Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/435851
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 One week ago the United States Justice Department said they will not prevent native Amer- icans from growing and selling mari- juana on their sovereign lands, even in states that are still banning pot. In 1970 I had the opportunity to try a little of that drug. I was 31 years old then and scared of the idea. Probably because my dad told me something like; "If you ever use marijuana, son, you will be on cocaine in a few days." I know dif- ferently now. At the time my first wife and I were hosting the then Mayor of Chico, Bill Nichols, and his wife, Teal, for a pleasant evening. I did not take him up on his of- fer, and I still have not tried pot, but I know I would if it would be helpful in fighting some cancer battles, as we have learned. Recently on Thanksgiv- ing Day, a group of men car- ried three tons of marijuana off a boat along the Central California coast near Mon- terey. More than half our states have now voted to per- mit pot for recreational or medical use. Wealthy donors bankroll groups like the na- tional Drug Policy Alliance. They are gradually getting behind legalizing marijuana, especially for medical pur- poses. The DPA's executive di- rector is Nathan Nadelmann. He said the new pot capital- ists are actually stingy about keeping the momentum for legalization building. I think they obviously must not want competition. The issue is now some- times even overshadowed by the opportunity to sell "can- nabis sativa candy bars," usually to college kids. Strangely, I still don't think I want to try one of those bars either. I hope you find it interest- ing that late in my political career in the California As- sembly I introduced a bill re- lating to marijuana. No mem- ber of the legislature had the courage to vote for it. Had that proposal become law it would have required anyone who makes a living growing and selling pot libel for nor- mal taxes, once they are ar- rested, tried and convicted. That sounded fair to me. The rest of us have to pay taxes on our income so why shouldn't they? I still think that proposal is a good idea. After all, here in Tehama County and the rest of the great North State, I am certain a good number of people are doing well mak- ing money in that illegal pro- fession. In this part of our Golden State we have what is known as the Emerald Triangle. Many of those pot cultiva- tors are seeking legitimacy through the medical mar- ket. I read that greenhouses in Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties are booming. Many dealers have planted marijuana in the backwoods and in rewired houses with high-intensity grow lights. Recently the saturation of pot growers even set off a price tumble around 2010, as a pound of prime Emer- ald weed slipped from $5,000 to the $3,000 range for mar- ijuana grown indoors and to the $2,000 range for product grown outdoors. I say legal or not, entre- preneurs are entrepreneurs. I think California needs to get some benefit as long as growers prefer to continue their illegal profession. I do however think that mari- juana needs to be properly regulated and controlled, but in the meantime let's find a better middle ground for this illegal activity that we apparently have no chance of eliminating. Since legal pot has already been approved in the states of Washington, Colorado and in D.C., I think it's just a matter of time before California has it too. What do you think? Please give me your candid thoughts. I would like to hear from you. StanStathamserved1976- 1994 in the California As- sembly and was a television news anchor at KHSL-TV in Chico 1965-1975. He is presi- dent of the California Broad- casters Association and can be reached at StanStatham@ gmail.com. My take Recent changes in legality of marijuana Had that proposal become law it would have required anyone who makes a living growing and selling pot libel for normal taxes, once they are arrested, tried and convicted. Where'sthemoney? Editor: A new court house, a new li- brary, expand the jail and now they want to buy a 3.8 acre farm for $340,000. Where is the board of super- visors getting the money for all of this? Probably by increasing our property taxes or increas- ing the sales tax for Tehama County. If we can afford all of this, we surely could afford to repair our roads in Tehama County. If we keep spending money like this, we will surely give away the farm. — Tom Alexander, Red Bluff Social Security Editor: In a recent letter a contrib- utor, critical of Social Security, suggested individuals would be financially better off by invest- ing their tax dollars in private sector investments rather than paying into the Social Security Trust Funds. Detractors of the program have long subscribed to the folly that one can do better with market investing. The re- cent commentary was but one more example of such wrong- headed thinking. Put simply, these folks fail to recognize the realities of life. They believe the Dow Jones and property values will always rise. They also believe one will never suffer a debilitating illness, lose a job or have a serious financial setback. In short, they're count- ing on a serene and prosper- ous 40 years of work. It seldom works out that way and one would be reckless to bank on it. The contributor offered an example of how much one could accrue after 40 years with a yearly income of $50,000. Let me offer another, far more com- mon, scenario. Let's say Mr. Market Inves- tor begins at age 21, as a self- employed person, with net an- nual earnings of $50,000. In- stead of paying annual Social Security taxes of $6,200, he in- vests the money, earning a 5 percent return. After 10 years he's accumulated approximately $82,000. Then, through no fault of his own, he becomes perma- nently disabled. No matter how much Mr. Investor scrimps and saves he'll be flat broke long be- fore he's 40. Compare that outcome to his situation if he were eligible for Social Security. Based on his 10 years of work and earnings, he would have begun to re- ceive disability benefits initially starting at $23,556 per year. Additional payments could be paid to his spouse and minor children. At retirement age Mr. Investor would have continued to collect monthly checks. At the time of his passing, his eli- gible survivors would continue to draw funds. While no one enjoys paying taxes, it's obvious why we and every other industrialized na- tion have some sort of social in- surance program. To do other- wise would invite catastrophic economic disruption and pov- erty. With few exceptions, ev- eryone needs this kind of in- come protection. Just ask the 58 million people now collect- ing monthly benefits, includ- ing 15,385 right here in Tehama County. — David Janott, Red Bluff The Feinstein report Editor: I don't know what Di- anne Feinstein, chair of the U.S. Senate Select Commit- tee on Intelligence, was think- ing when she laid open to the world a partisan exposé of the CIA's interrogation method of extracting information out of a handful of the lowest, most hideous examples of the hu- man race. However, I don't believe she and her partisan committee was thinking about the good of the country, nor were they thinking about the people who perished as a result of the 9-11 attack on the Pentagon, the Twin Towers and the failed at- tack on the nation's capital. At least 200 people jumped to their deaths from the World Trade Center. Desperation forced a horrific decision: burn or jump. Many who witnessed the attack say the sight of vic- tims jumping is their most haunting memory. More recently, did they give a thought of all the severed heads displayed on a stick? I think not. Could it be that Senator Fein- stein's love of money and power is her motive? The more the pot is stirred and the more the unrest in the Middle East, the more our involvement, the more the Department of Defense will be purchasing from the many corporations that her husband has invested in and is on the board of directors. While looking out for num- ber one, maybe this time Sen- ator Feinstein has stepped in number two. — Les Wolfe, Red Bluff Solar projects seldom provide electricity exceeding costs Editor: Taxpayers must pay a 30 per- cent federal subsidy and typi- cally a 10 percent state subsidy for every solar project. Most towns, cities and home- owners consider only their out of pocket costs for the typical 20-year lease of a solar project, and totally ignore the tax bur- den on their neighbor for the leased or owned solar or wind project. The 96 percent of us who re- ceive no financial benefits from solar projects, would prefer that the state and federal govern- ments end the taxpayer subsi- dies for solar and wind projects and electric cars. Our nation needs to reduce deficit spending by ending such social welfare programs. — Joseph Neff, Corning Your opinions Cartoonist's take I'm writing one of my in- frequent serious columns, be- cause I realize there is more to Christmas than non-stop holly jolly mirth. There will be many freshly vacant spots at Christmas/ holiday gatherings this year, whether because of death, hos- pitalization, relocation, work schedules, military service, es- trangement or incarceration. (My nuclear family remains intact; but in the past year, death has claimed my broth- er's mother-in-law, the preach- er's wife, a co-worker, several classmates' loved ones and an alarming number of customers at my day job.) I can't fill your stocking with any game-changing ad- vice for coping with loss or dis- tance at this festive/stress- ful time of year, but I'll rehash what others have said. Share warm or funny memories of the departed. Make a charita- ble donation in their name. In- vite a widow or bachelor who has Nothing but empty seats to share the holiday with your family. Stop being a techno- phobe and avail yourself of the tools for communicating with those who must be far away. Mostly, I'd like to offer ad- vice to see that you don't be- come one of those being mourned or missed. "Through the years we all will be to- gether, if the fates allow," sang Judy Garland. But sometimes we go out of our way to tempt Fate. More power to you if you can't meet an arbitrary Decem- ber 25 deadline because you've traveled cross-country to im- prove yourself academically or professionally, if you're de- fending our great nation or if you're overseas performing hu- manitarian work. But a lot of reasons for being absent are less noble. Put things in perspective be- fore you let petty squabbles create a yuletide vacuum this year or in the future. Thinking about that babe in the manger should help us do away with some more of the frivolous rea- sons for being a "no-show" or barring the door. That babe grew up to ask forgiveness for those who sent him to his death. How can we refuse to associate with someone who voted for the wrong party? That babe grew up to be in- famous for associating with tax collectors and sinners. How does one justify writing off a friend or relative whose life- style is either too old-fashioned or too ultra-modern? That babe grew up to be an itinerant preacher who es- chewed worldly possessions and had not even a place to lay his head. Isn't it silly to form a permanent family rift over how great-aunt Matilda's crochet bathroom plunger holders were divided up? Yes, each and every one of us will someday merit an empty place at the holiday table. But we don't have to rush the even- tuality. Get those brakes and tire treads inspected. Replace those smoke alarm batter- ies. Wean yourself from ciga- rettes. Find a doctor you can trust, have those checkups and heed the advice. Stop tex- ting and driving, running red lights and trying to beat trains to the crossing. Spend a lit- tle time pondering whether those guys you hang out with are really your friends or just some bozos who will split once they've made you a candidate for a squad car or an ambu- lance. Learn to count to 10 be- fore venting your righteous in- dignation on someone who just might be "packing" and itch- ing for a chance to blow some- one away. The perfect holiday gather- ing is a myth; but before you Rest In Peace, take a few steps to maximize holiday peace and good will. Danny Tyree welcomes reader e-mail responses at tyreetyrades@aol.com and vis- its to his Facebook fan page "Tyree's Tyrades." Danny Tyree Honoring the empty seats at the Christmas table Stan Statham OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, December 18, 2014 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6