How helping Ukraine helps US, too | Letters

Helping Ukraine is good for us

S. Korea will consider supplying arms to Ukraine after Russia, N. Korea Pact | June 22

I was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and immigrated to the United States 25 years ago. As an adult, I have served in the U.S. military, one tour as an adviser in Kyiv. I understand the Russian weapons described in one recent report, and how to counter them.

Russian bombers generally originate from just outside Ukraine’s borders. One of the most effective weapons against them is the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). They take out offensive aircraft that are extremely difficult to replace. They degrade Russian capabilities to threaten us and our allies. These missile systems are produced at American factories by Americans, with funds being reinvested back into our economy. Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Honeywell and smaller defense companies, with facilities in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, are involved.

Besides domestic economic benefits, however, we need to support Ukraine now because of the ideals that kept Europe free of major war from 1945 to 2022. It is often difficult to see a post-Cold War “peace dividend” when results don’t come back quickly. Early this century, Americans tried the idea that global powers like China and Russia would accept constructive responsibility for peace and security. Unfortunately, our hopes were proven wrong. Russia conducted a land-grabbing campaign in Georgia and Ukraine. China is now trying to claim parts of South China. Resisting Russian aggression in Ukraine provides us an opportunity to demonstrate opposition to tyranny, which we ignore at our peril.

Yuriy Tymoshenko, Clearwater

Ancient wisdom

No matter what religious or nonreligious beliefs one aspires to, there is much to be gleaned from Buddhist wisdom. In “Ten Duties of the King,” Buddha lists the following qualities essential to a ruler: “liberality, generosity, clarity, a high moral character, sacrifices everything for the good of the people, honest and integrity, kindness and gentleness, austerity in habits and freedom from hatred, ill-will, enmity. He should bear no grudge against anybody. Nonviolence, patience, tolerance, understanding, the ability to bear insults without losing his temper, not oppose the will of the people.” Even though written so long ago, the principles still apply. When you go to the polls and make your choices, I suggest reviewing this list and determine who best fits this picture.

Mary Miller, New Port Richey

Go green now

Higher electric rates feared | June 23

As Tampa Bay boils and experts forecast an above-average hurricane season, we are beginning to see first hand the realities of the climate crisis. Dirty, expensive fossil fuels — to which Florida is addicted — are driving us ever closer to a dangerously unlivable future. They’re also costing us money we don’t have. The issue came to a head this month, as residents sounded off in opposition to TECO’s latest request to raise energy bills more than $200 annually, as the utility only plans to increase its reliance on volatile fracked gas. Energy affordability is fast becoming one of the most critical issues facing our region — and one our local governments cannot ignore.

One in five Tampa households are energy burdened, meaning they spend more than 6% of their income on energy bills, cutting into costs for other necessities. High energy costs can become deadly during extreme weather. Heat risk is projected to kill thousands statewide in the coming decades, with low-income families most at risk, and least able to afford life-saving cooling.

A rally organized by Food & Water Watch outside this month’s TECO hearing in Tampa made it clear that we expect the Hillsborough County Commission to act on behalf of constituents struggling to make ends meet. Although the state decides electricity rates, the county can — and must — pass policies to invest in energy efficiency, phase out fossil fuels, address energy burdens and strengthen climate resiliency. This must begin by opposing TECO’s latest rate hike.

Brooke Ward, Largo

The writer is the senior Florida organizer with the national environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch, mobilizing people to build solutions to pressing food, water and climate problems of our time.

Not government’s job

Florida slow on EV chargers on highways, despite federal money | June 26

When the automobile was invented, the government didn’t build gas stations. Why now is it government’s job to provide charging stations? Providing a convenience to a small minority of people is not how the government should spend the people’s money. If you buy an EV without knowing where you can charge it, you are an uneducated consumer. When the volume of EVs on the road provides an opportunity for private enterprise to address the need, it will happen. I’m trying to imagine any other scenario where the government would give money to successful companies and it not be seen as anything other than corporate welfare.

Hoyt Hamilton, Clearwater

An educated guess

DeSantis vetoes in-state tuition for Florida prisoners | June 26

In vetoing a bill that would ensure lower, in-state college tuition for imprisoned Floridians, Gov. Ron DeSantis said, “We should not reward criminal activity by providing inmates with the same benefits as law-abiding citizens.” By that reasoning, why not shut off taxpayer-subsidized gas and electricity to all Florida prisons? We could pipe in pond water and feed the inmates compost. But when a released inmate who is undereducated, mistreated and angry moves back into our neighborhoods (and most will), remember whose policy it was to help ensure Florida convicts don’t leave prison better citizens than when they went in.

Brendan McLaughlin, Tampa

A.I. should do this

AI-generated robocalls illegal | Feb. 9

Before artificial intelligence, with its speed and brilliance, turns us all into soft-brained slaves, would it be too much to ask it to search out and expose cyberattack bullies and robocallers? It seems like we mere mortals don’t have the information technology chops or the will to do it on our own.

Tom Reid, Seminole

It shouldn’t be criminal

Where people sleep outside is tracked | June 26

The idea of criminalizing people sleeping outside is an indication of the level of ignorance in Tallahassee and the governor’s office when it comes to homeless people and mental illness. If people spent any time actually talking to homeless people and trying to understand some of the choices they’ve made, it would become obvious even to the lawmakers that penalizing people who are some of the most unfortunate in our society is not a viable remedy to what they perceive as a problem. There is one thing that it would accomplish, however. It would replace the low-level, small-quantity marijuana convictions in our penal system that would likely disappear in November with the passage of Amendment 3. So we replace an existing law that penalized nonviolent offenders with one the penalizes some of the most passive people in our society for doing whatever they have to do to survive.

Bruce Caplan, St. Petersburg