Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/30098
6A – Daily News – Tuesday, April 26, 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 Stoplight Editor: I would like to express my opinion on the stoplight in Los Molinos. I think it is a horrendous 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 waste of tax payer money. I do not know why the government would waste the money on something that does not help with the flow of traffic at all. Austin Kemp, Los Molinos Author applauded Editor: I have written letters to the editor before, and have been tempted many other times — e.g. Don Polson’s negative rantings. I really feel the need to support the individual courage of the writer of the letter titled “Resist Oppression.” In the face of at least five law enforcement people, the writer spoke his piece about unneces- sary oppressive laws. It’s proba- bly an illegal law as well — one without input and permission from we the people. One thing I want to emphasize out of his well-written piece is the fact of the wasteful use of four or five vehicles as well as personnel. Our tax dollars are more precious than ever right now; and to send all that equip- ment and manpower to a small pile of burning prunings, this time of year is ludicrous. We all need to stand tall and come from strength when faced with unnecessary law enforce- ment presence. We pay the salaries of public servants. They are here to protect and serve. They are our employees. They need to remember that and act accordingly in our presence, their bosses. They need to be humble, subservient, respectful and rec- ognize our position above them. Let’s hear more support for courage, and our right to be pro- tected and served, and mostly, duly respected. Richard Clapp, Red Bluff Bad news, good news Editor: Bad news: General Electric, Caterpillar, Microsoft, Walmart and other American corpora- tions have fired 2.9 million American workers since 2001. Good news: they hired more than 2.4 million workers. Bad news: all those workers were from overseas. Why doesn't our government make it harder to out-source American jobs? Weird news is our government owns those and every other big corporation in this country through their stock purchases. If you were to research into comprehensive financial reports like the producer of “The Cor- porationnation” did, you would find some very interesting stuff. Instead of using excess revenue to benefit their constituents, the powers that be thought it more prudent to invest it and so they did. And they did it very effi- ciently. Now they have the gall to tell us we as a nation are in deep financial dodo. And that we all need to tighten our belts. All the while owning all the major banks and investment houses in the country. That is why the bail out went so smoothly. Just who do you think was bailing out whom? Let’s see now, what is it called when the government owns or controls a nation's industries? I don't think it is called a democracy. Orval Strong, Gerber Taxing the rich isn’t the answer. Editor: Even if 100 percent of the income of those earning above $250,000 was confiscated by the government, that would cover only about half the annual interest on our $14 trillion deficit. Dramatic spending cuts along with heavy tax increases for the middle class with $40,000 to $100,000 gross annual income is the only solu- tion for reducing the deficit, considering that 45 percent of Americans pay nothing in Fed- eral income taxes, after deduct- ing tax credits. Dramatic reduction in gov- ernment spending is needed including delaying Social Secu- rity and Public Employee pen- sions until age 70, introducing a means test for Medicare Insur- ance so only those with earning below $25,000 yearly receive full coverage. We know that anyone who earned more than $50,000 by the end of their work career, and worked 45 years, has fully funded their existing Social Security and Medicare Insurance coverage. Your Turn The fact is that so many have underpaid into Social Security and Medicare by work- ing short careers, that the Middle Class and the wealthy must accept lower lifetime payouts. The real problem is not that the rich pay too little taxes, It's that too many receive excess credits from the government, hence the huge $14 trillion deficit. Some of these excesses include paying prevailing 20 percent added union costs for public construction projects, allowing the deduction of mort- gage interest, employees not paying taxes on employer health insurance subsidies, agriculture subsidies, subsidies for buyers of fuel guzzlers, subsidies for first time home buyers, subsi- dies for makers of inefficient ethanol, subsidies for inefficient solar and wind generation of power, subsidies for Medicaid, subsidies for aid to dependent children, food stamp subsidies, pubic education subsidies, gov- ernment low interest mortgage subsidies, government employ- ee early retirement subsidies, and a long list of other subsi- dies. The US credit rating is in decline, as is the world power of the US, because our dollar value is declining from excess govern- ment subsidies. Taxing the rich with a resulting decline in job formation, isn't the answer. Rad- ical government spending cuts and equal tax rates for everyone is the needed action, 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. Hiccuping volcanoes Commentary You got to love The Right. Every single study and poll, every one, shows independents turned off by cultural-values wars; the same way chalk sidewalk drawings dis- solve in a thunderstorm. And they try and they try and they try, but they just can’t help themselves. Like active moral volcanoes with a bad case of the hiccups, conserva- tives erupt and spew; and god help any innocent bystander that gets in the way of their lava of virtuous- ness. That includes themselves. Upon waking, bright pink Post- it Notes have got to be stuck to the bathroom mirror: “It’s the econo- my, stupid.” And for a fleeting moment, folks stick to the script. But all it takes is the merest hint of a whisper of a rumor of suspected aberrant behavior, and Boom! All hell breaks loose. Banding together they rain down with exalted anger to smite evildoers. Never mind the deficit, the wages of sin must first be paid. Oh, they talk about getting the government out of people’s busi- ness. But when it's bedroom busi- ness or women’s body businesses, an infatuation with perceived iniq- uity overcomes them. Especially businesses into which tab A is not destined for slot B; which could possibly offend some busybody. That’s when their business becomes the business of judging other people’s business. And busi- ness is good. I imagine all 23 potential Republican presidential candidates — cowering at the side of the can- didate pool in their red, white and blue bathing suits, waiting for spring to turn to summer and the nominating waters to warm up — would rather juggle a dozen flam- ing marshmallows over a broken crate of alligators on stilts than be nailed down on abortion or gay marriage right now. But deep down, this enforced silence is eat- ing away their innards, because their hungry desire for rapturous conduct burns hot inside as well. Like junkies fresh out of rehab, the self-righteously righter-than- right can smell mendacity three states away and, being good, god- fearing people, go ballistic when the rest of society refuses to twitch into the same twisted noble contor- tions as they. Then as avenging angels they swoop, sometimes in packs, sometimes plunging solo. Knowing better, but unable to control his compulsion, Speaker John Boehner, R-$$$, swoopingly interrupted his budget putsch, hir- ing a law firm to argue on behalf of the Defense of Marriage Act. President Obama declared it unconstitu- tional and indefensi- ble, so Boehner is tak- ing it unto himself to ensure equal rights are denied to same-sex relationships. Appar- ently, certain people’s happiness makes him miserable. Previously, the GOP tried lathering their moral superiority onto the budget bill. That’s when Jon Kyl, R-Wackyville, went on the floor of the Senate to say abor- tions “are well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does.” And he was close. Off by 87 per- cent. Just a bit outside. Later, Kyl’s office recanted, saying “his remark was not intended to be a factual statement.” Of course. Who would Will Durst Raging Moderate ever think it was? After all, he is a known politician. With no innards left, leaping onto the anti-abortion bandwagon with talons extended, Michele Bachmann called Planned Parenthood the LensCrafters of abortion, which by all rights allows you to call the Heritage Foundation the Orange Julius of the death penalty. Congresswoman Bach- mann, the Home Depot of ridiculously overwrought indignation. Making the Republican Party itself the Luigi’s Shoe Repair of self- inflicted gunshot wounds to the chest. The New York Times says Emmy-nominated comedian and writer Will Durst “is quite possibly the best political satirist working in the country today.” Check out his website: willdurst.com to find out about upcoming stand-up performances or to buy his book, “The All- American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing.”