Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/31420
6A – Daily News – Thursday, May 12, 2011 Opinion Immigrants 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: Anyone who watched Presi- dent Obama's speech on immigra- tion from El Paso had a chance to observe a compassionate and fair leader express his thoughts on the subject. He pointed out that many of the accomplishments of this country were done by immigrants, whether in labor, science or busi- ness. He mentioned Einstein, Rupert Murdoch and Andrew Carnegie. Everyone knows this is a nation of immigrants.We came from all over the world and it is just selfish to shut the door on others who want to come in. It's also bad busi- ness because we need the services that immigrants provide.We see this very clearly in agriculture where undocumented workers bring in the crops and provide many other services. Of course we don't want dead- beats or troublemakers to come to America, we have enough of those now. But those with skills, ambi- tion and a drive to succeed should be welcomed. Isn't it way past time to allow these people to get a drivers license and start on a path to being legal? Al McKnight, Corning Where a young life might begin Editor: Who, what, when, where and how does a young life begin? These are only a few of the ques- tions the Board of Supervisors also need to consider when voting on the issue of "medical" marijuana. So many people complain about not being able to medicate with marijuana. What many of them don't realize, but many more do but won't admit, is the harmful side effects of second- hand tobacco and marijuana smoke on those around them, mostly children. Yes, second-hand smoke is very deadly, especially in the life of a young body and brain. Sec- ond-hand smoke means not just their neighbors and friends are affected but also their very own children. Children have no defense, almost no rights to a healthy second-hand and smoke- free environment. Who does it affect? How does it affect them? Everyone really does know the correct answers to these questions — asthma, emphysema, certain allergies, etc. — but won't admit to or deal with them. But will we be wise about them? It's either political correctness or wis- dom and foresight. Where does this begin? Today, it begins in the home then spreads quickly to the schools and work and everywhere else near the rest of us. Does anyone really want their children to grow up in an environment where too many citi- zens voted for this idea that a little bud is going to make them feel better? Does it really make them feel so much better to become less productive, less desiring to stay healthy? Less wanting to be a role model, a hero in the lives of their very own children? Being a hero takes real courage, character and integrity, not just going with the flow. Too many followers, not enough leaders and independence to think this through. All the propositions and battles leading up to this is showing our youth something; that they don't have to pursue their dreams in life because those dreams aren't clear anymore. They're full of second-hand smoke and no motivation to excel in school, work and play. As role models we need to be showing them that being high on life naturally is going to give them clearer dreams by having the sta- mina, endurance and courage to do what is correct. It's also showing that some of the opinions expressed by colum- nists and others that since it was already voted on at the state level the issue is dead. Columnists and others who advocate for marijuana do not see the bigger picture. The issue isn't dead, legally or other- wise, because it's still an issue being discussed at the local level. By local I mean community. A "Drug Free" community. Our community is more alive than it is dead. We all need it to stay that way in order to survive - as a com- munity. We can name a fewyouth orga- nizations here - Young Marines, PAL, Mentoring Program, Preven- tion Project, Friday Night Live/Club Live, Scouts, Venturing Crew, 4H and FFA, our schools and several more. These Your Turn independent organizations share a common theme and vision: “To advocate for our youth.” The Daily News ran an article in December about Tehama Coun- ty having the highest rate of tobac- co use in the State of California. The Board of Supervisors need to take a stance, even against what was previously voted on state-wide, to not allow marijuana to be dispensed in the coun- ty. Let's have some courage and stand alone in the state against this. Let's put Tehama County on the map once again for doing something that's right by thinking about the future of our youth. Apparently, the rest of the state isn't. The youth don't get to vote on the issue - it's out of their hands. But we're suppose to be voting for their future and not our own unre- al and fake present. Send a real message to the board by not allowing any smok- ing within 200 feet of any building entrance. Twenty feet is a joke. Board of Supervisors, don't make the job of advocating for our youth any tougher than it already is. Our job is a labor of love for our youth. We are part- ners in the battles of waging the war against drugs, alcohol, tobac- co, abuse, bullying, gangs and violence. Let's win this together. It's the needs of the many and not the other way around. It's about correctness, not political correct- ness. 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. Obama campaign swimming in questionable donors Commentary President Obama had a busy week. After helping to eliminate the world’s number one terror- ist, Obama switched gears to focus on raising a record $1 bil- lion in campaign contributions. Rather than capitalizing on bin Laden’s demise by using an event to rally allies in a focused campaign to finish the job to root out bin Laden’s more noto- rious associates - Obama is ral- lying supporters to donate their capital so he can build up his campaign war chest. First things first. Apparently the whole cam- paign finance issue is so compli- cated that only someone like Obama can fully understand it. He’s been all over the map when it comes to finance reform; you might say he was for it before he was against it. In June 2008, Obama announced he had reversed his original stance and would forgo public campaign financing because, "The broken system we have now, a system where special interests drown out the voices of the American people will continue to erode our politics and prevent the possibil- ity of real change." Soon after making that state- ment, unprecedented amounts of cash poured into Obama’s cam- paign coffers from special inter- est groups showing us that the only "real change" he offered - was a new spirit of corporatism - when powerful Silicon Valley green energy leaders like Steve Westly seemingly purchased a seat at the government’s table. The more than $500,000 in campaign contributions Westly raised is a gift that keeps on giv- ing. Now appointed to Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s advisory panel, Westly is granted regular access to Chu. Companies backed by Westly’s venture cap- ital firm received over a half-bil- lion dollars and Tesla Motors, a company Westly has ties to, saw its stock rise six percent after the Obama administration announced a federal rebate plan for electric cars. During a campaign rally on April 13, a man with ten children who drives a van asked Obama if he planned to do anything about the gas prices. Obama respond- ed by telling him that he needed to trade in Old Bessie for one of those newfangled electric sar- dine cans on wheels. He might even get a rebate. ABC News and the Center for Public Integrity launched a joint investigation finding that Westly is just "one of several political allies of the president who have ties to companies receiving chunks of money through loans, grants, or loan guarantees." The investigation found bil- lionaire John Doerr received a $528 million loan for the electric car company Fisker Automotive, and a $535 million loan guaran- tee went to help a California solar company whose top investor, George Kaiser, raised between $50,000 and $100,000 for Obama’s campaign. Biggovernment.com also reported that after Google executives made $1 million in campaign contributions, Google’s top policy executive Andrew McLaughlin was invit- ed to join the adminis- tration as a technology officer and Google received "a string of government contracts." In August 2009, Susan Brown Japan Times reported that anoth- er green energy Obama bundler, Jon Roos, who had collected upwards of $500,000, was appointed as ambassador to Japan. The paper reported Roos’ appointment "drew fire from some in Japan who doubt his qualifications." A few short months later, and prior to the 2010 midterm elec- tions, a tremendously disap- pointing decision for Democrats came down from the Supreme Court in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, No. 08-205, ruling stating the government does not have the right to regulate the political speech of corporations. long. Last week, the Huffington Post reported that "Democratic strategists close to President Barack Obama" launched a fundraising group named "Prior- ities USA" that will be financed "in part" by large, undisclosed contributions. And the beat goes on. Susan Stamper Brown is an op-ed columnist, motivational speaker, military family advocate and grief counselor who writes about politics, the military, the economy and culture. she can be reached at susan@susanstamperbrown.co m. Conveniently forgetting that special interest groups own his administration, Obama respond- ed by saying the deci- sion was a "major vic- tory" for those who "marshal their power every day in Washing- ton to drown out the voices of everyday Americans," and later told a Philadelphia crowd, "The Ameri- can people deserve to know who is trying to sway their elections" – suggesting he was once again for the reform he was against before he was for it. But, it didn’t last