Louis Roney: Just asking

• Debates are built on two opposing sides of the same question. You pick the side that represents your point of view and use it to reinforce your strongly held prejudices. How often do arguments change opinions? Hardly ever! The last “debate” was a cat fight between Rubio, Trump, and Cruz. One’s life experience is the only arbiter. The old saying is, “Women have a right to change their minds.” How about the guys? Even the three media gurus jumped on the “get Trump” bandwagon — so it was 5 against 1. The only adult at the “debate” with cogent answers was Kasich, and he was mostly ignored — the media just wanted mud slinging — a waste of time.

• The proposed new “library issue” occupies Winter Park’s thoughts. I have no personal interest as some people obviously do. Something nice and new is always exciting. The blunt question is: Should we tax payers be willing to take on a $30 million dollar debt at this time?

When people talk about building, developers come out of the woodwork to jump on board — does anyone ever wonder why? Voters will decide in a few weeks how much their taxes should be raised and whether to build or not.

• Restaurants sometimes seem to forget that meals in their locales are not the only things that totally satisfy customers. A “meal out” usually includes good conversation among friends, therefore the noise level in a restaurant can be a definite plus or minus factor. My b.w.

and I consider this matter to be decisive. If one must scream to be understood by friends seated at the same table, I’m not going back, no matter how good the food is.

• This time of year the weather is dangerous — rainstorms and tornados are frequent visitors in the Southeast. Colds and flu are a rampant menace. Last week our usual group of nine that meets for dinner on Tuesdays in various restaurants was decimated by colds. Since everyone else was ill, b.w. and I stayed home and ate what else? — Spaghetti!

• I used to hate Florida in the winter. Riding my bike 2 miles to school in short pants on a cold morning was no fun. My logical b.w. asked me why we wore shorts on a cold day. Answer: By noon it was warm again and we were happy to be dressed in shorts!

• In 1916 William J. H. Boetcker wrote words that are eerily fitting

today: “You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income. You cannot establish security on borrowed money. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves.”

Why not use the wisdom of Boetcker’s wise suggestions to select our next President? Of those running, who can and/or will accomplish these things? Anyone?

•“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual – or at least that he ought not so to do; but rather he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” — Samuel Adams

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article offered incorrect advice regarding how to survive a heart attack when alone. You can read the correct information from Rochester General Hospital at http://bit.ly/RochesterGeneral.