Crime out of control

To the editor:

I am writing about violent crime in America. I understand that it is only getting worse and Americans are getting fed up with it. I don’t even watch “America’s Most Wanted” anymore because I’m tired of seeing people cry and those criminals not getting what’s coming to them.

The problem is that violent crime is not something that can be dealt with (we’ve already seen that). It has to be prevented. The best way to do that is to crack down on the very things that cause it in the first place – domestic violence, child abuse, drugs and so forth.

We also need to pay special attention to bullies, because most of them are tomorrow’s criminals, most of them do grow up to be violent criminals. America’s biggest problem with this is that most people don’t care why they’re so violent in the first place. They just assume, lock them up and put them to death. And that’s the end of it. It doesn’t work that way.

We need to find a way to make them care because we’re not making much progress this way.

Brent Thompson
St. Cloud

Osceola School Board — right and wrong

To the editor:

You may believe that knowing right from wrong is something that our children should be taught in school. Or perhaps you think that morality lessons are the exclusive responsibility of parents. Either way such knowledge should be common to the folks who run our school system, don't you think?

Imagine a business named "Santa Claus — Candies for Kiddies." How you would feel if a phony "Santa" was able to sidestep your admonishment: "Never accept candy from strangers!"

It is simply and obviously wrong for someone to pretend to be someone else for the purpose of raising money.

Even a child can understand this. Likewise, even adults can be easily confused by businesses with misleading names.

In Osceola County we have a real-life example of this. On Jan. 19, 2010, a Florida corporation was formed: Osceola School District — Children, Inc.

Cindy Hartig is a director of this corporation. She is also a school board member in Osceola County.

What's the problem? The problem is that apparently anyone can name a new corporation anything they want in Florida, even if the name is deceptive and misleading.

Contrary to its name, Osceola School District — Children, Inc. has nothing to do with the Osceola School District. Ms. Hartig did not get permission to use this name and she certainly doesn't have the blessing of the school board to use this name.

Shouldn't School Board members already know that this is not right?

In an article that appeared several months ago in the Gazette, Jay Wheeler said what is common sense: "I know right from wrong. This is wrong to try to be deceptive and try to make people think it’s from the School District when it's not."

Not only did Cindy Hartig have an error in judgment in the naming of this company, but apparently so did Nancy Gemskie. She was also listed as a director of Osceola School District — Children, Inc. After this subject was broached at a school board meeting, Nancy's name was removed.

Why does any of this matter? It matters because Nancy Gemskie is running against Jay Wheeler in this year's School Board election.

I am always up-front about my support for Jay Wheeler. It is my opinion that Jay has been doing a good job on the school board (as I have written over the years). So I have to wonder why Nancy is trying to unseat him.

When I posed this question to Nancy Gemskie, she didn't have a good answer. When I asked "Do you believe that it is appropriate for an entity that has nothing to do with the Osceola County School District to use a name that falsely implies affiliation with or sanctioning by the Osceola School District?" Nancy responded, "No George, I did not have any input regarding naming rights, and believe the corporation you reference is dissolved. Early on I made it clear I would not sit as a director until after the election, as I felt anything else would be inappropriate."

The corporation is not dissolved. But what about the name? No answer from Nancy.

Even the chairman of the Osceola School Board, John McKay, received phone calls from folks confused by the name of this company.

At a minimum we should expect good judgment from the people we elect to represent us. When good judgment is lacking, what else should we expect?

George Schiro
Harmony