(Corona, CA – December 15, 2017)
“Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho!
Tax plan greed has gotta go!”
“What do we want?”
“Fair taxes!”
“When do we want them?”
“Now!”
On Friday morning, nearly 50 local faith and religious leaders, labor activists, and constituents of Congressman Ken Calvert showed up at his local office in Corona for a festive, spirited rally. The group signed personalized holiday cards, and a delegation delivered the cards to the Congressman’s office inside Corona’s City Hall.
Paul Menth from Temecula addressed the crowd: “The biggest threat to America is Donald Trump. We’ve become a global pariah. The amount of hate from this man in the White House, how people around the world now view Americans, it hurts me so badly.”
“This supposed tax reform, this tax scam, would save me $4000. But how much is enough? How much do I need? How much can rich people possibly buy? Wouldn’t that money be better used figuring out how we get everyone healthcare so they’re not getting it in the Emergency Room?”
The crowd cheered Menth and urged him to run for local office. “Run, Paul, run!”
“I’ve never been political before,” he said. “I’ve never made a sign before – I do enjoy it! It’s cathartic! – but it gets to a point that unless we take action, our democracy is in trouble. Only fifty percent of Americans eligible to vote voted this last election.”
Following a short, lively picket line, chanting, and a Christmas carol special for the day, folks went inside where they were met by Calvert staff assistant Nathan Rodriguez. Hilda Cruz, representing the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, led off the delegation: “We are here as people of faith to ask our Congressman to represent all of the people in his district, not just those of wealth. If this tax bill passes, we know that we’ll see cuts to Social Security and to healthcare for everyone, including my mother. She just can’t afford it.”
Anna Meyer of Temescal Valley urged Calvert to vote against the tax plan. “I’m doing well enough myself, but even the richest of us benefit from having neighbors who have enough. It just makes sense.”
Minth suggested that Congressman Calvert should vote to represent all of the people [in his district] rather than only the rich. “I’d also imagine the Congressman would want to see Trump’s tax returns before he votes on this. I know I would!”
Ipyani Lockert, an organizer with California Partnership, told the Congressional staffer that the organizations of his social justice coalition are most concerned about protecting and expanding critical services, such as childcare and healthcare. “It is not right to damn us all to poverty and to ask future generations to foot the bill,” Lockert said. “I’d like to have kids someday and I’d hate for them to have to pay this bill.”
In addition to demanding that Ken Calvert vote “no” on the tax measure, those assembled asked for the Congressman to hold a Town Hall meeting in the district. “He hasn’t held a meeting face-to-face with his constituents since the early 2000’s,” one constituent noted, “although he had one of those telephone conference calls way back and tried to call that a meeting.”
Chanting “We’ll be back!” the group delivered its Christmas cards and left, singing:
[To the tune of Deck the Halls]:
If this evil tax bill passes
Fa La La La La La La La La
Raising tax paid by the masses
Fa La La La La La La La La
Most of us will just get poorer
Fa La La La La La La La La
And our future more unsurer
Fa La La La La La La La La!
Constituent Paul Minth wrapped up the day: “I have great faith in America and Americans. What we’re doing here is happening all over the country. I guess we have to thank Trump for being the catalyst for all this good work!”
The 42nd Congressional District includes Corona, Norco, Eastvale, Wildomar, Menifee, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Murrieta and part of Temecula. Ken Calvert has served in Congress since 1993. He is up for re-election in 2018.
Check out pictures from the action here!
