Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/28598
6A – Daily News – Tuesday, April 5, 2011 Opinion Alpha speak 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 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 Editor: I have read Robert Minch’s commentary in the RBDN the last few weeks with some interest. Their have been a couple of articles on which I would like to comment. His article about phonetic spelling was wrong. The military uses alpha, bravo, charlie, etc. and has for years. I was a radio operator in Vietnam, and according to you, I must have been using the wrong phonetics. No wonder I couldn't get air or artillery support. No one knew what the hell I was asking for. About the comments on the awards that General Patreus wears proudly on his uniform. Trust me Mr. Minch, when he or any other decorated military person wears the medals and ribbons they were awarded, me included, it impresses more people than just 12-year-olds. Keep up the good work. Roger Duggins, Red Bluff Wanda Editor: I never knew Wanda Pridemore, the cyclist struck and killed recent- ly, but I do know that I am going to miss seeing her riding her bike around Tehama County. She was one of those unique characters that gave Red Bluff some personality. May she rest in peace. Barbara Fullem, O’Fallon, Ill. Make cuts Editor: We need to support Republicans like Sen. Doug LaMalfa. They are right. We don’t need more taxes, nor do we need to close tax loop- holes that only help the rich. The Republicans, in California, are fighting hard to stop those two things from happening. We also need to shut down things like CalWorks. All they do is help poor people to get off welfare. We didn’t elect Republicans to do that. Just like we didn’t elect Republicans to lower our unem- ployment in the North State. That’s for people in big cities on the coast. We need to support the Repub- licans. Let’s cut the public safety budget, not raise our taxes. Jon Blankenship, Red Bluff Antelope Editor: It seems that people who don't live in the Antelope area of Tehama County are the ones instrumental in the "Great Antelope Sewage Pro- ject" fiasco- Nitrates have been part of the Antelope Valley area since who knows when- when testing was first used or was it before? Def; Nitrates, a salt or ester of nitric acid. 2; Potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate when used as fertiliz- ers. Myself and my family have lived in Antelope, in our same home, for almost 25 years. We have been flooded on more than one occasion and we still get high water. Our children grew into adults here and survived nitrates. What I ask these perpetra- tors and their experts, are the nitrate levels caused by septic usage or could it be the fertil- izers that are used throughout the Valley? Why all of a sud- den are the Board of Supervi- sors and the City Council jumping on the band-wagon? Who will profit? Obvious- ly not the residents who are going to be required to pay $28,000 plus who knows how much more through- out the coming years? Not to men- tion the de-struction, construction and the disruption this scheme will create for many years to come. How much property will be needed to have your vote count? If we actually do get to vote, will your lot and res- idence allow you a vote or will you need a predeter- mined amount of property to cast a vote? This is a costly project. Big loans are going to be involved. Outsiders will be doing the borrowing as well as the lending, on our behalf. Whoa! Whatever financial entity Your Turn majority of college students require 5 to 6 years to com- plete four year programs because of career indecision. At the average $20,000 annu- al cost for four year college books, tuition, fees, and room and board, an extra two years adds unpayable future debt. Having hired sev- eral hundred profits the expense will be laid on us, vote or no vote. What about the 100-year flood plain where some of these pumping stations will be installed? (Remember this is a high water area.) I think that our elected and selected officials need to put the people before outside profiteers.... when they make their decisions. J. W. Ostrowski, Red Bluff College prep Editor: The Corning Middle School principal and teachers have made a wise decision to visit local colleges with their classes, to discuss careers. A degreed technical staff during a 50 year engineering career, rest assured that gunning for Harvard or Stanford instead of an affordable Junior Col- lege and state college, will make very little difference in the starting and end career salary. Performance on the job including creativity and innovation, and a great work ethic is key. Part time job experience is important. Par- ticipation in athletics is mini- mally considered during the job interview process. Sports involvement helps create per- sonal confidence and self- esteem. High school and col- lege grades are important. The U.S. has slipped to about 20th place in math and science because so many feel that since they cannot achieve A's in math or science they must retreat to the lower pay- ing jobs in the humanities. It's not laziness but concern that they cannot do the more rigorous work. Starting kids early on the career direction path, and encouraging math and sciences at an early age, is vital for the US to regain global leadership. Joseph J. 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. America: You're fired! Commentary I want to know. You want to know. The whole world wants to know. What’s the deal with the sur- prising retiring Republicans? Not age-related retiring, as in shawl on the lap watching the third DVD of the fifth season of "Matlock" with a glass of tepid tea on the side table. Retiring as in coy, reticent, with- drawn. Obviously, we are not speaking of those pesky majority members of the House — demure as an over-caffeinated grizzly on roller skates gallivanting down a fashion runway and, yes, that means you, Kate Moss. This discussion specifically con- cerns the 2012 GOP presidential candidates; or, more precisely, lack thereof. That is not to say they aren’t busy. Like the haunted topi- ary maze in “The Shining,” the usual suspects can occasionally be spied skulking on the edge of your peripheral vision. Floating trial bal- loons with fingers in the air to see which way the wind blows. Dip- ping toes in the water to ascertain the temperature of shark-infested waters. Running position papers up flagpoles to determine which focus groups salute. Waiting for the other shoe to drop while creeping around barefoot playing the Crying Game. Normally by this time in an election cycle, running against a vulnerable incumbent in a sluggish economy, you’d have about 80 gazillion candidates and their brothers scrambling, down-and- dirty in the mud biting each other’s knees for supremacy in the all- important money scrum. This year, not so much. A variation on the old '60s bumper sticker: “What if they threw an election and nobody came?” The situation has become so dire, NBC canceled a May 2 GOP presidential debate due to lack of interest. Not by the viewing audi- ence. That’s a given. The network’s predicament was a lack of partici- pants. A game of political chicken with everybody waiting for some- one else to cluck first. And these are some mean mother cluckers. As if in a recurring bad dream, Newt Gingrich replicated a dodgy feint from yesteryear, calling a press conference to officially announce he may or may not be setting up an exploratory commit- tee to talk to some people who might investigate the possibility of him perhaps considering making a run for the pres- idency later on, some day. Maybe. Why? Because America deserves deci- sive leadership, that’s why. ABC News compiled a list of 23 potential Republicans who have either talked about or are expected to take a flying leap at the brass monkey ring. Twenty-three. That’s two entire football teams with room left over for Mike Huckabee to encourage them from the sidelines strumming “Par- don Me” on the guitar. But not one of the 23 has declared. So, since nature and billionaire blowhards abhor a vacuum, along comes Donald Trump, vowing to spend $600 mil- lion of his own money seeking the presidency. Which to you and me would be a nickel. Will Durst Raging Moderate You’re Fired!” Then recruit under- paid immigrants to replace us as citizens. Accelerating the pace. As far as loose cannons go, Trump is a broken pallet of greased wheels on thin ice. The fount of many imponderables. Such as, having proven HE was born in Ameri- ca, what about that thing on his head? And does it require an antidote for when it stings? With armed forces at his dis- posal, how soon before the pre-emptive strike on Rosie O’Donnell? The New York Times says Emmy-nominated comedian and writer Will Durst “is quite His plans predictably include running the country the way he would a business. Great. “America: possibly the best political satirist working in the country today.” Check out his website: willdurst.com to find out more about appearances or to buy his book, “The All- American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing” and newest CD, “Raging Moderate.”