A welcome taste of pre-COVID normalcy
Last weekend provided a reminder of Sarasota in pre-COVID times.
It started with a play Friday at Florida Studio Theatre. Yes, we showed our vaccine documents and wore masks, but the sense was we are coming back to normal.
The play was anything but normal. Focusing on the political, spiritual and emotional differences that have fractured our society, “America in One Room” portrayed the deep-seated differences that have weaponized our society and threatened the survival of democracy itself.
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The end left the audience deeply pessimistic about the ability of the factions to listen and learn from each other to allow our form of government to thrive.
Sunday provided a possible answer to the impasse with the Sarasota Orchestra’s memorable performance of Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring.” Our faces were covered but not our ears. Copland offered a solution to all impasses: Listen, speak, resolve – and repeat.
Let us hope that the pandemic wanes in the coming months so that audiences can again listen, rather than agonizing and agitating at home. The American tradition of communication, without masks, may be on the horizon.
Jay N. Cohn, Sarasota
COVID mandates may be counterproductive
While this writer is not a psychologist, it seems that no one on either side of the aisle comprehends the psychology of mandating behavior.
Regarding vaccinations, in the early stages people were spending hours on their computers trying to get vaccine appointments.
The next stage of vaccinations included early skeptics of the vaccine who “saw the light” when hospitalizations and deaths began to spike – those who merely needed more data to make the decision.
Then, some of the remaining skeptics were persuaded to get the shot by their families and friends.
To date, many people who remain unvaccinated may be “independent folks” who rebel against being told what to do. For those rebels, I suggest mandating vaccinations may be counterproductive.
Moreover, mandating mask wearing for the vaccinated removes an incentive for getting vaccinated. If the risk of death isn’t motivation enough, mandating vaccinations probably won’t be effective. Other incentives are needed.
Richard Abell, North Venice
At-large commissioners less accountable
In response to a Dec. 14 letter listing the reasons for voting against single-member districts: The author hasn’t considered the real reason why our county commissioners want to nullify our previous votes.
When commissioners represent one district, they need to be accountable to the needs of that district. When they serve countywide, they are less (not more) accountable and have a history, too often, of ignoring individual districts’ needs with little repercussion.
We who voted for single-district county commissioners knew exactly what we were voting for, despite what the current commissioners would have you believe. I think it is more likely that the commissioners are concerned about their vulnerability come the next election because they didn’t consider the input from their district constituents, especially the commissioners who represent Siesta Key and the project at Stickney Point Road and 41.
Susan Herring, Sarasota
Ban butts from beaches statewide
Thanks to Jon Paul Brooker for his commentary Dec. 11 on removing cigarette butts from the beaches and parks.
A statewide legislative act would be my greatest wish for the New Year. I resent secondhand smoke when at the beach and can pick up the stench from 20 or 30 feet away.
A pure environment is what paradise should be like.
Joe Daku, Venice
Eliminate financial gain in public office
Democracy? Demos, the people. Do we live in a democracy, or is it a “dollacracy?”
Daily I get emails from politicians requesting answers to surveys. Every email ends with a request for money: $5, $250, $1,000.
Will they listen to me if I don’t send money? Are they more likely to vote my way with a $5 or a $1,000 donation?
Individual politicians need to publish an individual platform of their personal (not party) beliefs. How do they feel about gun rights, the environment, development, zoning, law enforcement, voting rights, etc.?
Bribery has no part in a true democracy. Individual audits of politicians, before they take office and after they leave, should reveal no financial gain beyond their pay. Rich and poor people should be represented equally.
Our representatives and their programs need to be financed by taxes, not by corporate or individual bribes and donations.
Is it time for us to rethink funding politicians? Democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is not government of the people, by the rich and for the rich.
Henry Danielson, Englewood
