Sound Off: Sept. 5, 2024

A good man

I just read an article about Walz’s 1979 International Harvester Scout. That’s been one of my dream cars, since they debuted in the 60’s. (Yep, I’m that old of a Republican.) What really impressed me was his hands-on approach to fixing things that are broken. I’m proud of him too, Gus, and a bit envious concerning that Scout. I would love to see him, Gus, and that Scout at this year’s Cruisin’ The Coast.

Death penalty

A recent Sun Herald editorial supported abolishing the death penalty. One of the reasons given is that several recent cases revealed that authorities were unable to insert an intravenous line to administer drugs that would kill the convicted inmate. Several states, including Mississippi, have voted to use nitrous oxide to carry out the death sentence. This method has also received criticism because the patient/inmate exhibits disturbing physical abnormalities before dying. I would recommend administering a sedative by intramuscular injection and then administer the nitrous oxide. All patients/inmates have access to intramuscular injection sites. This method, would basically put the patient to sleep, then allowing the nitrous oxide to be administered without any adverse effects, except the desired effect, which would result and death.

Not the same

Not being OK with innocents being killed by the thousands In Palestine does not equate with anti-semitism. Just like being against racism does not mean anti-American.

Transitional housing

Gulfport needs to answer the question posed by residents of Handsboro about the parade of strangers in our neighborhood. There is a constant stream of new faces traveling down Victory Street to Hardy Court. What exactly is going on?

Electoral college

I will cast my vote in November for a Democratic presidential candidate. It won’t count for anything, except being noted in a meaningless popular vote tally. Mississippi’s six electoral votes will go to the Republican candidate. In 2016, Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by three million votes — also meaningless. There should be no “battleground” states where the candidates spend all their time and money, while ignoring the rest of us. The will of the people is not being served with the Electoral College system, which is antiquated and unfair. It’s past time to elect a president on the popular vote like every other race from city council on up. Someone tell me how this system is still valid in 2024.

Whitewash

Vice presidential candidate Walz’ actual service in the National Guard should be applauded and not denigrated. Nevertheless, his decision to retire just before his unit deployed for combat is an inglorious fact resented by his peers at the time, which many have voiced. His own words since were to intentionally embellish his military service and retirement rank to inflate his experience and importance because of political ambitions. Vets don’t do that. In the rare instances it occurs, they usually get body slammed by their peers. Walz’ claims are embarrassingly shameful and disrespectful to all who serve or have served, so in their CNN interview the Biden-Harris team tried to restate history as merely a grammar error.

Empower parents

State Rep. Jeffery Hollum says we need to empower the judicial system and the court system and the legislative system and the juvenile system. What about empowering the parental system?

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