Readers tee off on COVID, politicians, and dumb columnists

Scott, I just loved column in

today’s paper [“Now Florida is rethinking measles and mumps vaccines in schools? Where does this end?”]. I simply don’t understand people’s objections based on their “freedom” to do as they please. I’m proud of the little white circular scar on my left arm (my smallpox vaccination) and remember taking the polio vaccine in my youth. Never were there claims of “violating my freedoms” from our parents when we were required to show proof of these vaccinations before entering school. — Dorothy

Well, Dorothy, your parents didn’t have politicians and Facebook posts spreading conspiracy theories and calling folks “SHEEPLE” if they followed the advice of the world’s leading medical experts. Another possible difference: It sounds like your parents cared about other people.

Scott, when I went to boot camp there were more shots than I can count. I do not remember anyone pitching a fit over them. Nor over the yearly boosters. Nor the special vaccinations when we were going to be deployed someplace with a nasty little bug we didn’t normally run across. If vaccinations are good enough for the people who protect our freedoms, they are damn sure good enough for the ones being protected! — Michael

Thanks for the note, Michael — and for your service.

No one has read your column in years. The only thing the Sentinel is used for is toilet paper. — B.B.

Weird that you’re writing then. Also, try Cottonelle. It’s much softer and leaves fewer ink stains.

Thanks, Scott, for putting Canada’s drug program into perspective. [“Florida craves Canadian drugs — the spoils of government-controlled health care”] I wondered how this was going to work out — the socialist Canadian government with their socialist healthcare system? Does that make Gov. DeSantis our de facto socialist drug supplier? — Kathy

Kathy, a lot of politicians in this state seem quite comfortable demonizing Canada’s government-control methods while also demanding our northern neighbors give them the cheap drugs those methods produce.

God Bless our Governor. God*** the Media. You are discussing.— Manny

We are definitely discussing, Manny. Sometimes politics. Sometimes grammar and spelling.

Weren’t you a big supporter of Andrew Gillum? — Ray

Nope. I liked Gwen Graham. Also Chris King. I thought both DeSantis and Gillum were flawed. And I was right. (Congrats, by the way, to Graham who was just confirmed by the Senate as the new Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education.)

Thank you for today’s column. [“Orlando: 50th out of 50 in wages with costs-of-living on the rise”] Although it’s not a complete surprise to me, I am rather stunned by the communities that are ahead of us, like Birmingham. — Mike Unfortunately, Orlando trails every mid- to major-size city in America when it comes to wages — even cities with much lower costs of living.

Preach it, Scott. We all pay when people can’t support themselves. — Lilley

That’s a key part many people overlook. When full-time workers can’t make ends meet, we all pick up the slack — through housing subsidies, food stamps, ER visits, strained nonprofits and more.

Scott, when my daughter graduated with an MBA in finance from Rollins, she was offered a job locally for $40,000. She told them: “We are wasting each other’s time.” She took a job with Dell in Austin, Texas, starting at $100,000. — Bill

That is sadly common. An abundance of low-wage jobs can drag down the region’s entire wage scale. Architects, economists, lawyers, social workers and even dentists often make less here. And Austin is a great example. In fact, the Sentinel once dispatched me to the Texas capital to learn how that city transformed its own economy and pen a piece titled: “Austin’s rebirth holds lessons for Orlando.” We hoped it would spur action locally. That was 20 years ago.

You are a moron. And you work exactly where you should. — David

You know, David, there’s something kind of comforting about knowing you’re exactly where you belong.

Thank you for today’s column. [“Valencia job-training program takes on low wages in Orlando”] A real eye opener! — Kathy

I like Valencia’s idea of meeting workers where they are in their lives. Not everyone needs a four-year college. Not everyone wants vocational training right after high school. This “rapid-reskilling” program helps low-wage workers get skills for higher-wage jobs in a hurry — and hopefully boosts Central Florida’s overall economy in the process.

We read your column about Valencia and would like to share how the Rotary Club of Orlando is trying to do its small part. Our foundation is providing $3,000 scholarships for at least 12 students. It may not seem like a large sum for many, but for the student with limited means, it can be life changing. So here is our request: Will you ask your readers and companies to join with us to help fund Valencia scholarships? — Heidi Isenhart and Rich Ungaro, The Rotary Club of Orlando

You bet. I love that you guys are turning words into action. Anyone interested in helping the Rotary Club provide scholarships to workers looking to start new careers in better-paying industries can visit rotarycluboforlando.org or send a check (earmarked for Valencia scholarships) to The Rotary Club of Orlando Foundation; P.O. Box 560388; Orlando, Florida 32856.

Scott, your email link in today’s paper has 3 L’s at the end. Is that a typo or is that a new email? — Larry

That happened because some idiot didn’t know how to spell “Maxwell.” Sincerely, some idiot.