Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/47825
4A Daily News – Thursday, November 17, 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 A manifesto for progressive-conservatives I hate to break this to my fel- 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 low progressive-conservatives, but those of us who believe in progressive social values and conservative economics won't have a presidential candidate who satisfies us next November. Barack Obama made noise about going this way in 2008. But the president has embraced the progressive part of the code more than the conservative side. He even has gone populist. And Republicans, wow. They're bent on electing a candi- date who'll satisfy the conserva- tive economic part of the equa- tion but completely reject the progressive aspect. No compas- sionate conservatism or McCain- like independence this time around. But those who want a humane immigration system, stronger public schools, a place for gays in the military — plus debt reduction, entitlement reforms and private-sector-led growth — need not sit out this cycle. Pro- gressive-conservatives can start now to create an agenda that would encourage fellow travel- ers to compete in future elec- tions. It also would allow the numerous current officeholders who are quiet about their cen- ter/right beliefs to come out of the closet. Patience is needed. But not too much patience. We need to muscle our way into the conver- sation with smarts and strong policies. We don't need placards and screaming, but we can make the case for a politics of the cen- ter with relentless consistency. That starts with using the off- year to develop a "muscular mid- dle" agenda. Here are a few sug- gestions: Press for better public schools: Partner with civil rights groups and business leaders who, like us, believe Washington should hold local schools accountable. The Obama admin- istration started strong in this direction but has faded, and Republicans are distancing themselves from federal involve- ment altogether. By standing up for testing that shows whether children are learning at grade level, prog- cons will stand on the side of minority students whose public schools have left them behind. But accountability isn't enough. Also delve into what makes schools work, starting with how districts develop principals and teachers as leaders — and retain them. Welcome immigrants: The top goal is immigration laws that create more permits for foreign workers to come here legally and a process for illegal immigrants to become citizens. But that pri- ority has been hard to achieve and will be until at least 2013. So, start working with churches, schools and other mediating institutions to inte- grate the many immigrants from Latin America into our culture. The school part especially matters. In states like Texas and California, Latino students are the domi- nant demographic group. But they often trail their Anglo peers. This gap needs attention so young Hispanics don't end up in a paral- lel universe. America needs them becoming inventors, doctors and executives. Let the private sector William McKenzie grow jobs: Obama had to stimulate the economy, but he relied too much on government to grow jobs. Better to let the pri- vate sector lead. The place to start is the energy industry. Numerous states have natural gas reserves. Push for access to them — and press producers to invest in environmental tech- nologies. Also, flatten the tax code. Create two rates, scrap many exemptions and lower firms' cost of capital. America may not rebound immediately, but an efficient tax code could stimulate growth. Go gonzo about the debt: Pro- gressive-conservatives should hope Congress' supercommittee succeeds in reducing the debt by $4 trillion. But even if the panel hits a homer, entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security need attention. Former GOP Sen. Pete Domenici and former Clinton advis- er Alice Rivlin have the best Medicare idea. Keep traditional Medicare for seniors who want it, but give others a voucher they could use to buy pri- vate insurance. The choice model could control costs. I've outlined ele- ments of a progres- sive-conservative agenda before and will keep doing so as the campaign unfolds. I also will identify people and institutions that think along these lines. The 2012 race may be less than satisfying for those of us who lean left on cultural issues but right on economics. But this is the time for the muscular mid- dle to create its future. William McKenzie is an editorial columnist for The Dallas Morning News. Readers may write to him at the Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, Dallas, Texas 75265; email: wmckenzie@dallasnews.com. 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. Obama's energy plan: Chevy Volt Commentary Three years ago, the nation- al average for a gallon of regu- lar grade gasoline was around $1.70. The price climbed to $2.60 in 2009 and $2.80 a year later. As of November 11, 2011, gas rose to an average of $3.45 per gallon, roughly twice as much as what we were pay- ing in 2008. When gasoline prices hit their peak at around $4.00, Democrats were demanding Bush's head on a platter, but under Obama the higher prices are simply the new normal. Rather than take steps to curb rising fuel prices, the adminis- tration is waging its own ideo- logical war - against energy independence - by drilling reg- ulations and moratoriums that, according to Steve Forbes, "is fueling an energy crisis that could bring this nation to its knees." We hear much these days about all the jobs "saved or created" but hear little about jobs slashed or destroyed. In many ways, the Obama admin- istration has become a job- wrecking machine. According to Forbes in the same Politico op-ed piece, the six-month gulf drilling moratorium alone cost 8,169 jobs and $487 million in wages, not to mention the sweeping effects on the truck- ing and agriculture industries. In this struggling economy, the obvious solution would be to reduce regulations and tap into our own natural resources, which would strengthen our economy on many levels. But, for liberals, it is less about jobs and more about pleasing envi- ronmental constituencies. What is Obama's grand plan to get America back on the road to energy independence? One million electric cars on the road by 2015. Money is tight as we enter this holiday season, so few of us will wake up on Christmas morning to find a Chevy Volt, wrapped in a large green bow sitting in our driveway. But, that may be a good thing, con- sidering recent incidences involving Volts or their charg- ers, catching fire. One such fire in North Carolina nearly burned a house down. On the up side, this could be the answer to many upside-down mortgages across the country - buy a Volt and plug her in. The Volt was supposed to be the bright and shining symbol of the Obama administration's green energy revolution, but instead has become a reminder of what happens when the fed- eral government over steps its Constitutional boundaries to meddle in private industry. Like most ideas coming from the ideological left, elec- tric cars are great in theory but fall short in applica- tion. For one, the peo- ple who need them most can't afford them. Even with the $7500 (taxpayer- funded) federal rebate, thousands of unwanted Volts, priced from $32,000 to $57,000, remain parked on dealership lots across the coun- try. Many more would be sitting on those lots, were it not for Obama's buddy, Gen- eral Electric (GE) CEO Jeff Immelt's decision to purchase twelve thousand Volts. Immelt also joined Obama's electric car revolution with the development of the GE WattStation electric vehicle charger. The Volt, just like every- thing else the government pro- duces, underperforms and is overpriced. (I cannot wait for Obamacare!) In an op-ed piece for the New York Times, automobile expert Edward Susan Brown Niedermeyer wrote the Volt "offers the performance and interior space of a $15,000 economy car." Niedermeyer claims the Obama administration knew from the get-go that the Volt would likely be a financial flop. Nonetheless, with pockets stuffed full of taxpayer funds, the administration merrily doled out Energy Department grants and loans, and in essence, chose for us the type of cars they believe we should drive. On a positive note, the electric vehicle industry might have the unintended consequence of creating more jobs as fire sta- tions hire more firefighters to handle the increased work- load. Susan Stamper Brown is an op-ed columnist, motivational speaker, military family advocate and grief counselor who writes about politics, the military, the economy and culture. she can be reached at susan@susanstamperbrown.c om.