Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/10696
6A – Daily News – Wednesday, May 19, 2010 Opinion Campaign D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 promises Editor: 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 let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. 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 submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity 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 vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. It should be "Ban the Burger Month" instead. 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 May is "National Hamburger Month," an annual "tradition" that began 18 years ago when White Castle, purveyor of small, tasty, high-calorie burgers, initi- ated it. It figures that a capitalistic organization would promote such a thing. According to about.com, White Castle, in 1921, was the first to introduce the mass distri- bution of the burger. The con- cept was an immediate hit. By the '30s, Americans were getting too fat and lazy to get out of their cars to order their burg- ers. Greedy corporations created the drive-in burger joint to exploit them. In the late '30s, fat, lazy Americans began demanding bigger burgers. Bob's Big Boy took advantage by introducing the first double-patty burger. But it was during the postwar years, when Americans had expendable dough, that burger makers would really begin exploiting Americans. In 1948, the first McDonald's opened — and the modern fast- food era was born. To fuel the American addiction to fast, high-calorie burgers, McDon- ald's opened joints across the country like some kind of road- I am a 15-year veteran of law enforcement. I worked as a deputy sheriff for Tehama Coun- ty from 1995 until I left in good standing in 2007. I refused to put on the blinders and watch my department being ruined by a few supervisors who cared more about personal endeavors than law enforcement. I was witness and confirm what you have been told by my lieutenant and fellow deputies about administrators working on private businesses during county work hours. Sheriff Parker con- tinues to deny this ever hap- pened. Undersheriff Dennis Garton validated the accusations during the Red Bluff candidate’s night at the Veterans Hall. When asked what he would do to make sure it didn't happen if elected as supervisor, his response was “That issue was dealt with a two-and-a-half years ago.” Who has the incentive to be untruth- ful, Garton who is leaving law enforcement or Parker who is trying to stay? I personally applaud Dennis for being hon- est. I considered Clay (Parker) not only my friend but a good sheriff when he first began. I can no longer support him. Why? Coupled with what has already been reported I observed under the direction of one of my super- visors jail inmates dressed in civilian clothing and being used to help set up concessionaire booths, move drag boats around and pick up trash at the Red Bluff Boat Drags. Providing inmate labor for private enter- prise is illegal even if it is just a political favor. Sheriff Parker promised the residents of Mineral, Manton and Paynes Creek a full-time resident deputy as long as he was in office. He promised me the job. Believing that promise I built a home in the area. Due to poor management of resources by building his upper management empire the patrol level suffered so badly I was required to continually work valley patrol. We had too many chiefs and not enough Indians. It was difficult making excuses to my residents why I was not serv- ing them. Before leaving I pointed out face to face with the sheriff the above mentioned as my reasons for leaving the department. He bid me farewell and nothing has changed. I took my 15 years of experience next door where I serve the citizens of the Shingle- town area as their Resident Deputy. Good luck Lake California with that promise from Clay that you will be getting a functional sub-station. Ask the people in Mineral and Manton how that worked out for them. Troy McCoy, Paynes Creek Good Samaritan Editor: I have nightmares about los- ing my purse. They are due, I suspect, to reports in the news of purses lifted from shopping carts, unlocked cars or yanked from arms. Last Friday I put my purchas- es in my car at Raley’s parking lot. I took the cart to the corral and left it there with my purse in the child’s seat. I was almost home when I realized my purse was not with me. I was devastated. I headed back to town with no hope that I would ever see it again. I went over all the things I would have to do the next few days. Notify the bank, cancel credit card and cell phone, get copies of driver’s license, Med- iCal and car insurance cards. The list went on. The clerk came to meet me as I walked (ran) into Raley’s and said my purse was in the safe. Ingrid Spainhower had found it and turned it in. Ingrid’s action has impacted my life. Thank you Ingrid. Lisa Tow, Proberta Skate thanks Editor: The Corning Skate and Bike Park Association wants to thank sponsors and donors who made possible the skate and bike exhi- bition May 8, in conjunction with the May Madness Car Show, and the Olive View School Carnival on May 14. We could not have done this without 1st Choice Reality, 99 Cent Plus Store, Boardmart of Chico, California Technologies, Corning Union Elementary Your Turn School District, Corning Lum- ber, Dot Emerson, Exchange Club, Hatfield and McCoy’s, House of Brews, Land Image of Chico, Lucky Dog Hay Ranch, Napa Auto Parts, Phil’s Automotive, Pizza Factory in Orland, Premier West Bank, Rolling Hills Casino, Shasta Con- structors and Sierra Nevada Restaurant and Tours. Dean Cofer, Corning Judge candidate Editor: On Tuesday, June 8, we will all vote for some very important county positions. I have been lucky enough to have worked for some very well-respected men in my life. I have worked for the Honorable Richard Hultgren, C. A. Stromsness, Elmer Jennings and William Murphy. I worked for Murphy during his years as an attorney in Corn- ing. I feel so fortunate to have worked for him. He is a very intelligent man, but more importantly he is the most hon- est, fairest person I know. When he made the decision to go into public service, I knew he was making the right deci- sion. Tehama County would be very lucky to have Murphy as a judge. I have admired and respected Murphy for many years. I want- ed the people of Tehama Coun- ty to know by voting for him, you will be voting for honesty and fairness. Lisa Nye, Corning Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Ban the Burger Month Commentary side litter. Thanks to corporate exploita- tion, hamburgers now account for nearly 60 percent of all sand- wiches eaten. But rather than celebrate the burger every May, we must do the opposite: give the highly- educated, caring people who run our federal government the power, through a nationwide burger ban, to protect us from exploitive corporate interests. Americans are among the fat- test people on Earth. This is largely because the fast-food hamburger is little more than a high-calorie injection system. Now that the federal govern- ment has assumed regulatory command over America's health care — now that federal money will be used to subsidize it — the government has every right to limit behavior that will increase health care costs. The government must also ban any advertising and media programming that seeks to pro- mote, and profit from, America's lingering obsession with the burger. That it is still legal for Ronald McDonald to brainwash our children into consuming a mass- produced corporate Happy Meal leaves highly educated people everywhere unhappy. Further, the Federal Commu- nications Commission must cen- sor television shows, such as "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" and "Man vs. Food." In the former show, host Guy Fieri exploits the reck- less calorie consump- tion of average-intelli- gence Americans who, when they are not clinging to their guns and their religion, are stuffing their gullets at the local diner. In the latter, host Adam Richman travels the country to partici- pate in grotesque con- tests to see who can consume the most high-calorie comfort foods. Both food oppor- tunists are tantamount to food pornographers. Banning and censoring American burger-mill opera- tions, however, is only part of the solution. The government must also ban the American pastime of freely grilling burgers, and the flesh of other dead animals, on backyard barbecues — all of which emit carcinogens and other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. I know it is difficult for Americans of average intelli- gence to comprehend, but a federal ban on burger con- sumption is what is best for them. It will reduce calorie con- sumption, reduce fed- eral health care expen- ditures and protect the environment. It will result in less cow grazing, which will minimize cow flatulence, a menace to hundreds who deserve the right to an odorless countryside drive in their electric cars on Sundays. Tom Purcell Change is hard — giving up backward, primitive American traditions will be dif- ficult for many — but we must work together to bring about this needed change. In a truly progressive society, May must become Ban the Burger Month instead. ——— Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e-mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com.