Around the web: A roundup featuring comments from Tampabay.com. The comments included here are occasionally edited for length but otherwise appear as they did on the article or column.
On a column about the new Tampa Bay Rays owners looking for a stadium location that is at least 100 acres.
Why the requirement of 100 acres? This group has repeatedly referenced The Battery in Atlanta as a model of success and something they want to duplicate here. The entire Battery development only occupies 57 acres, excluding additional outparcels.
So why do the Rays need more than 100 acres (almost double) for a smaller market team? This tells me they already have a site in mind and just haven’t disclosed it yet. — G. Bulls
Completely agree. The need for 100 acres seems excessive. That’s a lot of hotels, entertainment, restaurants, etc. Is the demand for that really there? That’s almost like building a small city of which a ballpark is just a small piece. — S. Carrado
So they spent over a billion on the Rays but they think taxpayers should give them a handout to cover the cost of a 100 acre stadium complex. They don’t want much, do they? — P. Powell
On a column about the diminished Florida Democratic Party.
The Democrat party has no funding because they have no common sense policy positions and no leadership. Constant complaints about insurance costs but offer no solutions. Always complaining about leadership but who have they run for Governor? Gillum and Crist.
They have a long way to go if they want to regain some influence in Florida. — D. Hardin
Once politics becomes personal identity, disagreement becomes existential. And when that happens, dissent isn’t just unwelcome — it’s dangerous.
That’s why conspiracy theories spread so easily. They offer simple stories for a complicated world. They reduce every problem to good guys and bad guys. That’s the point.
They confuse clarity with correctness. They reject disagreement not because it’s wrong, but because it’s threatening. That’s not how democracies work.
Democracy is win-win. Autocracy is zero-sum. And the people who reject democratic norms — whether they call themselves left or right — are playing the same game.
Because in the end, it’s not about left vs. right.
It’s about democracy vs. extremism.
Faith vs. fear.
Freedom vs. control.
And we’d better choose wisely — K. Bomonti
On a Scott Maxwell column about Florida becoming more conservative and losing more young people.
Mr. Maxwell: I seem to be running into your writings a lot more lately. Glad to see your columns on a regular basis. As a member of the old born here (Florida) group I’m happy to see more civil and thoughtful writing filling up the commentary page. I wasn’t aware of the size of the migration of young people but I do know that several of my grandchildren (in their 20’s} have moved out of Florida. They don’t like the climate (and I am not speaking of the weather). It’s sad to see them go but I understand the why. Anyway, thanks for inciteful commentary which can be useful around here. — R. Tamargo
On a Daniel Ruth column about Florida banning books at the same times that it allows the open carry of guns.
I think the current Bookburning Hysteria is inappropriate, but any parents who feel that their children are being deprived of important and educational reading matter can either bring their children to their local public library or take out those books themselves for their children. It’s been a LONG time since high school, but even though I was a voracious reader, I can’t remember ever “taking out” a book from the school library. The public library was a better-stocked alternative. — K. Newman
Agree totally. And the context that always seems to be left out is that the majority of the books on these lists are not banned from High School. Only from the younger grades. D. Hardin
On a column about the death of former Times Editor of Editorials Phil Gailey.
A long time favorite journalist of mine. His column would be the first one I read on Sunday morning. — J. Taylor
Meeting with Phil Gailey as a young elected leader required intense preparation due to his deep knowledge of public policy. If he and the Times endorsed your position or candidacy, it was a true badge of honor. His tough veneer was pierced when I learned from the late Rep Louise Slaughter that Phil was a frequent singer of old hymns around a piano with a diverse group of friends during his years in Washington. — K. Castor
Sad, but young people today don’t realize that the St. Petersburg Times was one of the best, very best newspapers in America, with great journalists and opinion writers. These were brave journalists, who were not afraid to to take on politicians and business. I have wonderful memories of the Times. I read it every day. And this goes back to the 1960s. The decline of newspapers like the St. Petersburg Times is a major reason for the decline in American democracy. — L. Hanna
On a column about the waning influence of political endorsements.
Voters should totally ignore who is endorsing any political candidate and just focus on what that candidate has done in the past what he or she says they will do if elected. Of course that presupposes that voters will take the time to do the research. Aye, there’s the rub. — R. Scoggins
On a column about the importance of allowing for speech you don’t like.
The First Amendment is what separates us from being a country whose doctrines and laws are supported by one side while the other is not allowed to dissent. Newspapers and other media that are reputable allow both sides to state their opinions even if they favor one side over the other. Sometimes I am upset and shocked by what others say they believe as I am sure they feel the same toward what I support. Everyone should remember that this is a gift from those who wrote our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Our forefathers left kings and tyrants behind in order start a government supporting citizens’ and their right to voice either support or opposition to the government in power.
Each time I disagree with someone else’s views I try my best to listen and at times surprisingly find some common ground. Although, I have to admit at times it is not always easy to do. — M. Durham