When will the people realize that Mayor [John] Peyton hates unions? He will do anything to destroy them before he leaves office and will use the City Council to help him; most of them are unable to think for themselves. The mayor fails to realize that these union members buy gasoline from his family-owned business. Peyton has never had a real job — [he] works for [D]addy. So he will fall back into a well-paying position when he leaves office. He needs to work as a fireman or policeman for one week to see what its like to have a real job. Hopefully Election Day will take care of this. Vote.

Teacher bonuses don’t work

Even though the most current study from Vanderbilt University National Center on Performance Standards showed that bonus pay for teachers alone does not improve student outcomes, our state and federal governments force teachers to accept such programs.

During my 38-year teaching career [in Florida], I can state unequivocally that they don’t work and never will. And this is the same government that is forcing us to accept national health care. Unreal.

Judge them by their litter

It is [standard operating procedure] to argue about the number of people attending any given march or demonstration. How about measuring the amount of trash the demonstrators leave behind when they go home, and judging their cause accordingly? Can’t argue with data based on tons of trash.

Reducing China’s influence

It is frightening to think how much control China has in the United States. It seems that almost 95 percent of manufactured items are made in China. The quality and safety of these items leaves much to be desired. A recent purchase of a vacuum cleaner made in China carried this warning: “The cords, wires, and/or cables supplied with this product contain chemicals, including lead or lead compounds, known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after using.”

It would be so much safer if this product were made in the United States, but if that is not possible, wouldn’t it be better to have it assembled in Mexico out of parts manufactured in the United States? Perhaps this procedure would give employment to Mexicans who would then not come to the United States illegally.

Both parties created mess

The new Republican campaign agenda is just more of the same snake oil. Deregulation, tax cuts for the rich and free trade have been dismal failures. Both parties played a role in creating today’s bleak economic picture. [President] Jimmy Carter deregulated the airlines and the trucking industry but [President] Ronald Regan led us rapidly down the destructive path of free market fundamentalism. [President] Bill Clinton continued to expand free trade at the expense of U.S. jobs and finished the deregulation of the financial services industry. [President] George W. Bush expanded tax cuts and ran up a massive debt. Both parties are to blame.