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6A Daily News ��� Tuesday, January 1, 2013 Opinion 2012 the year that was ��� phew! DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer���s home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 First a correction ��� Jesus Christ was born 2012 years ago, not two centuries earlier as I stated last week. Such typographical errors speak to the imperfection of the written word and the challenge of modern communications in this era of immediate information dissemination. It is wise for all of us to take what we hear and read with a grain of salt and to always consider the source of the information we choose to believe. This is particularly true when it comes to current events where actual facts are scarce and prejudiced suppositions offer unreliable substitutes. What a year 2012 was with historical drought, devastating tropical storms, a tsunami, hurricane Sandy, and wildfires scorching Texas, California and much of the west. The weather seems almost tepid when compared with the political climate in this contentious election year with next to useless legislators on the state and national level. Levels of vitriol and disrespect rose to biblical proportions with zealots decrying the president as a liar on the floor of congress and pundits questioning the birthplace, religion, trustworthiness, and political aims of our commander-in-chief. Add to this the uncertainties of a struggling national and world economy, the emergence of new governance in the Arab world, and ongoing strife in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Palestine, and Syria 2012 can be characterized as a year of great challenge. And to cap off the year with the slaughter of 26 first-graders and teachers by a suicidal gunman the actions of Vern Raglin of Red Bluff may well have been justified in raising Old Glory upside down and at half-staff were it not for his abuse of a public and nationally revered symbol to make the statement. If you put a positive spin on misfortunes as do I and view them as opportunities for improvement, 2013 offers great potential to be one of our best years ever. We have much to be grateful for with a stabilizing economy, increasing employment, and the re-emergence of the U.S. as a leading producer of natural gas, oil, and automobiles. In addition we produce more renewable energy and have made great strides in energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction, and environmental stewardship. With the reelection of President Obama Americans have validated the accomplishments of his first term that include national health care reform, a continuing commitment to protect social security, and the need to restore taxes to Clinton era levels to assure fiscal solvency. For those of you that are resis- tant to change and believe that the the benefit of the rest. In the end ours is a world was fine as it was nation of the people, by I can only offer the conthe people, and for the solation that in many people under the rule ways our country of law. May 2012 bring earned a reputation as us the wisdom and being the finest in the means to use the world. But in order to lessons and challenges perfect it, and align it of 2012 to inform and with the realities of steel our resolve to today���s world, it is necmake our communiessary for us to embrace ties, state, country, and evolution by heeding world more sustainthe lessons of our past. I Richard able, prosperous, and would entreat you to joyous for everyone. "Change your mind, Let us prove the vision change your life, and of our forefathers to be change the world" in a lasting and just ways that bring glory to model for the conduct God and to our nation as of public discourse and a beacon of freedom perfection of our and prosperity to our nation that is the envy of the world. Let us be kinder to one another world. And let us thank God for this year, slower to find fault, and getting us through 2012 the year more patient and sympathetic as that was ��� phew! we work together to relieve strife Richard Mazzucchi is a retired and suffering. Let us quell our egos and need to be right by research engineer specializing in humbly seeking awareness of oth- energy efficiency and renewable ers plights, let us find solace in energy. He has travelled knowing that while we may not extensively and now makes his have all the answers we do know home in Los Molinos, where he is how to do what is right by others striving to manifest a sustainable and put selfish concerns aside. For and spiritual lifestyle and operate even if we don���t succeed we can a BBQ equipment and supply rest assured that we have done our business. He can be reached at best and sacrificed ourselves for living-green@att.net. Mazzucchi Positive Point Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN ��� Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR ��� Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR ��� Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ��� Wally Herger (R), 2595 Ceanothus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S. SENATORS ��� Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 3930710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary Winter wonderland; winter of discontent Having a snow-covered back yard provides a constant delight of pure white covering a multitude of less-than-sightly weeds, brown patches and odd items that never found proper homes in sheds. Snow can be many things to many people: lots of it in the right places becomes a literal playground for snowmobilers; for skinny, energetic folks on their Nordic skis; and provides the means for the generously-girthed to "shoosh" down picturesque ski runs. Among the rewarding aspects of the latter form of snow-play is the view of other snow-covered mountains: from Sisters (a few miles to Mt. Bachelor), to Mt. Hood (100 miles distant on a clear day), to a rare glimpse of Mt. Shasta about 150 miles to the south. It���s fascinating to consider that, at that distance, the curvature of the Earth translates to literally thousands of feet of Mt. Shasta���s slopes dropping below the 8,000 foot wooded slopes between Bachelor and Shasta. You see, if the Earth was flat, you could stand at 9,000 feet (Bachelor), look over 8,000 foot hills and see all of Shasta down to perhaps six thousand feet. What you actually see are the tops of Shasta and Shastina down to about the 10,000-foot level. These views can only be had by skiers, aircraft passengers and pilots, and occasional hang-gliders that pay to ride up the lift, spread their wings and catch a stiff wind. For them, it���s a mighty chilly glide to the bottom but magnificent all the way. Back in these here flatlands one can find apparently limitless discontent in all segments of the body politic. The arrival of the New Year has traditionally inspired great celebrations and hopes for better times. Better times are certainly deserved by all people in general, and Americans in particular. One can understand discontent settling into the psyche of those who watched their hopes dashed over the November election, but those who won seem nearly inconsolable in victory and lash out at the opposition. The two competing visions are truly incompatible and require the force and power of the state to implement their policies. There would be so much less contention and acrimony if the role, footprint, and powerful sway of government at the state and federal levels, were a far smaller part of our lives, incomes and businesses. There really is not much that Americans can���t do for themselves and, indeed, observers of the America of the 1800s found a remarkable people that sought little from their government. One French writer, Alexis de Tocqueville, published his observations in "Democracy in America" (1835, 1840). He found, for instance, that the citizens of the newly formed United States of America were a people unlike any other in their eagerness, energy and organizational abilities to respond to, and remedy, all manner of societal situations ��� without the need for imposition, interference or help from far-off governmental institutions. He also found cause for concern over the qualities of individualism and equality that could be taken advantage of by tyrannical forces in spite of the democratically formed representative government. can observe just such From Wikipedia: "Tocattacks upon this columqueville worried that if nist and the Tea Party, as despotism were to take the local liberal suspects root in a modern demochave been doing for racy, it would be a much many years on this more dangerous version page. than the oppression under Their intolerance has the Roman emperors or been on display in mistyrants of the past who sives beneath dignifying could only exert a perniwith my written cious influence on a response. They demonsmall group of people at a strate a palpably virutime. In contrast, a lent desire to have me, despotism under a Don the only weekly conserdemocracy could see ���a north multitude of men,��� uniPolson vative voice in theapparstate, silenced, formly alike, equal, ���conto satisfy their stantly circling for petty The way ently anathema towards tribal pleasures,��� unaware of those with whom they fellow citizens, and subI see it disagree. They have ject to the will of a powthree other writers that erful state which exerted an ���immense protective power���. reliably take the liberal side when Tocqueville compared a potentially an issue warrants choosing, but this despotic democratic government to one little conservative voice a protective parent who wants to offends them to the point of namekeep its citizens as ���perpetual chil- calling, insult and ridicule. We dren,��� and which doesn't break can���t, in their political world, agree men's wills but rather guides it, and to disagree, or disagree without presides over people in the same being disagreeable. I offer this way as a shepherd looking after a New Years suggestion: set aside the acrimony, liberals, please. ���flock of timid animals.���" Social Security retirement Those of us who resist being turned into a "flock of timid ani- deficits of $36 bn (2010), $48 bn mals" or "perpetual children" seek- (2011) and $48 bn (2012) total ing succor from our governmental $132 bn (OMB), not far off of the "protective parent" now find our- $150 bn figure I used 2 columns selves on the receiving end of ago. Within six months, it will pass calumny, character assassination, $150 billion cumulative deficit ad hominem attacks and vilifica- between taxes and payments. Also, tion ��� as in the incessant bashing of calling interest on the trust fund the Tea Party. Fiscal restraint, Con- "income" is like saying pixie dust stitutional liberties, economic free- is a condiment for rainbow stew. dom. Radical! You readers who Don Polson has called Red Bluff share the conservative beliefs of the overwhelming majority of home since 1988. He can be by e-mail at Tehama County voters are not per- reached sonally so treated; however, you donplsn@yahoo.com.