Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/25655
6A – Daily News – Wednesday, February 23, 2011 Opinion Evolution Editor: 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 I think it was Saint Paul who said to study all things. A noted nuclear scientist said to have faith in God. In everyday thinking biological 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. 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Purcell: But Watson, who better to tackle the challenges we face? Unlike our politicians, you approach spending rational- ly. Watson: Watson concurs, but spending rationally is only part of the problem. The real prob- lem is that only half of Ameri- can voters are worried about the rapidly mounting debt. The other half are in denial, a typical human response to unpleasant facts. Purcell: Denial, Watson? Watson: Rational people can evolution means life has changed on earth over a long period of time. It is unfortunate that many people only hold the ape-to-man opinion. We believe the Bible speaks of the truth. Science seeks and believes the truth. Are these truths the same truth? Personally, I am heartened and delighted by this evolution saga in the Daily News and I thank the person who started it. As a post-graduate/pre-masters degree student in a seminar class at Chico State College in 1957, all five of us candidates were required to write a pre-thesis paper on evo- lution. I started with the problem — evolution — and expounded on all the concepts and existing evi- dences: geologic data, radio/car- bon and uranium/lead dating, fos- sil records, survival of the fittest, barriers, isolation, mutation, vesti- gial organs, genetics, overproduc- tion and much more. After 25 pages I concluded with a seven-word sentence. “And that's the way God did it.” I received an A on my paper and I think I still have my paper. Norman Weitzel, Gerber Labor sting lives up to its name Editor: Thank you Lisa Miller for your letter published Feb. 17 regarding the arrest and persecution of peo- ple trying to work for money in spite of not being licensed to do so. The media is just reporting, which is what they do. The scold- ing I have is for the supercilious bureaucrats, with their secure jobs, making criminals of citizens seek- ing any kind of work in this mess we are in, all of which caused by greed and graft. They speak with forked tongue. Out of one side of mouth comes “we salute American entre- preneurship and hard working people.” Then, out of the other side of mouth, “capture anyone solicit- ing for work that hasn’t paid a fee to our licensing bureau and arrest them. We will show those scoundrels how we punish non- licensed people regardless of their reason for wanting work.” Well you know what? With or without license, I’ve been ripped off in my years of consumerism and I understand that I may have more chance of punishing some- one who treats me wrong when they hold a license. But I am the one who needs to decide who to hire. Stop this war on your citizens and concentrate on punishing the Wall Street thieves and unscrupu- lous activity going on in our own governments bureau chambers. That is news we’d all love to hear. Carlene Pollard, Red Bluff Dupuy Editor: I was reading the commentary by Tina Dupuy and I could not believe the misinformation that was written. George W. Bush did not create all the jobs as Tina has described but Obama has created more in his two years than Bush. Not to men- tion that the legislation from both parties are to blame for the increase. The fact that Planned Parent- hood should not receive public money for abortion, it is because we cannot afford it at this time. People need to be more responsible of their own actions and not depend on the government to cure their ills. Also Planned Parenthood has used poor judgment when using public funds. I could write more but I am not sure of how much space I can use for a message. Douglas Hamilton, Red Bluff SmartMeters do make sense Editor: PG&E digital smart meter technology makes sense, pro- vided the jobs of 80 percent of the meter readers are terminated to reduce rate payer's costs. Unfortunately, PG&E plans to only terminate 20 percent and transfer 80 percent. The primary purpose of a smart meter is to allow electrical distributors to price energy at the time of day costs to produce or purchase from the grid the power for homes and businesses. Rest assured the net result will be an electricity cost increase, because monopolies have the lobby power to purchase votes of legislators, and retiring legis- Your Turn lators are selected for the boards that control the monopoly. Just as you have no choice but to leave your education dollars in the public school monopoly instead of a fair distribution to charter and parochial schools, you also have no choice but to accept the electrical distribution and pricing monopoly. Power producers already know exactly how much power is being used at any time, but they don't know the power distribution to a single home user on an instantaneous basis, to allow higher pricing to reflect higher cost usage. The smart meter provides that instan- taneous usage information need- ed to allow variable pricing. Smart meters have no effect on the management of the national grid. Smart meters will not increase the efficiency of grid management. Just as we've all adapted to instantaneous communications on cell phones and the Internet, and have adapted to computer controlling the operation of our vehicle engines, brakes, and home appliances, the Smart Meter is just one more adapta- tion of digital technology that is inevitable. There is no option but to flow with the technology. Since most have long ago switched to lower energy home lighting, and have minimized home energy use to match a desired life quality, there is not much choice but to go with the flow on smart meters. Joseph Neff, Corning 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. Watson for president Commentary discuss needed cuts and shared pain and make adult decisions to solve the problem. People in denial make emotional attacks on rational people instead of addressing the real problem, which is spending. Purcell: Why is this? Watson: The emotional peo- ple are unable to face reality -- or unwilling to give up their government largess. French philosopher Alexis de Toc- queville predicted this 176 years ago. He said, “The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.” That day arrived some time ago. Your country is at risk of a financial breakdown because of the irra- tional misuse of public money. Purcell: But some of our states are coming around. Look at New Jersey. A Republican governor is bringing financial discipline there. In New York, a Democrat governor is making similar headway. Look at the showdown in Wisconsin. Watson: Watson concurs. But most of your states must balance their budgets under their own laws. Your federal government can sell debt and print more money. Watson’s calculations indicate great trouble is ahead for your country. Purcell: You do? Watson: Consider these num- bers: In 2002, President Bush was the first to propose a $2 trillion budget. In 2008, he was the first to propose a $3 trillion budget. In six years, your spending soared by nearly 60 percent! Purcell: Bush was no fiscal conservative. Watson: Under Bush, debt increased from $6 trillion to $11 trillion. In only two years under President Obama, it has increased to $14 trillion -- it's increasing by $4 billion every day. Tom Purcell: That doesn't sound so good. Watson: Rather than deal with this reality, Obama's budget calls for spending $3.7 trillion -- nearly double what your govern- ment spent only nine years ago. Watson calculates that Obama hopes to force Republicans to make cuts so he can attack them. His plan is to appeal to the emo- tions of voters who are in denial or who receive government largess. Purcell: That would be dirty pool, Watson. Purcell Watson: Watson would call this human nature at its worst, but it is also true that a president is only as good as the people over whom he presides. If your peo- ple can't stop electing politicians who give them things in return for votes, you will never solve your spending problem. Your country's decline will be imminent. Purcell: Please, Wat- son, you have to run for president. You can help make enough of us rational that we will finally be able to deal with our spending Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e-mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com. woes in an honest, logical manner. Watson: Watson was not pro- grammed to communicate with irrational people. Besides, Wat- son needs to be president like he needs a soldering gun upside his circuit boards. ———