Rep. Simpson of Idaho ignores key facts in debate over raising the debt ceiling | Opinion
Debt ceiling
To Congressman Simpson,
I read your May 14 constituent update with a mixture of disappointment and frustration. Under the heading “The Government Must Do What American Families Do Every Day – Prioritize Responsible Spending,” you urge us to look at the facts. In your discussion, you neglected to mention two major causes of our current debt:
During the previous administration, you voted to raise the debt ceiling three times without any apparent concern about what you now call the “underlying debt crisis.” Why weren’t you troubled then but are now?
In 2016, you voted for the Trump tax cuts which resulted in the single greatest increase in the national debt in U.S. history. Why weren’t you bothered then but are now?
The tax reduction for individuals and families will expire in a little over 18 months, while the cuts to corporate profits, investment income, estate tax, and pass-through corporations are permanent.
If you are truly concerned about the debt ceiling, I urge you to take a closer look at the 2017 tax cuts and introduce legislation to reverse the more egregious aspects rather than continue to support the current Republican plan which has no chance of enactment.
Rick Simon, Boise
Gun violence
Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott recently opined we have to “address the mental health issue” related to gun violence. On average, 120 Americans die every day from gun violence vs. England (less than one every two days). The mental health issue is Republicans’ refusal to address any common sense laws that rein in gun violence. The Second Amendment was added to our Constitution by Southern legislators in order to raise “militias” to maintain slavery. Ironic we are all slaves to our gun culture. A sane nation would abolish the Second Amendment and follow the lead of the United Kingdom, Australia and other responsible nations that restrict and regulate gun ownership. We have been brainwashed into believing that owning weapons of war that result in mass murder is our “constitutional right.” But doesn’t our Constitution guarantee the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Maybe we should show photos of slaughtered Americans on the nightly news? Maybe we should interview the families of the 120 Americans who died today? How is their pursuit of happiness working out? This country has a mental health issue called Republican greed and denial. Let’s vote them out of office and get them some help.
Kurt Smith, Boise
Ranked voting
Thank you, George Moses, for the excellent rebuttal to the gentleman from the Mountain States Policy Center who thinks voters are just stupid! Voters can walk and chew gum at the same time, so suggesting voters would find it too hard to vote in ranked voting elections is ridiculous. If the Republican Party had not closed its primary to Republicans only, this would not even be an issue. My independent nature prevents me from voting party. I like to know who the candidates are and what they stand for. I do not want some group to determine who I vote for. Any party can put forth a candidate or candidates that are not up to par.
I know that the Republican Party is only going for purity tests for their members, so that they are being called out for not being “pure” enough for their liking. So much for trusting their members to make common sense voting decisions. Four Republicans voted against making librarians criminals for books some deemed inappropriate to a few people, so they are censored?
I can’t wait to sign the petition to put ranked voting on the ballot!
Margaret Anderson, Boise
Boise police study
I was puzzled by your passionate but woefully uninformed editorial, “Not one more dime on Boise police investigation until $500,000 is accounted for.” The puzzling part is that every dime — no, every penny — has been accounted for through the invoices we supplied to the city. And you should have known that because your own reporter has written about our costs and expenditures, in detail. All of our invoices document our costs — time recorded to the one-tenth of every hour with detailed descriptions, every hotel stay, every meal — down to the penny. All of the “very specific and detailed questions” that your editorial demands be asked have already been answered. If only you had made any effort to find out.
Michael R. Bromwich, Steptoe & Johnson
Armed teachers
I taught in the Boise Public Schools for 32 years. I must say that I am amazed that many people are advocating arming teachers. Many of these advocates are unwilling and/or unable to trust teachers and their ability to teach unless the teachers are monitored by the Idaho Freedom Foundation or other (largely) conservative groups.
My question is this: How can you trust teachers armed with lethal weapons if you can’t trust them with anything else? Every day I hear about school districts closely monitoring teachers to make sure that FACTUAL information and tolerance for individuals are NOT being taught in the classroom. Books that a teacher might read to students are also being closely monitored.
The irony of arming teachers and yet being unable to trust them to teach historical facts, or assuming that teachers may well be “grooming” students, is beyond anything I can understand.
Kathy Zuckerman, Boise
Stoking fear
The state government is owned by the (Washington) Idaho Freedom Foundation and the American Legislative Exchange Council. We are fertile ground, chipping away at health, food, income and shelter assistance over the decades. It is said that “the cruelty is the point.” No, cruelty is the tool, division is the point. Heritage, Federalists and ALEC always had the endlessly giving schisms of guns and abortion but then the dog caught the car. Being against reproductive rights is now not such a good idea; in fact, it’s unifying in the wrong direction. Where to turn? LGBTQ fear has always been a deep well. Only .5% of Americans are transgender, but they are now the new evil. ALEC needed a new divisive enemy. The Idaho Republican Party only wants zombie ALEC representatives so they are closing their primary even more tightly. They expect to be making all the rules.
Scott Thomas, Eagle
