Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/18339
6A – Daily News – Monday, October 25, 2010 Opinion Vote to promote sustainability 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 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 The present economic and political environment in our nation requires that we carefully adjust our personal practices and help set a prudent course for economic policies that deal with new reali- ties. To simply believe that this is a temporary situation caused by a wayward administration in an era of high unemployment and tight credit markets is tenuous at best. I believe that the core of our economic problem is that as a nation we are addicted to expen- sive imported oil and material goods that we purchase with bor- rowed money. When combined with the bloated proportion of fed- eral tax dollars devoted to the Department of Defense these addictions leave the majority of Americans without the means to educate their families, provide for their health, or pursue the dream of home ownership. The silver lining of our economic malaise may be to understand the necessity of bal- ancing of the three E's of sustain- ability: the environment, the econ- omy, and social equity. There is a growing awareness that it is imperative to change from a consumption and military driven culture to one that focuses upon investment in a sustainable future. We need to better protect the envi- ronment, make more prudent eco- nomic decisions, and more gener- ously assist those in need of help. We should trim some of the 60% of our federal tax dollars away from weapons development, inter- national incursions, and other Department of Defense activities to fund vital health, education, and renewable energy technology pro- grams worldwide. By so doing we can reduce international tensions and improve the cause of social justice by investing in sustainable jobs and technologies that will unite rather than divide worldwide interests. Change from our military and consumption driven economy will not be easy, since we have been driven by irrational fears to sup- port a massive military/industrial complex and are continually bom- barded with very effective and profligate marketing and sales practices to spend more than we have and want more than we need. Objective assessment of the rapid degradation of our environment and corruption of our economic systems of late suggests that redi- recting military expenditures and reducing consumption of unneces- sary goods will promote a sustain- able future to reverse these trou- bling trends. Of course along with reduced consumption comes reduced pro- duction that puts people out of work unless we simultaneously create new jobs and/or individual- ly work fewer hours so others can pick up the slack. While new job creation takes time and working less seems counter to the American way, I suggest that by supporting new green jobs and returning to less intense workweeks that more people can be employed and everyone will have more time for their families and volun- teer activities that enrich our culture in ways that material consumption cannot. By living more equitably, reducing waste, and using our resources at home on what is really important we will be able to once again be prosperous as a nation. encouraged you to vote YES on Prop 25, and although I spoke to the advantages of having a redis- tricting committee establish electoral dis- tricts I am now recom- mending that you vote NO on Prop 20 and YES on Prop 27 to have our legislators establish electoral dis- tricts rather than an unaccountable and costly independent commission. I’m Richard Mazzucchi Positive Point In prior columns I have out- lined why it is imperative that we vote NO on Prop 23 to stay the course for a cleaner and healthier California. I also supported vot- ing YES on Prop 19 to better reg- ulate marijuana, engender respect for the law, generate new tax rev- enues, and reduce burdens on our law enforcement, judicial, and correctional systems. To end leg- islative gridlock and enact state budgets in a timely fashion I against Prop 21 that raises funds for state parks by adding $18 to auto registration because such ballot box budgeting is prob- lematic to effective governance. For simi- lar reasons I say NO on 22 to prohibit the state from borrowing local funds, and NO on 26 that imposes a 2/3 require- ment to assess user fees on indus- tries. I’m voting YES on Prop 24 that would repeal tax breaks for industries that pollute the envi- ronment. Next week – we need Brown, Boxer, and Reed not the folly of Meg, Carly, and Wally. Richard Mazzucchi can be reached at living-green@att.net. 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. Your future may just depend on this vote Commentary It was at the March, 2009, state Republican Convention in Sacra- mento where we first met and heard Meg Whitman address the delegates. Scintillating, inspiring and commanding are not words that came to the fore of our impres- sion of the former CEO of Ebay. However, she did convey a high level of common and business sense, competence and the ability to focus on the crux of what have become the defining problems plaguing California: budget deficit chaos, public employee union-dri- ven policy, and a tax and regulato- ry nightmare that does wonders for other states seeking to lure busi- nesses and companies from our fair state. Ms. Whitman appeared at M and M Restaurant a while back, as well as a fly-in stop at the Redding Airport, and further made her case for giving her a shot at applying what she has learned about suc- cessfully running a business to the dysfunction that rules Sacramento. When her bus tour stopped at the Dairyville Orchard Festival, with the slogan "Jobs are on the way, on the road to a new California" it became an exclamation point for the core issue facing us in Califor- nia: an economy driven to edge of the cliff by job-killing policies, taxes and regulations. Most voters in Tehama County have the sense to realize that putting Jerry Brown, former Gov- ernor, former Oakland Mayor and current Attorney General, into the Governor’s mansion again could be the final stroke, the last straw, the curtain falling on California’s once-golden future. If you have had any reservations about Meg Whitman, ask yourself what could possibly go wrong with Jerry Brown and Democrat majorities running things down south. It would be easier to list what could go right: nothing when it comes to your pocketbook, wallet, paycheck or your children’s and grandchildren’s future prosperity. A protest vote for a third party can- didate, a vote for "none of the above," or simply staying home or not mailing in your ballot – all of those choices are effectively a vote for Jerry Brown and a vote for even more of what got California into this mess. Law professor and conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt has called the California governor’s contest "The Most Important Race in 2010." Roger L. Simon wrote a piece that simply asks "Is Califor- nia Insane?" for the slight polling advantage that voters have given to Barbara Boxer and Jerry Brown. Considering Senator Barbara Boxer’s unpopularity among Daily News readers, Carly Fiorina will be the logical choice for that office. I’ll focus on Mr. Hewitt’s closing arguments for Meg Whitman: "America’s economy cannot begin to grow at the rate we and the world needs until its engine in the Golden State gets the huge over- haul it needs. If Meg Whitman wins, the reforms California needs so desperately have a chance of occurring. The state would gain a leader with genuine, successful executive experience of the sort that is so obviously in short supply for so many years. Massive restructuring has to occur, and quickly. Deep cuts in the size and scope of government have to take place in a rational, planned fash- ion, or default and hap- hazard slicing and dic- ing will follow. "The new governor will have to invoke emergency powers and will have to use them. If Jerry Brown wins, the collapse of the Golden State’s finances is only a matter of time, and the exodus of businesses and producers from the state will accelerate. What serious business leader with options will keep his or her opera- tions in a state "run" in a three-way partnership by and between the grid-locked legisla- ture, the unions and Jerry Brown?" Finally, here are the Tea Party Don Polson The way I see it Patriots recommendations on propositions (more details next week): 19 – No; 20 – Yes; 21 – No; 22 – No; 23 – Yes; 24 – No; 25 – No; 26 – Yes; and 27 – No. Tea Party Patriots research sup- ports the following candidates: Lieutenant Governor – write in "Karen England"; Treasurer – Mimi Walters; State Superinten- dent of Public Instruction –write in "Diane Lenning." People are always asking about judges, who wield inordinate influ- ence these days, and, fortunately, there are websites and sources to learn which candidates adhere more to a conservative philosophy. They are ("www." in front of all) judgevoterguide.com, judgepedia.org, courtin- fo.ca.gov, CrimeVictim- sUnited.com, and cjac.org. For the California Supreme Court: Tani Cantil-Sakauye gets "Yes" from one source but "No" from another. Ming Chin and Carlow Moreno both get "No" from all sources. For Associate Justice Court of Appeal, 3rd Dis- trict: George Nicholson gets a "Yes" from all sources; Harry Hull, Jr. gets a "Yes" or "No" depending on the source; likewise, M. Kathleen Butz gets both a "Yes" or "No" depending on the source. I’m sorry things aren’t any clearer. You can probably feel safe voting "Yes" for Cantil-Sakauye, Nicholson, Hull and Butz. Vote "No" for Chin and Moreno. I must regrettably state that, some good Democrats who haven’t jumped off the far-left cliff notwithstanding, no one should vote for a Democrat for any posi- tion, even a local school board, based on the governing and cultur- al philosophy of the party. Don Polson can be reached by e-mail at donplsn@yahoo.com.