Republicans’ latest fear tactic is to accuse Democrats of advocating for socialism and communism. Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio frequently used that ploy and now it's coming from Florida’s Republican candidates: Byron Donalds, Bryan Avila, Ashley Moody and James Uthmeier. It's clear none of them know what it means.
Socialism is a system where the government owns a major means of production, like factories, land or raw materials. Have Sen. Bernie Sanders, Senate candidate Angie Nixon or Florida gubernatorial candidate David Jolly ever advocated for that? No.
What they do have in common is a focus on providing affordable food, housing, health care and education to everyone.
Republicans who voted for President Donald Trump’s tax bill caused
millions to lose affordable access to SNAP benefits and medical care. Further damage was done through their support of his unqualified cabinet choices. For health care, this means the cessation of clinical trials, unwarranted vaccine skepticism, and deep cuts to medical research.
We already have the perfect example of socialism: the Department of Veterans Affairs. The federal government owns and operates hospitals and clinics, employing doctors, nurses and administrators that provide robust, affordable health benefits to over 8 million people.
Few Republicans have spoken out against Trump’s chaotic, unlawful tariffs, which raise prices and hurt farmers who must be bailed out by the government (as they were in his first term). The war in Iran has cost billions, killed many and left us in a worse position economically than before we attacked.
While fearing “socialism,” Republican candidates and lawmakers have allowed the country to slide towards authoritarianism.
None of our local lawmakers have tried to rein in the violence and lack of due process by ICE’s masked agents or the inhumane treatment in detention centers. None have refuted Trump’s unfounded claims of fraudulent voting. None have denounced his pardon of thugs who attacked police officers on Jan. 6, 2021. They have also allowed him to prosecute or harass those he considers an enemy.
As the VA example shows, however, perhaps some socialist thinking is necessary to improve Americans’ food security, health care — and arrest our slide towards authoritarianism.
Roy Goldman, Atlantic Beach
Don't forget your vote-by-mail request
If you voted by mail in 2024, your request has expired; have you renewed it? Of the 88,579 Duval County voters who signed up for vote-by-mail in 2024, only about 22,000 have submitted a new request. For those who aren't aware, Florida law now requires voters to submit a new vote-by-mail request for each general election cycle.
Previous vote-by-mail requests expired after the November 2024 election and will expire again on Dec. 31, 2026. Anyone planning to vote by mail in the 2027 municipal elections must re-enroll by 5 p.m. on Feb. 25, 2027.
That's why the League of Women Voters of Jacksonville First Coast is urging current Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland to mail renewal notices to every voter previously enrolled. In the Tampa Bay region, Sarasota has maintained the same volume of vote-by-mail ballots as in 2024, with a spokesperson attributing this to a physical vote-by-mail renewal notice sent to all voters.
After local civil rights groups pressed the issue in 2022, Duval’s prior supervisor of elections mailed 105,000 renewal notices in January 2023. By April 2023, 50,000 voters re-enrolled in vote-by-mail.
Holland is not planning on sending physical notices, instead relying on texts and emails. Many voters, however (especially seniors), are skeptical of digital outreach as a potential scam. Our voter registration volunteers report receiving more questions about vote-by-mail than any other topic.
Now is not the time to reduce outreach.
Again, we urge Holland to mail renewal notices to all previously enrolled voters and to consider sending out such a notice to every voter (or at least all those over the age of 65) for both the 2026 general and 2027 municipal elections.
To sign up for a mail-in ballot, visit the Vote-by-Mail page at DuvalElections.gov.
Rhona DiCamillo is president of the League of Women Voters of Jacksonville First Coast. She lives in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Nixon prioritizes needs of Floridians
There are many reasons I support Jacksonville’s own Angie Nixon for U.S. Senate. Despite having a Democratic opponent in the primary with over $16 million raised, she won that race by 12 percentage points.
As a 75-year-old suburban grandmother, I have seen lots of politicians make promises, get elected and not follow through, but she does.
A Florida legislator since 2020, Nixon stands up to the Republican supermajority in Tallahassee for the many issues she champions to benefit Floridians, not billionaires.
She is a founder of the Melanin Market, which promotes small businesses and celebrates the Black community. Her bookstore, Cafe Resistance, provides community resources for after-school programs, cultural events and banned books.
She worked as a labor leader and advocates for issues that include child care access, improving health care affordability and rejecting gerrymandering. She is ethical and uses a bullhorn if necessary to get the message across that eliminating voting districts to favor one political party over another is not "business as usual."
Nixon does not accept donations from corporate political action committees. As the mother of five, she understands that affordability is a huge challenge for families. She knows that the lack of affordable housing, food insecurity and not having health care are realities for more Floridians than ever.
When her opponent, Ashley Moody, was attorney general, she approved a $10 million transfer of taxpayer money meant for sick children’s health care to Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida Foundation. Hope Florida diverted that money to a political action committee controlled by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff, James Uthmeier, which helped fund media campaigns against citizen ballot initiatives supporting abortion and marijuana.
Uthmeier was later appointed to be state attorney general, when Moody was appointed to the U.S. Senate. Moody has been silent when questioned about the grand jury report that highlighted this scheme.
So as a Floridian and longtime voter, I am tired of corruption. I am ready for a senator that prioritizes the needs of Floridians over garnering favors for political gain. I'm voting for Nixon.
Judy Sheklin, Atlantic Beach
Tax prep volunteers needed
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is preparing for the 2026 tax season and is seeking volunteers to provide vital services to the public. Volunteers come from a variety of industries and range from college students to retirees. All levels and types of experience are welcome. Tax-Aide provides all training and support to ensure success.
Volunteers fill a variety of roles, including:
- Counselors — Work with taxpayers directly by filling out tax returns.
- Client facilitators — Welcome taxpayers, help organize their paperwork and manage the overall flow of service.
- Technology coordinators — Manage computer equipment, ensure taxpayer data is secure and provide technical assistance to volunteers.
- Leadership and administrative volunteers — Ensure program operations run smoothly, manage volunteers and maintain quality control.
Also, for tax professionals, the IRS offers continuing education credits for those who volunteer to serve as a counselor, instructor and/or quality reviewers.
Tax-Aide provides tax preparation free of charge. Neither volunteers nor taxpayers need to be members of AARP and there is no sales pitch for other services.
Last year, in Duval County, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers completed 3,569 returns with refunds of over $3 million. This would not be possible without our volunteers, who make an indelible mark on the taxpayers we work with and the communities where they live.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, go to AARPfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer, call (904) 701-3462 or email dianevtax12@gmail.com.
AARP Foundation works for and with vulnerable people over 50 to end senior poverty and reduce financial hardship by building economic opportunity. As a charitable affiliate of AARP, we serve AARP members and nonmembers alike. Through vigorous legal advocacy and evidence-based solutions and by strengthening supportive community connections, we foster resilience, advance equity and restore hope.
Diane Vokac, district coordinator, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, Jacksonville and Duval County
Don't hold your breath on $5K payout
During the midterm Republican convention on Sept. 9, President Donald Trump promised to pay $5,000 to every adult in the United States if they help Republicans retain control of Congress. I know this sounds good, but it is just another empty promise made by a desperate man trying to stay in power.
However, if you foolishly believe him, I suggest you get your money in advance. President Trump does not always keep his promises (e.g., "no new wars").
Scott Schleifer, Jacksonville
LETTERS POLICY: Letters should be no more than 350 words, with an average preferred length of 200 words. All letters are edited for space, clarity and newspaper style. Submissions must include name, phone number, address and occupation. To submit, email letters@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Relax, we already have socialism; it's called the VA | Letters
