Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/194805
4A Daily News – Friday, October 18, 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. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community 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 vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents 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 Corporate subsidies unacceptable Editor: Regarding Orval Strong's letter. From one blabber-mouth to another, we can agree that huge corporate subsidies and kickbacks are unacceptable and that it is a non-partisan problem. Both parties are mostly big spenders when it comes to other people's money. How much has the debt increased in the last 5 years? How much has our deficit increased in the last 5 years? Who is in charge of printing all this money? Who is in charge of spending it? Even Orval to admit that responsibility leans toward the Democrats. During my tour of duty in the Navy the ship I was on docked at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. This was about 10 years after Japan surrendered to us. Yokosuka was a bustling city and the Navy hired Japanese civilians to work at the Naval Base. The Japanese never let anything go to waste, they were the original recyclers. They gleaned the dumpsters from the mess halls for something to eat and sorted the dry waste to salvage anything they could use from paper printed on one side to paper clips and more. They could copy anything, especially cigarette lighters. One could buy Zippo or Ronson knockoffs for about 25 cents. Their taxi cabs were these little tin-cans weaving in and out of traffic honking the horn instead of using the brakes. Fast forward to the late '50s, early '60s, the first Japanese imported car I saw was the Prince — from the same manufacturer that made the Zippo and Ronson knockoffs. The Prince was purchased by Willie Whitehead, owner of the taxi service here in Red Bluff. I'm sure these first imports were made out of old beer cans. Fast forward again to the '70s and '80s when the price of gas skyrocketed because of the gas shortage and unleaded gas. The Japanese perfected the 4-cylinder engine that would get over 30 miles per gallon and the Ameri- can car manufacturers just could- corporations outsource or move n't compete. People were dump- their business out of country and ing their Fords, Chevys, Dodges hide their money in off-shore and Plymouths for a Datsun or banks. Those that suffer are the Toyota. The unions wanted more working middle-class. Without and more so the big-three joined jobs that class of people sinks to the Japanese, Ford with Mazda, the level of those in need. We now have people in need Chrysler with Mitsubishi and GM that have worked and with Isuzu and Toyota. would work, living at The Ford Courier and Your the same level as people the Mazda pick-up who don't work and were the same. The won't work, even if 1987 Chevy Nova and they had a job. We have the Toyota Corolla a class of lazy slobs that were the same. The Dodge Colt was made by Mit- live off of lazy-doublewidesubishi and the list goes on and unwed-single-mom-welfareon. Is any vehicle sold in Ameri- queens that live as well, if not betca completely made in America? ter, as many senior citizens There is a before and after pic- because the lazy doublewides get ture that compares Hiroshima in a raise every time one of their August 1945, after the bomb, with lazy slob boyfriends impregnates Detroit in August 1945. Then them. As a result, if there are mulanother recent picture of Hiroshi- tiple children, chances are they all ma August 2013 and Detroit have a different sire. Add to that illegals who get on August 2013. Notably the 2013 picture of Detroit looks a good the fast-track for welfare and deal like the picture of Hiroshima medical and more often than not in 1945. Could it be Detroit was faster than our wounded warriors coming back from combat. As a bombed by the unions? Rich folks are always going to vet on disability, this should anger be rich. With a government that Orval more than me. Les Wolfe, Red Bluff over-taxes and over- regulates, 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 Uh huh... When I was a kid, a much followed radio program was "I Love a Mystery". Apparently not much has changed as evidenced by Tuesday's front page story in this very Daily News by reporter Andre Byik who wrote, presumably with a straight face, an article headlined "Sas Squat." Upon reading same, did you not get a whiff of self- promotion courtesy of "Ken" the owner of a remote 200 acres west of Red Bluff who declined to state his last name? Ken is fully described by reporter Andre as a "friendly man in his 60's whose beard is a mix of brown and grey wisps, who enjoys his privacy and peppers his baritone speech with expletives and laughter." However, over the past month, Ken has noticed strange happenings at his spread culminating with the discovery of "a partial footprint that belonged to something big, and came from the sandy area near the creek." It was at this point that Ken, who enjoys his privacy, through his publicist, contacted one Tom Biscardi, CEO and founder of "Searching for Bigfoot, Inc." who among other things, is a film producer. Soon Mr. Biscardi arrived at Ken's place towing a trailer with the words painted on its side "HERE COMES THE BIGFOOT HUNTER" In any event, Ken's privacy has been compromised and the article concludes with the statement that "he continues to operate a-word-ofmouth hunting lodge on his property." Right. Speaking of footprints, and the exploitation of same, I can report that I also discovered a large print in the mud caused by an overflowing horse trough in our south pasture. It was late at night, the wind was swirling and a coyote could be heard in the distance. It was scary. The next morning, however, I discovered the print matched the front paw of Murray Clyde, and we were much relieved. Still, you never know what you will find in Tehama County... even by those who treasure their privacy. *** Early this week, it was prophesied that something fiscally awful would happen if Congress failed to act by the 17th. Somehow the country would run out of money or be unable to get a loan, and nobody but congressmen would get paid. That they do not deserve to be paid seems to be on every taxpayer's lips, but the ability to process this con- cept is beyond our reach. Our representatives himself short on columnists. I deduce this from his editorial Sunday in approve their pay raises, but which he was trolling for never approve pay reducmore writers of opinion. tions. It is as though they are Not just any writers…and too important to be stripped he admits not seeking the of pay and perks. The solunext George Will or tion is to vote them all out of Thomas Sowell who pontifoffice, but that takes time icate on all things political. and time seems to be runNo, he specifically does not ning out to cure our fiscal want a columnist writing woes. And tied to our woes about the evils of Obaare those to whom we macare. But if the new law owe…China, for example, Robert personally affects the who might choose to sell off columnist in a profound all the U.S. T Bills they own way, that would be fine (D. and thus trigger a global Polson take note). However, recession. D. Little wants to break the TIME writes in an article, usual columnist mold in "As anyone who's been trying to get a mortgage lately knows, that ship hoping to attract something more than midhas already started to sail. If rates go up, the dle-aged males. He makes no mention of price of everything from homes to cars to con- elderly writers, but I suppose they would be disqualified as well. But a word of caution to sumer goods will rise also." But surely Congress knows this. And so, in those who apply for the position. Read the their wisdom, they voted to open the govern- fine print if selected. He states "Writers are ment on borrowed time until next January. paid a small stipend." I suggest, due to cost cutting rampant today in small town newspaDeep thinking boys and girls. Tsk, tsk. And talk about government shutdowns, I pers, the stipend will be small indeed. Don't just e-mailed photos of our new burro to the quit your day job. *** people at the Wild Horse and Burro Sanctuary Last week's quiz was first answered by N. north of Susanville…and it came back with the note that they were furloughed and could Rick who knew that by dividing the circumnot respond. This is serious. Who is going to ference of a pumpkin one gets pumpkin feed the animals? The actions and lack of pi...and she got 6 four letter words out of the same by Congress is far reaching. There word STOP: stop, tops, pots, opts, spot and post. should be hell to pay. This week's quiz: Why is "smiles" the *** J. Bahlke checked in and agrees that a longest word in the English language, from woman as head of state is a splendid idea, and what word can you take the whole and still that in addition to those who are or have been have some left over, and what starts with a T, such in England, Germany and Brazil, Joe ends with a T and is full of T? *** cites Chile, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, One supermarket chain lost so many shopIndia, Argentina and Costa Rica. This is an amazing array of women exhibiting charm, ping carts, they started putting photos of them brains and political acumen. A U.S. President on their milk cartons. possessing same would be a hard act to folRobert Minch is a lifelong resident of low. Not that she would have to be pretty, but Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning political television thrives on the visual. Daily Observer and Meat Industry *** David Little is the editor of the Enter- magazine and author of the "The Knocking prise-Record and the Oroville Mercury-Reg- Pen." He can be reached at ister. As such he wears two hats but finds rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say