According to Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia, the DOGE audit of Orange County stems from “complaints received on social media and by phone” (“Florida DOGE team arrives in Orange in hunt for ‘government excesses,’” Aug. 5). First of all, where is the evidence? How many people out of over 1.5 million residents in Orange County made these complaints? How does that compare to the complaints by Florida residents on their homeowner’s insurance and the state of Florida’s mishandling of the problem by throwing thousands of homeowners to the wolves, that is, private companies owned by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political donors? This appears to be an unethical racket, and the Legislature has approved it.
There are levels of ethical actions that ought to be maintained if we want to see continuity and careful progress in the political process; however, government by tweet, innuendo and secrecy will only continue to fuel more distrust and disdain in our representative government.
The actions of a DOGE entity appear to be a violation and usurpation of the rule of law. It seems to me it goes against the principle that a person is innocent until found guilty. DOGE pronounces guilt before it has even gone through different levels of investigation by giving specious and deceitful reasons for undertaking such a sweeping and ideologically targeted investigation.
If, according to Ingoglia, the results of this action could bolster DeSantis’ crusade against property taxes, then these DOGE sweeps are nothing but a political witch hunt as political cover. I see it as another unethical action by a governor who is so drunk on ambition, power, and sycophancy, he is willing to run roughshod over the very structures of government that he has sworn to — purportedly — protect.
Nelson Betancourt Orlando
Faith and science are contradictory
I must disagree with the Aug. 5 guest column by Gregory J. Rummo dealing with the harmonious relationship between faith and science. In my view, the two ideas are fundamentally and structurally contradictory.
We must remember that there have been many different belief systems throughout history and across the world. Most are now considered nothing more than quaint mythology. Most had little to do with science.
Why do folks like Rummo, in their advocacy for “intelligent design” (without actually saying so), default to Christianity? Easy: it’s his faith. I’m sure the Hindus might see things a little differently.
Whether or not these 17th and 18th century scientists, Christian though they may have been, were inspired by God to study the realities of nature, we must remember they were almost always severely mistreated by the Church. Galileo and Copernicus were punished for suggesting reality was not compliant with Biblical “truths.” Even Darwin was criticized by religious leaders and that absurd criticism continues to this day.
Science is concerned with verifiable facts. Faith depends on belief in things for which there is absolutely zero evidence. I believe religion has always been a drag and an impediment to the progress of human civilization and the pursuit of peace and justice. It’s time for humanity to grow up and reject these absurd notions.
Bob Sanders Orlando
God is in control
Thank you so much for printing the excellent article by Gregory Rummo. As I see it, he told history’s truth about the relationship between an intelligent designer and a universe that reveals more and more of its unfathomable complexity to scientists. Various branches of science, such as astrophysics and biochemistry, have seen beliefs blown apart by recent discoveries.
Humans need to return to the assertion that the universe is designed and intricately sustained by an intelligent force infinitely beyond our collective brain power. I am humbled that this God made each one of his billions of people so unique. He simply wants us to appreciate, love and serve him while on Earth. He even took on a human body, as Jesus, to show us how this is done. I get great comfort and hope from knowing God is in charge of running the universe, not us humans.
Doris Taylor Altoona
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