Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/16023
6A – Daily News – Thursday, September 9, 2010 Opinion Poor spending 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 decisions Editor: 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 I am responding to your article. Court Roundup, Aug. 25. "Paula Sue Dias sent to two year's in State Prison for theft of a hat and sunglasses." Petty Theft draws two years? The theft was a $20 value? What is the court thinking. Do they know that we are in a serious recession? Is this the same city that just laid off five city policemen, two city dispatchers and two recorders? To house Dias will cost $70,000 to $80,000 for the two years. Those dollars could have kept two of these working. What are citizens going to have to do now to protect themselves with fewer police? If we do not spend our money more wisely now, future problems will be much worse. Randy Dale Weems, Red Bluff Alliterate column Editor: After reading your article in Friday's newspaper, I checked the obituaries and read Ms. Cammie Conlon's obituary. Thought you might like to know that Ms. Con- lon played the daughter of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara in the movie, "Gone With The Wind." Her name in the story was Bonnie Blue Butler, another alliterate name. Ha! My favorite 'alliterate' character is Sam Spade from The Maltese Falcon. PS — You forgot to mention Daffy Duck. Vickie Darnell, Corning Think again Editor: It’s so encouraging to read your letter to the editor Kristo- pher Scott; your sincerity and open mindedness reveal an edu- cated opinion combined with a strong and gracious heart. Equality and unconditional love are universally the highest spiritual ideals, regardless of eco- nomic, religious or sexual orien- tation. Time invested in the pur- suit of knowledge is not merely its own reward; it also evokes a clearer understanding, accep- tance and appreciation of others. By reading your letters over the last few months, I’ve observed that we, both Tehama County natives, support many ideas and opinions that are gross- ly unpopular with our fellow citi- zens. Not one to adhere to the old adage “Never discuss politics or religion,” my educated, open- minded character, is not always taken kindly when confronted with individuals who are not. I for one, appreciate your par- ticipation and interest in this community, via the letters you write. I hope that you continue to stay involved by making people think; think about their beliefs and their tolerance, and lack thereof. Why do I stay here you may ask? My husband jokingly likes to say “This is where the wagons broke down.” To which I reply, “My great-grandfather was born in Tehama County; and not being one to make rash deci- sions, I just haven’t decided to move yet.” The real factor, ironically, after seeing what an informed opinion invokes here, is education. Edu- cation saved my life and allows me to remain in this community; that’s a pretty bold statement isn’t it? It saved me from: Ignorance, intolerance, injustice and it saved me from poverty, self-abuse and indifference. Being employed in the field of education, which is pretty shaky these days, not only con- tinues to feed my soul, but it also allows me the opportunity to live and share my knowledge with our young people; and for that I stay. So Mr. Wolfe, Mr. Ismail and others in our community that are under the impression that Red Bluff should be white, Christian, heterosexual, middle-class and hemp free, think again. Georgia Scott (no relation), Red Bluff Beck Editor: Your Turn After he fulfilled his duty in restoring honor among the fired-up congregation at the Lincoln Memorial, it seems as though Fox News televangelist Glenn Beck might have taken advantage of his buddy Bill O'Reilly's no spin rules when he sheep- ishly revealed that his decision to slip on a bulletproof vest just prior to the gathering was made solely at his wife's urgent request. In view of his failing vision, it's more plausible that O'Reil- ly's sobbing sidekick might have temporarily lost sight of his spiritual precept that calls for having "faith in God's pro- tection." The uplifting bywords are the same the theatrical savior made much of in front of the turnout in Washington, and two days earlier than the primetime spin he fed to O'Reilly while Big Bill was nodding his head in friendly accord. In spite of Beck's populari- ty, by prostituting his wife for the purpose of a hand scape- goat was nothing more than a cowardly attempt to conceal the fact that he was the only one who had cold feet. Rodina Turner, Los Molinos 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. Net Neutrality: Crucial issue, lame name Commentary The term "net neutrality" has the magical property of making most people’s eyes glaze over. First, it sounds like a gam- bling term. "I have a system and net neutrality – I can’t lose!" Second, no one using the Internet calls it "the net" any- more. Just like no one in San Francisco calls it "Frisco." So the term "net neutrality" either sounds super techie and over- your-head, or more dated than the 1995 Sandra Bullock movie called…The Net. The concept of Net Neutrali- ty is simple: all content should be treated equally. The Internet should be, as it has been, on a virtual level playing field. Google and Verizon announced at the beginning of August their agreement for an "Open Internet." In their state- ment the FCC will continue to lack the power to enforce an open Internet, and it excludes wireless broadband from trans- parency, citing proprietary con- cerns. This is worrisome since wire- less broadband is the future of the Internet. Plus, in order to ensure "openness," wireless or not, the Internet should be regu- lated like any other public utili- ty. So as soon as the word "regu- lation" is uttered, a Frankenstein monster of a faux populist movement arises to dispute and cloud the issue. With corporate sponsorship they’ve become a loud lobbying spectacle for busi- ness interests. Cleverly they use pro-work- ing people language, and often working people themselves, to sell policies of freedom for cor- porations. Yes, the Tea Party, or the Grand Old Party on caffeine, is, of course, against Net Neu- trality. The Tea Party and its coali- tion of "grassroots" think tanks want corporations to be in con- trol of the Internet so it will "stay open." In a signed letter sent to the FCC and the media the day after the Google/Verizon agreement was announced, the Tea Party groups’ statement added that government regula- tion, "could also remove the ability for parents and ISPs to prevent inappropriate material from entering the home." Catch that? Let business do what it wants or you won’t be able to protect your children from smut. It’s the most vulgar thing I’ve ever heard. Horribly untrue. And a cynical attempt at fear-mongering. "Your children are at risk!" Deplorable. Government regulation is always annoying – unless we can’t swim in the Gulf of Mexi- co, or eat eggs, spinach, beef or peanut butter. But wait – annoy- ing to whom? Government regulation irks corporations. For those of us who drive the cars, eat the food or take the medications made by corporations, government regu- lations are in the most basic way lifesavers. Personally, I would like a government bureaucrat between me and Salmonella. The Tea Party would have opposed the National Parks system. Sectioning off millions of acres of land which otherwise could be privately developed is a job killer. Letting places like Yosemite Valley just sit there without allowing business to "improve the experience" is an affront to freedom. Uncle Sam’s telling Americans where they can and can’t build is govern- ment overreach. The whole scheme will raise your taxes. Taxes - and they’ll take your guns. But no, Republican leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt saw how these parks should be nationalized, saved for future generations to have and enjoy. Lincoln coined the phrase "for the people, by the people," the perfect slogan for a walk through a govern- ment-regulated and, therefore, pristine forest. And our more perfect union needs to ensure that the Internet can be open and indifferent to content — even if you disagree with said content. Congress didn’t just sit on their hands and hope that just because no one had yet devel- oped Yellowstone it wasn’t at risk of such a fate. No, they acted. They protected it. Yel- lowstone is still there for all of us to enjoy. It’s ours. Tina Dupuy What needs to hap- pen? Earlier this year, the U.S Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia handed down the Comcast Decision stating under current law, the FCC doesn’t have the authority to regulate equality of content. This means the law must be changed. Congressman Henry Wax- man, chairman of the Commit- tee on Energy and Commerce that oversees the FCC, said he is for Net Neutrality. Waxman said any bill about the issue would have to come out of his commit- tee. What’s taking so long? The hold up is that the term "Net Neutrality" sounds like a fishing ordinance instead of what Sena- tor Al Franken describes as "the free speech issue of our time." ----- Tina Dupuy is an award- winning writer and the editor of FishbowlLA.com. Tina can be reached at tina@cagle.com.