sarasota