Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/31967
6A Daily News – Thursday, May 19, 2011 Opinion Get serious Editor: 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 Sen. Doug LaMalfa cries out 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 against excess state funding in his editorial of May 18. He calls for us to “get serious” and questions the need to spend state money on pro- grams that provide health care and other social benefits as well as pensions guaranteed to state and municipal employees, and pro- grams that will subsidize low income housing. Yet, he receives federal govern- ment subsidies for his and his fam- ily’s rice empire. According to figures presented by the Chico News and Review on May 27, 2010 (Sources: USDA, Environmental Working Group — www.ewg.org), in 2009 the LaMalfa Family Partnership received $161,578 and since 1995, the family has received a whop- ping $4,596,165 in farm subsidies. How can he preach to us with a straight face about what taxpayers shouldn't have to afford while he receives an inordinate amount of money for doing nothing? David Stickney, Red Bluff Thanks Editor: I want to thank the many community members that devote their time, effort and monies to support our many volunteer organizations in this community The Sacramento River Dis- covery Center held a successful Walk-Run event thanks to the work of an all volunteer organi- zation, last weekend. A wonder- ful walk-run course has been created along the trails of the Mendocino National Forest’s Red Bluff Recreation Area. The distances are accurate to within inches of being 5K or 10K. This year the Sartori family provided help guiding the 10k runners correctly. The youth volunteers, at the start and finish area, were from Red Bluff High Key Club, and CFS groups. Members of Soroptimist International of Red Bluff and the Soder family also provided assistance with the event. Howard Cramer, the camp host and his golf cart were an invaluable assistance. The setting of cones and stanchions and trail markings the course was done by friend Tom Cairns. After the walk-run people could learn about the watershed and groups that are working to restore, protect and preserve the quality of life and water resources in this part of the state. Once again, it was volun- teers that shared their arts and crafts, information about the river like the Tehama County Sheriff’s water craft safety. Volunteers from several watershed groups, Tehama County Resource Conservation District, US Fish & Wildlife Service and others helped visi- tors learn more about our water- shed and its future. The Spring Plant sale provid- ed information about native and drought tolerant plants thanks to volunteer, Sharon Kessey of the Red Bluff Garden Club. Food was provided by several busi- nesses, Girl Scouts of Northern California and the Twilford family. The Sacramento River Dis- covery Center wishes to convey a big thank you to the commu- nity businesses for their donation of items to the silent auction that helped raise funds for the Summer Camps programs. A complete listing of those donations can be found in our upcoming thank you ad. I love living in Tehama coun- ty and knowing that I will see even more community support at next weekend’s Relay for Life activities. This is a great place to live and we can hope Relay for Life will have better weather. Bobie Hughes, Red Bluff Lawsuits Editor: A couple lawsuits you should be concerned about recently caught my eye. The first is the Center for Food Safety (CFS) suing the USDA to halt the agency from granting unrestricted approval of geneti- cally engineered, “Roundup Ready” alfalfa. USDA's own records show 93 percent of all alfalfa grown in the US is grown without the use of any herbicides. What this comes down to is an estimated 23 million more pounds of toxic herbicides released into the environment each year. Andrew Kimbrell the execu- Your Turn tive director of CFS stated, “USDA has once again failed to provide adequate oversight of a biotech crop.” Well that is because as I tried to point out in my last letter, our government has heavily invested in big corporations. That is why they are more interested in corporate profits than your well- being or safety. That is also why our troops are risking their lives not to secure a better world for mankind but to secure corporate profits. The second lawsuit was filed by the Public Patent Foundation on behalf of independent family farmers to challenge Monsanto's patents on genetically modified seeds. They were forced to sue in order to protect themselves from being accused of patent infringe- ment should they become conta- minated by Monsanto's genetical- ly modified seed. Monsanto is notorious for hav- ing sued hundreds of farmers for patent infringement. Most of those filing suit are organic farm- ers who not only are threatened with patent infringement penalties but the loss of their organic farms. It’s kind of like Monsanto's mongrel impregnating your expensive pure bread then suing you because your dog got preg- nant by his, thus he has the right to take your pedigree. I know this seem like the ultimate in absurdi- ty but it has happened. Orval Strong, Gerber 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. GOP on heath care: Twist and shout Commentary The best thing about the upcoming 2012 election is that the ominous “Obamacare” was a Republican idea. But now since this alternative to Hillarycare was signed into law by a (gasp) Demo- cratic president the GOP has been trying to peg as a radical socialist Kenyan – Republicans now have to be against their own ideas. Politicians who are already adept wafflers and wrigglers are shadowboxing with their pre- Obama-Administration-selves. It’s a very avant garde off-off-Broad- way production sponsored by Koch Industries and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Yes. Weird, but totally worth watching. In 2009 Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich merrily made the talk show rounds denouncing Obamacare as “rationing.” During the health care reform debate he warned Ameri- cans of those “death panels.” Yet what about the conserva- tive-maligned individual mandate? Turns out Newt touted it as a shiny Republican idea – the gleaming hope of the nation – a superior pro- posal to anything the Clintons could ever come up with in 1994. But now he’s against it. Well, kind of against it. This week on Meet The Press, David Gregory pressed Gingrich on this very issue. The politician said, “Well, I agree that all of us have a responsi- bility to pay -- help pay for health care…I've said consistently we ought to have some requirement that you either have health insur- ance or you post a bond...” Grego- ry then asked, “But that is the indi- vidual mandate, is it not?” Gingrich’s answer, “It's a varia- tion on it.” So Newt agrees with Oba- macare unless it’s called Oba- macare. Then he’s against it. Because it’s Obamacare…and that’s secular socialism according to the thrice-married author. Then there’s former Governor of Massachusetts and current resi- dent of San Diego Mitt Romney, who last week went to the Univer- sity of Michigan and opened with how his brother attended their rival Michigan State. This is akin to going to New Jersey and starting with, “Trenton is great! My sister lives in Manhattan!” Romney should have quit while he was ahead. As governor, Romney signed a bill in Massachusetts for what ended up being the model for Oba- macare. But now he strangely must denounce Obamacare, so he says he’d repeal and replace it…pre- sumably with a similar version of Obamacare he’ll then be for. It’s indeed a difficult stance to take. His speech became a game of Semantic Twister where he sprin- kled in words like, “freedom,” “dreams” and “innovation” into a lesson about the GOP’s BFF, the Tenth Amendment. This coincided with the fifth anniversary of Rom- neycare in Massachu- setts. Romney’s law is pop- ular in his state. People who live under the dread- ed Obamacare model – like it. It’s not perfect, but neither is the highway system, and we don’t talk about repealing and replacing that. “It’s difficult to see how an acknowledged success in Massachusetts can become a presump- tive failure nationally,” said Duvall Patrick, the state’s current governor. “But you know, this is more about politics than policy.” Speaking of policy: What is the would mean poor U.S. doctors (the highest paid doctors in the world) would be conscripted along with (according to Paul)…janitors. Really? Slavery? Ask anyone who’s Tina Dupuy new Republican idea on health care? Is their new idea to kill their old idea? That’s not actually an idea. And “leave it up to the states” is a plan like “it’s there” is an atlas. But perhaps the most tone-deaf unapologetically obtuse thing said by a Republican politician on health care comes from newbie Senator Rand Paul who, at a hear- ing of the Senate HELP Subcom- mittee on Primary Health, announced anyone who believes in universal health care is advo- cating slavery. Yes. Slavery. Because a right to health care ever been middle-class under age 65 and found themselves sick if they feel free. Ask anyone who’s ever stared at a pile of med- ical bills wondering if bankruptcy is the only answer if that isn’t a form of indentured serfdom. Senator Paul’s namesake Ayn Rand collected Social Secu- rity and Medicare. She knew her medical expenses could cost more than she made writing books. So for all the bloviating about the evils of government – the fantasy fiction writer who inspired selfishness and elitism had a deathbed conversion to socialized medicine. I believe there are atheists in foxholes. And, apparently, liber- tarians on Medicare. But they’re playing Semantic Twister. Now, right hand red. Tina Dupuy is an award-winning writer and fill-in host at The Young Turks. Tina can be reached at tinadupuy@yahoo.com.