Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/366548
GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIALBOARD How to have your say: Letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and no more than two double-spaced pages or 500words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@red bluffdailynews.com Phone: 530-527- 2151ext. 112 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS In January, President Obama declared that despite Congressional logjams, "America does not stand still — and neither will I. So wherever and when- ever I can take steps without legisla- tion to expand opportunity for Ameri- can families, that's what I'm going to do." The Center for Rural Af- fairs has stood firmly in fa- vor of the Environmental Protection Agency's pro- posed Clean Power Plan as a vital first step in reduc- ing carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants, addressing climate change, and creating op- portunities for renewable energy development in ru- ral America. And we have stood up for EPA's crucial Waters of the U.S. proposal to clear the regulatory wa- ters surrounding the Clean Water Act and better pro- tect rural America's most precious resource — water. President Obama must also understand, how- ever, that America's fam- ily farms, ranches and small towns do not stand still either. Nor do we in- tend to be left behind. The time has come for President Obama to fulfill his 2007 campaign pledge and close the loopholes mega-farms use to get around farm pro- gram payment limits, pro- viding them the unlimited subsidies they use to drive up land costs and drive family farmers out of busi- ness. We have applauded Pres- ident Obama's Administra- tion for moving the new carbon rule forward and for proposing the Waters of the U.S. rule. And if they can do these things then they can by God write a mean- ingful "actively engaged" rule for federal farm pro- grams that protects family farmers and reins in unlim- ited farm subsidies. John Crabtree is with the Center for Rural Affairs, a private, non-profit or- ganization working to strengthen small busi- nesses, family farms and ranches and rural commu- nities through action ori- ented programs addressing social, economic and envi- ronmental issues. He can be reached at johnc@cfra.org. John Crabtree Moving rural America forward Bravotocountyworkcrew for swi action Editor: Roughly two weeks ago I asked a gentleman from our county if he could do something about the ditch that lays across the street from my property. I explained to him that when it rains, water runs across my property, under the road and down that ditch. Over the years, the ditch has become rather flat and along with spraying round-up, I also have to dig it out from time to time so that nothing impedes the water flow. He said to me that he would write it down and that they'd try to get to it before winter. Less than two weeks later, our wonderful Tehama County guys were out here digging it out and then reinforcing it with rocks. I would like to ex- press my gratitude and heart- felt thanks. — Tom Robinson, Bend District City, too, must abide by conservation guidelines Editor: This is written before the Red Bluff City Council meets on Tuesday. I wonder when all is said and done, will the city hold itself and other governmental sites to the same standard of conservation that they put on the individual user? As I read the proposal, not filling and refilling pools and spas are also part of the change. Sprinklers out of con- trol and driveway washing and sidewalk washing are prohib- ited. If you travel around during the evening hours and early morning hours, you will find all kinds of water waste. Both pub- lic and private sites. Let's all do our best. The key word here is "all." — Larry Stevens, Red Bluff Columnist should lead the charge in the Middle East Editor: On Tuesday a column by Don Polson was printed in the Daily News in which he, as he often does, called for military action in the mid-east. In the past I have privately offered to pick him up and drive him to the airport and buy him a ticket to Baghdad so he can use his second amend- ment right to shoot people in- stead of some deer or other ani- mal of his choice. But he should remember humans will shoot back. The young person that he re- places will be someone's sib- ling and could become a doc- tor, lawyer or be in a career of choice. Now if he were to survive, one way or another, I am sure the government will bring him home. — Robert Hogan, Red Bluff The vacant presidency Editor: For six years we have had a vacant presidency. President Obama has spent billions of our taxes for Air Force 1 travel for golf, Democrat fundraising and photo ops instead of serving as a President. The hourly cost for Air Force 1 in 2014 is $210,877 or $1.265 million for the typical 6-hour round trip. This does not in- clude the costs of the backup airplane carrying reporters, the limousines or the security staff. Fewer than one quarter of the trips are to represent the US. Our world and our nation is in crisis including the Ukraine, the Islamic state takeover of Iraq, the Mexican border fi- asco, the VA corruption, the IRS scandal, the failure to pro- tect our embassy in Benghazi, the national debt from defi- cit spending, companies mov- ing overseas to escape the huge 35 percent corporate tax and the ObamaCare mess. Yet, Mr. Obama abandons his presi- dency with golf, fundraising and photo ops. The world needs a strong US President and not a paper tiger. — Joseph Neff, Corning On differing views of Israel Editor: I would like to commend Richard Tamagni for his coura- geous letter of July 16 regarding ignorance and lack of common sense in our present day society. Orval Strong's letter of July 18 proved Tamagni's point. Strong took issue not only with Tamagni's premise but com- plained about lack of any bibli- cal references in his letter. Yet in Strong's letter there were no bible or historical references cited to back up his points. The Old Testament of the Bi- ble is not only the account of how the cosmos, the Earth and finally man were created. From Genesis to Malachi is the ac- count of how the Jews became a people and how the nation of Is- rael came to be. The key to un- derstanding the Bible is to read it with an open mind and a sin- cere heart. All Mr. Strong's letter con- veyed was his anti-semitism with the final paragraph noth- ing more than a bigoted rant. — Jean Bowers, Red Bluff Your opinions Cartoonist's take Growers like them mess it up for all us guys that grow it for our own use. Gorilla growers suck. Dave Cleveland: On arrest of two foreign nationals on charges of growing marijuana in Lassen National Forest 3fires in 24hours? People could be killed, what a shameful act. Susan Messler: On coverage of a fire that burned near Countryside Village Monday It was just a matter of time for the program to be abused. I refer to the Telework En- hancement Act of 2010, which pro- vided government employees the op- portunity to do their jobs from home. Teleworking is generally a good concept. Federal employees who work from home require less office space, which saves us taxpayers money. Teleworkers don't plug up the roadways during rush hour, and they save a fortune on gas- oline and vehicle-maintenance costs. But, according to Govern- ment Executive magazine, some federal teleworkers are abusing the program. The Commerce Department's in- spector general issued a report that found 19 paralegals within the Patent and Trademark Of- fice were given so little gov- ernment work to do that they "watched television, surfed the Internet, used Facebook, per- formed volunteer work for a charity, washed laundry, exer- cised at home, read books and magazines, shopped online or cleaned dishes." Surely, you ask, these employ- ees were disciplined for their misuse of their time? Nope, they got performance bonuses worth between $2,000 and $3,500 a year. The total cost to the U.S. Treasury over four years: $5.1 million. Surely, you ask, the manag- ers were unaware of what their employees were doing — that is, what they weren't doing — while supposedly working from home? Oh, no, the managers were fully aware. They simply "looked the other way" as em- ployees booked their time un- der a special "other time" bill- ing code. Why the heck would the gov- ernment hire people when it had no work for them to do? Good question. To understand the answer, you have to set aside reason and try to under- stand how the government op- erates. Back in 2009, apparently, some of the higher-up manag- ers feared that a hiring freeze was coming, so they hired peo- ple the Patent and Trademark Office didn't need, just in case it would one day need them. That is madness. The manag- ers should have found some real work for these employees to do that would have brought some value from all those taxpayer funds, you say? "Some managers felt con- strained by the contract the em- ployees have with the National Treasury Employees Union," re- ports the inspector general. In other words, it was way easier for managers to not as- sign these employees any work than to jump through hoops to give them work that their union would be OK with. That's why, says the inspector general, their efforts to create special projects were "feeble, half-hearted and ineffective." As someone who is a tele- worker — I provide professional writing and communications services for a living — I admit I am envious of government em- ployees. Regrettably, being self-em- ployed, I only get paid when I produce something my clients value. I have searched my whole life for someone who would pay me to watch television, surf the Internet and go to the gym, but the only offer I have got thus far came from an eccentric 92-year-old widow — and I'm thinking it over. In any event, even though I often work into the wee hours to help my clients hit their deadlines — even though I am agitated that the thousands of dollars I pay in taxes are fund- ing some government employ- ees who are paid to do nothing — I know I am better off. At least I have the satisfac- tion of producing real work that helps my clients achieve their strategic objectives. By doing so, I have a greater sense of self- worth. It must feel pretty aw- ful working for the government and being paid to do nothing all day. But, as I said, when the gov- ernment got into the telework business in 2010, it was just a matter of time for the program to be abused. Tom Purcell, author of "Misad- ventures of a 1970s Childhood" and "Comical Sense: A Lone Humorist Takes on a World Gone Nutty!" is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor col- umnist. Send comments to Tom at Purcell@caglecartoons.com. Tom Purcell When government workers don't work from home Back in 2009, apparently, some of the higher-up managers feared that a hiring freeze was coming, so they hired people the Patent and Trademark Office didn't need, just in case it would one day need them. Sounding off A look at what readers are saying in comments on our website and on social media. Tom Purcell OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, August 20, 2014 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6