Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/105086
4A Daily News – Wednesday, January 23, 2013 Opinion 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. 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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 Protests and protests Editor: A few days ago, there were four groups of individuals engaged in some sort of protest at the four corners of one of the major Main Street intersections. They displayed the ubiquitous "Don't Tread On Me" flags, so I assume they were of the Tea Party persuasion. Incidentally, that phrase was employed by members of the Southern Confederacy during our Civil War. I think there were one or two protest signs, but I was unable to read any message. I feel it would be appropriate for me to join them bearing a sign that would spell out, "Please Join Me And This Fine Group In Their Effort To Totally Destroy The Republican Party." Recent polls show that the Republican Party is now favored by a mere 26 percent of the citizenry. However, the Tea Party now enjoys just 9 percent support, so they need our cooperation to finish off the G.O.P. — party of evil old Abraham Lincoln. Hugh Merhoff, Red Bluff Questions Editor: When we the people question our own leaders motives. We need to ask questions like the following: 1. Is it better to buy our crude oil from foreign sources from those who don't like us; being subject to their pricing and then to have the product shipped thousands of miles in huge vessels, or is it better to find this raw material right here in our own back yard where proven reserves are documented; at prices that we control and where the chances of spills are reduced? 2. Is it better to provide a man a fish every day, or is it better to teach that same man how to fish so he can go catch his own? 3. Is it better to increase the amount of taxes our people pay to cover the cost of what our government spends and legislates to spend or speculates with tax dollars, or is it better to find ways to reduce spending and provide alternative ways that services can be rendered that lower the costs; then to eliminate any services that are either duplicated or unnecessary making our government leaner and more efficient? 4. Is it better to keep our current federal tax system with it's inequalities where one person or company can circumvent the system to avoid paying their tax; where companies can set up headquarters overseas to avoid tax payments altogether; where favoritism runs rampant in almost every category, or is it better to replace it with a fair and balanced system where we all pay the same percentage under the law; where we pay our tax based upon what we shouldn't we charge them in spend vs what we make, where like manner? James Monson, Proberta everyone pays towards the cost of government no matter what their citizenship status when they buy new products and services Your here; where the only exemption for reduction in taxes is for households whose total income is at or Editor: below the federal established The rich and corporations run poverty standards; where tax this country, enslave the poor fraud or tax evasion are all but majority to these money changers eliminated? 5. Is it better to honestly say on top of the food chain. Most fair and balanced when a person bogus laws passes so they can or company pays a different tax feed off the bottom feeders at the percentage than the next, only market place. These people that control us because of income differences; have eaten up our resources, where corporations pay a higher tax rates. We know in the real power, greed and lust run these world businesses do not pay people who rule us, the poor suftaxes because their customers fer from stress keeping these pay the taxes when purchasing monsters on top of the food their products and services. chain. The people that rule us are These taxes are embedded in evil. Live in their heads and not in the cost of these purchases, or is it better for companies to be their hearts saying "don't so as I exempt from income tax on do, do as I say." It's too bad we don't catch on their profits, lowering the cost of their goods and services and early about the people that rule us. making them more competitive There is a born sucker every day both here and in the world mar- steeped in tradition and convention. Why go to war somewhere ket place? 6. Is it better to leave all else when we have a war in this trade partner agreements as they country, against the consumer. are, leaving us to suffer billions The American dream for the poor of dollars in monthly trade is a home, car and a woman to deficits, or is it better to set up hide with for a brief time to be new agreements will all part- enslaved to their lower nature. The only people who say this ners leveling the playing field country is great are the rich. where, if any country charges us Robert Pruitt, Red Bluff tariffs or duties for our exports, Sharks at the top of the food chain Turn Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 4, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 280 Hemsted Dr., Ste. 110, Redding, CA 96002, 530223-6300, Fax: 530-223-6737, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 5583160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-2253076. 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 Where common ground begins "It's no wonder many Americans are uneasy about the way President Obama is growing our government and eroding our liberties. Aren't most Americans conservative?" "That is correct. Every year, Gallup does a survey on political ideology and it generally finds that 40 percent of Americans describe themselves as conservative, whereas half as many describe themselves as liberal." "Yeah, and some liberals think that all conservatives are religious-right, government-hating racist extremists, which is foolhardy. I'm a lifelong Democrat. I'm also what might be called conservative." "Democrat and conservative?" "It can be done. Like the majority of Americans, I'd go for a balanced-budget amendment to get our spending in order. Like most Americans, I don't spend more than I make and am careful to save for a rainy day." "Well, Gallup did another poll last November that compared Democrats and Republicans. It asked them if they have a positive or negative view about capitalism, the federal government and socialism. The majori- ty of Republicans favored capitalism, but had a dismal view of the government and socialism, whereas the Democrats who were polled were much more favorable toward government and socialism than they were toward capitalism." "I suppose so. You have to figure the more liberal Americans tend to be registered as Democrats, and the more conservative Americans as Republicans, but there are still a good number of Democrats like me who want commonsense policies that bring badly needed order to our government." "As a Democrat, you surely think Republicans are too hard on welfare recipients." "Nope. The welfare reform plan the Republicans pushed and President Clinton signed into law was one of the most effective domestic reform policies ever — though just before the last election, President Obama tossed out the work requirements that were the heart of the policy. Welfare was designed to help the indigent, not the able-bodied. And right now, way too many able-bodied people are getting too many government freebies." "That is a fair point, too. The nutrition assistance program — outlets are doing much to make it used to be referred to as the voters aware of the severity of this problem." food stamp program — "That is a good has doubled to $80 bilthought. Regardless lion a year under of whether you are a Obama. College kids Republican or a from well-to-do famiDemocrat, we will all lies qualify for the free go down together. grub and are happy to Any sixth-grader can accept it." see we are on an "That's right. Doesunsustainable spendn't everyone know ing path that is going someone who is gamto blow up in our ing the system and feels faces in the very near no shame in doing so? future." One fellow I know of Tom "So how do we got his girlfriend pregcome together to nant when he was 19. make our legislators They now have two address these probchildren and the government gives her free grub, free lems? Americans are more utilities, a nice apartment and divided now than they have been many other niceties. The young in many years." "Well, if more people would fellow lives with her. If the two were to marry, they would lose engage in civil conversations most of their benefits. I am a like we just did, that would be a Democrat and I am disgusted by good place to start." such things." Tom Purcell, a humor "Maybe we ought to stop separating ourselves along rigid columnist for the Pittsburgh ideological lines and come Tribune-Review, is nationally together to press our dirty rotten syndicated exclusively by legislators to address the very Cagle Cartoons newspaper real problems we face. Spending syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web is the elephant in the living at www.TomPurcell.com or ehim at room, but Obama is offering up mail no plans to trim it, and few news Purcell@caglecartoons.com. Purcell