WE SHOULD DEAL WITH GOV. BUSH ON A POLICY LEVEL

As an American, a Democrat and a father, I would like to ask readers
to leave the governor and his daughter alone.

Dealing with a problem child is nothing new to parenting. It
certainly should not be an opportunity for political fodder. If the
governor's record on the issues is not enough to stir debate and
change, we should have learned by now that delving into private
problems is not progress and does none of us any good.

Yes, it was a public arrest, but it's still a private problem. The
only conceivable way this situation should be made an issue is if the
governor were to make a hypocritical point of not supporting funding
to programs that would affect how other parents are able to deal with
a problem child.

Until that occurs, give the governor and other future leaders a break
and practice some mature constraint. To do anything less would be
un-American.

DANIEL PARKER

Governor's policies deny those who need help I can't help but wonder
if Jeb Bush will rethink cutting addiction programs from the budget
now that his daughter is in need of help. These programs were cut
from all the work release programs and co-pay was cut from people
getting outside help, including people with DUIs. Of course, Daddy
can well afford to pay for treatment for his daughter.

ED DUFF

Infinity Software should be happy to hold Noelle's job While it's
unfortunate that the Bush family is experiencing the pain of having a
loved one addicted to drugs, I wonder how quickly Gov. Bush would act
to eliminate the drug programs in prisons that have proven their
effectiveness for many people if his daughter were at the mercy of
the court system? Should Noelle Bush be processed through the system,
she would be presented to drug court and then sentenced to a program
that would deal with her addiction. The problem is, the program would
have a waiting list and entry would be many months away. To those who
have experienced this crisis, drug addicts don't go into remission
while awaiting a program. Their crisis is now!

Fortunately for Ms. Bush, her family will be able to put her into a
$100,000 facility and she will go her merry way. Hence, no real
consequences for her actions and a system of enabling available only
to the wealthy.

What better luck! And, Infinity Software Development (which was
recently awarded an $8 million contract with the state) will be more
than happy, in the spirit of empathy, to hold her job for her! Now
that doesn't happen for the regular guy out there looking for work.

I'm sure there are no displaced state workers in all of Tallahassee
looking for a job.

DIANE M. DRAKE