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Barrier Islands Gazette
Attn: Editor
118 107th Ave.
Treasure Island, Fl. 33706or Click Here to email.
Reporter Shawn Goldberg did his research, he covered the issue and investigated the facts. Our hats are off to him and his editor Bill Stone for a job well done. Please support the Barrier Islands Gazette, they do the job. It is a bimonthly publication which is well worth taking the time to read.
Thanks,
Ron Gonzalez
My wife and I moved here from the Northeast a few years ago for the wonderful beaches. We always enjoy reading the beach papers. Your last issue was the best yet. Your company does an outstanding job covering the beach government meetings especially what’s happening in Redington with the city damaging private property. Keep up the good work and congratulations for putting out such a fine newspaper.
CB Harrison
Clearwater
The following letter addresses a reader’s letter to Martin Moore.
I wish to address the myopia of the crackpots, those on the outer fringe of rationality, whether extreme-left or crazy-right. Dan Calabria’s diatribe against H. Martin Moore’s column this week set me off, so blame him if I annoy you with a bit ofintelligent observation.
Thankfully, the political economy of the United States is neither capitalist nor socialist but a generous helping of both. Capitalism, which with insufferable certainty we claim as our system, is blessedly leavened by socialism, which many ignore and claim to abhor. Capitalism puts the zing in our economy. Its promised rewards create the drive, venture, invention and verve that have placed the U.S. ahead of most of the rest of the world in so many ways. But pure capitalism is a nightmare for any nation.
Our socialism takes the curse off our capitalism with regulation and some recognition of human needs and aspirations. There are very few of us who care to do without Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, securities and banking regulation (see what weak lending regulation has caused?), and a multitude of regulations related to food, shelter, health and education. All of those are socialism. None of them fixate on “the bottom line” at the expense of human decency.
Although there are many successful governments with a stronger blend of socialism than ours, none are or ever have been purely socialist. That would be a disaster, too. Progress of every kind would end as incentive evaporates.
Just because someone runs a business and meets payrolls doesn’t signify that he grasps the reality beyond.
Bud Tritschler
Good article by Shawn Goldberg in your Aug. 1-15 edition regarding Redington Shores and the Gulf Mariner Condominium.
As owner of a unit in the Gulf Mariner, I am appalled at Mayor Jody Armstrong’s comment that she is “younger than most of the folks that live and possess the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) attitude.” Armstrong evidently must be very young ... perhaps too young to be entrusted with the job of mayor.
The 2000 census demographics for Redington Shores show that there were 298 householders 65 and older and 571 households with individuals 65 or older. Combined, that’s a whopping 64 percent of residents (and potential voters) who were then 65 and older. Households with individuals 45 to 54 were 17.5 percent, with individuals 55 to 59 were 8.4 percent and with individuals 60 to 64 were 8.1 percent.
Combined, that’s another 34 percent. Did the mayor research the demographics before she made such a condescending remark? Even she should be able to add 64 and 34, for 98 percent of folks over 45. Can we then assume she is younger than 45? That might explain her remark. Ah, the arrogance of youth!
I’d like to point out to the mayor, the commissioners and all the residents of Redington Shores that today her comments could be construed as “ageism.” Getting older does not mean losing your common sense; in fact, many persons gain common sense as they age. I hope that will be the case with the mayor. I could name many people who continued to contribute to society after age 65. Thomas Edison, Mother Teresa, Grandma Moses. John Adams took the oath of office as president of the United States when he was 65.
So, to all the residents of Redington Shores who are older than the mayor, please remember her comments when it comes to entrusting her to make and/or support decisions regarding your life.
And hey, you residents older and wiser, how about running for mayor of Redington Shores!
Marlene Boggs
Gulf Mariner Condo unit owner