IE relief efforts for Ukraine
Re “Riverside doctor leading relief team to Ukraine” (April 29):
Dr. Vien Doan and Dr. John Branch and the many others going deserve to be honored and credited more for their many years of service to such efforts. It is indeed inspiring to know we have in Riverside and the Inland Empire doctors willing to jump in and help as they are able with such a horrific time in history. They are truly models to all those who do so much to help without expectations and compensation, fulfilling the obligations we all have to personally help our fellow human beings. They are an inspiration for so many and a great model for generations that perhaps have not learned those simple obligations to follow, especially the many that are just weary from societal troubles. To borrow from Dr. Albert Schweitzer,
“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”
— Daniel A. Morse,
Jurupa Valley
Government contracts
Re “Just say no to no-bid state contracts” (April 24):
I usually disagree with the views expressed in your regular Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association column. The April 24 column was the exception. No-bid contracts not only circumvent any performance standards and potentially waste taxpayers money, but reek of real or perceived corruption of both politicians and contractors. The article didn’t raise wider questions of no-bid contracts at other levels of government (defense contracts being the worst), the obscene amount of money in politics and why private contracts are needed at all.
— Nat Lerner, Hemet
Student loan debt
The Democratic playbook: Throw money at the problem as election time looms. Whoops, the support of the 18-29 demographic just plunged 18 points; let’s forgive student loan debt. No matter the people who already paid off that debt, considering it an obligation just like any other loan, even though the taxpayers (you and me) will have to pay the price with higher taxes. Keep it up, Democrats, the hole you are digging for yourselves is getting deeper and deeper. Look for more money to pander to other demographics as November midterms get closer and closer.
— Tim Threadgold, Riverside