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4A Daily News – Saturday, October 26, 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 Charm and farm have been sold Editor: Regarding Fred Ballantine's letter about the new Supercenter. Talk about a stretch. The folks at Walmart don't live here and they certainly don't care about one big oak tree. When it's gone, Walmart will plant the required 3/4-inch parking lot specials. Mr. Ballantine, I'm afraid the charm and farm has been sold. Sam Collins, Red Bluff US statistics 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. Editor: A brief foray into the realm of mostly unreported, eye opening statistics about life in these United States: In 2012, the top 10% earners collected more than half of the nation's total income, including dividends and capital gains, which is at its highest proportion ever..... 63% of our citizens are worried about the cost of a serious illness, while 72% aged 50-64 are extremely concerned about the future and their standard of living in retirement. The richest 1 tenth of 1% of individuals, who own more wealth than the bottom half of U.S. citizens combined, has donated (invested) close to a third of the $10 billion spent on the 2012 election. The percentage of U.S. children living in poverty has risen to 23% in 2011, mostly caused by their parent's unemployment or underemployment. The vast majority of newly created jobs are minimum wage, part time and without benefits, which renders these workers and their families eli- motes itself the leader, wealthgible for food stamps, and pub- iest and most exemplary democratic country in the lic assistance....in world. essence a hidden corThroughout histoporate subsidy, but Your ry, poverty has been routinely ignored as an effective tool by such by the corporate the powerful to neuand government protralize and control paganda machine. According to The Week the masses, which in our case Magazine, within the next few has been allowed to take hold years, ranks of the super rich because of our constant — $100 million or more — is infighting and incredible pubexpected to increase by up to lic apathy. Edward R. Mur24%. Meanwhile, as the coun- row's sage commentary that a try is burning, sounds of fiddle nation of sheep begets a govplaying emanate from Nero's ernment of wolves has rarely Wall Street, in concert with our been more applicable. Here is a final revealing stakleptocratic elite at their lavish tistic: Although the U.S. repcorporate headquarters. These are conditions resem- resents but 5% of the populabling a Banana Republic, that tion, more than 65% of all produces ever increasing rates anti-depressants in the world of poverty, inequality and are consumed here. I wonder maldistribution of wealth, why? Joe Bahlke, Red Bluff unbecoming a nation that pro- Turn 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. 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Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary The mushroom farm and Swaziland north When I was working as a consultant I came across a situation where the local school administrators felt that they were called to the mushroom farm every time they had a Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) meeting in another county. As one of them said, "you know how they grow mushrooms. They keep them in the dark and feed them manure." The recent City Council meeting reminded me of that remark, as I watched three of the four council members stumble over lack of information while trying to obtain straight answers from the police chief. I felt embarrassed for my City Council as once again they were reactive when listening to the police chief and while the chief rationalized the needs for general fund money to fund "his" department, I mean the Police Department. In this case the chief was pleading for money to lease purchase a Storage Area Network (SAN), a clearly needed item, but the way in which he made his presentation to the council was circumspect at best, and the kinds of questions three of the four council members asked reflected uncertainty, lack of critical knowledge and reactivity. In discussing decisions it would be more productive if there were an informed discussion among peers. The chief went so far as to hold the preservation of the Marysa Nichols murder case digital crime data over their heads as ransom. In the beginning the chief offered funding from Proposition 30 funds for the first year of the lease purchase of the needed equipment; in the end the City Manager said the Police Department could absorb the $800 plus monthly payments from its operating budget over the next few years if necessary. The chief finally conceded he might be able to modify some spending plans to accommodate funding some of the expense after this budget year, at least for 20142015. I felt like I was watching a striptease act. The chief hinted at technology plans he will likely bring to the council in either November or December, he zigged and zagged around the number and sequencing of department vehicles to be equipped with computer technology by a joint grant with Corning, and he never once tried to present an overview of whatever plans exist for technology in the department. The chief simply disagreed with the one knowledgeable councilman who asked direct questions about modifying his plan with Corning. Without that knowledge the City Council is left in a defensive position; they had egg on their collective faces. The chief never explained how this request fit in with the new contract with Charter Communications, which he touted earlier this fiscal year as a way to increase off site data storage and the security of data. The chief has been very successful at extracting money from the council this year. Without a detailed vehicle replacement schedule he was able to talk the council into the lease purchase of three new police SUVs. He talked the council into adding two corporal positions to the force to assure no lawsuits for "lack of supervision." The City Council does not have to be put in the position of having to react to proposals like the chief brings to them. They can ask for more information, they can ask for long term plans, they can ask for accurate data that can be used as the basis of a positive and engaging discus- sion. They do not have to rely enter as candidates. This is done on promises, vague and dire to balance views in parliament.' This almost sounds predictions and feel commonsensical and they are on the defenis in keeping with sive. They can demand Siskiyou Supervisor that requests for "new Mark Baird's hope for money" be accompaa diversified common nied with that kind of sense political base in information. Jefferson. *** As an indepenThe City Council dent country Siskiywas told the Board of ou would have Supervisors would be secure borders and hearing about secesnot have to rely on sion in November, and Joe the federal governthey were invited to ment; its citizens attend. I thought it could stop contributmight be interesting to ing to Social Securishare a recent piece of ty, not be burdened correspondence I by so-called Obama care, and received. The note begins: "Looking at not worry about the high cost various data for Siskiyou Coun- of national defense. And most ty one wonders if we shouldn't importantly, Southern Calijust let the county go its own fornia would no longer be a way. The rate for accidental problem! Most likely there could be deaths, infant mortality, and deaths in general are far above some kind of treaty that would statewide averages. It drains not require passports for Siskiytaxes from the rest of us in Cal- ouans to go to work in California or elsewhere where jobs are; ifornia. Siskiyou's geographical area the Siskiyouans could adopt the is about the same as Swaziland, U.S. dollar as its currency. They perhaps it could be the Swazi- could cut down as many trees as land of the United States; that is they want under their own coma landlocked poor nation. mon sense rules and sell water Swaziland has a parliament and to the parched south, and they an absolute constitutional could charge us to drive through monarch. That is a pretty com- their county." The letter went on to detail mon sense system for a small many of the advantages to both country. I read in Wikipedia that in the United States and California Swaziland, 'The king appoints if Siskiyou were to form its own the prime minister from the leg- country. When I called the letter islature and also appoints a writer to ask if I could use his minority of legislators to both epistle, he said "of course, but chambers of Libandla (parlia- will anybody take it seriously?" I replied, "About as seriously ment), with help from an advisory council. The king is as they take the State of Jefferallowed by the constitution to son." appoint some members to parJoe Harrop is a retired liament for special interests. These special interests are citi- educator with more than 30 zens who might have been left years of service to the North out by the electorate during the State. He can be reached at course of elections or did not DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop