Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/17696
8A – Daily News – Tuesday, October 12, 2010 Opinion 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 State Superintendent 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 In the upcoming election, California voters will be selecting a new State Superin- tendent of Public Instruction. Many people outside educa- tion are unfamiliar with both the office and those running. The State Superintendent is one of eight state constitu- tional officers, and the posi- tion is nonpartisan. The Superintendent’s role is to lead the California Depart- ment of Education, which provides policy, guidance, assistance and oversight to the state’s public education system. The June primary whittled the field down to the top two vote getters: Larry Aceves, a retired superintendent, and Tom Torlakson, a termed-out legislator. Larry Aceves spent his career in education as a teacher, principal and superintendent. He is an experienced school leader who is in touch with the issues facing education today. Tom Torlakson describes himself as a teacher/legisla- tor. However, he hasn’t been a classroom teacher since 1980. He does not have experience as an educational leader. He is a career politician who is now termed out of both the state senate and assembly. California’s schools need a seasoned educator and experi- enced superintendent for the office of State Superinten- dent. I encourage people to do some quick research on their own – it won’t take long to see that Larry Aceves is the right person for the job. Vote Larry Aceves for the office of State Superintendent of Pub- lic Instruction. Dan Curry, Red Bluff Disability History Week Editor: Throughout history people with physical and mental dis- abilities have been abandoned at birth, banished by society, used as court jesters, drowned and burned during the Inquisition, gassed in Nazi Germany and still continue to be tortured in the name of behavior manage- ment, abused, raped, euthanized and murdered. California's Assembly just passed ACR 162, a resolution calling for students and the pub- lic to be educated about the largest minority in this great country. Schools teach about other minorities and celebrate heroes like Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez. Students with disabilities, not to mention their normal peers, know nothing about their history and the civil rights protest movements of the 1970s. They don't know heroes like Ed Roberts, Temple Grandin and many more. ACR 162 will teach the his- tory, barriers, progress and accomplishments of people with disabilities, as well as. their struggle for the right to be educated, live and work as members of our community. Education pro- motes understanding and increases opportu- nity. All people deserve to be treated with equal rights and respect. Information and teach- ing tools: Join me in celebrating Dis- ability History Week the second week of October and every year thereafter. Larry Stevens, Red Bluff Editor’s note: Larry Stevens is a SCDD, Area Board II mem- ber representing Tehama Coun- ty. Vote Brown for City Council Editor: A common view is always the point, whether it is an election, purchase of essential groceries, medicine for an ill family member, a warm place to sleep or an angry challenge to move on. A common view defines us as community, it signifies who we are, our pur- pose in life, our relationship to each other. A common view is the nec- essary philosophy of a busi- ness that works daily in hun- dreds of ways to meet the needs and challenges of the Your Turn people whose homes and activities demand renewal, replacement or repair of; hardware, software, electrical equipment, kitchen equip- ment, air conditioning, water systems, sprinklers, lighting, or a myriad of tools and equipment that can only be provided by those who have developed a common view of the needs likely to be incurred by a typical homeowner. A person with such a back- ground is privy to the needs and aspirations of the citizens of a community, and often to their endeavors toward secu- rity, and access. He has developed a sense of attention to the community, to their concerns, he has lis- tened to their complaints for years, and has developed a sensitivity to understanding their concerns, desires and aspirations. This is a common view that is a necessary part of ascrib- ing to public service. A common view is present in the way Wayne Brown does business. He and his brother have been in business many years at their present location, addi- tional years at their previous place of business. In recent years he has served us well as an elected public servant, while maintaining a growing family service in the hard- ware business. Greel F. Foshee, Red Bluff 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. Best generic speech ever Commentary Thank you ladies, gentlemen and prospective donors, remote viewing audiences, readers, tweeters, and other platform attendees for joining me stand- ing, sitting, lying here as your candidate for elected office, civic duty, greased chute to Swellsville. It is with extreme, reserved, dubious pride that I accept your mandate, challenge, double-dog dare, and I hereby promise, guarantee, secretly doubt that I will represent you to the best of my ability and every- thing in my heart and soul and man purse. I’m sure you want to know what I stand for and so do I. And I will reveal my positions just as soon as you let me know what’s important to you. What springs, leaps, staggers exhaustedly to mind: God, flag, family, kittens, rainbows. I’m for all things good and opposed to everything that’s bad, ladies and gentlemen and heavy contributors. And you can count on me to stay that way as long as you return me to office, or until a better offer in the private sector rolls around, hopefully soon. In the future, right now, pre- viously, we simply can’t afford my opponent’s onerous tax schemes, reckless social security reform, callow inexperience, life-long record as a career politician. Let me assure you that I believe in his/ her/ their right to say bad things about this country, city, state. I just don’t happen to agree with him, her, whatever. If circumstances, poll num- bers, my extortion trial verdict, were different and he/ she/ they weren’t advocating we push old people, children, veterans, into the path of a steaming locomo- tive, 18 wheeler, cheese blintz, I would be the first, seventy-third, last one to defend their right to say whatever irresponsible things he/ she/ they believed in, didn’t believe in or heard from a unicorn was true, because in this great country, city, state, ladies and gentlemen and 527 adminis- trators, everyone is entitled to their own opinion no matter how foolish or downright treasonous it may be or see or dee. It’s a little thing called free speech. A huge, trivial, debat- able tenet that makes this coun- try, city, state, total kick-ass, bet- ter than every other place, noth- ing to sneeze at. Sometimes, however, albeit, ergo, free speech can lead to disorder, duplicity, lawsuits. We all know people who would be better off keeping their big mouths shut, zipped, clamped. You know it and I know it and I’m sure our Founding Fathers knew it too and three and fore. Fore Fathers. Five Fathers. Five Mothers. Hello. And my opponent is one of those who needs his/ her/ their lips sewed closed, ladies and gentlemen and focus-group par- ticipants, with their baseless accusations, frivolous charges, grand jury testimony. Because the way things are today, tomorrow and yesterday, in good conscience I just can’t stand here and there and every- where and let this continue, persist, carry on my wayward son. The stakes are too high. The times too important. The truth too vital and expedient and slip- pery and not something you can just waltz around and pretend its not there like a homeless per- son. As Ronald Reagan, JFK, Will Durst Raging Moderate Bossa Nova once said, "Facts are stubborn things." And you know what else is stubborn ladies, gen- tlemen and corporate lobbyists? You are. As am I, and I’m hoping, begging, worried you will, will not, go to the polls on November 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And do do that voodoo that you do so well, not so well, wellish. Thank you for your support, donation, disdain. Will Durst is a political comedian who has performed around the world. He is a familiar pundit on television and radio. E-mail Will at durst@caglecartoons.com. Check out willandwillie.com for the latest podcast. Will Durst’s book, "The All American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing," is available from Amazon and better bookstores all over this great land of ours. Don’t forget to check out his rooftop comedy minutes at: http://www.rooftopcomedy.com/ shows/BurstOfDurst.