Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/51649
6A Daily News – Tuesday, January 3, 2012 Opinion Thanks to the 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 community Editor: 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 This holiday season afforded me a unique opportunity to reflect upon the generous spirit of my fellow Red Bluffians. Within a three week period over 300 people graced our doors and told us what they were most grateful for in their lives. Your stories of family lost, failing health and economic hardships touched our hearts even as your expression of grat- itude and thankfulness lifted our spirits. In spite of these difficult times, over 2,000 pounds of food was donated to assist those less fortunate than ourselves. We wish to express our grat- itude to you, our community, for reminding us what's truly important in life and the reason for the season. May you have a happy and prosperous New Year. Jessie Woods, Red Bluff I'll take Reagan Editor: Oh Freddie, are you for real? In your letter to the editor Dec. 31, 2011, you are living proof that you left wing-nuts just can't stand the truth. You take my Nixon comment completely out of context. This is what I said. "When it comes to corruption President Nixon is a candidate for saint- hood compared to Obama and his Administration. The Obama Administration's Operation Fast and Furious where government agencies put semi-automatic weapons in the hands of the Mexican drug cartels have killed more than 200 innocent people in Mexico and at least one American Border Patrol Agent. That is considerably more than was killed at Waco during the Clinton Administra- tion. Plus the government agen- cies operating Fast and Furious were involved in money-laun- dering for the Mexican drug cartels." Yes, President Reagan is a political hero, and was a great American. No apology tours for him. He thought the United States was a great country and was not afraid say it, nor did he ever apologize for it and he cer- tainly didn't bow down to the leaders of other countries or any Muslim prince. His respect for the office of the President of the United States of America overshadows that of any president in at least the last four decades or more. Compare him to Clinton. President Reagan wouldn't take off his coat or loosen his tie while in the Oval Office, even when there by himself. Clinton on the other hand used it for sexual encounters with a young intern Monica Lewinsky. Clin- ton and Monica Lewinsky put new meaning to the phrase, "Head of State." Oh yes, there was something about a cigar in some of those encounters. You can have Clinton and Obama for your political heroes; I'll take President Rea- gan anytime. Les Wolfe, Red Bluff Taxes Editor: Your Turn The rhetoric goes like this, "It doesn't make much sense to raise the tax rate on the rich because they will get around paying it one way or another." More and more of the poor are becoming homeless and more of the middle class are slipping down to the poorer category. Thus leaving the government with fewer and fewer people to tax. Some have said if the tax rate were to go up for the wealthy they would simply buy more tax exempt bonds. The solution to that is to restrict the number of bonds an individual or identity can buy. Bloomberg recently reported that one quarter of newly elect- ed Congressmen are from the legal profession and a web site for the ABA young lawyers division claims 36% of all Con- gressmen were lawyers before being elected. And according to Wikipedia: "Fifty-six U.S. Senators hold degrees in the law, of whom forty-nine actual- ly practiced law. With such an accumulation of legal experts you would think at least one of them could find a way to insure that a tax would be paid even if levied on the wealthiest. But silly me, assuming Congress had any interest in a humane (if not totally ethical) distributing of this nation's wealth. They all had to have accu- mulated a sizeable nest egg even to consider running for office and then they all had to beg for campaign contributions. Since the wealthy contribute the most it's the wealthy that Congress listens to the most. If they don't want to be taxed, guess what? Governments don't nor ever have generated any income on their own. They have always had to take whatever was need- ed from those they governed. Our government has a choice of either raising the highest tax rates or drastically cutting social programs like unem- ployment, college loans, Veter- ans programs, Social Security, welfare, etc.. Call me weird but I believe it more to our advantage to raise some tax rates than to demolish social programs. Orval Strong, Gerber 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. Frequent questions about the Iowa Caucuses Commentary Q. A little help here. Exactly what are the Iowa Caucuses? A. The Iowa Caucuses is a method of choosing a presiden- tial nominee. Held every four years. Usually in Iowa. Q. Why is it so important? A. Number one in the batting order. Opening stanza of an epic poem. The recorded preamble to the Republican Nomination Symphony is over, and the citi- zen orchestra is about to play. Q. What? A. Gentlemen, start your engines. Q. What precisely happens? A. Nobody knows. The process is sort of like musical chairs without the chairs. And no music. Q. How did all this get start- ed? A. It began with early Iowans throwing small, round runic stones into hollowed-out stumps, which were placed atop huge cast iron kettles brimming with pig entrails -- then the omens interpreted by a circle of community elders wearing cere- monial necklaces of hand- carved, stringed chestnuts. Q. And when did it transform into the current method? A. Actually, it's still pretty much the same. Q. How is a caucus different than a primary? A. At least the Republicans use a secret ballot to vote. Democrats don't vote, they attend. Then huddle with like minded others in designated candidate corners, but if not enough people join your posse, your group is disbanded and everybody wanders around in search of a second or third choice. So supporters who cor- ner the breath mint and deodor- ant market hold a huge advan- tage. Q. Might there be worse ways in choosing a candidate than picking the one with the best smelling supporters? A. Oh, yes, indeed. Look at North Korea. Q. So, you are allowed to change your vote? A. No. Unless you plan to vote for Jon Huntsman. Then you are encouraged to. Q. My good buddy Jon. How's he doing these days? A. Little green around the gills. Polling around 1 percent with a margin of error of 4 per- cent. So he could very well end up owing Iowa a couple dele- gates. polls? Q. How believable are the A. Don't bet the farm. Iowans are a fierce, stubborn people. They don't call them Buckeyes or Hawkeyes or Hoosiers or whatever they call them for nothing you know. Q. What are you saying? A. That folks in Iowa love to confound conventional wisdom by throwing in with the under- dog. Can we say Ron Paul in a squeaker? Q. Why Iowa? A. Why not Iowa? Q. No, I mean why does a state that Min- nesotans make fun of, get to go first? A. Who do you want to go first: Louisiana? California? Texas? American Samoa? Q. Your point being? A. At least Iowa is representative. Q. Of white people. A. In the form of a question, please. Q. Okay, how diverse is Iowa? Will Durst Raging Moderate A. White, white, white, white, white, white, white. Whiter than a "Justin Bieber Christmas in Nor- way Special." Mashed potatoes on paper plates with a side of cauliflower white. Q. And that's representative? A. Of Republicans. Q. Point taken. Who can par- ticipate? A. Anybody who pre-regis- ters as a Republican. And brings snacks. Q. Does it cost anything to participate? A. Just the tiniest piece of your soul. Q. How are caucuses better than primaries? A. Well, they're a whole lot more fun to say. Try it in a sen- tence: "I slipped on the ice and broke my cau- cuses." Q. What happens in Iowa on January 4 when the circus packs up and moves to New Hampshire? A. Iowa radio sta- tions will stop screaming about trea- son and hypocrisy and go back to hog futures and herbicidal ads; the way God intended. Will Durst is a political comedian who has performed around the world. He is a familiar pundit on television and radio. E-mail Will at durst@caglecartoons.com. Check out willandwillie.com for the latest podcast. Will Durst's book, "The All American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing," is available from Amazon and better bookstores all over this great land of ours. Don't forget to check out his rooftop comedy minutes at: http://www.rooftopcomedy.com/ shows/BurstOfDurst.