Ken Calvert: 'We need to get our fiscal house in order'

A recent column (“My opinion? Time to get real about revenue and debt”) argues that Congress should pass a clean debt ceiling increase. Then, to fix our ballooning $32 trillion national debt crisis, Congress should pass even more tax increases despite record high revenues in 2022 and the fact that $450 billion tax hikes were approved just last year.

That position echoes the beliefs of my Democratic counterparts in Congress. I believe House Republicans have taken steps that are more in line with the position of a growing number of Americans.

Last month, we passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act, which would lift the debt ceiling into next year, limit Washington's runaway spending to levels in place just five months ago and rescind billions of dollars in unspent COVID emergency funding. The legislation also expanded some work requirements for able-bodied, working-age adults without children who receive federal benefits – a step that will put more people to work, increase payroll taxes, and strengthen Social Security.

These policies are not extreme. In fact, a recent CNN poll found a bipartisan majority of Americans agree with House Republicans that raising the debt ceiling should be linked to a reduction in spending – 58% of independents and even 45% of Democrats surveyed share our position.

I agree with most Americans that we have a spending problem, we need to raise the debt ceiling, and we need to get our fiscal house in order. There aren’t a lot of opportunities for bipartisan agreement in Washington, D.C. these days, let’s make a deal while we can.

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona

Does Gov. Newsom care about us veterans at all?

There are approximately 2 million veterans, many of whom are disabled, now residing in the state of California. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom, in my opinion, has yet to acknowledge their presence or even express an interest or concern for their well-being.

I attempted to bring this matter to the governor’s attention in a very detailed letter, followed by a number of phone calls to the governor’s office. While the conversation with the office personnel was civil, with the exception of the last call that ended rather abruptly, one thing was made unmistakably clear; veterans are not highly regarded in California, they are not even afforded the respect and consideration given to undocumented immigrants.

Under the circumstances, it occurs to me that the governor doesn’t know what a veteran is. Perhaps the following description will serve as a much-needed tutorial. Simply put, a veteran is either on active duty, in the reserve or retired, who at a point in time made a critical decision and wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including his or her life. All of which is to say, as veterans, we have already paid the price.

Maybe the governor should take his eyes off the White House for a minute and take care of business in his own backyard.

Chuck Gabriele, Bermuda Dunes

As a Vietnam veteran, I want to honor my doctors who keep me alive

I joined the Army in 1966. In 1968, I was sent to Vietnam and served with the 101st airborne division on a reconnaissance unit. I was wounded two times – the last time I had surgery at a portable hospital in the jungle and thanks to those doctors, I recovered.

I was contaminated with Agent Orange. As a result, I developed multiple myeloma, and have been fighting it for the last 15 years, so on this Memorial Day I want to honor my doctors at the hematology department: Dr. Adamson, Dr. Park, and the San Diego and the El Centro Veterans Affairs health care systems. They are so dedicated and keep us veterans alive. Thanks.

Luis Zendejas, Calipatria

Who are we to judge someone else's identity?

Years ago, a syndicated advice columnist was asked (paraphrased): With the plethora of books and columns on manners and etiquette one can be overwhelmed with minutiae and often confusing advice, can you give us a basic maxim that captures the essence of manners? Her response was one that has stuck with me since: “Manners is not saying or doing anything that would make the person you’re with uncomfortable.”

A person’s self-identity is so closely tied to their well-being and their perception of self-worth that to have it challenged is extremely “uncomfortable.” Whether it’s as simple as preferring to be addressed as William rather than Bill or more fundamental to one’s core as Black rather than African American, Indigenous rather than Indian, Gay rather than Queer or expressing a preference for personal address such as he, she, or they.

We should respect that; besides, who are we to judge and dis someone else’s self-identity?

Showing such respect to another person is not the contrived and undefined term “political correctness;” rather it is the “manners” about which that long-ago advice columnist advised her readers. Lord knows we would all benefit by the exercise of better “manners.”

Michael Bouffard, Cathedral City

Keep the positive student stories coming

Terrific story about Ms. Belinda Castenada headed to Stanford on a full scholarship in Friday's Desert Sun − thank you! And more power to her. Happy to learn she was also a member of the Interact club while at Indio High, a club sponsored by the Sunrise Rotary Club of Indio.

Keep the positive student stories coming, please!

Dennis Sheehan, Indio

Palm Desert's proposed sales tax increase has consequences

Aside from the wholly misleading headline stating that the Palm Desert city council is considering raising the sales tax by "a penny," I worry that the magnitude of the proposed increase is being glossed over by the city staff with the council itself possibly not really understanding the size of the proposed jump. Or if they do, they're keeping quiet about it.

While the story correctly states that the actual increase to taxpayers is nearly 13% over what we are paying now, it is actually a doubling of the sales tax revenue to the city. Yes, you heard that right. According to the city's website, the current sales tax of 7.75% is divided in the following manner: the State of California receives six of the 7.75%, Riverside County receives .75% and the City of Palm Desert receives 1% of the current rate. So, if the city raises the tax to 8.75% and keeps the entire increase, then the amount going to the city is now two percentage points of the total instead of one percentage point.

Isn't that double the revenue? In fact, the article states that the increase is estimated to generate an additional $26 million in sales tax revenue, but neglects to mention that the current estimated sales tax revenue is projected at $25.6 million. Yep, that's double! Let's call a spade a spade.

Bill Clawson, Palm Desert

Repeal the Second Amendment? Spot on.

The recent op-ed piece by Mr. Goldstein on repealing the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights was clearly written and spot on in the thesis.One needs to understand the history of the Second Amendment. It reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” In 1789, when it was written, there was no standing national military, no state and County law enforcement and virtually no local law enforcement. The nation depended on local militias to defend it, using such “lethal weapons” as handmade single-shot black-power muskets. This is clearly not the case today, so basically the original intent of the Second Amendment is obsolete. If you were able to transport the Founders from 1789 to today and have them look at the current situation, does anyone think they would say the Second Amendment is needed? Remember these were smart people.In contrast, the First Amendment states that Congress will not restrict freedom of speech, the press and assembly of the people. It is inconsistent when free speech is routinely regulated yet serious gun control is resisted. What is more lethal to society − a citizen in public waving a high-capacity automatic weapon, or a citizen participating in a nonviolent protest? This is not a trick question.Alexander Schriener, Jr., Bermuda Dunes

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Ken Calvert: 'We need to get our fiscal house in order'