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6A Daily News – Tuesday, November 29, 2011 Opinion Calling all 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 couponers Editor: I am an avid couponer and I have managed to save hundreds of items that will be given away on Dec. 10 at a dinner for those in need. 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 Four top notch news guys died this fall. Their individual styles of journalism could not have been more different, and yet they were alike in their ded- ication to keeping audiences informed and entertained. They touched us all, but for me each had a special connec- tion. Tom Wicker was more than a great reporter, he was a progres- sive thinker who dared tread close to the line that separates impartial journalism from out- right activism — at a time when it was far less common than it is today. During his three-decade career at The New York Times that ended in 1991, he was a powerful voice in civil rights and anti-war movements, speak- ing from a perch that gave him clout with presidents as well as millions of Americans. In 1971, after writing about unacceptable prison conditions nationwide, Wicker found him- self part of the story at Attica prison in upstate New York. He agreed to join a negotiating team during an uprising by inmates, and wound up watch- ing in horror as 29 prisoners and 10 hostages died in an assault by state troopers and guards. Wicker wrote "A Time to Die" about his experience, and Last year we were able to bless about 50 men, women and children with full size personal hygiene items, gloves, scarves, beanies and fleece blankets. We planned on serving 75 people this year but it is now estimated that we will serve as many as 200, if not more. I am excited at the prospect of being able to bless that many peo- ple in need, however what has been collected to date will allow us to provide minimal items to each per- son. I started racking my brain for ways to increase what we have and I realized that my contribution has been solely due to the use of coupons and I came up with this idea. I am asking any other coupon- ers that have managed to build a stash to see what items they have accumulated that they might donate. This is a way that we can pull together as the community of couponers to bless others with our bounty. If you are able to help, please email me at rbmelodybrewer@yahoo.com to arrange pick up or delivery. Thank you for your generosity and God Bless you this holiday season as you give to those in need. Melody Brewer, Red Bluff Yes, Virginia Editor: In 1897 the New York Sun ran this editorial. Truer words have never been spo- ken. "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as cer- tainly as love and generosity. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart ..." This year Santa Claus came in many forms for the animals of the Tehama Coun- ty Animal Care Center. By the contributions and tireless efforts of: P.E.T.S.; the volun- teers at the Animal Care Cen- ter; rescue organizations; transport groups; foster and adoptive families; and the many individual and business donors, the hearts of many animals were made glad this past year. With the help and generos- ity of these contributors, com- fort, peace and joy were brought to a number of home- less and abandoned animals who would not have other- wise had a decent outcome. On behalf of these lost and often forgotten animals, I say thank you and wish a very Merry Christmas to everyone who assisted in brightening this year and to those who will continue to do so this holiday season for those crea- tures that are still in desper- ate need. Ronnie Casey, Corning Underpaid teachers? Editor: So often teachers are listed during political talks and news articles as being underpaid. Prob- ably the source of this myth is the strong teacher's union lobby. The evidence, from national studies, is that public school total teacher's compensation averages roughly $1.50 for every $1 that their skills would earn in a private sector job. Research sug- gests that on average, counting salaries, benefits and job security, teachers receive about 52 percent more pay than they could in the private sector. Teachers score only around the 40th percentile of college graduates in academic achievement. Comparison of teachers to non-teachers with the same scores shows teachers are significantly well paid compared to the private sector graduates with similar nontechnical degrees. Too few teachers have the more rigorous degrees in sci- ence and math. Teachers seldom loose their jobs, while private sector workers can expect frequent company recession cycles with staff cuts. Public job security is a 10 percent pay advantage. Private sector col- lege grads average 2 weeks vaca- tion, 4 days sick pay, and 8 holi- days or 238 yearly work days, compared to 180 school days. Private sector business travel is normally completed on weekends and evenings and 9 to 10 hour Your Turn workdays are the norm. Private sector pensions for college degreed employees ended 30 years ago, and retirement income is limited to Social Security, the national average of 3% matched salary contribution to a 401(k) plan, and self invested savings. Most private sector employees work until age 65 versus age 55 early retirement for teachers and other pub- lic employees. The teacher's and public employees pensions are double to triple those of private sector degreed retirees, with less self investment. Private sector health care subsidies, other than Medicare end upon retirement but continues for public employees. Recently President Obama introduced a $185 million pro- gram to improve teacher's col- leges from the present situation where only 23 percent of teachers come from the top one-third of college graduates. Improvement programs don't sit well with the teacher's union. Since teacher quality, next to parental involve- ment, is the primary determinant of student achievement, Washing- ton is putting pressure on colleges to tighten admission standards, bolster curricula, and produce greater numbers of high quality math and science teachers. Fortunately, average academi- cally qualified teachers can make a significant difference in student performance if they have the unique skill to transfer knowledge to children. Joseph Neff, Corning 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. Four I'll miss Commentary many believe it was the best of his 20 books. Ten years later it was made into a movie by ABC. The Times assigned me to inter- view Wicker and the filmmakers to find out why the movie was relatively soft while the book was so hard-hitting. Wicker explained that, in print, "I was able to (present) a number of things involving the problems of criminal justice in America, racism and violence in America." Film, he told me, "doesn't work very well that way." Tom Wicker was a print guy all right, at a time when that was the most important thing a journalist could be. Andy Rooney not only enter- tained us, he made us think — not about big, complicated mat- ters but about little things that knit to form our lives. "Curmud- geon" was a word several writ- ers used to describe him. Hav- ing been his neighbor in Con- necticut I can confirm that he was as grouchy at the hardware store as he was on "60 Min- utes." What intrigued me most about Rooney was his ability to notice things in life that many of us tend to overlook, and his relentless pursuit of society's peccadilloes. Andy Rooney was the type of journalist who had the canny ability to make us think while also making us smile. Hal Bruno was not a house- hold name, but as chief of polit- ical coverage for ABC News, where I worked for five years, he helped develop the type of analysis and numbers-crunching that we now take for granted. He moderated sev- eral notable debates, including the vice presidential confronta- tion between Al Gore and Dan Quayle. Unlike today's tele- vised debates in which moderators increasing- ly seek to egg on can- didates with gotcha questions, Hal Bruno was a master of the low-key, studious approach aimed at eliciting great answers rather than just good TV. Bil Keane's work appeared in the comic section, but it man- aged to trigger our emotions as much as anything on the front page. "The Family Circus," a simple panel with parents and kids who haven't aged a bit since its debut in 1959, remains a staple in over 1,500 newspa- pers. It's schmaltzy yet real, as when little Jeffy asks his moth- er, "Can I wear my short-sleeve pants?" Or when Billy exclaims, "Mom's cooking my favorite dinner. It's called leftovers." I never met Bil Peter Funt Keane, but often felt he was part of my family. In the sixties he drew a comic panel called "Channel Chuckles," for which his favorite subject seemed to be my father's program, "Candid Camera." As always, the humor was pointed, yet kind. Bil Keane's real-life son, Jeff, has been helping with "Family Circus" for some time, so the institution will continue — a passing of the media torch with which I'm familiar. Taken together, the work of these four men provides a good picture of what great journalism can be, regardless of the form it takes or the era in which it is practiced. Peter Funt is a writer and speaker and can be reached at www.CandidCamera.com.