Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/170340
4A Daily News – Thursday, September 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. Rattle snake vaccine Thank you strangers Editor: The rattlesnake vaccine is very beneficial, and can save your dogs life. Some vets believe that the vaccine isn't affective, but my 6-month-old Maltipoo (Maltese/Poodle) has recently received the vaccine. She was only 15 pounds when she encountered her first rattlesnake. Unfortunately, she is curious in other creatures and pursued the rattlesnake. The snake struck her in the leg. A family member was walking by when they discovered she was walking with a disability. We took her to the vet to see what he could do. The vet began giving her fluids through an IV and sent her home with antibiotics. The rattlesnake vaccine was only $25, with a follow up vaccine a month later. As you can see, it is a small cost to keep your pet safe and to take the proper precautions. I am glad to say that the rattlesnake vaccine saved my dog's life, and I hope it saves your dog's life too. Nora Johnson, Cottonwood Editor: I would like to thank specifically the gentleman and lady who came to my aid when I fainted in the Corning Post Office. I had donated blood that morning, as I had many times before, and I just completely passed out. Someone called an ambulance while I was out and the attendant took my vital sign. I told him I would be alright. My husband came in from our car so I had someone to take me home. Everyone was just so concerned but I wanted to let the man and the lady know how much I appreciated them. Since I didn't get any names, I figured this would be the only way I could thank them. This happened Friday, Aug. 23. Nancy Ruth Johnson, Corning 99W Editor: Reading the letter to the editor about the decay of our Red Bluff city park, I began to wonder if anyone has noticed the streets of Red Bluff lately? As you enter our town from Hwy 99W, just north of the hospital, the street is riddled with potholes. Main Street in Red Bluff, especially in front of Tractor Sup- have started and will continue to ply, is an accident waiting to hap- put monies against anyone who pen. It is difficult to distinguish supports future anti gun legislawhich lane you are traveling in as tion. the lines are almost completely As a hunter I have harvested over gone. two dozen animals with what will be At this time, I have classified as assault read many articles weapons (.308 Winchesabout branding Red ter) and my choice is semi Your Bluff. Aren't we getting auto rifles. I may now be the cart before the forced to take my $5,000 horse? Shouldn't we be hunting budget to other spending our money on states. fixing this place up first? Sadly, none of the current I know money is tight but sure- Bills (SB 47,53,374,396) will ly this is more important than hav- affect the murder rate or solve ing a brand. After all, is it encour- the problems. Few of the current agement to businesses or people laws on the books are currently relocating to the area when one of enforced. Of the 7,000 killed last the first things you notice when year only 130 were with "assault entering town is that you must weapons," less than with hamdodge potholes? mers. It is unsafe. If an accident were My profession as an operato happen because of these prob- tions consultant is turning failing lems, we are setting ourselves up companies around and helping for a lawsuit. new companies get started. CaliI have lived here for 40 years fornia's economy and finances now and love my little town, but should be the focus. The governcan't we do better? Who has the ment's budget is only propped up responsibility for our streets, and with temporary new taxes. why is nothing being done about These new gun laws will add it? to the list of resources wasted Cathy Goodin, Red Bluff and taking your eye off the ball. This is a marketing case of bait and switch. While the public gets riled over gun laws more companies fail or leave. Companies need help to lower their unit cost Editor: in order to compete. I have been on the sidelines George Carroll, Red Bluff of the debate until now. I now Turn No more weapons laws 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 WASHINGTON -- Rarely, if the quality of life for the resiever, has so much talk preceded dents and businesses of a proposed military strike. Tehama County. Most administrations contemplating military action worry about an exit strategy. The Obama administration How to reach us seems to be in search of an entrance strategy. Main office: 527-2151 Or is it that we're trying to Classified: 527-2151 talk ourselves out of this mess? As war goes, a war of words Circulation: 527-2151 seems a better option. Less News tips: 527-2153 blood and death if, at times, Sports: 527-2153 more ennui and head-clutching frustration. In that vein, the past Obituaries: 527-2151 several weeks have provided an Photo: 527-2153 embarrassment of riches. Just this week, we've heard from the president and his On the Web many minions, surrogates and www.redbluffdailynews.com converts, including national security adviser Susan Rice, former Secretary of State and Fax likely 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, current Newsroom: 527-9251 Secretary of State John Kerry, Classified: 527-5774 as well as White House Chief Retail Adv.: 527-5774 of Staff Denis McDonough, who hit the Sunday news Legal Adv.: 527-5774 shows. Business Office: 527-3719 Despite all best efforts, including President Obama's speech Tuesday, public consenAddress sus for cruise missile strikes 545 Diamond Ave. against Syria has not taken shape. The reason may be partRed Bluff, CA 96080, or ly war weariness, but surely P.O. Box 220 much of the problem lies in the odd formulations leading up to Red Bluff, CA 96080 this non-war. With shock-and-awe barely in our rearview mirror, pre-war 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 Talking ourselves out of war chitchat is not a modus operandi to which we are accustomed. There is certainly merit to discussing military action carefully in advance of deployment, but such lengthy, often confusing, verbal perambulations as we've witnessed the past several weeks -- stressing the urgency of taking action while repeatedly postponing action pending fill-in-the-blank -- do create fresh sets of problems. The debate of late has most closely resembled a busy mom's calendaring challenge: Let's see, we can't vote to strike until after Labor Day vacation - and the president's speech can't be on Monday because the Redskins are playing and, no, not Wednesday either because 9/11 is too fraught. Meanwhile, we've all but sent engraved announcements to Bashar al-Assad giving the time and place of our proposed engagement. Repondez s'il vous plait. The sense created by so much clearing of throats has been that one is not quite certain of one's intentions, and, therefore, one's rationale for war. President Obama's reticence is understandable but also disconcerting. Creating and then moving a red line is inherently problematic and otherwise lacking in, shall we say, clarity. Another hitch, commensurate with the preceding, is a rising trust deficit among the American people, not to men- H.W. Bush jubilantly declared tion the world, followed by a after the first Gulf War, we have lack of will. If war is not inherited Iraq Syndrome from urgent, as this one seems not to his son. Can intelligence be, then perhaps war ever be trusted again is not necessary. rationalizing Imagine, as a dead Guest View when poet once crooned. Kathleen military action against a sovereign nation? Then there is this The war of words, appealing thought: tedious as it has someOnce nations reach times seemed, may yet the point of talking a hold promise as Syria, war to death, rather than fighting one to the death -- prodded by Russia, seems to be a coalition of the unwilling -- responding positively to an aren't they participants in some apparently off-hand remark sort of tipping point? We talk Kerry made during a news conourselves out of things all the ference. With a dismissive time. Why not talk ourselves shrug of perhaps premature resignation, Kerry casually sugout of war? We pause to note yet again gested that the strike could be that we're not really talking avoided if Assad merely turned about war, which adds to the over his chemical weapons to trust deficit. Despite assurances international control. The clamor for support from to the contrary, no one really believes that our engagement all quarters, including Moscow with Syria will consist of a few and Damascus, has been somestrategic, limited strikes, espe- what breathtaking. Was that all cially given Assad's promise to it took? Not to be naive or Trust us, the administration Pollyannish, but is it possible keeps saying. And America that the formulation of an idea required time to evolve? keeps shaking its head. No. It is too soon to declare war The trust deficit is not a new problem and it certainly can't avoided, but there is reason to be blamed entirely on Obama. hope. Who knows? Obama's Distrust of public institutions is most significant legacy may part of a 50-year (at least) not be Obamacare, but the talktrend, exacerbated recently by ing cure as inoculation against revelations about our govern- war. ment spying on its citizens. Kathleen Parker's email And, let's be clear, if we address is once "kicked" Vietnam Syndrome, as President George kathleenparker@washpost.com. Parker