Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/135116
6A Daily News – Thursday, June 6, 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. In praise of Lassen View Editor: Kudos to every member of the faculty, staff, administration and board who have worked at Lassen View Union Elementary in the last several years. It is a matter of public record that Lassen View consistently excels academically. What may not be so widely known is the exceptional ways in which it nurtures and cares for its students — ways that far exceed the implicit covenant between student and teacher, and the normal dynamics between school and family. Lassen View is in and of its community. So many of us have watched with satisfaction as our children sat in the same classrooms we ourselves remember from years earlier. Even when faced with unusually difficult circumstances the devoted team of professionals at Lassen View have proven themselves capable and willing to go very much beyond the requirements of their job descriptions. They refuse to merely observe students who struggle. They put on their armor and fight and struggle and persevere alongside them. Such quiet, but enormous victories too often go unnoticed and unheralded. Well, we think Lassen View's praise should be shouted from the rooftops, and this letter is the rooftop we've chosen. You have earned our deepest respect and enduring gratitude. Greg Robinson, Red Bluff Our town Editor: Graduation is in the air, mortar boards take flight, speeches full of hope and inspiration will adulate into plethoric kudos, job well done and soon you'll be off to college or job and most of you won't be coming back to Red Bluff, not to live and work anyway. Reason here is the local powers that be don't want you kids returning with your experiences and worldly ideas, might muck up the works, interfere with the anti-business — don't want no good paying jobs 'round here — change is the devil's workshop — line of thinking. Now understand, I'm not completely immune to this backwardness, most come by it honest. I just assumed that it would be OK to have a few jobs come to town so some of the brightest and best from the Class of 2013 might consider returning and sharing their wisdom with the community. Bear in mind, in 20 years, today's local pool of meth addicts, baby shakers, burglars, stabbers, and car thieves will be a big chunk of Red Bluff's population — after their stints in Susanville — and they will become our future, while the better educated and more mentally agile will apply their skills and champion worthy civic causes elsewhere-read-anywhere but here. Why must this be? Do we dislike our kids that much? Wake up and smell the coffee Red Bluff, it's burning. John Swaim, Red Bluff that have gone overseas because of our current tax Editor: burdens. It will open our It is a sad day when we see domestic and foreign markets one department of our US up to become more price Government act as if they are competitive. It will all but above our laws. IRS eliminate tax fraud. admits to multiple It will make everyYour illegal acts of targetone, both legal and ing private citizens, illegal, pay towards showing favor to to cost of running some while showing our government. disfavor to others. Even foreign visitors There is an answer for coming here on vacation will what We The People can do to pay toward these costs when cure the ills of the IRS. they buy new products and We need to contact all of services while they are here. our political leaders at all levWith increased business els to ask them to promote comes increased demands by two items. these business to hire more 1. To vote in favor of the workers. With more workers Fair Tax reform plan to buying new products and serreplace our current broken tax vices, more taxes will be paid system. increasing the revenue col2. To repeal what is infor- lected by our governments. mally called Obamacare, aka, With the elimination of keepThe Affordable Care Act. ing tax receipts and filing tax These two changes will elimi- returns every year, individuals nate the need for IRS. They and businesses will be free to will no longer be needed to live our lives on April 15 just collect revenue to run our fed- like any other day of the year. eral government. If we also convince our The website fairtax.com state governments to go for will tell you everything you the Fair Tax plan, we will need to know about this tax never have to keep and store reform plan. We already know tax receipts and never have to more than we want to know file a state or Federal annual about how bad Obamacare is, tax form again. and how it, by itself, will If you are a tree hugger, bankrupt our Nation if left to can you imagine how many continue to be the law of the trees we will save when we land. eliminate all paperwork Reforming our tax system required by our old, broken, with the Fair Tax Plan will do unfair tax system? many things, a few would be Your call to your represento allow every working indi- tative or senator will help vidual and every business to make this happen. Do it today, lower their costs and increase or write them a letter today their freedoms by taking IRS with Fair Tax Plan and repeal off their backs. It will bring of Obamacare as your subject back billions, or maybe even matter. trillions, of investment dollars James Monson, Proberta Tax code Turn Your officials 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. 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 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 Conversation around graduation time Mom: So what are you up to today? (I've barely seen my son since he graduated high school. It'd be nice if he just stayed home with the family for once.) Son: I'm going to Nate's graduation party. (And then afterward I'm going across the street to Amy's party, where there will be no parents, aunts, grandmothers or adults of any kind.) Mom: OK, be home by midnight. (Who is this Nate?) Son: Actually, I was thinking of spending the night. (C'mon think of a good reason) We were all going to get up early and go hiking tomorrow. (Buy it, buy it...) Mom: Oh, ok. (My kid's never hiked a day in his life, he's just going to some party. I bet he's not even going to this Nate's house.) How are you getting there? (Since you don't have a car because you quit your job.) Son: (Kyle is driving, but mom hates him say someone else.) Ben's driving us. (Ben was an honor roll student, perfect) Mom: (I bet Kyle's driving them.) Well don't get into any trouble. (I know he's going to have a few beers with his friends.) Son: We won't. (BEER PONG!) Mom: (Does he not realize I was his age once. I know what goes on I did it too, but I have to play the mom role here.) Is there going to be any drinking at this party? Son: No. (Not at Nate's that's why we're going to Amy's.) His whole family is going to be there, maybe they'll be drinking, we're all just going to hang out by the pool. (For an hour before we take off. I don't even know what the big deal is Kyle's dad gave us all beers at his party.) Mom: Where's your suit and towel? (Got him!) Son: (She got me.) Uhm they have towels and stuff and all that stuff and I was just going to borrow a suit from free pass to do whatever he wants and that'll just Nate or something. lead him to more trou(Whew!) ble.) Mom: Uhuh. (He's Son: Mom, you definitely up to somethere? You spaced thing. But this is just out for a moment? the start, he's an adult (She did this at my now this is going to be graduation too.) going on for years and Mom: Yeah years. He's going to sweety, have fun have to learn for himtonight, I trust you. self to make the right Son: (She trusts decisions. He'll be me?) Thanks mom. away at college in a few (That was the worst... months and they'll be Rich and the best thing she no way I can stop him. could say, I have a I just don't want him to pretty cool mom, I bet make a stupid decision she knows what's up.) that will haunt him forever before the rest of his life I love you, see you tomorrow. Rich: Congratulations to even gets started. Just be safe. Don't drive. Don't even get in the Class of 2013. (I hope you the car with a drunk friend. Call read this.) Have fun, just home if you have to. We'll pick remember to be safe. (And you up. We'll pay for a taxi. remember the subtext.) Your father might be mad, but Rich Greene can be reached you should rather have him mad at you for a week than finding at 527-2151, Ext. 109 or by at you in jail or a hospital. I should email be saying all of this out loud, but rgreene@redbluffdailynews.co I'm afraid he'll take that for a m. Greene