Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/244573
6A Daily News – Saturday, January 18, 2014 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. Baby ducks Editor: The Black Swan: Those who embrace the theory that economic calamities like the Great Depression and our current Great Recession are not predictable nor capable of being foreseen by man. Economic conservatives. The White Swan: Those who did see our Great Recession coming, revealed by their theories, facts, figures, and models. Economic progressives. The White Swan is fairly new, being published (Minsky) as late as 1986. Proof provided in 2005 when Steve Keen of Australia started his attempts to warn the economic community of the coming calamity starting firmly in about 2007-8. This 12- page article, http://media.pimco.com/Documents/GCB%20Focus%20May %2009.pdf, is written from the most true conservative financial business in existence, bond trading. And yet the progressive White Swan is embraced. The tension between the fascist capitalist and true capitalism has swayed to the fascist side lately. Early progressing through mercantilism, where labor was kept at bare subsistence, up through Marx, Mao and all the violence entailed. Moving right down to the US's modern version, leaning over the edge of catastrophic world bankruptcy. But now, the cure twitters in the air before our eyes like a glowing butterfly in the dark. All that has to happen is for the fix to be done to have Marx, Mao and others all others of the same ilk and thought to be relegated to good faith but ignorant endeavors into a field they could not comprehend in truth at the time. Can one attempt to conceive of a world where these tensions will no longer exist? The Cold War was a fairly short term of the fear and paranoia that nurtures fascism. What difference can we expect when this ages older tension is removed? Only a lunatic in 1600 would have envisioned the unmitigated luxury we have now compared to then. What will be the time span of today's lunatics being revealed as true seers of such a tension relieved future? Can we even imagine it? Imagine being without something that has been with us so long that we even see it as us? Can we imagine a different way? Do you think it will be nice? James Bryant, Red Bluff Christmas Eve column questioned Editor: Richard Mazzucchi's column Christmas Eve, "Merry Christmas for one and all," made me wonder, as I continued to read, if it really came from the heart. He lectures on the hallmarks of humanity and how we have the ability to choose to be kind or mean, happy or sad and compassionate or cold hearted. About the previous sentence, liberals always make the mistake that conservatives are mean spirited and without compassion, studies show you're wrong. Author, Arthur C. Brooks, a professor at Syracuse University, published Who Really Cares: finds that although liberal families' incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed house- hold. Conservatives also donate insurance with what Obama more time and give more blood. Care has to offer. He writes: "As you may How he feels sorry for conservatives like (without men- know, Phil attacked both African Americans tioning his name) Don and LGBT people in a Polson who seems to Your recent GQ magazine revel in finding fault interview." To this day with Obama and our I have never watched a democratic goversingle episode of Duck nance. Conservatives Dynasty but I am one do not revel in Obama's faults, faults impact of the millions to come to his everybody. We don't have to defense. Phil Robertson never look for his faults he puts them attacked LGBT or African on public display every day. Americans; he made a comment What democratic governance? expressing his opinion without Obama Care was written and anger or malice. However, Mr. passed into law without any Mazz, LGBT and many other input or a single vote from any hysterical liberals came out Republican. The President has screaming at the top of their used his executive powers to lungs attacking poor Phil and it bypass congress to rewrite kind of looks like it backfired on screaming meanies Obama Care to placate unions those and other special interest because they may have made groups. He has also abused him richer than he already is. He writes; "The next time executive orders on many other occasions. Many would call that you might feel compelled to despotic governance not democ- condemn others or rationalize inappropriate behavior I hope ratic governance. Conservatives welcome legal that you first consider the Goldimmigrants to America that en Rule and instead do unto othcome here to be productive and ers as you would have done onto not to burden us with more wel- you." Damn good advice and he fare and illegal pot gardens that should try it on for size, and destroy our environment, pol- afterward he may change your lute our streams and kill our attitude, just a little. All the anger, hostility and mean spiritwildlife. He writes: "I am grateful that ed accusations and fallacious millions of Americans are now attacks have come from the left, being provided with health read his column. For goodness sake Mr. Mazz insurance and preventative medicine that ultimately reduces should get his information else besides costs while increasing health somewhere care access and efficiency." MSNBC's Chris Matthews' Seriously, where does he get Hard Ball. What Phil said about this stuff? Everything he has gays was not nearly as offensive said about Obama Care includ- or mean spirited than what is ing the part I didn't quote is repeated daily on MSNBC, quite the opposite; millions (6 other liberal media outlets and million or more) have lost their what foul mouth celebrities like insurance. For some it is most Bill Maher say about Tea Party likely a death sentence because members and other conservathey will no longer get lifesav- tives, but that's OK with liberal ing therapy and most of the oth- hypocrites. Les Wolfe, Red Bluff ers can't afford to replace their Turn 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 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 Taking a break I will be taking a break from these commentaries. It doesn't mean I have run out of opinions and have to go and find some new ones for a while. It does mean I will be more busy than I have ever been in retirement, and I want to be able to focus on my new responsibilities. I will be doing some work for the Red Bluff Joint Union High School District, a task that will require good focus. I feel honored to be asked to do that, and I hope my experience and what skills I have will help to bring healing and direction to all of the stakeholders as the District continues with very important changes, changes facing the vast majority of school districts in California. In my February 9, 2013 commentary I outlined some of the challenges facing the District: declining enrollment; assuring teachers have the proper creden- tial; managing the phasing in of the new math program while allowing existing students to complete the old program; implementing the Common Core Standards into the curriculum; changing the way students are assessed; and preparing a Local Control Accountability Program (LCAP) among others. None of those are trivial endeavors, and they require the full professional engagement of staff. That, in turn, requires good communication, openness in decision making, and a careful analysis of "what is or has been, what is now required, and what will work best." The process will take time, some of which will be spent waiting for the battle between the State Legislature and the State Board of Education. The new funding formula for public schools is called the "Local Control Funding Formu- la", LCFF for short; like many sure the wine bottles are empty, state labels, it is misleading. and fold newspapers, to conThere are many new state serve space in our blue recycle container; depending requirements for on the time of the year, schools, most of which space can be a probmake sense, but lem. Usually it works whether or not there is out, however. I premore "local control" is sume it is worth the subject to debate. effort because the artiWhat we can concles we recycle are put trol, however, is the to good use. manner in which we In some ways I am plan to continue the being recycled; it was improvements to what just over 30 years ago we offer our kids in the that I left the Red Bluff District. With profesJoe District to assume sionalism, dedication another role. In some to the best interests of ways I am being recythose kids, and open cled. I hope I am being communication we can put to good use. accomplish good things. Out community deserves Joe Harrop is a retired that, and I will work to that end. On a lighter side, we work educator with more than 30 hard at home to recycle. I care- years of service to the North fully fold up cardboard boxes, State. He can be reached at crush cans, rinse out jars, make DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop