Martin County’s new recycling program isn’t working: Can we pitch it, too?
The new recycling program in Martin County is driving me to the landfill.
Several months ago Martin County instituted a new recycling program, including all new trucks, and also containers for every household. This new program was touted as increasing recycling in the county.
The new automated trucks eliminated one person/labor from each truck. The problem is that whatever doesn’t fit into the bin is picked up with trash vs. recycling. Also, every five to six weeks the bins do not get picked up (equipment breakdowns, limited personnel to operate the new trucks, etc.), so that means a full week of recycling will go in the trash.
Aside from the decreased recycling occurring on this front, I would like to know the true savings of the new program, or the additional cost, as it may be. Sometimes it’s best to say we made a mistake than to continue with a bad program.
Mary Gavin, Hobe Sound
Reading about the happiest countries in the world made me smile
It made me happy to read about the happiest countries in the world. And as I looked at the list in Thursday’s paper, it made me smile. Did you notice how all five Nordic countries were listed as the happiest? That also made me smile, because the dominant religion in those countries is Lutheran. It was no surprise to me.
There is something about those Scandinavian Lutherans. So, if you can’t move to Finland, or one of those other happy countries, check out Our Savior Lutheran Church in Vero Beach, which shares those roots. I know it’s been the happiest place for me and my family for over 45 years, and that’s no accident. Come and see.
Jack Diehl is pastor emeritus of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Vero Beach.
Did movie fight between Rocky, Drago foreshadow Russia-Ukraine war?
With the conflict raging in Ukraine, I could not help but think of the movie “Rocky IV.” In this film a much smaller, but determined, fighter (Rocky) was tasked to take on a much larger Russian-trained fighter (Drago). The Russian was indoctrinated to show no mercy in fighting any of his opponents.
The fight took place in Russia with, of course, a large gathering of wealthy Russians. No one gave Rocky much of a chance.
If you have seen the movie you know that in the early rounds of this scheduled 15-round match, Rocky was pummeled by the much larger Drago. The Russians were cheering for Drago, expecting an early and easy victory. As the fight continued, Rocky hung in there and regained some strength and started scoring some good hits against this much larger opponent, to the dismay of the Russian leaders.
Being a movie, the “good guy” always wins and yes, Rocky struck back hard enough to defeat Drago. Also as a result, Rocky gained support from the Russian citizens.
Today, and this is not a movie, Ukraine is fighting for its life against a much larger opponent — Russia. I believe that Vladimir Putin was expecting a very easy and early “knockout” over Ukraine. However, this is not happening. The Ukrainian resistance is doing more than anyone might have thought in fighting back against the Russian Bear. So maybe there will be a similar “movie” outcome.
We can only hope and pray.
Bruce Campbell, Stuart
Putin is the sole cause of the Russia-Ukraine war
Michael Konz, in his letter of March 23, “argues otherwise” that Vladimir Putin, not Joe Biden, is not the proximate cause of the Russia-Ukraine war.
I must agree that Putin was not the proximate cause of this conflict. He in fact is the sole cause of this war.
If anyone is to be considered proximate cause to this criminal invasion, it would surely be Donald Trump. It was Trump who single-handedly tried to dissolve NATO. It was Trump who held back and refused to send congressionally approved weapons to Ukraine in 2019, while trying to blackmail Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In retrospect it would appear that Trump was clearing the way for Putin’s assault on democracy in his invasion.
Konz also mentions FDR, and like Joe Biden, FDR, too, wanted no war with American boots on the ground in Europe. He used a brilliant plan, lend-lease, whereby we sent planes, ships and munitions to the allies while still remaining neutral. And in no way can President Biden be compared to Neville Chamberlain.
We were drawn into WWII as a result of the sneak attack by the Japanese on our fleet in Pearl Harbor.
Lest Konz forget, one of the those “courageous leaders who saved the free world” was none other than Joseph Stalin. Yes, Russia was an ally.
As one who has followed this war from day one I can attest to the fact there has been no “abdication of leadership” by President Biden or any of his administration.
Ukraine has done a fabulous job of defending its country and repelling the invaders due to the leadership in Washington and NATO in Belgium.
Joseph De Phillips, Stuart
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Letters to the Editor: March 26, 2022
