Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/27144
6A – Daily News – Tuesday, March 15, 2011 Opinion 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 Comments Editor: I do not care for the new method to post comments on www.redbluffdailynews.com. I can certainly understand 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 wanting to get rid of the anonymous comments, that were often very negative as there was no accountability whatsoever. I would be more in favor of our Red Bluff Daily News comments to be more like the comment requirements at www.red- ding.com, which is for the Redding Record Searchlight. With their website, there is no Facebook account required, but one must regis- ter with the website to be able to post comments. There still is a certain amount of anonymity to it, however requiring registration with a valid email address, and not allowing more than one account per email address would be a better way of doing things in my humble opinion. Just my two cents. Jerry Bartlett, Red Bluff Graphic Editor: I liked the graphic “Who insures private pensions?” I had forgotten that private pensions are insured by a fed- eral agency backed ultimately by public taxpayers — i.e. nearly all of us. I imagine a lot of other people have also forgotten or never knew. I greatly appreciate that the press, notably the Daily News this past week, is final- ly beginning to put some facts out there to counteract or “balance” all the nonsense about employee pay and ben- efits written in letters to the editor and even some press reports. Unfortunately, while this graphic provides some useful information, there is a glaring problem that you are sure to hear about. How is it possible that an annual payout of $4.4 billion in 2009 could result in a deficit of $21.1 billion in the same year? At first I thought this might be a cumulative deficit, in which case it should be so noted, but the numbers don’t work out for that either. So, what is going on? Ralph Hinton, Red Bluff Bullies Matter Editor: I read Faydra Rector's arti- cle on "Hurting People hurt people" (Wednesday, March 9). Very, very good and I agree as a few of us who work with kids do. There's a lot of commentary about why these people hurt other peo- ple but what about what to do with them? Bullies matter, too. Faydra mentioned how pain and being broken proba- bly causes them to leash out at their victims. Let's think about this. If these bullies are broken and in pain, which I believe is absolutely cor- rect, how would you respond to their bullying? Sure, you could walk away, you could say something that may infu- riate them even more or there may be another approach. Over the years I've seen my own share of bullies and now some of us are starting to deal with them in a way that involves compassion. Yes, they are in pain and are bro- ken, in spirit. But what if we could actually see the spirit like a bone, a broken bone? How would we respond to someone with a broken bone or physical injury? A broken spirit, like a broken bone, requires healing. Hopefully, with compassion. "With hope anything is possible." Because I was a victim of bullying (physical, mental and emotional) long ago I've researched this topic due to my own feelings and how to respond in a way that just may stop it altogether. It's not really all that difficult. not brain surgery. It's What's the symptom? Okay, a bully sort of telegraphs that look or makes the comments and you just know it's coming. You recog- nize it, again. Look at that broken person. Maybe it's not what to say but when and how to say what you need to. Just before responding think the word "compassion." Compas- sion for a broken spirit. Speaking in a calm and com- passionate manner to a child (or an adult who was broken as a child) is not too difficult. Emergency services person- nel do this all the time. They will be picking up on your body language so make sure you imagine that you're looking into a mirror and seeing your own expres- sion. It's a gut wrenching reality check for them and you. A possible remedy may be Your Turn to say, "I don't understand what I've done to make you upset, but whatever it is I am truly sorry. What's going on?" It doesn't mean you are weak and backing down. Stand your ground and allow your kindness to sink in. You may even be able to get close enough to put your hand on their shoul- der or elbow like a friend would in a non threatening way. Oh, you think this isn't going to work? Has anything else worked? Were you really compassionate in your response to the bully or dis- ruptive and broken spirit? Now, please understand that I realize that I am just not smart enough to think about this all on my own. I didn't create this thought process. I learned about it through a bit of research and over the years I bought some materials to practice it. Call it what you like, I call it "Ver- bal Judo." For me, it actually is beginning to work on cer- tain people I've had some conflict with. I haven't per- fected just yet but it's worth the continuing effort. I forgave the older brother who really tortured me long ago when we were teenagers. Before he passed away we became really great friends because I forgave him. For- giveness. Now where do we hear about this every Sab- bath? Forgiveness is freedom. John Minton, Red Bluff 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. Madness in Mad Town Commentary Best be vigilant for an inadver- tent head butt as the eyes of the world recoil from that crazed leader, besieged in his own capi- tal, defying reality while obsti- nately holding onto a tenuous power and attacking his citizenry through a conflicted security force. Of course, I’m talking about Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Think a slightly less swarthy Mid- western version of Col. Gadhafi. The locals call Madison "Mad Town," and hardly has it ever lived up to that reputation as heartily as in the past month. Following the November sweep of both houses of the legislature, Walker, the Lexus Ranger, declared the Bad- ger State’s deficit was due to those dastardly public unions, and his so-called “Budget Repair Bill” sought money from their pockets, an end to collective bargaining, placed obstacles in the way of continued accreditation, and advo- cated public spanking as a punish- ment. This proposal came the very week after he ushered in $137 million in corporate tax cuts for the state, which is a lot like paying for your quarterly investors' lun- cheon by garnishing the wages of the waiters. Money for the rich, from the middle class, again. Robin Hood’s evil twin must be exhausted. Dashing rumors of an immi- nent compromise, Walker ran an end-around his state’s Democratic Senate exiles, ramming the bill through a tricky parliamentary procedure in a closed-door ses- sion, isolating the issues into non- fiscal elements. So, first it was all about the money, but then, about the money -- not so much. Unless you count the big national bucks that lie in union busting. Like a spreading alien virus, this Republican war on workers is waging and raging across the nation. Eleven states have pending legislation to strip unions of vari- ous rights. Indiana Democratic politicians joined their Wisconsin colleagues seeking political asy- lum in Illinois. Poor Illinois. Like they don’t have enough politicians sitting around doing nothing. Wisconsin is the birthplace of the Progressive movement, with a long, proud history of activism. So, this naked power grab runs the risk of offending ordinary Wisconsinites like a New York cheddar winning the blue medal at the State Fair. And whose legality is more suspect than heroin in a holding cell. More paranoid people might smell a conspiracy. Wealthy Wall Street bankers cause an econom- ic meltdown, make obscene profits in the ensuing recession, then convince the populace that everything can simply be fixed through more tax cuts. So they can create jobs. Of course with $5-a- gallon gasoline, that two- way commute to China is going to be a bitch. is their way, the GOP might once again have overreached and awak- ened a sleeping giant. Today, we are all Cheeseheads. Or as JFK might have said, “Ich bin ein kaasekopf.” Will Durst Raging Moderate But if you think The Walker Coup means this issue is dead, you’ve obviously been spending too much time toasting the sunset while eating watercress sandwich- es on the bridge of your yacht. As All heck is about to break loose. While sanctions and a no-fly zone may not be on the table, recalls, ret- ribution and recrimi- nations definitely are. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear the Pooh- Bahs in the upper echelon of the AFL- CIO decide to bestow Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker with its Orga- nizer of the Year Award. Richy-Richly deserved. Will Durst is an award-winning San Francisco political comedian who often writes. Such as the previous frivolity.