Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/30739
6A – Daily News – Tuesday, May 3, 2011 Opinion Thanks 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 Editor: I’m want to thank the 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 Tehama County Sheriff’s Department for assistance, in particular Sgt. Richard Knox. He assisted a confrontation at the RV park where I live, he did so by using talk and diplomacy. So Sgt. Knox, thank you for your patience and understand- ing of the situation. Ron Thompson, Red Bluff $4.50 gas will soon be with us Editor: Even if the Mideast conflicts end, $4.50 gas is inevitable, The US has cut oil consumption 4 percent since 2000, partially because of unemployment from the sub-prime mortgage caused recession and government debt, but equally from President Obama's decision to reduce Gulf Coast oil pumping by 15 percent this past year, by elimi- nating replacement well drilling. Since 2000, four coun- tries: China, India, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia have increased oil use 76 percent to match US demand. As with all commodi- ties, including grain, minerals, metals, and oil, global demand has exploded causing major price increases. There are no cost effective replacements for gasoline during the next decade. Smaller reduced weight cars double the fuel economy from an average 16 miles per gallon for light trucks and SUVs to about 32 miles per gallon com- bined city/highway average for non-hybrids and 50 miles per gallon for the Prius hybrid. Electric cars and extended range hybrids are not cost effective for the next decade because of their expensive batteries, hence the heavy taxpayer subsidies to buyers. Fewer than twenty-five percent of Americans are will- ing to buy less costly smaller vehicles for their average two child family. Most are willing to accept $4.50 or even $5 gas as the price to pay for freedom of choice. A drive on I-65 will show that most drivers prefer driving at fuel guzzling speeds 6 to 8 miles per hour above the speed limit to save time instead of dollars. Although frugal, but not cheap, my wife and I decided in 2007 to replace a 26 average mpg 10 year old car with a 46 actual average mpg Prius hybrid for 12,000 annual miles. In 2009 we replaced the Corning 23 year old 26 mpg car with an equal size new 5 passenger 32 average mpg car that averages 10,000 annual miles. With 46,000 miles now on the 46 average mpg hybrid, we've now completed revisit- ing 24 states in the NW, SW, and SE and during the next two years we'll revisit the remain- ing states in the NE and four SE coastal states. On the latest trip two weeks ago, we fol- lowed the Mississippi River from St. Louis near my birth- place, to New Orleans and then to the Gulf Coast beaches of Mississippi on the way to Pen- sacola. We missed the first round of SE tornados by a day in Alabama. Clearly vehicles are a neces- sary part of US life quality, and most will accept $4.50 to $5 gas without changing driving miles, speed, or fuel economy choices. Joseph J. Neff, Corning Tehama County a Place of Givers Editor: Recently the Daily News ran a Letter to the Editor about a Red Bluff High School graduate living in Japan and the mother of this Red Bluff citi- zen reported how her son and daughter in law were amazed at how the Japanese share in their struggles with the tsunami with a giving attitude. They live in Japan and see it everyday. Even with all the economic December the Daily News ran an article about how Tehama County has the highest rate of tobacco use in the state. Tobac- co is a drug, too. The Tehama County Young Your Turn Marines won the Secretary of Defense's Fulcrum Shield in 2009 - for youth drug demand reduction education. These kids did all the work and when they were told about the difficulties that most of us are experiencing these days I want to tell you about a man who probably has little wealth to give but has a heart of gold. We were conducting our boot camp out at Camp Discovery during spring break. One of our moms and a couple Young Marines met a man at the gate. I wasn't there at the time but this is what they reported later. This man drove up in a car that was probably held together by duct tape and chewing gum. But he drove up to the gate, car sputtering, and hands $120, in cash, to our Young Marine mom. He told her that he reads about the Young Marines all the time in the Daily News and all the great things that they are achieving for themselves and their peers in the community. He liked the idea that the program, like several others in our area, was doing its best to keep our children healthy by living a drug free lifestyle. He wanted to donate to the cause and picked the Young Marines to donate to. During the last week of tobacco use article they decided to tackle this issue as well as the other drug and alcohol issues in the county. This does take fund- ing to get the word out about how to reduce the use of drugs, including tobacco. What struck me as odd, though, is that this county has made the news all over not just because of what the Young Marines have accomplished but also the Mentoring Program, Prevention Project, Venturing Crew and other youth organiza- tions. There's hope for our youth. I would urge you to look at each of our youth organizations and pick one or two and make a charitable donation. The Young Marines, like many other youth groups, run strictly on donations and grants. No money comes from any government source on the local level. Show the country and the world that Tehama County is truly a place that gives. "We get by giving." Thank you Don L, wherever you are! The Daily News and all others who contribute are our partners in helping our youth to live healthy, drug-free lifestyles. John Minton of Red Bluff, Tehama County Young Marines Unit Commander 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. Commentary Birther bozos need a new nose Goaded into action by a natter- ing of numbskulls, Barack Obama finally released the long form of his certificate of live birth from the state of Hawaii, and hopefully threw the last shovel of dirt onto this inception nonsense; but the suspicion is, no, probably not. As we speak, vanquished Birther Bozos are crawling out of the crypt searching for a new nose to wear. First the short form, now the long form, soon they’ll want to see the director’s cut. Then, on a tele- vision near you, the mini-series. Anything to reinforce the strangeness of the first African- American president. “Different than you and me.” “Not a real American.” Explains those silly cries of, “We’re taking our country back.” Yeah. From the black guy. What they really want is the 1950s and the front of their buses back. Don’t think this is over. This is not over. Not by a long shot. Peo- ple believe what they want to believe. Facts be damned. Thirty percent of the GOP still believes Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11, and weapons of mass destruction are currently cruising the streets of Fallujah disguised as ice cream trucks. Driven by men wearing tinfoil hats. Obama’s actions spurred some on the Right to charge him with orchestrating this whole distrac- tion to keep the country from the real issues. Wow. The perfect somersault of blaming the hit-an- run victim for walking alone on a sidewalk late at night. “He attacked my bumper with his chest.” Others, like Newt Gingrich, refuse to be convinced. “There are still questions.” Yeah, and besides, Obama’s citizenship is due to a technicality, because on August 4, 1961, Hawaii had been a state for less than two years. Maybe the flippo-units will switch tactics and demand proof he’s not a Muslim. And won’t be satisfied until they see a signed and dated parchment from Allah. The disgrace is, the president was forced to hold a press confer- ence, not to address the reshuffling of his national security team, but rather… where he was born. His exact quote was: “not going to be able to do our jobs if we get dis- tracted by sideshows and carnival barkers.” In response, the main carnival barker, Donald Trump, claimed to be honored for making the president jump through hoops like a trained Pomeranian. Who also would not be eligible to be president. The Donald is that kid in high school oblivious to the whole class making fun of him, including the teacher. Faced with the very concrete evidence he insisted on viewing, you’d think he’d find a way to graciously back off, but you’d be as wrong as blaze-orange camo. Buffalo chip cook- ies. Cheesecloth mittens. The Aerodynamic Will Durst Raging Moderate Coif instead upped the ante to question how a guy named Barack Hussein Obama got into Harvard Law and wants to see his college transcripts, which is a really, real- ly sly way of throwing out the “n” word. Surprised he didn’t use “shiftless.” We need Trump to provide samples of his DNA to prove he’s actually a carbon-based life form. Show us your hairline, Captain Car- nival Barker. What’s next: a mole count? Will a committee be empanelled to investi- gate the number of moles on the presi- dent’s body? “Where are they and why is he hiding them? And exactly how many of them are shaped like his socialist supervi- sor, Cuba?” 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 Redroom.com to find out about upcoming stand-up performances or to buy his book, “The All- American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing.”