Voice of the People (Aug. 11, 2024): Is Vance calling Walz a coward for serving 24 years?

Is Vance calling Walz a coward for serving 24 years?

As a Vietnam veteran with 24 years in the Army active reserves, I can tell J.D. Vance that you don’t get many choices in the military.

VP pick Tim Walz, could not ”talk” or “retire” his way out of combat duty. In this all-volunteer Army, we serve in the National Guard and Reserves knowing that we can be called up any time and leave our civilian full-time jobs and family to go overseas to serve. We accept it.

In fact, dozens in my unit, while not activated in first Gulf War, volunteered to go to Kuwait/Iraq but only 10 got selected. The services mandate that you retire at a relatively young age (in my case 53) and you retire depending on your rank.

Is Vance calling Sgt. Maj. Walz a coward for voluntarily serving 24 years where he could be called up at any time?

Walter A. Faiks Jr., Lt. Col. U.S. Army Reserves, Babson Park

Voice of the People (Aug. 4, 2024):Spiteful Florida politicians reject federal green

Why can't little pieces of military budget go to schools?

The Ledger’s recent article “Polk County takes C grade in state report” [July 26] highlighted the C grade Polk schools recently received from the Florida Department of Education.

Indeed, here in the 18th Congressional District, all but one of the counties received C grades (Glades County received a B). Obviously, our schools need help.

As a retired teacher, I know the value federal assistance and grants can make to the success of schools and learners - things like assistance for slow learners, for special needs students, for facilities and salaries. Freeing up dollars in the federal budget could help to fund these needs.

In the defense budget, something called unfunded priorities sometimes favor highly politicized portions of the Pentagon budget. Altogether, these wish lists amount to $28 billion this year. Our congressman, Rep. Scott Franklin, is a military veteran and a fierce advocate for health care and proper treatment of vets, for which I thank him.

I am sure he can understand the importance of procedure and efficiency in the military. That is why I’ve urged him to support HR 4740, a bill that would make these unfunded priorities optional, rather than mandatory, and free up funds for our schools.

Barbara Dutcher, Lake Wales

Voice of the People (July 28, 2024):Summer meals lost? What did the kids do to you?

'No hero at all. Just a president'

When Biden left the 2024 presidential race, I texted a MAGA cult member friend of mine saying that I was happy with the decision and proud that in a single term as president, Joe Biden pushed through legislation bills on infrastructure, climate change, health care, gun control and the semiconductor industry.

He pulled the U.S. out of Afghanistan, taking our country out of any active war for the first time in decades. He tried to pass legislation for immigration control, equality, tougher gun legislation, equal income taxation and to enshrine a woman’s right to always maintain control of her body throughout her life. But GOP lawmakers rebuffed his efforts.

My MAGA friend responded, “In your eyes he is a hero.” I replied, “No hero at all. Just a president.” I then asked him to tell me the previous administration’s legislative accomplishments. He never responded.

Like most MAGA enthusiasts, it’s all about the bravado and bluster. No substance. On the same note, I haven’t found a single person who chant’s “Make America Great Again” that can tell me what years the USA needs to go back to in order to be great again. They simply parrot what they hear.

Michael Schwam, Lakeland

Voice of the People (July 21, 2024):The waste of Lakeland's new RICE engines

What time period does MAGA long for?

Since the MAGA radicals took over the GOP and adopted the mantra “Make America Great Again,” I have wondered exactly what time period they want America to return to. Finally, I got my answer from Donald Trump when he addressed the National Association of Black Journalists Conference.

At the conference, Trump made claims that undocumented immigrants are taking over “Black jobs,” implying Black people are confined to certain jobs. He then questioned vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris’ race, asking whether she is Black or Indian.

Like a lightning bolt, it struck me. The MAGA movement wants America to return to a time when Americans openly and freely discriminated against people of color, when multiracial and multiethnic people were shunned. They want America to return to a time when even the concept of mixed race or mixed ethnicity was unfathomable.

As I reflect on past comments made by MAGA cultists I realize people of color, women, those practicing a religion outside of Christianity, members of the LGBTQ-plus community and anyone who is not a white Christian male has much at stake in the upcoming presidential election. They should be voting against the MAGA party.

Gary Hoover, Lakeland

Voice of the People (July 14, 2024):Presidential immunity ruling is a danger to America

Political ads and the Olympics

The first two days of the Olympics were wonderful on NBC, USA and Entertainment channels with no politics. But then a political ad started and it is constant.

I understand the need for ads and generally don’t mind them, but why can’t we watch such a great worldwide show without the political ads?

Andrea Thompson, Lakeland

Want to contribute?

Send letters to the editor to voice@theledger.com, or Voice of the People, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland, FL, 33802. Submit on the website at http://tinyurl.com/28hnh3xj, or go to TheLedger.com, click on the menu arrow at the top of the website and click Submit a Letter. Letters must be 200 words or less and meet standards of decency and taste.