Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/241426
6A Daily News – Tuesday, January 14, 2014 Opinion No apologies 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 Editor: My first reaction to Mr. Wolfe's latest letter was to let the matter drop. I think I had expressed my attitude regarding his arguments, and that further colloquy was not to be of value. I don't think that I need to defend the fact that I achieved an education, perhaps greater than that of Mr. Wolfe. That is the essence of our democratic — small d — system. As a child of the Great Depression, I would match my unsophisticated poverty background with that of Mr. Wolfe any day. As one of the four brothers in my family who served in WW II, the only thing that made it possible for me to seek a higher level of training was the G.I. Bill, and I am ever grateful for the action of the Democratic — capital D — administration of FDR in providing that opportunity. By the way, I can't help but note the use of "ain't'" by Mr. Wolfe, in an effort to prove he is a member of the uneducated. I seriously doubt that to be the case. I am surprised by Mr. Wolfe's citation of a couple of writers in his last letter. I have accessed both of his Internet references and am perplexed by his use of same. I happen to agree with both writers in some of their stands, but question the validity of several of their claims. Joshua Frank is generally considered a left wing environmentalist, while Raimondo claims to be Libertarian, but is all over the place in regards to whom he supports — from Ron Paul to Ralph Nader. While he opposes government prohibition of discrimination against gays, he is a declared gay man himself. Try to figure that one out and weigh it in his general comments. And try to figure out why Mr. Wolfe aligns himself with left wing thinkers. As to Mr. Frank and his background, here is a bit of information. He is editor of Counterpunch, a left wing publication. A description can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cou nterPunch. "CounterPunch is a monthly magazine published in the United States that covers politics in a manner its editors describe as 'muckraking with a radical atti- ly opposes the Israeli occupation tude.' It has been described as of Palestine. He believes that inileft-wing by both supporters and tiatory war is wrong, immoral, detractors, though not all of its and counterproductive, that a small group of neoconcontributors are on the servatives (think G. W. left." Your Bush and Dick As to Mr. Wolfe's Cheney--HRM) in complaint regarding both major American Senator Feinstein's political parties have positions, an informabeen responsible for tive article from Politifact — award winning investi- "lying us into war" repeatedly, gating journalism agency — and that the ideals of the Old regarding Feinstein and con- Right conservative movement tracts — she opposed the clos- have been consistently sold out ing of post offices: since around the time of the Vietfactcheck.org/2013/06/sen-fein- nam War, when neoconservasteins-husband-the-postal-ser- tives united with religious conservatives to pursue an expansive vice/. As to the citation of Raimon- foreign policy, often in support do, it is worth studying the man's of Israel. Raimondo has also written background. It is available on Wikipedia at that Israeli intelligence operating http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justi in the U.S. had advance knowledge of the September 11, 2001 n_Raimondo. Here is a brief commentary attacks. Although openly gay, from that article — I happen to Raimondo believes the governagree with his antiwar stand and ment should refrain from adopthis opposition to Israeli occupa- ing laws that would prohibit discrimination against gays". tion of the West Bank: A caveat: I never saw action "Several themes recur regularly in Raimondo's writing, while in the army during the mostly derived from his libertar- post combat years of WW II. Hugh Merhoff, Red Bluff ian ideological roots. He strong- Turn Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 150 Amber Grove Drive, Ste. 154, 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 The values we need from 'Son of Flicka' Tea Party Patriots will host Mitch Drury, running for the Board of Supervisors, District 2. "Hey, Dad, I've got an idea that could make us a lot of money—it could even make us rich!" So went a line by a young Roddy McDowall in "Thunderhead, Son of Flicka" (1945), as he, his Dad and his dad's friends (including a forest ranger) conversed in front of the ranch barn. It encapsulated so much about the values of life—so much that liberals seem to want to wish, will or ignore into insignificance. "Dad," of course, represents the preeminence of the nuclear family headed by a father. The father performs the essential role (aside from helping create offspring) of representing, to the boy, how to be a productive and valuable worker, provider and creator of a good or service. Tens of millions of dads, together with moms, create and sustain the economy by working for someone or hiring someone and, with little governmental guidance or interference, exchanging something for monetary value. Eons before there were state and federal governments poking their collective noses into the private affairs of citizens, people contracted to hire, get hired, sell or buy in honest exchanges with their fellow citizens. That image was absorbed and emulated by sons and daughters throughout history, thus assuring civilization of its sustainable and productive future. The government was represented by the ranger, there not to regulate, mandate or supervise the family's affairs but as a simple steward of the forest—the shared responsibility of the peo- ple (but not privately owned by them). The part of the forest owned by "Dad" was put to productive use for timber, range, animal husbandry or a homestead, thus showing the son the distinction between governmental versus private utility. They needn't any ranger, official or politician to tell them to take care that what the father used was not despoiled or wasted, depriving the son or daughter of their future. It would have been ludicrous to think that any use of their land and possessions was capable of affecting the weather, the climate or the world's people. The sun, wind, rain, snow and earth preceded them and would go on long after the children, grandchildren and endless generations faded into memory. Extremes of weather or climate would be limited to what could be ascertained from records, such as were available; a normal, rational person would have to admit that, compared to ice ages of the past, a warm climate would certainly be preferable to a cold one. Let's then consider the universal and timeless economic lessons in that simple quote: Dad and Mom are the most basic of economic units, providing either a breadwinner and homemaker or multiple income streams. Children raised in such circumstances emulate what they see and become fascinated and inspired by the productive, and hopefully joyful, example that their parents set. Human nature aspires to self-reliance and usefulness, especially upon seeing and learning the rewards of having skills, ideas and industriousness—yes, getting ahead, making a lot of money and even the path to abundance. "Political correctness" and possibly getting rich. Just as a multi-culti/diversity warmer climate is nonsense contributes preferable to a colder nothing to their ability one, abundance is far to work, earn a wage preferable to poverty. or salary, or come up Indeed, only a free with "an idea that and open economy with could make us a lot of few barriers to one's money." They certainskills, ideas and indusly are not motivated to triousness—an econo"make a lot of money" my that has until so that the governrecently defined Amerment has more to give ica—can foster the to lazy people living most abundance for the on welfare, food Don greatest number of its stamps, disability, citizens. The current Polson unemployment benefallacious obsession subsidized with so-called "income The way fits, and income housing credinequality" is precisely its. Some say they're opposite to, and underI see it not lazy; I say they mining of, such wideshould prove it by spread abundance. Nearly one-third in the lowest performing work or service, and economic sector rise over their test nicotine-, drug- and alcolifetimes into the middle class, hol-free, before receiving any or higher; they don't get there by such handouts. Sound harsh? governmental redistributive tax The way I see it, let them subsidize their own bad habits by policies. They won't get there by high- working for their money like er minimum wages, which only everyone I know. Liberals do not cherish these affect a few percent of working people. Minimum wage laws values: traditional families with have been shown in extensive a father and mother; self-reliant studies, as well as by common people earning and keeping the sense, to inhibit those entering fruits of their labor; and governthe workforce, with the least ment limited to protecting conmarketable skills, from getting stitutional rights, and placing a jobs. The boy quoted above cer- light burden on productive, tainly didn't get skills or talents w e a l t h - a n d - j o b - p r o d u c e r s . from minimum wage laws; he Those are, however, conservaprobably learned the most valu- tive and Tea Party values; if able lessons from working Republicans embrace them, they alongside his dad and mom for a will keep the House, win the small allowance. Learning good Senate and, ultimately, the Preswork habits and having respon- idency. sibilities alone hardly qualify a Don Polson has called Red boy or girl for an artificially inflated wage but, combined Bluff home since 1988. He can with marketable skills from a be reached by e-mail at job or school, will set them on donplsn@yahoo.com.