Joe Vrtis’ Jan. 9 letter of grievance, with its thinly veiled right-wing talking points — where he self-identifies by derisively disparaging USA Today as “ultra-woke” — ignores MAGA’s own adoption of DEI. Additionally, he gaslights MAGA’s characterization of DEI, shamelessly declaring, “nobody has a problem with what DEI stands for,” just its weaponization.
Really?
There’s little doubt the main enemy of MAGA’s war on “woke” and DEI is Black people, though many nonwhites and progressives in certain segments of the population are also targeted. President Donald Trump repeatedly invokes racism’s element with snide and clearly audible dog whistles.
Gov. Ron DeSantis does the same by voter suppression, racial gerrymandering and threatening Black protesters. Right-wing courts acquiesce by ruling that societal-beneficial measures countering anti-Black discrimination are unlawfully discriminating against white people. Yet Vrtis asks, “What ‘anti-Black’ era?”
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
I agree with his assessment that the NFL and other pro sports are meritocracies; the colorblind goal — with amply rewarded riches — is to win.
However, I contend that Trump’s nominations for critically important cabinet officers and advisers (and their confirmation by the sorrowful Republican Senate) exemplify “DEI, MAGA style.”
Most of these people are clearly not qualified, perhaps at best mediocre, but far from the best and brightest meritocracy-vetted candidates America deserves. Their paramount qualification is, not the DEI critics’ focus on race, but unquestioning loyalty to Trump. They serve to protect and defend him, thus immediately betraying their oath to the U.S. Constitution and the country.
Michael Miller, Ponte Vedra Beach
A new low for Trump
I never thought I would live to see the day that the United States would take its marching orders from Vladimir Putin. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, under orders from President Donald Trump, outlined a total surrender for Ukraine after Russia’s unprovoked invasion and bombing campaign to destroy that sovereign nation.
Hundreds of thousands of brave Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have died in the name of freedom and democracy, only to be insulted and abandoned by Trump. The outline for peace from Secretary Hegseth was exactly what Putin wanted from his puppet.
That was a new low for Trump and our nation. He has even blocked Ukraine from participating in the peace negotiations with Putin.
The military aid we sent to Ukraine was the best money our Defense Department has spent in a century. For less than 6% of our defense budget, we ran this nation’s biggest adversary out of manpower and weapons. We also discovered that the Russian Army and Navy are paper tigers. Putin is now buying weapons and soldiers from North Korea because his army is depleted.
Trump has saved Russia at the expense of Ukraine and NATO. Putin demanded Trump block Ukraine from joining NATO and he knuckled under to the demands of this killer. Trump even invited Putin to Washington. What a disgrace to our allies and our freedom-loving people.
Patrick Lee, Fleming Island
Wild horses must stay wild
For over 50 years, the Bureau of Land Management has failed to humanely manage wild horses and burros. Rather than implementing long-term viable solutions, they continue to inhumanely roundup wild horses, creating a snowball effect that costs taxpayers over $150 million annually.
In fiscal year 2024, the bureau removed over 16,000 horses from the range. They use low-flying helicopters to chase them for miles in extreme weather conditions. Foals are aggressively roped, mares will miscarry and horses will trample one another from sheer panic, resulting in injury or death.
Over the past 10 years, contractors have been paid hundreds of millions of dollars to capture and warehouse horses. Yet most Americans don’t even know they exist, let alone what they are paying for.
Wild horses need our help more than ever. There are now more horses in captivity than free on the range. With over 66,000 horses and burros awaiting their fate in government holding facilities, now is the time to take action and promote safe and humane management, such as fertility control.
Help keep wild horses by signing American Wild Horse Conservation’s petition to Halt the Helicopters, calling your legislators and posting on social media using the tag #HaltTheHelicopters.
They represent more than just freedom. They deserve to stay wild.
Caylyn Mira, Jacksonville
Who really pays for power lines?
In November 2022, it was reported that the cost for raising JEA transmission lines across the St. Johns River was $45 million. Now, a Feb. 8 article tells us the latest estimate is $117 million.
Besides the talk of cost, I’d like to know who came up with this idea. It reminds me of the proposal to sell JEA and we all know the results of that fiasco.
A small aircraft crashed into a 100-foot tower a couple of years back in Maryland, causing an outage for 120,000 customers. The lines at Jaxport supply power to most of Jacksonville. How many customers would be out of service if that happened here? How long would an outage last while equipment is located to fix it? It could be days or even weeks.
They will use helicopters and special crews to raise the power lines. Maybe the person who thought up this idea will come to your house and help you eat your melting ice cream by candlelight.
Anytime you increase the height of something it costs more to repair them. Ask anyone with a two-story house. Why should JEA (meaning me and my neighbors) pay for any of this? Pay for it from all the money they claim they will make. That is what businesses do.
Bill Scranton, Jacksonville
Turning the tide on Alzheimer’s
I lost my parents to Alzheimer’s disease and was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s three years ago. This disease is devastating, and with Florida having the second-largest number of people living with it, we must ensure residents understand the importance of recognizing the warning signs and getting an early diagnosis.
New treatments have kept my cognitive abilities from getting worse, but they are only available for those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. That means early diagnosis is key. Unfortunately, many people attribute the signs of the disease to normal aging and brush off symptoms until it’s too late.
A bill filed in the Florida Legislature this year, SB 398, would fund the first statewide public health awareness campaign. Supported by the Florida chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association, the bill would require a campaign to cover early detection, risk reduction, brain health, recent research and community resources.
Right now, Florida is one of the only states leading in Alzheimer’s prevalence to not have a public awareness campaign. With numbers expected to increase, now is not the time to back down.
I urge Sen. Tracie Davis to support SB 398 and help turn the tide in the coming Alzheimer’s crisis.
Vena Patton Stanbury, Jacksonville
Congress must rein in Musk
Why aren’t our members of Congress — Reps. Aaron Bean, Kat Cammack, John Rutherford and Cory Mills —- protecting their constituents’ Social Security and IRS tax information?
A few weeks ago, Elon Musk accessed the payment systems at the Treasury Department. That means he likely could access every American’s name, address, Social Security number, birthday, phone number, email address, health care information or other financial information.
Now, Musk is trying to access IRS tax records. Think of all the information you put in your tax returns: income, real estate holdings, stocks, bank accounts and business expenses. Everything about your financial life is in your tax returns.
Why does Musk need this information and what does he plan to do with it? Use it to punish his enemies, help his friends or make money from you?
Our Congress members must act now. We must insist that Musk be barred from collecting our personal, private information. He must also be ordered to return it and purge it from his records.
After all, Congress is supposed to work for us. We must insist that they do so.
Terry D. Bork, Jacksonville
More humane execution needed
Reading the Feb. 8 article about the execution in Alabama of Demetrius Frazier gave me the chills. No detail was spared about the grotesque signs of pain he felt during the last few minutes of his life after the nitrogen mask was applied. Of course, most readers would argue that his suffering was well-deserved; after all, he showed no mercy when he murdered Pauline Brown in 1991.
There must be a better way. Consider the centuries-old guillotine and the more modern firing squad; death is instantaneous. Our newer methods — the electric chair, gas chamber and lethal injections — not only involve extreme pain, but they are sometimes botched. Even hanging has been known to fail.
I believe that carbon monoxide should be considered. Every year, especially during hurricane season, careless homeowners die from this lethal gas when they place generators too close to their dwellings. Their death is painless.
However, I see one problem with this method. Does anyone know how long it takes a person to die this way? How could a gallery of victims’ families and the media be assembled?
Linda M. Turner, adjunct professor, Jacksonville
This story was updated to add a video.
