Algae should inspire leadership change

Regarding Scott Maxwell’s Sunday column, “The Great Green Algae Disaster : We asked for it” about how our environment has suffered under Gov. Rick Scott: It occurred because state agencies created to protect our environment were purged of environmentalists and replaced with individuals more interested in their friends making money.

The five water-management districts in Florida were purged of environmentalists, along with the Environmental Protection Agency. Regulations designed to protect our abundant natural resources were removed so developers could make more money.

Harry Truman warned us in 1947, at the dedication of the Everglades’ National Park, about this scenario:

“We have to remain constantly vigilant to prevent raids by those who would selfishly exploit our common heritage for their private gain. Such raids on our natural resources are not examples of enterprise and initiative. They are attempts to take from all the people just for the benefit of a few.”

Florida with its great climate, natural beauty, miles of ocean and lake front and low taxes will always have enough growth, even with strong regulations to protect our precious environment.

It is time for change in Florida, after 20 years of Republicans having control of the state governor’s office and the Legislature.

The blue-green slop destroying Lake Okeechobee and the estuaries delivering the slop to both coasts and the Everglades, should be enough to bring a change in leadership in Florida.

Marvin Jacobson Clermont