Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/16812
4A – Daily News – Saturday, September 25, 2010 Opinion Guy Mount's 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 letter laughs Editor: Regarding Guy Mount’s let- ter, published Sept. 22, I just stopped chortling long enough to write a response. Well done, Mr. Mount. When 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 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. A profusion of confusion, part one Commentary This is the first part of a three part series on the inconsistencies and confusion inherent in our gov- ernmental system. This first part will review some of the oddities of current events in state government. To the outsider our political sys- tem must seem like chaos. It would be difficult to conclude that we have an orderly system created by rational patriots. At first you might think that chaos is caused by an excess of attorneys who have creat- ed this legal turmoil in an effort to maximize their income while they bill clients by the minute and fritter away court time; that may, indeed be part of the problem, but it can- not explain the confusion we must deal with, particularly in Califor- nia. Much of our problem is caused by obvious loopholes or vagueness in our laws and political structures and the part discretion plays at all levels. By and large, however, our hypothetical observer would have an accurate view of our legal and political system. He would base that opinion on what is in the news in California. Even California natives can eas- ily become confused reading the news and stopping to think about it. There are so many “legal” actions about governmental authority and jurisdiction in Cali- fornia that it is easy to believe that this may be Somalia, except no guns and violence are involved. There is a certain amount of absur- dity in what is happening. Look at the example of our Governator having to defend him- self in court over “unilateral” actions he has taken over the last two years. Early in 2009 he began a furlough program for many state employees to help protect the state budget. The program was never approved formally by the state leg- islature or bargained with the unions representing the employ- ees; he simply imposed it. Howev- er, after he imposed the furloughs, the state legislature passed a budget which depended on those fur- loughs to minimize projected deficits. This is a “wink and a smile” approval, that absolves the “winker” from any blame. The State Supreme Court has taken up the legal challenge to the Governor on furloughs. Based on questions asked by the justices, the court seems to be leaning toward the argument that the State Legisla- ture acquiesced to Governor’s authority by approving the budget which included the furloughs. The executive power of the governor is not as clear as one might think, but many are betting the court will uphold his actions and allow him this executive discretion. The Governator is also in court over his use of the veto, a discre- tionary power granted by the 90 year old state constitution which allows the governor to reduce funding in legislation without hav- ing to veto the entire bill, but in this case he is accused of killing off programs, not merely reducing budgetary amounts. The claim is that he was unfaithful to the execu- tive authority vested in the gover- nor’s office, and that he is making policy decisions reserved to the legislature. The courts will sort this out, maybe. That is not all. The Governator was also in court because he has used his discretion not to act. The State Supreme Court has refused to require either the Governator or the State Attorney General to defend the legality of Proposition 8 which was voted in by the electorate and limits marriage to heterosexual couples; Proposition 8 has been under attack in the federal court system where it took a beating, but the Governor and Attorney Gener- al have decided not to defend it. In other words, the State Supreme Court has said our elected leaders do not have to defend the law of the land; they have discretion in this matter. I did not support Proposi- tion 8, but it doesn’t seem right that our state officials can avoid defending state laws. The State Supreme Court issued no com- pelling reason for the decision, just a succinct two sentence statement. My understanding is statewide officers have to take an oath to defend the laws and constitution. I wonder if you or I can selectively abide by the laws we like and ignore others we don’t. I’m not sure I want to run any red lights to find out. The State Controller, who is presumably part of the state man- agement team, is arguing that the governor does not have the author- ity to order furloughs. He seems to have taken upon himself the role of judge and jury, and he uses news media to make his views known Why can the Con- troller be such a wildcat? If you look at our State Constitution we have an inordinately long list of statewide elected “lead- ers.” These include the Governor, the Lt. Gover- nor, the State Attorney General, the Insurance Commissioner, the Sec- retary of State, the State Controller, the State Treasurer, and the Super- intendent of Public Instruction; for each office, except the “non partisan” Superintendent of Public Instruction, candidates run with a party affiliation. So in California you can have a Gover- nor from one party and a Lt. Gov- ernor from another. In the federal system the Presi- dent and Vice President are part of a ticket and members of the same political party. The equivalent of the other statewide positions would be cabinet members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. There is at least a sem- blance of coherence between the President and his cabinet, but in California, home of open arms and ample opportunity for career politi- cians, that is not the case. No won- der our outside observer is scratch- ing his head. Some conflict between statewide officers was resolved a few years ago when the State Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion, Bill Hoenig, challenged the Governor on a radio talk show; the Governor was not happy and took Hoenig to court, and the Superin- tendent’s powers were reduced to that of a glorified bureaucrat, but, of course, the position is still an elected statewide office. Redun- dancy is not dead because now Governors have their own Secre- tary of Education, a part of their “cabinet.” Speaking of public education; the State is presumably responsible for our school systems. It is sup- posed to enforce rules and laws relating to public schools. I once caught heck because I used a stu- Joe Harrop dent made sign proclaiming our school a tobacco free campus instead of the state and federally prescribed institutional sign; I complained to Sacra- mento, and, come to find out, we were then written a letter com- mending us for our cre- ativity. The ever vigilant bureaucratic Depart- ment of Education has been remiss, however, in failing to enforce the prohibition of illegal stu- dent fees. Over forty school districts have been charged for requir- ing illegal student fees in spite of complaints; these are fees for instructional supplies for courses, including art, home economics, music, advanced placement classes, and physical education . Those districts are not being pushed to abandon those ille- gal practices by the State Depart- ment of Education or any state agency charged to enforce the law; the department is turning its eyes away. Everyone’s favorite scape- goat, the ACLU, has stepped in to stop these practices through court action. The Department of Educa- tion, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Secretary of Education and the State Attorney General apparently have used their assumed discretion to avoid rock- ing someone’s boat, again. The State Constitution sets a date for budget adoption, but it has been conveniently ignored, with- out seeming penalty for our very own representatives, who have pledged to follow and uphold THAT very State Constitution. Perhaps they have discretion is this matter as well. Meanwhile local agencies, governments, and school districts are trying to be discrete in their spending plans while they wait for some kind of certainty from our state “leaders.” Go fig- ure. Next week we will talk about federal confusion. Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. I began to read your letter com- paring the Tea Party to the Tal- iban, my blood pressure went up 5 points with each sentence. It took me four paragraphs to get your joke — you were sub- tle in using false comparisons to ridicule the liberal movement in the U.S. You accomplished your purpose faster and better than I ever could. I laughed loudest when you highlighted fear and intimida- tion, two evil tools that the lib- erals, promoting socialism and bare, dictatorial communism, have wielded without much opposition for far too long. You and I know from skim- ming our newspaper for just five minutes how much more the lib- eral figureheads support regimes that deny the rights of women, prohibit free speech and teach manipulative propaganda. Bravo, and I look forward to your future witty satires. Shawn Pike, Los Molinos Tommy Thomas Editor: Kudos to Christina Vovakes for a terrific article about Mr. Tommy Thomas in Wednes- day’s paper. I’m very happy to read of his continuing contribu- tions to the communi- ty; though I’m not all that surprised. Like perhaps hundreds of others, I had the pleasure of learning from Mr. T — as we admiringly referred to him long before that other guy claimed that title — in sever- al ag classes at Red Bluff High in the early ‘70s. I think I speak for many when I say that Mr. T taught life lessons far beyond the standard farm-shop curricu- Your Turn lum. In addition to carpentry, wiring and welding, he managed to pass on important values lessons, like charac- ter, loyalty, respon- sibility and perse- verance. Through those lessons and by his impeccable example, he’s inspired many of my generation to be better; better students, better employees, better parents and ultimately better citizens. It’s satisfying to know, even at 82 years of age, that he’s still doing that. Thanks, Mr. T. John Brewer, Cottonwood