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4A – Daily News – Saturday, October 23, 2010 Opinion John Raker Editor: 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 As some of you may already 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 know, John Raker was in a quad accident the beginning of Septem- ber that left him with a broken back. The prognosis is still unknown and surgery may still be necessary. His recovery is going to take quite a long time, and the injury has rendered him unable to work. John has been coaching the Red Bluff Top Fuelers wrestling team for the last 11 years, dedicating his time to youth in the community. If you would like to help the Raker family in this time of need, donations are being accepted at Umpqua Bank under John Raker Fund. The Raker family thanks you greatly for your support. Angel Willis, Gerber Costly shots Editor: In Monday's paper, on the Vitality health & fitness page, there was a very informative arti- cle with regard to the flu shots. The article indicated costs from $20 to $38. I wanted to warn other people to find out how much the shots cost before agreeing to get them. I had the unfortunate experience of getting a whooping cough shot at a local medical center. They charge $28 for administering the shot plus the shot itself; whooping cough is $52 and flu is $37 additional as the cost of the shot. This was in addi- tion to the $65 I paid for the office visit. As the physician I've been see- ing informed me on one of my last visits, medicine is a business. I know I was totally shocked to get a bill for $80 for the whooping cough shot, and learned a valuable lesson. I'll ask the cost the next time. Beth Cardwell, Gerber Corning mayor Editor: One of Coming incumbent Mayor Strack's pamphlets sup- porting his reelection campaign lists items he says “need continued attention.” The list does not include “Fis- cal Responsibility.” That would seem to be appropriate based on his actions to award a thirty year contract for the Airport Fixed Base Operator for $50 per month rent with no ability to increase the rent for the full term of 30 years, voted Your Turn to gift a part-time city employee over $46,000 to which he had no legal entitlement, approving the outra- geously high salaries of city managers, attempt- ing to have the city pur- chase the dilapidated Kaufman Building on the false premise it was in eminent danger of collapsing, among other unwise uses of city funds. The City Treasurer's Report shows over a half-million dollars of city funds held by PremierWest Bank drawing less than 1 percent interest. I am certain the fact that the manager of the bank is an offi- cer of the incumbent mayor's cam- paign committee and a contributor of significant funds to the mayor's campaign have no connection to where the city funds are deposited. Janet Griffin, Corning 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 3 Commentary As mentioned earlier, part of our continual political confusion stems from the fact that our laws and our Constitutions are not necessarily clear. They are a product of compromise, con- flicting interests, and influence. Furthermore, they are voted on up or down as an entirety, not one piece at a time. Our federal Constitution had to gain the approval of a multitude of inter- ests and regions; it was neces- sarily a bit vague about some issues. Therefore it has been subject to interpretation over the years. Because the Constitution was not clear enough on some items, the Bill of Rights was added to reassure those who were con- cerned about the erosion of indi- vidual rights. Even today the meaning of those ten amend- ments is still being clarified by the courts. For example, the First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the free- dom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peace- ably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” You would assume that after over 200 years the meaning of those words would be clear, but even today its meaning needs to be addressed by the courts. (It is a little known fact that the First Amendment did not apply to the states until the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment. Early on, however, the growing diversity of religion in the states made it unpopular and impractical to have estab- lished and tax supported reli- gions, and eventually most states quit supporting a religion even before the Fourteenth Amendment.) Today we seem to recycle the debates over whether we are a “Christian nation” or a “nation of mostly Christians.” In 1796 George Washington negotiated a treaty with Tripoli, which was approved by the Senate and his successor, John Adams. That treaty includes the following introduction: “As the Govern- ment of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian reli- gion; as it has in itself no char- acter of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Musulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation….” [Please forgive 18th century spelling.] Prior to that time the Congress had referred to our country as a Christian nation, even though data indicate only seventeen percent of the popula- tions in those days were regular church attendees. The issue is still one of debate over two hun- dred years later, and people have very strong opinions about it. Since the Constitution appar- ently does not allow for govern- ment to be involved in religion and no government agency has stepped in, some of the public have vented an outcry against the positioning of a Muslim community center within walk- ing distance of ground zero in New York City. (This project has been “Foxized” into an inaccu- rate claim of a mosque at ground zero.) A “man of the cloth” in Florida had been planning to burn copies of the Koran as a protest of one kind or another against this plan. As of this writ- ing, however, God has allegedly spoken to him again, clearing up His previous revelations, and that pastor seems to have changed his mind. Several prominent public officials and military officers from all politi- cal persuasions have also spoken to the grandstanding pastor also trying to dissuade him, a coura- geous and patriotic act these days when tempers flare so eas- ily and “my feelings” conflict with others’ rights. We continue to have court cases about the relationship of church and state. Recently Pat Robertson told his 700 followers that they should oppose a Mus- lim Community center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, because it would draw many more Muslims to the area; he said that perhaps they could be elected to the city council and pass legis- lation requiring prayer five times per day. I’m not kidding, this really happened. The debates on the Constitution foretold many of the debates that have been part of our history and still continue to be impor- tant. The roots of the Civil War for example are clear when you study the origin of the Constitution. Madison saw the split between northern and southern states was potentially a larger challenge to union than any other issue. You would think that a good system of government either at the state or federal level would have clear guidelines, rules, and regulations. You would think our Governator would have some sway over other elected state officials. We are faced with the problem of interpreting the law on a con- stant basis, and most likely always will be. It’s a trite but true saying that we don’t want to know how sausages and laws are made. have more impact each other than we could have imagined even 90 years ago when our current con- stitution was adopted in California or 220 years ago at the cre- ation of the U.S. Con- stitution. It is hard to believe, Joe Harrop for example, that women were not allowed to vote in fed- eral elections until the passage of the Nine- teenth Amendment in 1919, 130 years after the Constitution was written. Today we take women’s suffrage for Similarly the conflicts over just what the State Constitution means may never end. Proposi- tion 8 was a reaction to the State Supreme Court decision stating that the refusal to allow same sex couples to marry deprived them of a right, not specifically articulated but clearly implied in our State Constitution, a right that should be guaranteed. Who would have thought ninety years ago that particular issue would have been brought to a constitutional test or considered by our consti- tution framers? Creating a doc- ument containing all the possi- ble contingencies that we may face at a future time is not an easy task. Times and conditions change, new discoveries reveal new insights, and we are more crowded, more diverse, and granted. Because slaves were property and reflected wealth, the Constitution counted them as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives; of course they did not get to vote, yet alone cast a three-fifths bal- lot. Even after the Civil War ex- slaves and their descendents had to wait another one hundred years for civil rights legislation to make their way to the ballot box clear and unimpeded. So what can we conclude from this confusion about what we should or can do, or about how our leaders can or cannot act? Some would say throw out the whole system and start over. I don’t think that is realistic. Nor is it realistic to merely smile about our folly or simply express our outrage and anger. I have said this before, but it bears repeating: Our democratic republic depends on an attentive electorate. When we turn our heads our leaders evade their duty to us. Bell, Ca. is a good illustration of what happens when the electorate looks the other way. Politicians may heed our anger, but only if we vote, and they will certainly ignore our humor. 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.