Social media needs a warning label | Letters

A warning label

Tobacco-like warning label for social media sought by US surgeon general | June 18

In May 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy outlined recommendations to make social media safer for kids. A year later, parents and children are still waiting for change. Now he has issued a renewed call for legislators to take action and also called for a surgeon general’s warning on social media. Social media has become an important contributor to our youth mental health crisis. We are in the middle of an emergency, and it’s essential that Congress act with speed and urgency. The health and well-being of our kids are at stake.

Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach

At this rate

Insurer is seeking maximum rate hike | June 20

Calling it insurance reform, the Legislature reduced the time a homeowner can file a lawsuit from three years to one. At a meeting of the Citizens Property Insurance’s board of governors this week, board member Scott Thomas said that cutting lawsuits is helping to lower rates. And yet Citizens is asking for a 14% rate hike. When will something happen that actually helps regular citizens with their property insurance?

Ann Jamieson, St. Petersburg

An alliance on vaccines

The COVID-19 vaccine, a new malaria vaccine and a tuberculosis vaccine mark a renaissance in disease prevention. However, their impact is lost if they don’t reach those in need. More than 10 million children worldwide have never received essential vaccines. In 2022, 4.9 million children younger than 5 died from preventable health issues like diarrhea, pneumonia and measles. From Jan. 1, 2020, to March 28, 2024, 338 U.S. measles cases were reported, mainly among unvaccinated individuals, with 29% occurring early this year. In February, an outbreak in a Broward County elementary school resulted in nine confirmed cases, highlighting the importance of vaccination. Gavi, the international vaccine alliance, has saved more than 17.3 million children by supporting local vaccine programs. World leaders are reinvesting in Gavi. Congress and the Biden administration should follow suit and make a bold funding pledge. I urge our Florida lawmakers to follow in the footsteps of U.S. Rep. Maria Salazar, a South Florida Republican who’s leading the House resolution on Gavi. Let’s ensure our medical innovations prevent the diseases they target.

Nayade Caldes, Hollywood

That’s his job

Contradictory on climate | June 19

I don’t see any contradiction in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ actions. In effect, he’s the CEO of Florida, and it’s his job to deal with the actual state of the state. His massive backing for Everglades restoration and other environmental and waterway projects clearly demonstrates his dedication to the preservation of the Florida that we all love. What bothers some is that he will not genuflect before the altar of anthropogenic climate change, a religion whose high priests cannot abide dissenters. Good for him. Let the naive children play their games while the adults deal with the realities of life.

John S.V. Weiss, Spring Hill

Just the symptoms

Contradictory on climate | June 19

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ approach to the environment is to treat the symptoms but ignore the disease. I can’t imagine anyone regardless of political preference accepting that kind of treatment plan from their doctor. No matter how good the pain pills are, ignoring the disease will kill you. Treating only the disease and ignoring the pain will be unbearable. There is no doubt anymore that the climate is changing rapidly with catastrophic effect. A balanced plan that strengthens and protects our environment and reduces warming is essential. Any one-sided approach no matter how well-intended or politically convenient is already a failure.

Len Keller, Seminole

Testing 1, 2, 3

Trump says Biden needs cognitive test, then flubs his doctor’s name | June 17

I’ve been waiting for quite some time now in anticipation of some professional authority to declare one, or two, of our current presidential candidates mentally incompetent. Voters on both sides have come to their own biased conclusions, but we need a definitive answer on mental competence in the same way a candidate for the highest office in the land gets a physical. It needs to be done by medical professionals without fear or favor. I have been astounded that we’ve come this far without a conclusive answer before election day. I have my own idea who is mentally unfit for office and am waiting to be proven right or wrong.

L.J. Phillips, Brooksville

The bottom line

Senate subcommittee rebukes Boeing CEO over safety failures | June 19

For years, Republican politicians and big-business leaders have heaped praise on the late Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman. Yet those same politicians and business leaders rebuke Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun for following to the letter the Friedman Doctrine of “the only obligation of business is shareholder profit.” What happened at Boeing is the literal manifestation of that doctrine in action, which as I see it, forgets the consumer, forgets the employees and forgets public safety. The only thing that matters is shareholder profit.

Brian Walkowiak, St. Petersburg

Plug in and buckle up

Car wars report: Focus on trucks | June 20

The American people are stuck with buying high-priced gas-powered, hybrid or electric vehicles while the Chinese are buying fine EVs for $12,000. What is wrong with this picture? If we open the gates to Chinese EVs they would sell as soon as they were offloaded from the ship in San Francisco or Los Angeles. Heck, there would be waiting lists. Car dealers would be falling all over themselves to handle the sales. Maybe the U.S. and Japanese car manufacturers would even get off their duffs and compete — and start making similar low-price EVs. The American people and the environment would benefit immensely.

Pete Wilford, Holiday

Pay the teachers

Florida teachers need higher pay, not more politics | Editorial, June 19

The Times editorial on better pay for veteran teachers is on target if we want public education to prepare students for happy and productive lives, work opportunities in a competitive society and global innovation and competition from a country like China. Education is a major factor in quality of life. It is good that new teachers are funded for salary increases, but it takes time for teachers to perform at a peak level in the classroom. Teachers are more valuable than many people appreciate and they have an immense influence on students’ outcomes.

James Gillespie, St. Petersburg