President Joe Biden deserves more credit

Inflation moderated to 3% in June while the unemployment rate came in at 3.6%. Analysts have been calling for a recession ever since the Federal Reserve began increasing interest rates, yet inflation is down from 9% a year ago, Americans are employed at levels not seen in 40 years and GDP is up 1.9%.

The Biden administration deserves some credit. President Joe Biden took office in January 2021 when COVID infections were at 148,000 per day and 95,000 Americans were dying every month. The administration’s economic plan began by creating order from previously chaotic vaccine delivery and pushing relief funding legislation.

When inflation hit, the Biden administration worked diligently to ease supply chain bottlenecks, opened strategic oil reserves, and began implementing an expansive industrial policy including a bipartisan infrastructure bill that has spawned over 35,000 projects. Further, this policy includes investment incentives for advanced microchip and eco-technology manufacturing.

Manufacturing construction has increased 100%, 10 million applications for new business formations have been filed and 13.2 million jobs have been created. Interest rates make mortgages more expensive, and recession embers are not fully extinguished but it’s time to recognize exceptional economic stewardship.

Bill Wylie, Palm Springs

It pays to be a Biden

I understand that Commander, President Joe Biden’s dog, has bitten Secret Service agents 10 times. I further understand that Hunter Biden has allegedly engaged in serious crimes yet he, like Commander, appears to be immune from prosecution. I guess it pays off to be a Biden.

David Tulanian, Henderson, Nevada

Do as I say, not as I do

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives recently proposed work requirements for low-income citizens – a minimum of 80 hours of work per month – in order to receive federal benefits. The House of Representatives itself just adjourned for a six-week paid summer recess.

Rollie Cox, Palm Springs

Ukraine needs our support

Enough of our limited weaponry to Ukraine. Give Ukraine the weapons, planes and ammunition it needs to win the war. So much carnage on both sides needs to be stopped and it can only happen with a Russian defeat and Ukrainian territory returned back to Ukraine. Russia will never win with its occupation of Ukraine. The Ukrainian people will never accept Russian overlords.

Mike McGinley, Palm Springs

We must protect our democracy

By now, we’ve all heard the news that Donald Trump was indicted for a fourth time, this time on racketeering charges in Georgia for the criminal conspiracy he led to overturn the 2020 election.The indictments in Georgia and Washington, D.C. made clear that Trump knew he had lost the 2020 presidential election, but worked with his cronies on a variety of illegal schemes to change the election’s outcome so he could remain in power. When his plans to pressure state officials to overturn the will of voters and create fake elector certificates failed to secure him the presidency, Trump and his allies resorted to instigating a violent insurrection to try to keep Trump in power.We must make sure this never happens again in the United States. Accountability is essential to protecting our democracy, our freedom to vote and future elections.No one is above the law, including former presidents. Trump’s trial must proceed without political interference so that a jury of everyday Americans can do their jobs.Rhonda Stanley, Yucca Valley

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: President Joe Biden deserves more credit