Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/130886
6A Daily News – Friday, May 17, 2013 Opinion May 14 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. 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: In response to Richard Mazzucchi's question in his slanted and misdirected plea for civility in politics on May 14, "You Betcha." Larry Feser, Red Bluff Cal Fire's tyranny persists Editor: To make up for state funding shortfalls, Tehama County Fire and the CDF are getting creative looking for ways of extracting money directly from the public. One way the CDF tried doing this is by imposing its own fire tax, which I'm proud to report the people of California forced them to repeal. Both agencies are also becoming aggressive about entering people's property looking for "fire code violations." Recognizing that such abuses are virtually inevitable when any government is entrusted with power, our forefathers included the Fourth Amendment in the Constitution, which reads: "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched..." The people of California need to maintain their vigilance and intolerance of the state's attempting to increase taxes under the guise that it's to finance benefits most of us will likely never receive — especially when they violate our Constitutional rights doing it. Nathan Esplanade, Corning Executive order time Editor: President Obama wasn't aware of what the IRS was doing in targeting patriotic or freedom organizations until three days ago, didn't I've heard 22,000 jobs will be know anything about the Fast and Furious fiasco and completely created as navigators when Obadenies knowledge of what hap- maCare goes into effect Jan. pened when it was happening in 1. What does this tell you? It's complicated. Doctors will be leavBenghazi. I guess when you're the com- ing and retiring creating a shortage mander-in-chief, you can make the of doctors, patients will suffer, costs will go up, no end job whatever you want it in sight. to be. He doesn't lead, he's Your My wish would be a man-about-town rubthat all citizens will bing elbows with the have to have Obaentertainment crowd maCare equally from while his country flounour president down to ders. Then after months of testimony the man on skid row. All receive on Fast and Furious he does his the same care. Never happen. I've executive order and saves Eric heard for many months of exempHolder's and others' rear tions all over the place. The IRS will be in charge of ends. Everybody goes on with their jobs and life, those dead are still ObamaCare and they're talking dead. The same thing will happen about a database, all our personal with the Benghazi mess, every- information and a picture for each body will get off, more rules will and every one of us. Scary. Yesterday morning I saw a midbe set in place so it doesn't happen again, it's only a political ploy by dle aged man on a bike with his the Republicans. His entire presi- two dogs on a double leash all havdential term has been a political ing a great time. Where has our ploy, he's the master of deception simple life gone? Bernice Cressy, Cottonwood and deceit. Double speak is his game. Turn Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 4, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 2635 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico, CA 95928, (530) 879-7424, 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 Greetings As a longtime observer of goods and services provided by our local Walmart store, I am surprised, but somewhat disappointed, that the position of "greeter" has been done away with in favor of a roaming ambassador, so to speak. A spokesperson confided to me that a decision came down from on high to this effect. Therefore shoppers can no longer expect a cheerful "good morning" from a senior citizen, grateful no doubt for having a second career in his or her golden years. Whereas such a position required no job experience except for a modicum of civility, it certainly must have beat staying home watching the telly. If Walmart was a union shop, I suspect the position of greeter might not have been so easily abolished. However, habit is hard to break…and I find myself saying hello to whoever might be standing near the front door…even if they might be merely cleaning the windows with Windex. *** Sightem: A street musician? Yes! He, with long raven hair, dressed all in black complemented with a vermillion scarf or serape, was plucking his guitar on the corner of Main and Walnut prompting motorists to appreciate his talents by tossing coins or enticing him to their momentarily paused autos for paper currency. He gained the attention of music lovers by rapidly strumming while alternately pointing his "axe" to the sky and then to the pavement. It appeared to be a vigorous undertaking, and as soon as he collected a few coins and bills he shouldered his back pack and headed for the Tremont Café to fuel his next impromptu concert. As the late K. Hepburn would have put it to him, "Good for you!" *** A recent article with a graph in the DN heralded an improving local real estate market. This is true, up to a point, because the residential inventory of houses for sale has been substantially reduced…hence, multiple offers for houses available to the highest bidder. Whereas the graph noted the improved prices since the recession, the numbers were for median prices, not average prices…the latter being more pertinent. The local market peaked in 2006 and then plummeted to a low in 2011 before posting a modest gain in 2012. With this in mind, a recent issue of TIME led off with an article titled "The Housing Mirage" which said, in part, tight supply and growing demand have driven up prices since January of 2012. But only 65% of Americans own their own houses, which is the lowest level since 1995 as wealthy investors snap up properties. And the article concludes with, "It has long been said that you can't have a sustainable economic recovery in the U.S. until the housing market is back. In truth, it may be the other way around. Until you have more jobs, rising wages and a middle class that can afford to take out a mortgage from a bank that will actually lend it to you, you can't have a real housing recovery. *** Thanks to a resurfacing of the court, the balls we use appear little the worse for wear after 3 sets of tennis doubles. Therefore they might be recycled to others who play the game. Our group cracks open a new can each time we play and is too accustomed to new ball bounces as to even consider using those from the previous day's game. Therefore, we are open to suggestions as to where best to deposit our nearly new Penn tennis balls. We hope to hear from readers as to where to bestow our largess. *** A letter from a reader read, in dures at various hospitals, even part, that she "did not appreciate within the same city." That said, I'm certain our award my supposed piece of humor" but failed to cite what particular piece winning St. E will furnish said data created her displeasure. I have writ- at the request of potential patients. It may be ten her and hope interesting to she responds. She know what needs to realize something as there is, by design, mundane as almost always gauze might something in this be charged to column that disa patient. pleases someone. *** That's what makes L a s t our small world go week's quiz 'round. was first *** Robert answered by Our favorite electrical conhospital, once tractor R. located at 402 Ramsey who Main, phone numquickly deterber 226, is now mined that the known as St. Elizabeth Community Hospital on Sister first words in the lengthy poem Mary Columba Drive and operat- merely listed the months of the ing under the auspices of Dignity year in order. This week's quiz: In what book Health. It is an award-winning facility having been chosen one of does success come before work, the 100 best hospitals in America what word becomes shorter when seven years in a row TheTop 100 you add two letters to it, and it list is made up after a study evalu- occurs once in every minute, twice ates each hospital's performances in every moment and yet never in a in 10 areas: Mortality; medical hundred thousand years. What is complications; patient safety; aver- it? *** age patient stay; expenses; probaIt was late in the evening and the bility; patient satisfaction; adherence to clinical standards of care; guests were leaving one by one. At post-discharge mortality; and read- the door, a departing guest said to mission rates for acute myocardial Groucho Marx, "I would like to say goodbye to your wife." And Grouinfarction. I mention their admirable award cho replied, "Who wouldn't?" in the face of an article in TIME titled "Goodbye to the Surgical Mask" stating, "thanks to new govRobert Minch is a lifelong ernment data, patients can now learn the real cost of hospital pro- resident of Red Bluff, former cedures," and continues, "Before, columnist for the Corning Daily consumers didn't know how much Observer and Meat Industry of a price difference might exist magazine and author of the "The between different hospitals...now, Knocking Pen." He can be reached t new government data allows con- a sumers to compare prices of proce- rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say