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4A Daily News – Friday, August 23, 2013 Opinion Shifting values 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. Editor: Once upon a time, in the not too distant past, million dollars in private hands was considered real wealth, and viewed with awe, if not envy, while in the public domain it represented a hefty amount of taxes the government had exacted and was poised to spend. Somewhere along the line over the past couple of decade or so, the public's perception of million was substantially reduced by allowing billion dollars (a thousand times a million) to take center stage in the public forum, overall assessment, reporting and discussion. You may have noticed that lately the focus has shifted once again, this time the denomination has advanced to trillion dollars (a thousand times a billion). For instance 1 trillion per annum on military related expenses, our 1 trillion debt to China, a deficit of 17 trillion, tril- lions traded on Wall Street, trillions of unfunded future liabilities, etc. In light of such astronomical figures, is it any wonder the thoroughly desensitized public tends to reduce the Pentagon's decision to destroy 7 billion worth of military hardware in Afghanistan to a mere pittance? I was nevertheless surprised to learn. Time to climb down from these lofty celestial mathematical heights and plant our feet firmly on the ground, where they have always belonged. Let's assume an altruistic multibillionaire Santa Claus decides to present our citizens with a $7 billion check, that would mean all 14,000 of us, every man, woman and child in our fair city would receive the tidy sum of $500,000, or a family of four $2 million. Now doesn't that pittance begin to look a lot more substantial and to take on a decidedly different meaning when applied in practical terms and closer to home? All this is happening in an era occurred when a car waiting to when millions of our fellow citi- make a left onto Sherman Avenue zens are compensated at a paltry was rear ended into the path of a $7.35 federal minimum wage per semi. Sherman, not Sherwood; hour, part time without benefits, check the skid marks. often working 2-3 jobs yet still The only other traffic fatality I unable to make ends recall in Los Molinos meet. was at Palm Avenue. The drums of war are A vehicle leaving town Your sounding once again. went out of control, Time to get engaged in the jumped a newly conSyrian civil war and structed left turn traffic another opportunity for us divider, and hit a to pump a few more billions down power pole guy wire. The traffic the proverbial rat hole. divider was removed soon after the Joe Bahlke, Red Bluff accident. Sherwood is a primary NorthSouth Los Molinos thoroughfare. It provides easy access to highway Editor: 99E for travel to and from the A recent letter to the Daily south, while reducing traffic on News suggested closing Sherwood 99E through town. There is no reaAvenue access from 99E due to son to block it off. multiple fatalities. This idea seems If and when Tehama County's to be based on erroneous accident finances improve, Sherwood could information, some of which was use repaving. reported in the media. Ben Bunker, Los Molinos The most recent fatality Turn 99E accidents 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 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 There he goes again Another City Council is at it again. As you recall, the Corning City Council features prayer before each session. I have no idea how this got started. In addition, the Anderson and Redding city councils have burdened their constituents with Hindu chants allegedly designed to promote harmony and good will. If left unchecked I foresee bathing in the Sacramento River in homage to the Ganges. But now, counterpoint to all of this, we learn the Chico City Council is being taken to task by the Atheists of Butte County for allowing the council to open its meeting with religious invocations. You would think an enlightened college town would know better than to co-mingle church and state. George Gold, coordinator of the Atheists of Butte County (ABC) presented a petition to the Chico City Council which read in part, "I'm very troubled by the continuing introduction of religion into the beginning of every City Council meeting. The First amendment of the Constitution clearly states there shall be no establishment of religions by our government...and the Supreme Court has ruled that such invocations violate the First Amendment." Mr. Gold goes on at great length in an article printed in the Sacramento Valley Mirror: "Mr. Mayor, please consider our community's request, signed by a variety of religious, spiritual and secular Chico residents, to cease invocations and instead offer a moment of silence or nothing at all." It has not been reported if the council heeded his request. The petitioners, in this case, probably did not pray for their petition to be granted. *** Speaking of the Sacramento Valley Mirror, their staff lists "Buddy" as Dog Editor. Well, dog my cats! I like that. No more conjecture by well meaning two-footed pundits. Now, in addition to Murray Clyde's ruminations, we can get Buddy's perspective on subjects of the day. Good dog! *** Notice in the Albuquerque Journal: "Estate Sale Glenwood Hills, North, 60 year marriage, 9 children, everything must go." Seems to me they should at least be allowed to keep the kids. *** The late sage George Carlin weighs in on baseball. "Baseball is different than any other sport. In most sports, you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs. In most sports, the ball, or the object, is put into play by the offensive team. In baseball, the defensive team puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed to touch the ball. In football, basketball, soccer, volleyball and all sports played with a ball, you score with the ball, and in baseball, the ball prevents you from scoring" and so on. *** Kathleen Parker writing in the Washington Post states, "Hillary Clinton is everywhere these days because a) it's august, b) reporters are bored with President Obama, c) reporters are bored with Joe Biden and d) Clintons are never boring. And here's a thought: she can save the world. Women, if allowed, to be fully equal to men, will bring peace to the planet. Men have been at it for thousands of years resulting in millions and millions of corpses. As women become more empowered, especially financially, countries become more stable." Ms. Parker concludes with, "Many doubtless shudder at the prospect of Hillary Clinton as the most powerful person in the world...but we've done worse." *** Police Report in the DN Tuesday: "A large party was reported near Tehama Friday night. Three people were seen running around ago. Jim had been hired during the naked doing push-ups in the middle of the roadway. Deputies contacted off season, to promote Dubuque those at the party to keep unclothed Hams and toured around the varisubjects inside." I assume these ous markets selling same. One such was the Holiwere young people day on Madiengaged in this son. My father behavior. Such took our goings on in my daughter day at parties were Melody, who unheard of. Push was very ups, yes. Naked? young at the Perhaps in some time...maybe 6 instances, but or so, to the never in combinastore to meet tion. the famous *** Robert b a l l p l a y e r. Last week's Father got off quiz was answered on the wrong correctly by multifoot by telling tudes. However, N. Davenport that Rick was first in he looked taller with the state whose capital had no letters in on TV than in person. Jim drew common with it which is Pierre, himself up to his full 5'9' or so but South Dakota. The four Presidents the slight was evident. Then father with only 4 letters in their last asked Melody if she had any quesnames are Taft, Ford, Polk and tions for Mr. Davenport. She Bush. Add in the other Bush and thought for a movement and then asked, "What's 2 times 2?" That you have 5. This week's quiz: Name the broke the ice and everyone only two President's surnames that laughed. *** begin and end with the same letter, The minister was vehement in name the four President's that have had alliterative first and last names. his attack on adultery. He called "Alliterative" means repetition of down the wrath of the Lord on an initial sound in two or more every man who dared to leave his words of a phrase, right? And for home and find happiness in the extra points, I have 7 short sleeved bosom of his neighbor's wife. At button-down shirts from which to that point, a man got up to leave. make a selection to wear to the The minister called out, "Where are office each day. 3 of the7 are white. you going?" The man said, "I just The others being blue, yellow, pink remembered where I left my hat." and lime. Which one am I wearing today (Friday) as I am feeling parRobert Minch is a lifelong ticularly resilient...even rugged? resident of Red Bluff, former *** During the Giants baseball columnist for the Corning Daily game Tuesday evening, former 3rd Observer and Meat Industry baseman Jim Davenport was intro- magazine and author of the "The duced to the crowd and threw out Knocking Pen." He can be reached t the first pitch of the evening. It a rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. reminded me of an incident years Minch I Say