Nature's survival system

A compact group of probably a dozen Joshua trees grew beside the Oak Hill Road exit off Caliente in Oak Hills. Those lovely trees had, no doubt, been growing there for many, many years but then that changed when the Bluecut Fire swept through that area two years ago. What was left of the trees was an eyesore of spindly dead stalks.

On our almost daily drives past the spot I would sometimes glance at the unchanging scene. But then one day as we passed I noticed what looked to be a sprig of green at the top of one tree. I didn't trust my eyes; totally dead trees aren't alive. But day after day as we passed I saw that the green tuft was still there. And then a smaller sprig appeared in another spot.

Something was alive in those trees! I looked in wonder.

Of course someday someone will cut down those dead trees and with them that tiny bit of life which somehow managed to survive the fire — such a wonderful testament to the tenacity of life.

Mele Bond, Oak Hills

My Democratic party

The current beliefs of my Democratic party are to allow all the "hurting" people of the world into the United States. The most recent studies from the United Nations and the IMF show that at least 690 million to 1 billion humans on Earth want to come to America today, as in, right now.

We just can't do that; however, we, America, can reach out around the world and help the poor with food, shelter, clothing, jobs — a future. The out-of-control leftists really believe we, the USA, can bring in the hundreds of millions and the billion that need our help today. Wherever you draw the line, the letter writer on June 5 will call you a hater and a racist because we are not allowing in everyone in the world.

It is one thing to compare the great USA with Nazi Germany but then it's another thing to give no credit to America who happened to save the world in World War II; give the great medicines to the world; provide international employment because of America's industrial might; provide food to the world.

Who hosts the most immigrants? 1) America, 46 million; 2) Russia, 11 million; 3) Germany, 9.8 million; 4) Saudi Arabia, 9 million; 5) United Arab Emirates, 7.8 million; 6) England, 7.8 million; 7) France, 7.4 million; 8) Canada, 7.2 million.  Mexico, the 12th richest nation in the world, hosts no immigrants because they are racist and selfish. Yet, they come to America and wave their Mexican flag and call America racist.

America is great because we care about all people on this globe. Thank God for America the beautiful.

Dan Daniels, Oak Hills

Foreign car tariffs

Fourth of July car commercials are traditionally just a background distraction during backyard barbecues. But this year, you might want to pay attention. President Trump is currently considering imposing big tariffs on foreign cars, which would increase their sticker prices by thousands of dollars.

Think you can get around these tariffs by buying a Ford? Think again. Tariffs on foreign goods give domestic producers a buffer to raise their prices. Witness the skyrocketing prices of U.S. steel following Trump's tariffs on foreign imports.

Perhaps higher car prices are worth it if they boost domestic manufacturing? That premise is faulty because higher prices reduce demand and cost jobs. Not to mention the consequences to domestic exporters from the retaliatory tariffs they'd spur. That's why no domestic car company supports them.

Two choices: Give up your Fourth of July weekend to buy a new car before prices jump. Or call your Member of Congress and demand legislation to rein in Trump's trade war-mongering.

Jordan Bruneau, senior policy analyst, Republicans Fighting Tariffs

Long time waitin'

Sump'thin''v wanted to say for  long time but never could find a Daily Press story w/w'ch to make ref, so now thanks June 24 for ['hundreds of'] Children... await fate' in Ohio or at the Mexican border where our triumphant Donnie "...immigration raids weeks ago…upended the lives of hundreds of children….going to suffer…the trauma, the uncertainty, the fear."  Tho many 'Rep'ns and way-out cons'vat's defending the incarceration of kiddies [in this case, many of US cz'ship, in 'cage-like atmospheres'], with the argument that their folks are criminals, seem not to realize that the main reason for so much immigration was originally a need for cheap farm labor with [recently of some 271 arrests, have '…upended the lives of hundreds of children…'].

In the 1600s when they first began arriving, or at least in the mid-1800s when the problem began to grow acute, 'Our Government" might have initiated steps to ensure their eventual return. But their labor is soooo cheap…that our food has also remained ridiculously cheap, 1 lb canned corn goin' fer only about a buck and a half …where raising farm labor cost only 25 percent would cost our family only something like $30 a year.  Hey you guys makin' the laws, why'n'cha look into this possibility some 400 years ago?

Dale Hileman, Apple Valley

Civil War 2

Americans, watch CNN for an hour. Then watch Fox for an hour. Where are we headed? Back to the 1860s?

Attitudes outweigh the news ten to one. Attitudes have invaded institutions. Sanctuary cities, FBI, Justice Department, Supreme Court, and leaked down to barrooms, restrooms, and conference rooms, could be even family rooms.

We may be getting along better with our enemies (Kim Jong Un) than ourselves. Headline reads, " Trump will meet Putin in July." What if Trump meets Maxine Waters tomorrow. Headlines would be, "Major Clash, Civil War #2 Begins."

Ken Churchill, Hesperia