Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/34300
6A Daily News – Saturday, June 18, 2011 Opinion USFWS meeting 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: Regarding the scoping meeting presented by Mark Felz of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service June 14, I felt he did a good job of explain- ing the proposed use of fees dedi- cated to their mission of preserv- ing our national fish and wildlife. The proposal was to offer a rancher a fair price for the value of his land that he wants to put in a conservation easement forever. The rancher could still use and live on his land but would agree not to develop it as a commercial proper- ty, such as a new subdivision. One rancher has done so with a land trust and was quoted that he received a fair price. But the devil is in the details.The important fact is, this is the rancher’s right to decide how he wants to use or save his land. I would suggest you consider that there are about 5 areas in Northern Tehama County listed for development in the 20 Year Plan. These ranchers were approached by developers who no doubt promised the owners they would make lots of money if they developed their land. They have seen the market collapse for sever- al years and there is no interest by developers to proceed. So the ranchers may decide they would be better off accepting a fair price for putting their land in a conservation easement rather than waiting for some future big payment. If developers have their way, they would cut down virtually all the trees and put in high density subdivisions. They would have to pay for some improvements to roads and other costs that would fall on the new buyers. They would then take their profits and leave. This would leave the new resi- dents with high taxes to pay for their new infrastructure — roads, police, fire, schools, water and sewerage. So, which would you prefer? A developer driven plan or a well maintained ranch land? Paul Mitchell, Cottonwood Tea Party Editor: Occasionally people ask the Tea Party Patriots how to vote on issues or which candidate we sup- port. As we are a non-profit orga- nization we are legally restricted from endorsing any candidate. When you hear reports on national news about the Tea Party candidate, please remember that is only their opinion. Tea Party Patri- ots are made up of people from all walks of life, don’t believe the media. Our common goals are limited government, fiscal responsibility, free markets and adherence to the Constitution. Bottom line, if legis- lation or candidates don’t fall into those guidelines, we don’t support it. In regards to donat- ing to candidates, I sug- gest placing an ad in the local newspapers instead of sending money to a campaign. This assures you that 100 percent of the money is being spent how you want, and it sup- ports our local businesses. I would like to urge all legal residents to register to vote. Research all the issues beyond the voter pamphlets, which don’t cover all the essential information needed to make an accurate deci- sion on where you stand. Try to use three or more sources to research the candidates. We end up with people in office that are like chameleons. It doesn’t matter anymore if the candidates have a D or an R by their name. Character, honesty, responsibility, ethics, morals, trustworthiness, these are the qualifications that should be the deciding factor of who our representatives should be. It seems to me that our elected officials are only concerned with authoring bills and getting them Your Turn passed. Whether we need more laws or restrictions is never taken into consideration (for the most part). Exactly when did the repre- sentatives decide their job descrip- tions include that each one of them pass (or at least submit) X amount of bills a year? The legislation being voted on is so out of control, and some is absolutely unbelievable. There are a couple of websites that help you to monitor what our rep- resentatives are trying to make law — www.opencongress.org, where you can go to “issues” and www.leginfo.ca.gov (you need to know the author of the bill or the bill number). The decisions being made for you, your family, your neighbor and future generations are being decided by people that probably don’t have the same set of morals and ethics you do. Please get involved, every vote counts. All of the people that think their one vote doesn’t matter, yeah it does. If everyone in America had that attitude, no one would be vot- ing. How many votes does it take to break a tie? Every one vote adds up to millions, don’t let Sacramen- to or Washington, D.C. make all the decisions without your input. Patty Smith, Paskenta 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. Entertaining fantasies instead of public service Commentary Princes appear to me to be fools. Houses of Commons and Houses of Lords appear to me to be fools; they seem to be some- thing Else beside Human Life. William Blake Blake’s words ring true today when we consider the long parade of political leaders who have acted like fools. Political hopeful Anthony Weiner had a common excuse for his recent behavior. By recent behavior, I am not refer- ring to his fantasy conversations and picture exchanges on the Internet, but his recent public appearances. He said he was embarrassed so he lied. When I was in the Army we had a very robust sergeant who did not like excuses. When a member of a reserve unit train- ing with us started to give an excuse for his poor perfor- mance, the sergeant interrupted him and said in a loud voice that “excuses are like (a certain bod- ily orifice), everyone has one.” Weiner, whose name is an unfortunately easy prey for political pundits, apparently had grandiose ideas about his politi- cal future as well as about his sexual prowess. He had been married for all of three years, but admitted having the seven year itch a little early. He was always an early achiever according to his autobiography. He also let us know that non-contact cybersex is not illegal. Weiner was allegedly an influential member of the more liberal wing of his party, even a potential mayor of New York. He is not the first politician to fall prey to the detached entitle- ment syndrome our District of Columbia leaders fall prey to. (In the interest of bipartisanship I have decided to ignore party affiliations when referring to United States elected officials so I will not be accused of weigh- ing my list in favor of one party or another.) When I was visiting a Con- gressional intern in Washington DC in 1961, Senator Estes Kefauver was a star; he always seemed to have an attractive young woman with him wherev- er he went. My intern friend told me the accepted explanation was that whomever he was with was a constituent; the next most pop- ular explanation was she was a cousin, apparently a kissing cousin. The constant twitter of that day in late 1961 was “If JFK would only do to Jackie what he was doing to the rest of the country, the government would run more smoothly.” Little did I know at that time the truth behind that little twitter. There seems to have been quite a rash of public leaders falling from grace because their personal choices have proven embarrassing. In California we have our former Austrian Gropenfuehrer, I mean Governa- tor, admitting he fathered a child with one of his hired household help. This was a mistake, he admits. How do you think his son feels, living with the public proclamation that he was a prod- uct of a mistake? John Edwards, former Vice Presidential candidate, said he used campaign funds properly to cover up his affair. Newt Gin- grich carried on a six year affair while married to his second wife; he has married his former mistress and is now again moraliz- ing about America. Eliot Spitzer assumed he could use public funds to support his sexual habits. Al Gore was accused of attempting to sexually harass a masseuse. The now ex chief of the Internation- al Monetary Fund was derided by scores of hotel workers as he made his way to court; perhaps he thought being French was an acceptable justification for his alleged behavior. Governor Mark Sanford was wondering why people were crying for him while he was in Argentina with his mistress. Mayor Gavin New- som had an affair with the wife of one his chief aides. Joe Harrop Senator Larry Craig resigned after being caught playing foot- sy in a known gay hangout in an airport lavatory; Congressman Vito Fossella (married father of three) acknowledged he had fathered a daughter with a mis- tress. Congressman Eric Massa resigned after allegations sur- faced he had sexually harassed male staffers; this was known as the “ticklegate” affair. Congress- man Chris Lee resigned after posting a shirtless photo on line for a woman he met on Craig’s list; it was unclear if he was attempting to make a sale or a purchase. Senator John Ensign resigned rather than facing an investiga- tion of his cover up of an affair with the wife of one of his aides. This is an incom- plete list; I am sure there are other politi- cal fools, some just waiting to be made public. These inci- dents of poor judg- ment don’t seem to be influenced by party affiliation, just an affiliation with power. In her wonderful memoir, Washington, Meg Greenfield com- mented “how public people dehumanize themselves” after a time in political prominence. She chronicled how moving to Washington often created a bar- rier between many politicians and real life. For some this meant a growing sense of enti- tlement; for others delusions of grandeur. Plain spoken Harry Truman was on target when he said, “In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves... self- discipline with all of them came first.” There is a significant dif- ference between self discipline and self indulgence. Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net.