Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/106534
6A Daily News ��� Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Opinion Murder? 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 Editor: Regarding Robert Minch's drivel of Jan. 25 ��� "disdain contraceptives?" How about "disdain murder?" Larry Feser, Red Bluff It���s up to us 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 Editor: Obama once famously told CEOs of the most powerful financial institutions in the world that he was the only thing standing between them and the pitchforks of an enraged public. But his power to protect has always been tremendously compromised by the major corporations and banks who have been at the helm of our government for far too long. No matter who is President, he or she would encounter the same unfathomably gargantuan pressure. As the saying goes, it's up to us to take our country back. Peaceably. Lana Kitchel, Los Molinos Letting go Editor: As many of you may know I've been involved in PAL and the Young Marines for a number of years (PAL 14+ and Young Marines 7+). I moved to this community when PAL and I partnered to create the Martial Arts Center for Excellence. As a free program we've been teach- ing self defense and anti-bullying since 1996 when a few kids from high school and some middle and elementary schools started (ages 5 through completion of high school). We emphasized school work to all the students. In 2004 the Marine Corps League, Detachment 1140, asked that I start a Young Marine unit here. This program's mission statement emphasizes that it is a youth Drug Demand Reduction education program for boys and girls ages 8 though completion of high school. It isn't a recruiting program for the Marine Corps. Both of these programs have been very rewarding for me personally because I have been fortunate enough to meet some kids who are now successful, drug free, adults. I was fortunate to be a part of many of their lives. Both PAL and the Young Marines have given me a tremendous amount of training on not only how to lead our youth in the war on drugs and help stop bullying but to think like them as well. Everything I know about tweens and teens I learned from the tweens and teens. Through the nearly 15 years of volunteering in this community I've been honored to witness these kids, in both programs, compete in and win various awards. Those kids from PAL attended youth leadership conferences in Monterrey Bay, walks of life are truly dedicated San Diego, Sacramento, Flori- and passionate about our youth. da, Washington, D. C. and even Everyone has brought positives here at home with presenters to the table. Looking back I know I could such as motivational speaker have done things Michael Pritchard, much better but I Ken Johnson from the haven't put too many Indianapolis Colts and Your quarters in the butt Senior Chocolate ��� a kicking machine lateman who started out ly. I've learned that by as a young gang memvolunteering and ber in San Francisco but was "saved" by a teacher advocating for our youth I feel and went on to graduate from there's been no higher calling for me. I wouldn't trade any of Harvard. The Tehama County Young these experiences over the years Marines won the coveted Ful- for anything. I've been fortunate enough to crum Shield in 2009 from the Secretary of Defense, national work with many wonderful men Unit of the Year in 2010 (out of and women in PAL and the 300), two young ladies were Marines in Detachment 1140 national Jimmy Trimble Schol- and those in the community arship winners (2010/2011) who care enough about our which included trips to Iwo youth to donate time, energy, Jima and Washington, D. C. and money and love to our most prevarious other state and national cious and valuable treasure, our awards from the California kids. It has been time well spent Sheriffs Association and State and I truly feel I couldn't have Assembly in Sacramento to the done any of this in any other Drug Enforcement Administra- community. Please donate your time, tion in Washington, D. C. Time catches up with us all energy, love and lots of money and it has caught up to me, too. to these organizations. But realI got burned out and something ly your time is the most valuhad to go so I decided to step able. They're non profit 501 (c) away from the Young Marines (3) youth drug demand reduchere in town, but I'm still tion education programs. Let's involved on another level and I keep our kids educated about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, am still involved with PAL. These and many other pro- tobacco, gangs and violence grams can not operate without and about the value of educacommitted adult volunteers. tion. It'll be your legacy. John Minton, Red Bluff These men and women from all 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 Privacy? What privacy? Exclusive excerpt from: "Comical Sense: A Lone Humorist Takes on a World Gone Nutty!" by Tom Purcell Ring. Ring. "Hello, this is Tom." "Happy birthday to you, Tom!" "Who is this? How did you know it was my birthday?" "Your birth date is public information ��� it's listed on your voter registration card. But that's not important. What is important is that I'm here to help you." "Help me?" "We feel it's time for you to upgrade your computer, Tom. It's taking you forever to surf through the Web sites you visit." "You know which Web sites I visit?" "Of course. Not long ago, America Online got into trouble for releasing such information. We had a good laugh when we learned your favorite search terms are: Madonna, bikini, before she turned 40." "This, sir, is an outrage." "We're just trying to help. Incidentally, that 27-year-old flight attendant you met in the online chat room?" "What of her?" "She's 64 and married." "You have no right to ���" "Don't get excited, Tom. According to the free blood pressure clinic you visited ��� you remember filling out that card, don't you? ��� your blood pressure is awfully high." "You know my blood pressure?" "Of course. There are lots of ways to get that information now. Didn't you know that security cameras and other devices mounted in public places are now able to check vital signs?" "My vital signs!" "Absolutely. Some surveillance systems can identify you by how you walk. And special programs can track your eye movements. Retailers use them to get a better idea of what shoppers are looking for." "You can't be serious." "As serious as a heart attack, Tom. Which is why you ought to cut back on the corn chips. Do you really need to eat three bags a week?" "You track my corn chip purchases?" "That discount card the grocery store gave you is quite revealing. Incidentally, you forgot to redeem your coupon on the free devil's food cake. I'll send another if you'd like." "What you're doing is surely against the law!" "Law? There are no laws to prevent us from knowing about you. Everything you buy with your credit or debit card is "Then Congress must write incredibly easy for us to track ��� and most of the things we do new laws to protect us." "That's an even to track you are legal." better one, Tom. In "They are?" the electronic global "Yes, and every time village in which we you fill out any form, all now exist, techyour personal informanology is moving so tion is stored in computrapidly that no law ers and shared with can keep up with it. goodness only knows The only way you who." can protect your pri"Without my permisvacy is to stop giving sion?" out ID numbers, stop "Of course. And did using computers and you know that your stop using your credSocial Security number Tom it cards." has more than 40 con"I can't afford that gressionally approved kind of inconveuses? You can't drive, nience." vote, apply for a job or "Neither can I, Tom. Which open a bank account without revealing that number. That's a brings us back to the reason I called. I have some products to godsend to people like us." help you upgrade your comput"But this is immoral!" "A typical statement from a er." "There are only two things I 50-year-old, single, middleclass Catholic conservative who want from you: your name and phone number." tends to vote Republican." "Sorry, but I can't give you "Have you no shame, sir?" "I'm not the one who is 12 that information. That informamonths overdue at the library on tion is private." 'How to Win Over Women and Tom Purcell, a humor Influence Courtship.'" "I'll report you to the press." columnist for the Pittsburgh "That's a good one, Tom. The Tribune-Review, is nationally press is eager to criticize the syndicated exclusively by government for monitoring Cagle Cartoons newspaper phone calls and wire transfers, syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web when there are hundreds of at www.TomPurcell.com or ehim at other threats to privacy that the mail Purcell@caglecartoons.com. press hardly ever talks about." Purcell