ell all of your elected representatives you know oil and gas production in the gulf can occur in a safe and responsible way, and you want it to happen now.

DAVID BATT, director

Consumer Energy Alliance of Florida

Tallahassee

Editor's note: The Consumer Energy Alliance of Florida includes companies related to drilling for oil and natural gas.

Firefighters should live within their means

In response to the Palm Beach County firefighter who wrote that a sales-tax increase to pay for fire-rescue is a win-win ("Sales tax a win-win for all who need safety services," May 31):

He failed to mention that if the sales-tax revenues fell below the fire-rescue's budget, the county commissioners would need to raise property taxes to cover it. We know that would happen because the commission has had little stomach to take on their union.

He also failed to mention that the county commissioners are trying to increase our current property tax 15 percent for next year's budget, as they are giving the county firefighters a 3.1'percent budget increase.

How about the county firefighters live within their means, as do the average taxpayers? I believe that they should be treated fairly, and if you read their contract, boy, are they ever. I also believe that the same fairness should be afforded the taxpayer.

RON ESPOSITO

Lake Worth

Editor's note: Gov. Crist signed Senate Bill 1000, which allows counties to hold a vote on increasing the sales tax to pay for fire-rescue services.

Lawmakers penny-wise on public education

Since we can't depend on the legislative or executive branches to protect Florida's children (or the state constitution), I guess we'll have to rely on the judiciary.

I propose a constitutional amendment that would define the state's financial obligation to local school districts as follows: The amount spent per elementary, middle school and high school student should be what it was in 2008 plus 20 percent (to make up for what they've stolen from students in the past few years) plus an annual adjustment for inflation using the federal Consumer Price Index. After this passes, we'll work on a similar amendment for college students.

The financing of public education seems to be the area of public interest in which our "fearless leaders" in Tallahassee are most penny-wise and pound foolish.

LARRY LITTLE

Royal Palm Beach

Medicare increase will cut overall benefits

You have reported that Social Security benefits are not expected to increase in 2010 and 2011. Wouldn't it be fairer if you let your readers know that for about one-fourth of Social Security recipients, the amount they receive will go down in 2010 as their Part B Medicare premiums rise, and then go down again in 2011 as Part B goes up again? Meanwhile, the other recipients' payments may not increase, but would not go down, at least.

INGE LYNCH

Boca Raton

Constant criticism of president is sickening

I am neither an economist, a war strategist nor a political analyst. Neither is 90 percent of the population of the United States. We elect those in power to be the experts. I see a nation of people who are perched to criticize everything our new president does. No president in my lifetime was as hated and disrespected as George W. Bush. Now, second verse, same as the first.

President Obama is ripped apart on a daily basis, from how he handles the economy to how he extends his hand for a handshake. His wife's choice of clothing and what china she uses for a tea party is up for scrutiny. We have become a nation of bullies and tabloidmongers. It is sickening.
source: