Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/47051
6A Daily News – Tuesday, November 8, 2011 Opinion Labor 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 Editor: On Nov. 2, a letter by Les Wolfe 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 was printed in the Daily News. Wolfe alleges that the SEIU — for those, like Wolfe who are ignorant of the laws and activities of unions — contributed large amounts of money to the Obama campaign. This is false and without merit. For you see the labor laws both Taft-Hartey and Landrum-Griffen were both enacted by Congress prohibit this. However to be fair to Mr. Wolfe, also by law union members may voluntarily donate, through their union, monies to go to candi- dates favorable to the workers of America. No, there are no union bosses. They are only duly elected, by the democratic process by their membership. Yes, these elected officials do have the right and duty to do what is in the best interests of all wage earners. Today we all enjoy the 8-hour day, the 40-hour work week, down from the 12-hour per day and 72- hour work week. organized labor. All this and more are due to Robert Hogan, Red Bluff Jobs and such Editor: Mr. Neff in his Nov. 3 letter to the editor made some good sug- gestions however jobs odd or oth- erwise are harder to come by these days else we wouldn't have over 13 million unemployed workers in this country. I applaud Mr. Neff's accom- plishments but I wish he would curtail his bragging a bit. Conservative capitalists are not the only ones that ever worked in this country. I have worked as an assistant janitor while in High School. I did farm work between my freshmen and junior years and worked at a brick yard unloading bricks and concrete blocks from boxcars between my junior and senior year of High School. I was surprised Mr. Neff didn't put a plug in for the armed ser- vices. If you can qualify for some- thing other than being cannon fod- der, all the services offer excellent training in just about anything you could think of. If you should decide to go that route keep in mind that your mili- tary occupation can be changed to whatever the military has the most need for. And if they need more infantry- men guess what. I am sorry to hear about Mr. Minton's health problems however his suggestion that some miner can be damaged by someone smoking a joint a thousand feet away is a stretch to say the least. I heartily agree that second hand smoke is dangerous but of all those that I know who regularly smoke marijuana not one ever runs after children to blow smoke in their faces. The very idea is too preposterous to even contemplate. The sensible approach to the drug problem in this country would be to legalize them. That does not mean allowing those under the influence escape punishment for crimes committed while they were high. Just as alcoholics are not given a free pass because they were drunk when such and such hap- pened. If marijuana was cheep gangs would not care less about it. And the only reason for the expense is its illegal status. Hear is a novel idea, why not pass a law that says arrest can only be made if some- one has incurred damages. Orval Strong, Gerber Liberal slant Your Turn Editor: Recently, I reluctantly re-sub- scribed to your newspaper, partial- ly to get caught up on local events but additionally, in an altruistic attempt to add to our local econo- my. The reason behind my previous cancellation was simple; I had reached my limit of patience with the overriding share of your edito- rials and guest writers but especial- ly: Richard Mazzuchi, Tina Dupuy, Durst and others. Realizing that newspapers across California are plagued with liberal contributors, I chose to take the higher road by re-examining the Daily News, hoping that some- how you had re-evaluated your byline contributors, and had decid- ed to tone down your liberal slant. No such luck. I moved here 20-odd years ago to escape the same nonsense I see spewing from your presses, and because other citizens of this fine, conservative county were like- minded. Unfortunately, the Daily News editor just doesn't get it, and appar- ently...never will. On every occasion of opening your diminishing news print and reading Mazzuchi's ridiculous dri- vel, both my blood pressure and amazement increase as I realize that this 'educated fool' and his ilk are incapable of concluding that their collective views are what have driven this state into the ground to begin with. Mazucchi espe- cially reminds me of a precocious child squalling for attention and by providing him with a forum you are serving as a conduit, allowing him to 'act out' and vocalize his demential in public' the resultant damage be damned. From the legalization of mari- juana to advocating the gay agenda in public schools, by aiding and abetting these social engineers you are a primary stake holder in the race to destroy what was once the greatest state in the nation. Please cancel my subscription, and do no re-solicit my business. Terry Puckett, Red Bluff Annie play Editor: It is Monday, and I am still smiling, as I reflect back to last Friday night's performance of "Annie Jr." at the State Theater. Many thanks to the hard-work- ing directors, actors, singers, and behind-the-scenes elves, who were able to to create such a charming performance. I was impressed with the courage, poise, enthusiasm, spirit of cooperation, and sheer sta- mina of all who were involved. Here's to supporting the arts in Red Bluff! Meg Planz, 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), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 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; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. The delta of denial Commentary Slamming D.C. It may be the singular most popular political game around today. Everybody does it. Even incumbents go out of their way to blame Washington for everything that's wrong with the country. A lot like a baseball man- ager complaining that his team suffers from a crippling lack of quality coaching. You've heard all the buzz phrases: "Washington is not the answer, it is the problem." "The devil made both Washington and hell, but chooses to live in hell." "Washington is a cesspool." Sure, that's what they say, but once elected, they treat it like a hot tub. Hard to tell what disturbs the critics most: the culture, the peo- ple or the traffic on the Beltway. Don't hate the player, hate the game. The residents of our nation's capital are absolutely nor- mal. Okay, absolutely semi-nor- mal. Or as normal as can be, con- sidering the 202 area code is hive mind to some of the largest egos in the world. At least now we know what happens when the inmates take over the asylum. And the most venally ambitious of the criminally insane manage to scramble to the top. Nobody could ever mistake D.C. for the real world. It's an encapsulated bubble. A yuppie terrarium. The Florence of Malfeasance. Meta Wonk Central. A work-free drug zone. The largest Superfund site in America. Where double-sided red tape orig- inated and they throw it around like it's going out of style. Don't forget though, Washing- ton is unique. The capitals of other nations are also media and enter- tainment centers. The only reason to venture into D.C. is business. It's a company town solely designed to support the federal government. A whale of a city, with schools of subsidiary occupa- tion pilot fish swimming and feed- ing alongside. And the lobbyists and campaign managers, barna- cles sticking to the side, regularly messing with the air intake valves. It is also happens to be the sin- gle worst place on the planet to have a conversation, because all anyone wants to talk about is themselves. And don't ask for directions. Nobody has a clue about anything, yet they fervently believe they possess all the answers. And some folks will go miles out of their way to confuse you, just to keep their muscles toned. JFK said D.C. com- bined all the hospitality of the north with the effi- ciency of the south. Not to mention the scruples of a turkey vulture over- looking a yard full of wounded bunnies. It's a town where you always have to worry that your best friend is wearing a wire. Where "cynical" has been raised to an art form. Imagine the Kar- dashians as elderly white guys with double the sense of entitlement. Washington is the Delta of Denial. Rou- tinely demonstrated by politicians who never understand why the rest of the country holds them in such low esteem. Even though they spend millions of dol- lars on ads every election cycle to convince us what despicable crooks their opponents are, and it goes both ways. They remain blithely oblivious that the only time we trust them is when they tell us the other guy is lying. Will Durst Raging Moderate And like The Hotel California, once you check in, you can never leave. Because after spending a couple of quickly aging years in D.C., you're ruint, and can never go back to living with normal peo- ple. But hey, a person has to sleep some- where, right? Even lob- byists. Besides, most of them can't go home again because the rocks they used to live under are gone. Hey, the Smithsonian is nice. The New York Times says Emmy-nominated comedian and writer Will Durst "is quite possibly the best political satirist working in the country today." Check out the website: willdurst.com to find out more about upcoming stand- up performances or to buy his book, "The All-American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing."