Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/13379
6A – Daily News – Thursday, July 15, 2010 Opinion 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 Rodney the deer Editor: I guess six months is long enough to take some of the CYA out of the DFG article. 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. 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 An excellent expla- nation of the laws cover- ing wildlife offspring. I get it. I got it when they killed Bambi, too. The lady made a mistake and she broke the law. I hope that is clarified for all now. Leave the wild animals alone. Because if you don't, Fish and Game will hunt them down and kill them to protect them from you. The DFG article didn't say how those responsible were reprimand- ed. I don't suppose the DFG will ever divulge that — probably something to do with their rights. But then I won't forget who killed Bambi either. Your Turn We have been able to give the city $15,000 in 2009 and $10,000 this summer. We are setting a goal of $55,000 for the next year. We can use a lot of help and I know the folks in Red Bluff are up to the task. We can all band together to keep our kids safe from the river and with the swim lessons, safe in their home pools. I’ve lived here 48 years and have seen the community pull together and open the Hope Chest, Kelly-Griggs Museum, MIA Flag, Christmas tree on Main Street, Cone Tower, Show House, put equipment in the City Park for the littlest children and probably more I’ve forgot- ten. I'm considering buying a con- crete garden statue of a deer. A cute one like in the picture on page 5A and attaching a bronze plaque to it with DFG on it under the words "Killed By" and putting it in the parking lot next to the new side- walk in front of the Nu-Way Mar- ket in Los Molinos. People of their obvious intellect deserve public recognition. Fred Boest, Red Bluff Saving the pool Editor: After reading Carson Dun- bar’s letter (July 3) about the closing of McGlynn Pool, I felt I should let the public known there is a non-profit group try- ing to earn money to help the City keep the pool open. Its called “Blues for the Pool” and has several fundraisers a year. The next to be July 17 Wine Tasting and Music by the pool. To help Blues for the Pool call 529-0556 or 527-8177. I hope we hear from lots of you and see you at the Wine Tasting July 17. Marge Emigh, Red Bluff Arizona reform Editor: We were out to sea when we hit a submerged object which tore a large hole in the port bow of the ship. The water was rushing in faster than the bilge pumps could handle. The captain ordered the crew to patch the hole before we sank. All hands secured the gash, the bilge pumps relieved the excess water taken in, and then we dealt with the compre- hensive repair of the ship. It seems analogous to the plight of Arizona. Until you patch the hole in the border, plans for comprehensive immi- gration reform seem senseless. Stop the inflow first, and only then see what repairs are nec- essary to immigration. Once we stop the inflow, I hope we separate the good from the bad, send the bad to their home country, and keep the good. After all, we are all immigrants or descendants of immigrants. It is very unfair of other cities around the country to even consider boycotting Ari- zona since it is none of their business. Arizona will suffer the consequences of their own legislation and implementation should it prove fool-hearty. However, I think they are right on by trying to enforce the law which should be the federal government’s job. Anymore, I don’t find it unusual for politicians to over- complicate this issue. Whatev- er happened to common sense? Paul Moon, Red Bluff State workers Editor: Arnold is finally making a great decision. Minimum wages to the state workers who are responsible for putting the state in a crisis. The people who take and spend our money frivolously and use state credit cards for personal use, need to get a lit- tle kick in the you know what. So many people losing jobs and homes due to the spending of state officials, employees, etc. The state has always taken care of its help financially, medically and retirement. This recession didn't come from the hard working man or woman who brings home a pay check every day — mini- mum wage — and budgeting to stay within their means. They had to have known it would eventually catch up to them. The mishandling of general funds, taxes, dona- tions. It all adds up but when each person is given unlimit- ed usage and not budgeted properly their is nothing left. The hard working county employees don't get near the amount of benefits a state employee gets, yet they do twice the work. It's the state employees that have the free run of the budget and drive the California Exempt License Plate cars and the free gas cards. That's where the budget fell apart is in the State Department, let it stay there and let them fend for themselves. Why should we suffer and have to do without because of their inexcusable overspend- ing. I am devasted at the amount of foreclosures and jobs lost due to no funds available. I personally dread each day as to where my house payment is going to come from due to the fact no one is spending any money. We have been overcharged and assessed to the max on taxes, surcharges, bridge tolls, DMV fees, insurance. If you don't have insurance you can't drive, if you can't regis- ter your vehicle you can't drive, if you can't drive you can't get to work. The out- come is heavy fines or jail time just to survive. What ever happened to the horse and buggy and home- stead days. Jeannette Turner, 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. The only group in history to request to be taxed more Commentary Americans hate taxes. It’s not a right or left issue. It’s not a Democ- ratic or Republican issue. It’s not an old or young issue. It’s strangely not even a rich or poor issue. It’s an American issue. It’s our biggest peeve. We all agree on some level: Our country is great, but we feel very cranky about forking over our money to the government. This is an odd character trait in Americans. For example, we hap- pily pay for cable even though tele- vision is free – we clearly have no problem signing up for more bills. The average American credit card debt is around $10,000 and the average APR is 14% — we clearly have no problem doling out loads of cash with nothing to show for it. We don’t even pay out that much of our income to the govern- ment when compared with other industrialized nations. An average family with children pays about 20% of their income to taxes. For singles it’s 37%. Belgians pay close to 55%. But Americans hate taxes. We always have. We hate even the idea of them. We want to believe free- dom and taxes absolutely contra- dict one other. Like improv and comedy. Other colonies of Great Britain (e.g., Canada and Australia) simply asked for their independence. But not us. Americans were so out- raged about the King’s raising taxes we started a costly and bloody rev- olutionary war lasting nearly a decade. Yes, it all started with a tax hike. “No more taxes!” is the original American battle cry. In a way, our country’s birth was a giant scheme to avoid giving up a fraction of our salaries to bureaucrats. We simply despise taxes. Taxes are so loathed by Ameri- cans that politicians have to come up with new phrases in order to talk about them. That’s why “fees,” “tariffs” and “tolls” are used to “balance deficits,” instead of just putting it plainly: Taxes are needed to fund the government. It’s an attempt to make taxes palatable to American sensibilities. This prettier word tactic is combated by calling anything you disagree with the ominous “hidden tax.” A hidden tax is something lurking in the bushes that can jump out and bill you. Very scary. Notorious tax-phobe Grover Norquist requests conservative can- didates sign his heavy-handed pledge not to raise taxes. He wants them to be like 1981’s tax-cutter President Ronald Reagan. Not like 1982’s, 1983’s, 1984’s, 1985’s, 1986’s and 1987’s tax-raiser Presi- dent Ronald Reagan. Because when it comes to taxes — always accentuate the cuts. For politicians, rais- ing taxes is taboo. It’s an unmentionable. But if you talk with group in the history of the world to want to be taxed? To hope to be taxed? To specifically ask the gov- ernment to tax them more? “I can’t remember the last time an interest group volunteered to be taxed,” admitted councilwoman Janice Hahn of Los Angeles, the semi-legal weed capital of the coun- try. Tina the average weed advo- cate — er, marijuana activist — er, cannabis enthusiast, one of their selling points is if pot were legal you could tax it. Yes, a sin tax! A sin tax is what the government puts on things like gambling, booze or tobacco. It’s designed to discourage people from doing it - because taxes are just that revolting. A sin tax is punitive. It’s monetary punishment for being a sinner - quite literally “hell to pay.” Could pot smokers be the only Dupuy This might be a first. Historic. A group of Americans are actually lobbying the government asking to give more money to the govern- ment in the form of a tax. Weed is rumored to expand your mind in all sorts of unspecified ways. We may have found one of them. Volumes of political theory have just been challenged. We’re wit- nessing history here. Someone notify the media! Tina Dupuy is an award-winning writer and the editor of FishbowlLA.com. Tina can be reached at tina@cagle.com.