Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/34164
6A Daily News – Thursday, June 16, 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 Nielsen a fraud Editor: 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 I am in possession of the Jim Nielsen biography. Fairly impressive for a corrupt public servant. I ask you folks to look at this self praising career politi- cian and check out the last para- graph that states: “Assemblyman Nielsen lives in Gerber with his wife, Mari- lyn, who is currently serving as the Acting Director of the Cali- fornia Arts Council. They have two daughters, three sons, and three grandchildren.” It is a blatant lie. I visited the Green Waste garbage service office in Red Bluff in Tehama County on June 6. Nothing new here. Neither Assemblyman Jim Nielsen nor his wife Marilyn has ever signed up for garbage service at 22475 Pomona Ave. trailer in Gerber. The trailer is empty. No one lives there. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong. Call Green Waste, it will verify the facts. There ain’t no stinking garbage to pick up. I ask all who care to write a brief letter to the editor to your local paper and ask a point to ponder — why? The Tehama County Grand Jury will have the yearly report available June 30. It is free to anyone. When I review the report, I will begin the process to seek a time and place for pub- lic comments on their findings and recommendations. Until I see this decision in writing, it ain’t a fact to me. In preparation for more stone walling I have legal counsel at hand to make this happen. For all those who have followed this fraud of Jim Nielsen, you will be offered the opportunity to quiz the four members of the law enforcement committee. For all of us citizens in Tehama County and anyone in the 2nd Assembly District, who hopefully will take the time to attend, should be convinced of the fact that our grand juries are controlled by a judge, corrupt district attorney and a county counsel. They have the power to remove the backbone of any grand jury, including the 2010- 2011. We also have elected a wimp for our sheriff. What a disap- pointment. He has proven to me to be a spineless oath violating yes man. I will be preparing my uncomplimentary signs with your name, sheriff, to parade in Tehama County. Don Bird, Rancho Tehama Land of lemmings Editor: My first realization that America is a land of lemmings began when George W. Bush was appointed the white house by the Supreme Court. To this the people of this nation responded with “Ho hum he seems like a nice guy give him a chance.” If and when the selection would be questioned, the answer would be “Shut up, Bush won.” In any other country the selection would have meant pub- lic outrage and led to massive revolt. But not in patriotic America. Then on 9-11 the American intelligence was further tested when one man declared war on america, and promised to bankrupt this nation by unend- ing wars. And then President Bush ordered the invasion and occu- pation of Afghanistan. A gutless Congress handed the White House a blank check of which the American public fell right in line and nary a ques- tion was asked. Just assumed the role of lemmings and followed the pied piper over the cliffs of war. As if the occupation of one country were not enough Bush then changed the charade to his intended victim, Iraq. For that was the country that had the 3rd largest oil reserve in the world. As soon as the American public got used to occupying Afghanistan it was discovered that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, that began another occupation. Then another pied piper arrived upon the scene and the battle cry began, “Change, yes we can.” The only change was skin color. How long can we afford these occupations? Robert Hogan, Red Bluff Horse Your Turn power Editor: He stood about 14.3 hands had a big thick hair that is salt and pepper. His body is white,brown and most beautiful black you would have ever seen. When I look at him my eyes tear up just thinking how he has always protects me. Just feeling every muscle moving under me put a smile on my face. No matter if he has a weird face — I probably only could see — he makes me smile or giggle. Just being around that little wild mustang make my true spirit soar like the American bald eagle. My wild horse just makes me feel like I am the true American and I was born here, so you know what, I am the true American. Thanks to my little horses. He’s helped me get this far and that’s pretty darn far. I will never forget his bucking fits, too. Him doing everything I wished. I will never forget the little horse who showed me life and still is. Kelsey Kruse, 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. We get the media we want Commentary "The media" is our favorite whipping boy. It’s shallow, petty and often stupid. It misses points, focuses on the wrong things, and completely ignores the bigger issues. It’s prone to obsess on trivial rivalries and scandals instead of thoughtful substantive discussions about things which affect us most. Essentially, the media is a mirror of us. We’re shallow, petty and often stupid. We miss points – focusing on the wrong things and completely ignoring the big- ger issues. We’re prone to obsess on trivial rivalries and scandals instead of thoughtful substantive discussions about things which affect us most. Especially in America where the vast majority of our media is profit and ratings driven – the media is programmed by us to give us what we want. Whether we like to admit it’s what we want or not (think stories about whoever is filling the role of a Kardashian or a Bieber). "The media" isn’t some monolith in lockstep. Maybe there was a time when generali- ties applied. The press didn’t dish about polio-afflicted Presi- dent Franklin Roosevelt’s pain. They never ran pictures of him in his wheelchair at his famed whistle stops. It could be said that there was a conspiracy by the press not to highlight the personal struggle of the presi- dent. But that was then… Now there are over nine 24- hour news channels (the big three and their spin-offs). Plus places to watch foreign news like BBC and Al-Jazeera Eng- lish all over what used to be "the dial." With the inclusion of oust- ed MSNBC anchor Keith Olber- mann going to Al Gore owned Current TV this month – it appears there will be yet another channel for people to turn to for their news. Then there’s the Internet: The latest figure is over 50 million blogs worldwide are being updated at a near-constant rate. Even if most of those blogs are about inane personal escapades and obscure hobbies – there still could be ten million or so blogs in the world dedicated to news. And what drives traffic to the most widely read blogs in the world? Search engine optimiza- tion (SEO) about whoever is fill- ing the role of a Kardashian or a Bieber. If we wanted a somber and serious Edward R. Murrow to deliver the important news of the day – we’d all tune in and the ratings would be gangbusters. But we don’t. Most media criti- cism comes from the assump- tion that we want Murrow but we get TMZ – instead of the empirical (and slightly embar- rassing) fact: We want TMZ. Like any other busi- ness, the media is dri- ven by consumption. We choose to click on the links about baby bumps and Anthony Weiner’s namesake appendage, so more stories like those get produced. We swarm to tidbits about Sarah Palin’s feuds with pub- lic figures – and even with history itself. Most of us don’t want serious news – we want sagas of nip slips and sports scores. Editors know this, anguish over it and sometimes give in. Which is why you see major metropolitan newspapers complying with the demand of a celebrity-obsessed public – it’s an attempt to up their readership by any means necessary. The media and the press have never been more democratized than they are now. Anyone can be a journalist. Anyone can read or start a blog. Anyone can be a part of what is known as "crowdsourcing" or what Wik- ileaks’ Julian Assange calls "sci- entific journalism." And yet, when we talk about the media, we act like it’s something sepa- rate from us - like we, as con- sumers, don’t play the most vital role in "the press." Not all news or Tina Dupuy even popular news today is only celebrity gossip or niche parti- san hackery. We even make some decent choices. NPR, the go- to example of hard-hit- ting comprehensive thoughtful news, has 27 million listeners each day. Their show Morning Edition reaches 13 million people daily. Contrast that with Fox News Channel, the highest rated cable news channel averages 1.75 million per show. The highest rated of the net- works’ evening news programs (right now, NBC) only reaches around eight million nightly. These ratings are ultimately our fault. Yes, there are millions of choices, and ultimately – to borrow a phrase – they report and we decide. Tina Dupuy is an award- winning writer and fill-in host at The Young Turks. Tina can be reached at tinadupuy@yahoo.com.