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6A Daily News – Thursday, February 23, 2012 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 Caltrans 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 As spring is approaching once again and blossoms are becoming a beautiful sight, I am reminded how much I enjoy and appreciate our beautifully land- scaped freeways and overpasses here in Tehama County. You don't see that every- where and I just want to say "thank you Caltrans" for adding that beauty and pleasure to my life. I notice it every day. Mary Bill, Red Bluff Education parity Editor: Regarding the letter dated Feb. 18 by Mr. Bob Hogan. How do students in east L.A. get equal education as Beverly Hills. Property taxes. First off, the property taxes in Beverly Hills are higher, right? Because they take better care of their property, making it a pleasant place to live, so peo- ple go to work every day from there, properties are higher so higher taxes. On the other hand, the people in east L.A. live off welfare and free rent. They destroy property because it doesn't cost them anything. It's a blighted area so taxes are lower. There have been a lot of nice units built there, two years later they're ruined and an awful sight. They put schools there and in a short time they are destroyed beyond belief. Mr. Hogan, I lived in So Cal for 20 years. I know what hap- pened. I have been there. Came up to Red Bluff 40 years ago and it hasn't changed. Have you been there? Probably not or I would not be writing this letter to explain this to you. Pat Hall, Gerber K-9 thanks from the RB chief Editor: On behalf of all the members of the Red Bluff Police Depart- ment, I wanted to take a moment to thank all the citizens of Red Bluff and Tehama County who have contributed so generously to the Red Bluff Police Department K-9 Pro- gram. The Red Bluff Police Department has acquired a beautiful German Sheppard K9 that is currently in training with our K-9 Officer, Mike Brown. This is the first patrol K-9 that the Red Bluff Police Depart- ment has ever had and it could not have been possible without the support of the citizens of this community and county. There are literally hundreds of people that we need to thank for making this program a suc- cess. Too many to list in this letter to the editor but I would like to take a moment to thank a few key people and organiza- tions. First and foremost I would like to acknowledge the Red Bluff Community Center Auxiliary as they were the very first group to donate to our program with a generous donation of $1,000. We also received $1,000 donations from Rolling Hills Casino, Vesper Masonic Lodge and Sharon and Raymond Eliggi. One Stop on Walnut Street was also instrumental in dona- tions by contributing more than $1600; Red Bluff Round-Up Association donated $2,000 and the Sunrise Rotary spon- sored a fund raiser that raised $4,000 for our K-9 Program. We also received $500 dona- tions from the Sacred Heart Women's Guild, Tehama Fami- ly Fitness Center, Ed Stroman and Linda Lucas. Ed Stroman came up with the idea of our "Dog on Run and Ride" fund raiser. Alan and Bev Abs contributed many hours to make the Dog on Run and Ride a success as it result- ed in more than $4,000 for our program. Pete Sarmento was a great asset to this fund raiser working hard to get sponsors and to obtain more than $2,000 of the total funds raised by the "Dog on Run and Ride" fund raiser. There were literally dozens Your Turn of individuals who donated between one-hundred and five- hundred dollars as well as hundreds who donated up to one- hundred dollars. To all of them we send a big thank you for their contribution. We would also like to thank all the citizens who have and continue to donate through their City of Red Bluff water bills. Finally, a big thanks to the members of the Red Bluff Police Department K-9 Steer- ing Committee; Lt. Kyle Sanders, Records Manager Debi Tompkins, Officer Mike Brown, Detective Kevin Hale, Dispatcher Suzette Erb and Dispatcher Jane Hoover. The Department had a goal of reaching $30,000 to fund this program which included the K- 9, training for the K-9 and Han- dler as well as equipment for the K-9 team and the K-9 Vehi- cle. We are now just several hundred dollars from reaching that goal. We would not be there without the generosity of the citizens and the collective efforts of many, many people. Thank you all for your support. Chief Paul Nanfito, 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. Give Karen Santorum author credit for book Commentary On paper, Rick Santorum is not a generous man. He's the most religious; the staunchest of the moralists; the fastest to the Bible thumpyist; the preachiest of the preachy in this race. He's the most giant-government- forcing-you-to-be-holy of the small-government-for-corpora- tions-only candidates. Yet according to his tax returns, he gives the least amount to charity of anyone else running. In 2010 Santorum gave 1.75 percent of his nearly million dollars of income. That same year President Obama gave 14.2 percent of his income to charity, topping the most giving of the Republican candidates, Mitt Romney. That's a whopping 12 percent difference with a presi- dent who Santorum says doesn't have an agenda based on the Bible. Now this would not be notable if Santorum were a god- less hedonist who wrote tomes about how well selfishness has served him. But since he's of the Christian faith and uses God as a personal reference on his resume, well, then it's quite sig- nificant. Especially since the Bible is pretty clear on charity and helping the less fortunate. But Santorum's other prob- lem is he seems kind of anti- women. Now when I say "anti- women" I don't mean he kicks all women in the shins instead of shaking hands, or he's scared of anything with an extreme waist-to-hip ratio. I mean he's anti women being anything other than a mother or a soiled dove. "Traditional roles" for women have been either whole- some mom or the proverbial whore: Mother or outcast; Child bearer or streetwalker; Womb proprietor or back alley courte- san. Feminism traditionally has striven for equality regardless of gender. It's been a cry for women to be able to branch out of the world's oldest profession into some new ones. And yes, gasp, work outside the home. In Santorum's 2005 book, "It Takes a Family," the Senator wrote: "The radical feminists succeeded in undermining the traditional family and convinc- ing women that professional accomplishments are the key to happiness." And Rick's recent declara- tion that prenatal testing leads to more abortions only solidifies the caricature of him as a shady backwoods holy man in any Timothy Olyphant television show. It's condescending to women to be told they don't need to worry "their pretty little head" about the health of their baby because if they had knowl- edge they'd "ruin their lives with an abortion." It makes San- torum look anti-women-being- educated-and-properly- informed. Because giving birth is the most important role in life – anything else is worthy of popular scorn. Santorum's team has sensed this woman thing could be an issue. So he's try- ing to soften the edges with the (ahem) softer sex. Last week when George Stephanopou- los of ABC News asked about the anti- women working pas- sages in his book, Santorum said his wife, Karen, co-wrote those passages. "She felt very much like society and those radi- cal feminists that I was referring to were not affirming her choice ... All I'm saying is ... we should affirm both choices ... That's what the book says, and I stand by what I said." Yes, the book, according to Santorum's latest explanation, should have been titled "Affirm- ing Choices." Santorum: pro- affirming-choice. Sure. I could make all these prob- lems for Rick as a candidate go away. I have one simple solution: Give Karen an author credit. Yes, "It Takes a Fami- ly," admittedly took a family to write, so why not accredit the co-author on the cover? Tina Dupuy Currently Karen isn't even in the acknowledgement section – let alone on the cover or in the catalog information. So why not announce that the mother of your children isn't just your personal incubator, but is val- ued for her mind and opinion? It says your anti-women stance comes straight from the woman happily working in your own home. Do a re-issue of this collection of antiquated ramblings and tell the world she's the wife who made you the anti- women candidate you are today. It accomplishes two things: It makes Santorum seem generous (again) on paper, and it makes all of that Neolithic "women need to know their place" rhetoric in his 464-page mani- festo seem more this millenni- um. Sure it "takes a family" to write a book – but it "takes a woman" to make you look less like a sad, desperate relic. Tina Dupuy is an award- winning writer and fill-in host at The Young Turks. Tina can be reached at tinadupuy@yahoo.com.