DeSantis not nearly as bad as portrayed

Gov. Ron DeSantis is not perfect, but I agree with most of his policies.

When I listen to him speak, or read the actual substance of his policies, the characterization subsequently given seems to bear little resemblance to what he said. I find that many negative letters to the editor lazily gloss over the real issues by using catch phrases: book bans, no black history, no abortion, or “Don’t say gay.” The writers are ill-informed, or they think readers are unintelligent.

Florida has banned no books. It is required to teach black history. It has not banned abortion. It does not ban the word gay.

To be persuasive, please explain whether school libraries should have no limits on contents of books. Explain why existing black history educational requirements are inadequate, or why a time limit on deciding on an abortion is inappropriate, or whether six-year olds should be taught about sex education.

I don’t disagree that these are difficult issues. I’m willing to listen. I think you would find that our views are not that disparate. But when you set up a straw man and knock it down, it serves no useful purpose.

Please, enough comparisons of DeSantis to the second coming of Hitler. When

Gov. Gavin Newsom in California banned Walgreens, wasn’t that also authoritarian? Governors are supposed to use their powers to influence their states’ policies.

Tom Bolf, Plantation

(Editor’s Note: DeSantis calls book bans a “hoax,” but Pinellas County removed Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” from school libraries, NPR reports. Martin County pulled 80 books, including James Patterson’s “Maximum Ride” series, from elementary school shelves. Miami-Dade, Broward, Duval and Escambia removed books temporarily or permanently. Manatee County covered up unvetted books, The Bradenton Herald reports).