Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/269572
4A Daily News – Saturday, March 1, 2014 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 Opinion Ryan Walsh of Vocativ looks at data from the Pew Global Attitudes Survey and remarks that "the U.S. gives the most aid to countries that hate it the most": http://bit.ly/1cWrqOH. The obvious exception, he notes, is Israel, which is both one of the largest recipients of U.S. assistance and has the lowest percentage of people viewing America as an enemy in the survey. But other than that, he writes, "the 13 coun- tries that consider the U.S. an 'enemy' at an above average rate (15 percent or more of the respondents in those countries consider us an 'enemy') receive 50 percent more aid than the 24 countries that hate us the least, according to the survey." There are a few holes in this. The biggest is that Pew only asked the question "Is the U.S. more of a partner, more of an enemy, or neither?" in 37 countries. A wider sample would probably reveal more exceptions. In Colombia, for instance, the leading recipient of U.S. aid in Latin America for 2012, President Obama has a significantly higher approval rating than he does at home. Liberia is a major recipient of U.S. aid, and 37 percent of its population would immigrate to the U.S. if they could. People in Kenya, the eighth-largest recipient of U.S. aid, have shown very positive opinions of the United States in recent polls. But I think the basic point stands: U.S. aid doesn't always buy popularity. The Palestinian Territories, where 76 percent of the population views the United States as an enemy, is in the top 25 aid- receiving countries. As are Pakistan (64 percent), Jordan (29 percent), and Egypt (26 percent, which seems way too low.) On one level this makes per- fect sense. The U.S. doesn't give aid to those countries as a reward for good behav- ior. To put it bluntly, it's because we're wor- ried there are people in those countries who will try to kill us (or kill our friends, or get their hands on nuclear weapons), and we want their governments to do some- thing about it. The problem is when this aid starts to look like a per- verse incentive. An analysis by Navin Bapat of the University of North Carolina found that between 1997 and 2006, U.S. military assistance correlates with a 67 percent increase in the duration of terrorist cam- paigns in the country receiving the aid. This could suggest that governments like Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan actually need a certain base- line of militant activity to con- tinue in order to keep the U.S. aid money flowing. This certainly seemed to be the case with former Yemeni dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh, who received millions in aid meant to combat al-Qaida but often seemed more intent on cracking down on separatist rebels and other political opponents. Like many counterterrorism policies, it makes sense in the short term to support govern- ments fighting against insur- gent groups that also threaten the U.S., but it can quickly get you trapped in a frustrating relationship of diminishing returns. (See: Karzai, Hamid.) Joshua Keating is a staff writer at Slate focusing on international news, social science and related topics. He was previously an editor at Foreign Policy magazine. Why the U.S. gives aid to countries that hate us Commentary N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY 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 Guest View Joshua Keating 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@sen- ate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558- 3160; E-mail: governor@gov- ernor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Wash- ington, DC 20515, 202-225- 3076. 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; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Your officials State of Jefferson and the board of supervisors Editor: The only reason the Tehama County Board of Supervisors (BoS) gave for putting the State of Jefferson non-binding measure on the ballot was to see which way their constituents wanted them to vote, for or against Tehama County separating from the State of California. They claim just five people (the BoS) could not make that decision on their own. To put the measure on the ballot it would cost the tax- payers about $5,000 give or take. If they would have put on their big-boy/girl pants and taken a vote the cost would be $0. There were an estimated 300 at the hearing that were for Jefferson State, more than five by my count. How often does the BoS ask their constituents how to vote? Very seldom, if ever. I'm not a regular attendee at the BoS meet- ings but Tom Mohler and June Cooper are and time after time they speak out in opposition to wasteful spending, expanding the size or authority of a department so that department can further deprive us of our individual liber- ties with more taxes, fees, fines and regulations. For their efforts they more often than not get a round of applause from a dozen or more in the audience, more than five, but ignored by the BoS anyway. In the times that I have attended I have witnessed, on every occasion, where they unan- imously vote to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to different departments and never or seldom question the department heads on their management skills. Our local government as well as our state and federal government are very adept at spending other peo- ple's money and at this point in time it is a conservative guess it's our great, great grandchildren that are going to be burdened with the debt put upon them by elected officials at all levels of government. To all who were raised in rural America, be it Tehama County or elsewhere in this state or nation, I would urge you to take notice of what is going on around you. If you have enjoyed an outdoor hunting, fishing or camping experience and if you are the twenty-something generation you could very well be the last generation to do so in the same fashion as you do today. This land is not your land as it was 20 years ago or what it will be 20 years from now. Les Wolfe, Red Bluff State should expand reservoirs Editor: North State farmers and resi- dents have made dramatic cuts in water use for years, but there will never be enough water for the expanded orchards, and immigra- tion, without added reservoir sup- ply. Short three minute showers and minimal home irrigation has been normal to adapt to increas- ing inflation costs and less income. Northern California orchards have long switched to low water use drip versus flood irrigation. Only half of California farmers have made this water saving switch. If rainfall returns to the norm of the year 850 to 1880 droughts, all ag will be challenged. Histori- cally since 850 until the past 160 year wet period, there was one 200 year drought and also 10. 20. and 50 year droughts. With ag using 80 percent of the water and industry and homes 20 percent, conservation will be primarily from ag. From 2010 to 2014, the city of Corning wells averaged a 23 foot aquifer level drop. With increased ag acreage for almonds and olive oil this past decade, there will never be enough water. Fly over Tehama County to see that about 25 per- cent of land has never been farmed because of costly water. Demand always exceeds supply. Farmers maximize the rate of return on their land through fertilizer, pesti- cide, fungicide, irrigation herbi- cide, and replacing aging orchards. Sacramento Legislators need to maximize the availability of stored water by cutting other public welfare programs. Joseph Neff, Corning Relaxing restrictions is short-sighted Editor: Whether we control immigra- tion or not, market forces will eventually balance. The question is, do we also want a whole host of social problems? If we control immigration, farmers may in the short run have to pay more for labor and be more creative to reduce labor costs. In the long run though, after market forces resolve, crop prices will rise and America will be better off. America has already got too many uneducated people swelling our population, taxing our resources and eroding our language, laws and culture. Leg- islation relaxing immigration restrictions is lazy and short- sighted. Nathan Esplanade, Corning Fair CEO Editor: Having served on the Fair Board for 15 years (3 terms as president), I know that the job can be extremely difficult and unpopular. The recent decision to "retire" Mark Eidman makes it doubly so. It makes one wonder whether the motivation was to improve the Fair and grounds or if his "retirement" was a knee-jerk reaction to a complaint by one of the Fair's longest renters. It is also odd that a man who com- petently held the job for 13 years is suddenly found wanting by five new board members appoint- ed by Governor Jerry Brown. Mark Eidman lived, breathed and completely dedicated him- self to the Fairgrounds. He was a great ambassador and tireless worker. He was well-liked and much respected by an over- whelming majority of people dealing with the Fairgrounds. Livestock at the Fair are shown more compassion and considera- tion than the board afforded him. Since we were founded in 1979, Foothill Ready-Mix Inc. has donated over $150,000 in cash and materials to the Fairgrounds. This business, along with my wife and I personally, have sponsored Special People's Day since its inception 25 years ago. We evi- dently are not one of the "stake- holders" or "community partners" whose input board members wish to seek now, or going forward. As a result of the board's appalling actions regarding Mark Eidman's termination, our com- pany will no longer Co-Sponsor Special People's Day at the Fair. We too, have decided to "go in another direction." We are cur- rently in negotiations to hold our event at another venue. Kevin Brunnermer, Red Bluff Your Turn