Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/24763
6A – Daily News – Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Opinion What are you 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 doing? Editor: Many are unemployed and confused about the game plan. We elected the Conserva- 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 tive/Republican/Libertari- an/Tea Party to office because they said their top priority was to create jobs. They have worked hard on getting Obama out of office, but that is still more than 21 months away. That hasn't cre- ated any jobs. They have worked hard on doing away with the health care program, but that really doesn't take effect for another 3 to 8 years. Not only that, but even Mr. Polson would agree that it wasn't going to be overturned, and hasn't cre- ated any jobs. Matter of fact, only 36,000 jobs were created since they took office. Almost none cre- ated by anything they have done. I am positive that most unemployed Americans would rather set those two things aside for a year, or two, while we concentrate on things that will create jobs. Then there is the Califor- nia state agenda. Newly elected Gov. Jerry Brown was elected because he promised to put all important matters to the people’s vote. That is the idea we call democracy. Who gave Republican Sen. Doug LaMalfa and Assem- blyman Jim Nielsen the right to take away our power to vote? What exactly are they afraid of? Jon Blankenship, Red Bluff Assassins study Editor: Shortly after the shootings in Tucson Arizona, I listened to an interview on National Public Radio. The guest speaker talked about why assassins and attempted assassins of public figures do their dastardly deeds. The program said that around the time of Ronald Regan’s shooting, the Federal government commissioned a study to find out why people have chosen such acts of vio- lence. They studied about 83 people who were in prison for their crimes. The conclusions were published in a more or less obscure academic publi- cation, and not widely dis- tributed, since its purpose was to enlighten the people who protect public figures. The conclusions were almost unanimously the same. These people were not politically motivated. They felt that without some sort of action, they would be forever unknown to the world. By engaging in a horrendous act, they would be remem- bered. They thought that the quest for notoriety was worth the possibility of quick death or imprisonment. Any claim of true political motivation was basi- cally a smoke screen. In relation to the Tucson shooter, he has pleaded not guilty to his charges. I believe this is so that he can extend his publicity. He will be in the limelight for a longer time, and his views and opinions recorded for posterity during the ensuing court trial. Is he insane? I think he is “crazy like a fox.” Read the NPR transcript and listen to the program at http://www.npr.org/2011/01/ 14/132909487/fame-through- assassination-a-secret-ser- vice-study An earlier (2008) NPR program also expounded on this issue, http://www.npr.org/tem- plates/story/story.php?sto- ryId=93503135 John M Elko, Red Bluff Savings rates Editor: We just re-newed one of our CDs. When we took it out, the interest rate was 2.6 percent, which was pathetic. Six months later, they say it's 0.30 percent. I'm not good at percentages and fractions. I had to ask, that's less than 1 percent? She said yes. Why, would anyone want to save rather than pay bills off? And, apparently, the recession is over according to our leader. How many stores have gone out of business just Your Turn in Red Bluff in the last few months? I must be stupid. I just don't see it. President Obama preaches to us to save, spend our money wisely, hire people, etc. But also, go out and spend, buy things you need. I'm confused. Oh, I just got it. We're suppose to save, spend money wisely, hire people, he's suppose to spend money foolishly and that's OK because he's the presi- dent. Jet off to Timbucktwo to tell them how bad this country is and give them money. Money we have to borrow from China. That's smart? Health insurance has gone up drastically too, which wasn't going to happen. My co-worker dropped his last month. They continually speak of college students being able to stay on parents’ plan until they're 26. I'm thinking that's the only posi- tive they can come up with to support this stupid bill. And, with college tuition being so high, this isn't long enough. It should be 35 because it'll take that long to get their education and then those kids will have to live with mom and dad forever to pay their student loan off. What a deal. I can't wait until the next election. I'm taking notes. Bernice Cressy, Cottonwood Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, 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. Denial on de Nile Commentary The whole world holds its breath as we view through splayed fingers the unrest that is the Egyptian uprising. Or as Hosni Mubarak sees it: 10 or 20 rabble-rousing, unem- ployed, slacker agents of the West with too much time on their hands, up to no good. That’s the problem with entrenched dictators: they interact with their people less often than they enter Sinai Peninsula sheep-shearing competitions disguised as shepherds’ assistants. The man is so far behind the insurgency curve he probably sees his own running feet in front of him, and even that has failed to fill him with any discern- able alacrity. Typically, these ingrained despots try to apply 30-year- old answers to modern prob- lems. With denial being a major arrow in their ancient quiver. Denial on de Nile. Mubarak keeps asking what the pesky agitators want. “Well, sir, they want you out.” “How about if I replace the Cabinet with different cronies?” “Sir, sorry, but you don’t get it. The people want you gone. A memory. In the archives. Flying down Abdica- tion Street. Walk like an Egyptian, only really really fast. Don’t let the door knob hit you in the butt on the way out of town — gone.” “Wait, I know. A vice presi- dent. We’ve never had one before. Maybe our former head of intelligence.” “No, sir, seriously, you don’t have to stop being presi- dent of every country, you just have to stop being president of THIS country. The only time they want to see your face again is on a coin, with a four digit number to the right of the dash after your birth year.” Along with scary implica- tions for touring mummy exhibits and world energy prices, this incipient revolu- tion raises fears over the future of Facebook. How does a gov- ernment shut down the entire Internet? Falling into the wrong hands, this information holds the chilling prospect of huge numbers of young people forced to spend much of their free time watching syndicated episodes of “Two and a Half Men.” The one piece of good news: this summer’s Nile River cruise packages — going for a song. Further demonstrating a cluelessness best mea- sured in Jersey Shore degrees, the Egyptian president screwed up the order of the Unoffi- cial Despot Rebellion Response Handbook, unleashing a mob of pro-regime protesters before blaming the press for all of his prob- lems. Every second- year Egyptian Military School cadet knows the first thing you do is blame the press. One thing I’ve always been curious about: what do pro-regime protesters chant? “Up with Repression!” “Jobs Aren’t for Everybody!” “We Want Better Torture!” Pro-regime protesters: a polite way of saying govern- ment thugs whose sole pur- pose is to crack heads at peaceful demonstrations. Or, as they’re known around here, Will Durst Raging Moderate the FBI. Speaking of us, whom the whole world revolves around, American outcry has been remarkably muted even though we witnessed the unspeakable horror of seeing Anderson Cooper punched and Katie Couric jostled. Diplomatically, of course, Obama needs to be careful. His task is to encourage the demonstrators while allowing the Egyptian leader to save face. Fortu- nately, equivoca- tion is one of our President’s strong suits. This guy has straddled so many fences he could build a tree house in a redwood from the splinters in his butt. A skill Mubarak must now regret, he never bothered to learn. San Francisco-based political comedian Will Durst often writes: this is an example.