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6A – Daily News – Wednesday, November 3, 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 Tribute to former DN contributor Editor: This letter is to honor one of 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 Democrats were just getting warmed up, but I knew it was too good to be true.” “Ah, yes, you speak of the negative reaction to the aggres- sive government expansion and spending that President Obama and the Democrats gave us.” “That's right. I was hoping America would embrace more of the cushy policies many European countries enjoy.” “Such as the ‘free’ health care the Democrats passed into law? Every day, some new, excessive cost is revealed, prov- ing that humorist P.J. O'Rourke was right when he said, ‘If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it is free.’” “But I was looking forward to a bigger government with more government jobs protected by big unions.” “I hate to break it to you, but much of Europe has no choice but to slash costs. According to USA Today, the United King- dom is cutting spending by 20 percent -- it will eliminate near- ly 500,000 government jobs by 2015.” “Well, at least if you get canned in Europe, the benefits are generous.” “The UK now limits unem- your own, the late great Lee Peters who worked and wrote for the Daily News until her sad passing on Aug. 3, 2008. For more than 40 years she wrote about the lives and times of thousands of local residents, always tying her stories together with wit, some sort of decent meaning, but always, always, pointing out the good in others. As the youngest of her five children I would like to honor her memory and share with those she wrote about what she put into most of her articles. If I remember correctly she was Society Editor, wrote mainly about people, weddings and even wrote the obituaries. Later on she also wrote ‘Tales of Tehama’ and covered just about anything that was in the vaguest way possible connected with the arts. Lee Peters was the Arts reporter, baton twirler, researcher, band parent, PTA representative, Community Concert liaison and even had to cover those dreadful school board meetings. She covered any school performance, con- stantly supporting the arts in public education, and many times, when covering events she would even bring homemade cookies because “Mrs. Smith could always use some extra.” Then mom might need to drive 15 miles there and another 15 back and she paid for her own gas. Then it was off to her work room at the end of the hall, which was right across from my bedroom and I would hear the tap, tap taping of her old Royal typewriter begin. This sound would continue for the next couple of hours or so only inter- spersed with her dashing madly out of her room, down the hall- way where she would begin calling her sources, checking on the correct spelling of some child’s name in the back row. So after spending most of her day involved with this event and hours working on a very com- plimentary and well-done review she would get back in the ‘69 Rambler, heading into the news office to drop the arti- cle off for the next day’s paper. Now granted, the paper was not signed up with the union yet, but my mother only got paid a nickel an inch for everything she wrote. So if her article was only three inches long — and they gave her limits — she would make 15 cents. Deplorable, isn’t it? That goes to show you how much she loved her job and she did. She had a favorite hymn entitled ‘Brighten the Corner Where You Are.’ Lee Peters tried to do this with everyone she wrote about or whose life she touched. And she loved colorful flowers. Due to lack of a car I haven’t been able to put Sunday flowers on her grave, but I would like to invite some of you to join me this Thursday, Nov. 4, my mom’s birthday. I want to honor her with flowers as a visual thank you for giving me the joy of reading and teaching me so much about the gentleness of animals and the beauty of nature. She is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in the southern part of the Veterans Circle. Her name is simply engraved on the back of my father’s, Allen C. Peters. Stay a fight for your rights, that’s what makes America great you have rights, by vot- ing your choice to lead, your choice to live in a open coun- try, you have rights to stand up a cast your opinions. America will stand with Your Turn Why? I asked her. The only reply: ‘Well, he said he’d pay for it.’ If the Veterans circle is a big clock the cannons are at 6 and she would be around 11 and 12 by the tall cypress. I know she’ll be sneak- ing a peak somehow and she’ll get a real kick out of it. It’s been said that when a good deed is done for the dead, news of it travels like electricity through Heaven. Anne Peters, Redding Mexico Editor: Mexico, Mexico, Mexico. Shame on you for working all these years to export your most prize product, and by not having that worked to keep your export home we have them to create and build a better American, thank you. I don’t blame anyone for leaving home to better them selves, but leaving your coun- try is not the answer, it just causes more problems for all. you to build your country into a free open country, instead of leaving stand up a be heard loudly. That’s what our fore fathers did. Every generation thereafter support our flag, constitu- tion and our bill of rights. To correct the problems we are having both sides must work for a better Mexico, take con- trol of your country, build a country to be proud of. We will help to reach your goals, we can stand together as one, don’t run away, fight to build a government that works for your rights to live in Mexico without all the vio- lence, and read about, Mexi- can people are clean, nice, hard working people, that’s why I say shame on those who leave. That’s why you cross the borders to work in freedom, live, raise a family. Mexico must change to save her most important products, her peo- ple, both sides working together will better all. Cleanup the problems, make Mexico as proud of her- self as the Mexican people are. Eric Peterson, Gerber 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. Too good to be true? Commentary ployment benefits to 12 months -- whereas some in the U.S. have been collecting unemployment for up to two years!” “If it weren't for President Obama's stimulus dough and unemployment extensions, things would be plenty worse here!” “Tell that to the Germans. Germany responded to the glob- al downturn the exact opposite way we did. The Germans reined in unnecessary spending. Their economy is booming. Their unemployment rate is down to 7.5 percent and falling.” “Perhaps, but I prefer the French approach. The French government makes it almost impossible to fire employees.” “Which is why private French companies avoid hiring employ- ees. The unemployment rate in France is at 10 percent -- strik- ingly close to our own. Nearly 25 percent of young French peo- ple can't find work.” “I don't care what you say, I want America to be more like France. Many work for the gov- ernment there. They retire at 60 and if anyone messes with their benefits, thousands protest and riot in the streets.” “You have that right. France is trying to raise the retirement age to 62 -- because its retire- ment fund is broke. So, like spoiled children, union workers and other protesters are doing all they can to shut down the econo- my.” “Well, I'd rather have people protesting in support of my gov- ernment benefits than people protesting against government spending, as many do in America.” “You raise an inter- esting contrast. Those countries in which people protest like spoiled children -- protest for their own personal gain -- are the same countries that have low growth and a worrisome future. Many who protest here are trying to restrain a government run amok so that their children and grand- children can know hope and prosperity in the future!” “Ah, come on. We need the government to spread some wealth around.” “But we're broke. Even before the wasteful stimulus spending -- even before the cost- ly mess of a health care plan -- we had looming bills that will be hard to pay. USA Today says Social Security is in the red this year. The only hope we have of meeting our enormous obligations is massive economic growth. We cannot achieve massive Tom Purcell growth until we scale back the government dead weight and uncertainty that are thwarting it.” “Ah, nuts. Democ- rats got us so close to living in a European- style nirvana right here in America. I knew it was too good to be true!” “You better hope we get our Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e-mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com. government programs and spending under control before it comes true.” ———