Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/184290
6A Daily News – Wednesday, October 2, 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. 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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 Blame owners, not their dogs Editor: I am so saddened by the news of the children's 4H animals being killed by the loose dogs. I feel bad for the children and for their innocent animals. What we need to realize is that no matter how sweet or friendly or well-trained our dogs are, deep down they are still animals and will act in pack behavior if allowed to run loose with other dogs. The blame for this lies with their human owners. There is a leash law in this county and when not obeyed by ignorant, careless or irresponsible owners, this sometimes is the result. I have three dogs that, when not in my house or my fenced back yard, are always on a leash. Many times I encounter people walking their dogs not on a leash and have been told "don't worry, my dog is friendly." My response is always "maybe my dog isn't." The leash law is in place not only to protect your dog and my dog, but prevent loose dogs from responding as the basic animals they are. They will chase anything that runs; their primitive brain takes over and regards it as prey. Please keep your dogs in your yard or on a leash. If you don't, the result may be a tragedy. Sharon Russell, Red Bluff On scouting Editor: In response to Dallas Dubke's view of Boy Scouting and his belief that Scouting has lost its way and will die out, because national Scouting leaders voted to accept homosexual boys. He could not be more wrong. Scouting has again found its way. Boy Scouting as taught by my Scout Master 55 years ago, through words and actions, exists to serve all boys. Now Scouting has again opened its doors to all boys. Admittedly, when I became a Boy Scout in 1957, the issue of homosexuality was probably not of interest to my Scout Master nor to me as an 11-year-old boy. When my Scout Master focused on welcoming all boys into Scouting, he was thinking about the kids with no parental support or who were too poor to be able to afford the costs of a uniform or the Scouting Program. He taught me that all boys need the lessons of Boy Scouting and the self-discipline, self-reliance and success that come to a boy who learns to live by the Scout Oath and Law. Remember, this change in Scouting focuses on boys, and no change of rules has been made pertaining to the prohibition of openly gay adults serving as Scout leaders. Boy Scout leadership did not bow to popular culture or to legal pressure. Also remember that Boy Scouting has a required program in place to protect boys from any form of abuse. As an adult, I was recommend that parents reject the required to submit to a back- breakaway programs that threaten ground check several years ago. to split Scouting. Back to Dallas Dubke being Scouting has a formal training program that I had to complete wrong about the demise of Scoutintended to equip leaders with ing, he quotes from the Scout Oath, the Boy Scout's knowledge to enable pledge to keep himself them to spot abuse. Your "morally straight" but misWay back in 1961, understands the Pledge. To when I went to work be morally straight was as a summer youth written long before anyone scoutcraft leader, we used the terms "straight" received training in how to spot abuse and how to and "gay." Morally straight is the Scout's avoid putting ourselves in compledge "to aim to be a man of promising situations. I am an Eagle Scout. I have strong character. Be thoughtful of actively worked in the Scouting the rights of others. Be clean in program in several Scout Councils speech and actions." This part of as both a youth and adult leader. I the pledge is symbolized by the have learned that there is nothing Scout Badge, a trefoil with its ceninherently evil about a gay Scout ter point pointing "the right way in or adult Scouter. I have worked life as truly as a compass can in with gays as a youth in Scouting the field." These quotes explainand throughout my professional ing the Oath come from the 1979 career as a City Manager, Army edition of the Boy Scout HandCaptain, Scouter, Rotarian and book written by Scouting pioneer community volunteer. I have "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt. Next to God and my family, I found nothing inherent in their sexuality that makes them any love Scouting more than anything. more prone to sexual encounters Scouting taught me the leadership with young people than any het- skills, ethics, outdoor skills and love of country that have guided erosexual adult scouter. In spite of my beliefs, I must me throughout my life and career. respect the Boy Scouting policy of The Scout Oath and Law have barring homosexual adults from been my compass. Now, more leadership positions. At some than ever, all boys need the point in the future when parents lessons of Boy Scouting and the learn that gay adults are not dan- self-discipline, self-reliance and gerous, Scouting may further success that come to a boy who change its rules. In the meantime, learns to live by the Scout Oath Boy Scouting is still the best and Law. Steve Kimbrough, Corning youth program available to boys. I Turn Your officials 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 Size matters Q: Is the government too big and powerful? Does a onelegged duck swim in circles? A: Ah, yes, you speak of a recent Gallup survey that found 60 percent of Americans think the federal government has too much power — a full percentage point higher than the previous high recorded in September 2010. Gallup's Joy Wilke did a fine job breaking down the survey data. Q: Yeah, and I'll bet that percentage has jumped lots more over the past few decades. A: You are correct. In 2005, about 50 percent of Americans felt the government was getting too big and powerful — 10 percent less than now. Q: What I want to know is who are the 40 percent or so who do not think the government has gotten too big? A: That's an interesting question. Thirty-two percent now say the government has the right amount of power and 7 percent say it doesn't have enough. Q: Not enough! Who the heck are the 7-percenters? A: There are always some people who think the government can solve all our problems. Thankfully, their numbers are not growing. They have been at 7 percent since Gallup started tracking this big-gov- ernment issue. Q: I'll bet the survey reflects a high level of division among conservatives, moderates and liberals. A: That is also correct. Republicans tend to think government is doing too much, whereas Democrats tend to agree that government can do good. Of course, Republicans and Democrats have gotten mighty polarized since President Obama took office in 2009. Q: That makes sense. Obama embraced all the big-government security initiatives of President Bush, then gave us a massive new entitlement program, ObamaCare. A: Yes, and these measures have the country more divided than ever. However, Republicans' and Democrats' views have generally become more polarized since Obama took office. In 2002, the two parties were about equally likely to view the federal government as too powerful, at 36 percent and 35 percent, respectively, with independents, at 45 percent, most likely to say this. Q: And now? A: Right now, 81 percent of Republicans think the government is too powerful. But 38 percent of Democrats agree that the government is too powerful — the highest percentage since values — faith, marriage, family, freedom, hard work. They President Obama took office. believe in the indiQ: I can see how polvidual and just want itics factors in, but to be left alone. hopefully, the data Q: And liberals reveal that some people were the reverse? don't let their political A: That is correct. views affect their conLiberals see governcerns? ment as a way to A: Thankfully, that right perceived is true with some. As wrongs. And they Bush grew the governvote for politicians ment in the war on terwho promise to ror, both Republicans impose more rules, and Democrats began regulations and manreporting increasing Tom dates on the people unease about governwho make them ment gaining too much unhappy. But you power — with the NSA have to admit, and other government agencies now out of control, Republican politicians these there is good reason to be con- days are just as likely to use the largess of the federal trough to cerned. Q: If so many Americans are promise voters goodies in concerned that the government return for their votes. Q: Our federal government is getting too big and powerful, why do so many keep voting for is going to keep getting bigger and more powerful, isn't it? bigger government? A: Does a one-legged duck A: Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise swim in circles? Institute, offers some interestTom Purcell, a humor ing insights on that in his book "Gross National Happiness." columnist for the Pittsburgh After mining reams of data, he Tribune-Review, is nationally found very different viewpoints syndicated exclusively by among conservatives and liber- Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web als. Q: What did the data reveal? at www.TomPurcell.com or ehim at A: They showed that conser- mail vatives hold more traditional Purcell@caglecartoons.com. Purcell