Letters to the editor: Debt plan comports with Christian faith; fighting climate change; GOP is democracy’s enemy - Boulder Daily Camera

Letters: Debt plan comports with Christian faith; fighting climate change; GOP is democracy’s enemy

Diane R. Mayer: Student loans: Biden’s debt relief plan comports with Christian faith

The issue of President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan has caused quite a stir, with the Christian right. They oppose it. But they seem to have forgotten that the bible requires that loans be interest-free. Moreover, God requires that debts be canceled after 7 years. Here are some of the texts requiring loan forgiveness.

Deuteronomy 15:1 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts.

Nehemiah 10:31 As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.

Ezekiel 18:7 If a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing…

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins,

For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.

President Biden is acting on his Christian faith, and we should all support him in this.

Diane R. Mayer, Boulder

Ron Sadler: Environment: There are things we can all do about climate

So, you are concerned about the climate crisis and are not sure what to do about it. Know that you are not alone. Also, know that the climate movement needs you, it needs everyone, to do everything we can to address this crisis. Here are some ideas:

• Learn more about how our world is warming; the causes, consequences and actions that need to be taken to stop it. Start by visiting NASA’s website on climate. https://climate.nasa.gov

• Talk about it, a lot, with friends, family, neighbors, everybody and anybody.

• Get involved; join a climate group or two. Ask how you can help. You undoubtedly have the skills they need. If you have money to donate, they could benefit from that too.

• Get political; take to the streets, contact elected officials, repeatedly, at all levels of government, and demand that they take action to address this crisis. They were elected to service the people, and there is no higher service than protecting the world we live in.

• Walk the talk; take steps to reduce your emissions. It is very freeing.

• Pace yourself; we are in this for the long haul. Have Hope.

Ron Sadler, Greeley

Stan Gelb: Politics: The Republican party is democracy’s enemy

The GOP realizes they are losers. They push for ending women’s bodily autonomy even though a large majority of Americans support women’s bodily autonomy. The GOP urges slashing and reducing Social Security and Medicare, even though an even bigger landslide of American voters fully supports both programs. The GOP has lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight national elections, most recently by over 7 million votes.

After making so many bad and unpopular choices, the GOP knows it will continue to lose democratic elections. But on July 17, the New York Times published the detailed plan that GOP operatives now have for what they’ll do if they regain control of our federal government. They plan to dismantle our democracy and make the next president a defacto dictator.

The GOP partisans claim they are conservatives. But what they’re trying to conserve is basically every aspect that’s been disgracing our nation for many decades, or even centuries.

The GOP wants to conserve America’s widespread racism, misogyny, homophobia and xenophobia. The GOP wants to conserve America’s endless gun violence and pollution by fossil fuel corporations and the destruction of Earth’s biosphere from climate change that’s largely caused by fossil fuel corporations. The GOP also wants to conserve keeping millions of Americans with no health care so the GOP can conserve the obscene profits of the health insurance industry and Big Pharma. And by refusing to raise the minimum wage, the GOP wants to conserve America’s status of having income inequality that’s among the worst in the developed world.

The GOP has figured out that it can make all of this ugliness permanent by just dismantling our democracy. Everyone: Vote against all GOP candidates, thereby helping conserve America’s democracy and your own freedom.

Stan Gelb, Longmont