Letters and feedback: Feb. 24, 2021

Do students understand Constitution?

Recent letter writer Daniel T. Scheuerer understandably takes umbrage at the suggestion put forth, as he says, by some Brevard Republican Executive Committee members that modern education systems do not include the requirement of studying and understanding the Constitution. This is a broad charge and, while probably containing some accuracy, the claimants produce scant evidence to support it.

Mr. Scheuerer, again quite understandably, applies these criticisms to education in Brevard County, on which he is an acknowledged expert, and attempts to refute them in the Brevard context. That he chooses to do so with a series of accusatory rhetorical questions is unfortunate, but his points are valid. 

I am privileged to have among my acquaintance a pair of current Brevard eighth-grade students. Last year, when studying civics, one told of the influence of John Locke on Thomas Jefferson in the preparation of the Declaration. 

In a recent meeting with them, and in response to my question, they told me they were studying the Civil War.  They said that the issue in that conflict was slavery, that the South wanted slavery and the North opposed it. They were surprised to hear that, in the South, it was known as the War of Northern Aggression. 

They seemed unfamiliar with the concept of states rights and, at our next meeting, I will give them copies of the Tenth Amendment and ask if they can see where it may have had an application to that terrible conflict. I bet they get it.

Jack Lee, Viera

Guns, God and a well-regulated militia

Mr. Piowaty's letter of Feb. 18 makes a statement that obfuscates the main issue of the Second Amendment. 

"A well regulated militia" is the key opening clause that you people want to overlook.  Who regulates all these gun owners who think themselves a militia?  As explicitly stated in Art. 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, " ... reserving to the States respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the Militia ..."  It couldn't be clearer.

Can you imagine what those yahoos who broke into the Capital would have done if they had carried guns?

And, just what are your God-given rights?  Guns didn't exist when Jesus walked the earth and assault guns didn't exist when the Constitution was written.

Polls have shown that a majority of the public wants more gun regulation — or doesn't the majority matter anymore?

Brian Dean, Melbourne

Population growth vs. saving planet

In the Feb. 20 edition of FLORIDA TODAY, Seth Borenstein identified the usual list of big changes needed to keep the planet livable. Unfortunately, like most other advocates of critical changes needed to save the planet, he neglected the basic one.

Unless the human population growth rate is reversed none of the major problems (pollution, global warming, poverty, etc.) are solvable. No matter what Herculean measures are taken to reduce consumption of resources and pollution of the planet, they will be rendered useless by the ever-growing population that requires more and more resources and produces more and more waste and pollution.

Charlie Joe Allen, Melbourne

'Texas was caught unprepared'

Why the Texas power failure? Wind turbines in Texas have been targeted by some leaders after a freezing winter storm knocked out power supplies to millions of homes. That is false blame. According to Scientific American, Texas generating capacity declined from all energy sources: coal by 18%, natural gas by 46%, wind by 23% and nuclear by 11%. This contrasts with other states where power sources are designed to withstand freezing temperatures, and keep functioning, such as the Southwest Power Pool.

Why the difference? Mechanical equipment in power plants where winters are generally harsher is enclosed inside buildings so heat is retained. Texas power plants are open to the elements. The open design works well to shed excess summer heat but cannot operate well during rare sub-zero conditions. Likewise, Texas wind turbines are not winterized. If they were, by adding heating components, lubricants, and de- icing blades, they also could continue to function.

Texas was caught unprepared. Instead of blaming wind power, they should focus on better protecting their infrastructure from climate extremes, which happen, even to Texas..

Judy McCluney, Cocoa

Tell your reps to knock it off and work

I can’t believe that all the good people I know who chose to vote Democratic are as hateful as the politicians they elect.  Congressional Democrats are now proposing to continue to  punish Trump even after he dies by passing a bill to prevent him from being buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. 

Are all you sincere Democratic voters really that vindictive? I don’t think so. Call your representatives and tell them to knock it off.  We have much more important things to deal with.

Dave Riemondy, Indialantic

Good for Fried regarding flags

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is disregarding Gov. Ron DeSantis order that all state buildings fly the national flags at half-staff during Rush Limbaugh's funeral. Hooray for her, stating that "we will not celebrate hate speech, bigotry ,and division. He had no words for Congressman John Lewis."

Kevan Vance, Melbourne

'Please stop this insanity' over names

Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Hoover — really?  Lefties in San Francisco want to remove such historical names from 40 schools. Well, the lefties better go all the way then. We must also change Washington, D.C., the state name of Washington, and Lincoln, Nebraska; Houston, Texas; and Jefferson, Missouri – to name a few.  Oh yes, then we must also remove all our currency bills that bear pictures and names of Washington, Lincoln, Jackson, etc.

There’s a saying that goes something like this: Those who refuse to accept history or acknowledge history have no future.  Please stop this insanity.

Jan Johns, Suntree