Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Dec. 24, 2023

Declarations of economic recovery don’t seem right

I fully support the Bloomberg editorial critical of so-called “U.S. economic recovery” recently published in the IJ (“Voters are right to complain about inflation,” Dec. 15).

Just this month, I wrote a letter to President Joe Biden, copying Gov. Gavin Newsom, with essentially the same message as the authors. It is irritating to keep hearing Biden tout how well the economy is doing, while so many (often employed people) are lining up at the food banks, trying to figure out which bills to pay — rent, mortgage, food, gas or their utility bill.

I’ve handed out food at the local pantry to retired nurses, working teachers and even a 70-year-old former fireman. He told me he “retired too early” and is now living in a tent.

I’m a registered Democrat. But I find it hard to believe how out of touch politicians from both parties appear to be when it comes to the economy. I realize there are specific benchmarks that are scrutinized to determine how the economy is doing, but either those benchmarks are out of date or someone is asleep at the wheel.

— Christine Clayworth, Novato

Support for Seniors’ Access to Physicians Act

I support the Preserving Seniors’ Access to Physicians Act of 2023, which is now before the House of Representatives. Please help stop Medicare’s planned 3.4% physician fee schedule cut. Our elected leaders should proceed with passing this.

— Bryanne Johnson, Novato

Tax rules for inherited homes should stay in place

In a recently published letter to the editor written by a pair of Belvedere residents, a rule change regarding inherited homes was urged. The authors want to reinstate a tax law that perpetuates inequality and the privileges of inherited wealth.

They decry a 2020 reform that allowed children who inherited their parents’ primary home to keep the much lower original property tax rate for the first million dollars of assessed (not market) value. Heirs would only have to pay a higher property tax rate on any assessed value beyond $1 million.

So children lucky enough to inherit property, and thus be free of rent or mortgage payments, may sometimes have to pay a little more in property taxes. That’s still a pretty sweet deal.

Proposition 13 was passed to protect homeowners from rising property taxes — it was never intended to protect future generations from paying their fair share for things like roads, fire and police protection.

I urge you not to sign any petitions calling for the repeal of this small but important reform for income equality and our common interests.

— Lorrie Goldin, San Anselmo

Marin should consider a resolution about Gaza war

A recent letter to the editor argued that the Marin Board of Supervisors should not make a resolution about the Israel-Hamas war because it has not done so in the past.

The reader extolled the community values that make Marin very special, values that include quality of life, environmental awareness and a general feeling of “safety and acceptance for all our residents.” Finally, we are reminded that the reader is dedicated to the wellbeing of the Marin community by supporting our schools and institutions and that a cursory review of tax records is a reminder of that dedication.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 13% of our national budget goes to the Department of Defense — which, among other expenses, includes procurement of weapons. According to an article published by the Associated Press, “the White House continues to offer wholehearted support for Israel with weapons shipments and diplomatic backing.”

In other words, when we review our taxes, we notice that we are, in part, paying or have paid for weapons used in the current conflict. Maybe we can reflect on that and then ask what, as a community, are we dedicated to.

We can consider breaking with reasoning that begs the question of whether or not we should have come together as a community in the first place to voice an opinion that reflects our basic community values of safety and acceptance. Instead of building a wall of silence to isolate moral ideas that make Marin special, perhaps it is time to project them out into the world as an example of what we think is good.

Resolutions aren’t binding; they can, however, express ideals that inspire and may be worth achieving.

— Jorge Marquardt, Greenbrae