Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/136265
6A Daily News – Wednesday, June 12, 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. 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 Help feed the children of our community Editor: When asked to give this community's generosity is legendary. Over the years I have asked for you to join with me in collecting food for those less fortunate than ourselves. Your heartfelt response produced truckloads of food going to various food banks. For over four years in Red Bluff, the Food From the Heart food drive has raised several thousand pounds of food each year to support local hunger relief charities. The need is so great that this year we are taking Food From the Heart countywide. More than 6,200 children, ill and needy are served via Tehama County Food Bank Partners each month. The Gold Exchange has partnered with the Community Action Agency, Tehama Together, the North State Food Bank and eighteen food banks within Tehama County. By leveraging resources and working together local charities are able to turn a simple $18 donation into 100lbs. of nutritious food, including fresh produce. For this reason, Food From the Heart has become a fund drive to be held June 16-30. For the last two months young people from our community have collected coffee cans to be used as donation contain- ers. Thank you SERRF, Mercy High, West Street Elementary Parents Group and especially Sacred Heart for the blessing of the cans. More than 200 businesses have stepped up to serve as collection locations. We are asking you to join the efforts of our young people and local businesses by making a heartfelt donation towards this very worthwhile endeavor. 100% of all donations collected will go towards the purchase of food and are tax deductible. For a list of our participating food banks, sponsors and collection sites please visit our website at www.foodfromthehearttehamacounty.com. Together we can accomplish great things, by holding hands we create miracles. Will you take my hand to walk into a future where no child goes to bed hungry? Jessie Woods, Red Bluff Polson's values Editor: Regarding Don Polson's response to my letter of May 30. Mr. Polson states that I engaged in the same "character assassination and anathema" in my latest letter concerning him as I did four years ago, and in that he is correct. I wrote my latest message in response to his attempt to, once again, obfuscate his less than patriotic actions during the Vietnam War, as he again tries to clothe himself with the mantle of patriotic fervor and attach himself to the cause of "saluting and com- requirements anyway." If that was the case, why did he need memorating fallen vets." Mr. Polson bristles at the deferments in the first place? By notion that he had anything to the way, the Army requirements do with "disrespecting" our for height is no less than 58 troops in Vietnam or being a inches (4 feet, 10 inches) and weigh no less than 91 "draft dodger." Evipounds. I didn't realdently he believes that Your ize that Mr. Polson his personal actions as had such diminutive one of "Hanoi's useful stature during the war idiots" had no effect years. whatsoever on the misLastly, Mr. Polson sion and morale of the American troops. But then Mr. accuses me of singling him out Polson rarely takes responsibili- because of his 'temerity" in ty for his words and actions, questioning President Obama's especially when he has had one war plans. I only mentioned of his "change-of-heart" revela- Obama because of Don Polson's statement that the presitions. A few examples; 1. Two years of anti-war dent was ready to "squander" activism until he learns, with everything achieved by our "disgust," of the "moral and troops and prematurely withpolitical corruption" of the draw from Afghanistan in 2014. movement, better late than I would ask Mr. Polson how long he feels that our troops never I suppose. 2. Seeking relief from the should stay in Afghanistan? movement through "various How many more billions do we religious communities (church- need to spend on the war? es, ashrams, People's Temple?) Under what conditions do we finally declare our victory? in California." 3. His two years of college And, finally, how many more of with the "requisite" college our brave, patriotic troops need deferments, from 1969 to 1971. to die before he can decide that But he doesn't mention what we have fulfilled our "mission" happened after his "protected in Afghanistan to "leave a successful or a failed model of status" was terminated. 4. He had a draft number "too self-governance, a nation high" to be drafted, evidently friendly or antagonistic toward unaware that a patriotic young the Islamic terrorist war on man could actually enlist in the America, our western allies and Armed Forces, which tens of our values?" Mr. Polson, are these the thousands of other young Amersame "values" that you so icans did. 5. He says that he, "being a quickly abandoned when it was scrawny kid that wouldn't have your turn to defend America? Larry Gray, Red Bluff met the height and weight 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 Countering government intimidation "Admit it. You're a dirty rotten conservative!" "That's false. I eat tofu for breakfast." "But we found your name on a donor list of a group that sought 501(c)(4) status to promote the founding principles of the U.S. Constitution!" "You're mistaking me for someone else with the same name. I listen to Barry Manilow records." "We also found your name on another donor list of a group seeking 501(c)(4) status that wanted to promote the findings of the Bowles-Simpson Commission. This group was established by President Obama, who promptly ignored its sensible recommendations for fiscal sanity." "That wasn't me. I like independent French films in which the beautiful female protagonist concludes life isn't worth living." "Just admit who you are: a tea-party rabble-rouser who stands in the way of the progressive movement." "That's not so. I like activist government. And I often yell at my barista for over-steaming the milk in my latte." "Who do you think you're fooling? You write a weekly newspaper column in which you routinely express concern for runaway government spending." "You're confusing me with some other fellow. The only thing I do routinely is attend Cher concerts." "Admit it. You think the government should drop ObamaCare and start over with a sensible bipartisan approach that doesn't produce so many unintended consequences." "That isn't so. I consider it my patriotic duty to pay higher insurance premiums to support a program that is doing the opposite of what it promised: to rein in soaring health-care costs. I even read John Maynard Keynes speeches in my leisure time." "You don't fool me, conservative. I've seen your tax returns. You surely think your income taxes are too high." "That isn't so, either. It is my duty to pay high taxes so that politicians can dole out billions to crony capitalists who waste it on alleged 'green' technologies that end up not working. I even once picketed an oil company for making too much money." "Nice try, you cut-government-spending fool. You probably think you have a right to keep and bear arms, too, because member of a Teddy Kennedy fan club." your conservative mind "I'm onto your is paranoid and feargame. You're concealful." ing your real convic"The truth is, I'm tions and beliefs fearful of guns, and because you fear your even though I live in a government will use more rural area — it powerful agencies to could take a while for target and intimidate my police department you. You're doing to arrive in the event of what many conservaa burglary — I would tives who feared never arm myself for being audited or othpersonal protection or erwise harassed did in go through the proper Tom the run-up to the last training to ensure gun election. You actually safety. Also, I gave up believe what Thomas meat and fish and eat Jefferson said: 'When only vegetables." "You're mighty clever for a government fears the people, small-minded conservative, but I there is liberty. When the people see right through you. You're fear the government, there is fearful of an ever-expanding tyranny.'" "That isn't true. And as proof, government, because you believe that as government I display an 'I Love Jimmy grows, it can't help but inhibit Carter' bumper sticker on my car." personal freedoms." "That's not true. President Tom Purcell, a humor Gerald Ford was wrong when he said, 'A government big columnist for the Pittsburgh enough to supply everything Tribune-Review, is nationally you need is big enough to take syndicated exclusively by everything you have.' I think our Cagle Cartoons newspaper government should put it to syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web people who are well-off and buy at www.TomPurcell.com or ehim at votes by giving that money to mail others. And I'm the founding Purcell@caglecartoons.com. Purcell