Thoughts on Trump, and our local congressional races: Sunday letters to the editor

Understanding candidate positions

Why are laws being passed that do exactly the opposite of what the majority of Americans support?

For example, Kansas voters recently rejected a state ban on abortions 59% to 41%. In an August USA Today poll, 70% of Americans want to vote on a similar measure in their state. Yet in Indiana, the legislature just banned abortions.

Sixty percent of Americans believe that global warming is accelerating (Newsweek, 10/21); 71% support same-sex marriage (Gallup, 6/22); and 70% say enacting new gun control laws should take precedence over gun ownership protection (ABC, 6/22). But state legislatures’ voting runs counter.

Possibly, the disconnect is due to imbalances resulting from an unequal Electoral College structure, gerrymandering, or voter suppression. But it’s also the idea that voters don’t fully understand the positions of their candidates. So it behooves us to make sure the right questions are asked of the candidates and their answers are duly understood.

Here, we can know Congressman Raul Ruiz’s positions (ballotpedia.com). Candidate Ken Calvert is on record voting against abortion rights, same-sex marriage, gun safety and climate change legislation. (ballotpedia.com). Candidate Will Rollins has expressed the opposite positions (willrollinsforcongress.com).

Take note and vote.

Bill Wylie, Palm Springs

Kudos to Ray Smythe

Re: Aug. 21 Valley Voice by Ray Smythe

Ray, you nailed it with that "grabber" opening paragraph! I read it thinking, "Wait, these presidents didn't do or say these things, so I reread it — and went yes." That says it all! Clever writing.

This piece says what so many of us feel. Thanks, Ray, for putting your heart and soul into this article. We hope it opens the eyes of followers of Donald Trump and he doesn't ever get close to the White House again.

Sending applause and thanks for your talent of writing thoughtful pieces like this one.

Suzy Walker, Palm Desert

Trump did some really great things

I was taken by surprise, reading Mr. Smythe’s Aug. 21 column trashing President Trump. Having read many of his columns over the years, I cannot recall ever seeing such a negative piece.

As an 80-year-old man with a work history of steel mills, U.S. Army, railroads, fire service and law enforcement, I have heard all of this kind of trash talk and much worse.

Yeah, not very presidential, but neither was Bill Clinton having sex with a young Intern in the White House, or JFK sleeping with Marilyn Monroe and many other young ladies in the White House. They say LBJ was even worse.

Point being, I am really only concerned with what my president does and President Trump did some really great things for the American people. He was solving the immigration problem with the wall, getting other nations, such as China, to play fair with America — a strong president forcing other Nations to pay their fair share and an absolutely "America first" president. He has been married three times, so what!

I also believe Melania Trump was one of our finest first ladies.

Dennis Johnson, Palm Desert

Trump should not be allowed to lead again

Re: Joy Miedecki's letter of Aug. 25, "Are we more unified under Joe Biden?"

All I can say ask is, are you serious? After the attack on the Capitol and democracy, a return of the former president should not be an option. Period.

Jean Ribeiro, Palm Desert

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Thoughts on Trump, and congressional races: Sunday letters