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4A Daily News – Saturday, March 10, 2012 Opinion Cartoon 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: Your political cartoon really pissed me off today (Feb. 22). By putting this trash in our paper you're just perpetuating the popu- lar (to right wing Republicans, hawks and chicken hawks) the wrong premise that Iran is seeking a nuclear bomb. 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 Being a paper I'd think you could do your homework and find out that there is none, absolutely no proof of them even coming close to a bomb, they just want nuclear energy. There is no "smok- ing gun" no WMDs. Sound famil- iar? I realize your paper didn't cre- ate it but by putting it in your paper you are helping convince the igno- rant mass public that Iran is an aggressor and warfare is good. The U.S. and Israel are the aggres- sor they have already assassinated several of their outstanding citi- zens, nuclear scientists and initiat- ed a cyber attack on their comput- ers, which resulted in destroying large expensive equipment. It's all about oil. Maybe that is the one thing that is right in that cartoon. Until the U.S. can control all of the oil in the world this will go on and on. Why don't you print the truth? Have an article next to your political cartoon as an oppos- ing view? What. Have an informed public? Nonsense. The next thing you know they will want peace. Better to keep them ignorant, easier to control. Right now Israel wants to con- duct "preemptive strikes" (sound familiar?) My God. You know what that entails? Mini nukes in order to get to the underground facilities. Iran is not going to stand still, they are quite formidable, having missiles that will reach major cities in Israel. Please. Pro- moting (talk) like this keeps the people ignorant about what will really happen if war starts out. You are responsible for what goes in the paper, please inform the public of the people, the chil- dren, the women, the "collateral damage" that occurs when war breaks out instead of mindlessly inserting inflammatory cartoons that create nothing but hate. Wayne Peterson, Corning Mill Creek Editor: In his March 6 column, "Another Mill Creek massacre," Richard Mazzucchi crafts an over- wrought emotional image of impending doom. He describes a proposed water right transfer to a Napa County development, liken- ing it to the long-ago massacre of the Yahi tribe. The "second massacre" is a clever hook. But it is bogus — more like rabble-rousing than a proper product of a research engi- neer. There are strong reasons to oppose the Napa proposal, but they concern legal precedents and impacts on downstream users, not that Mill Creek would be dried up. Under the proposed transfer, diver- sions from Mill Creek would be reduced, resulting in greater flow in lower Mill Creek. That addi- tional water would remain in the Sacramento River, to be pumped from the northwestern Delta to Napa County via the existing North Bay Aqueduct (a State Water Project facil- ity). support from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation the program was never permitted, so OCID began evaluating options that would con- tinue to allow the water rights to benefit critical habitat and the environment in lower Mill Creek. After discussion So, depending upon the time of year and the weather, the proposed transfer would cause something between zero and a small increase in Mill Creek flow. The Napans would not tunnel under Mill Creek and suck it dry. Mr. Mazzucchi ends with this helpful suggestion: "If the people of Napa, or Orange County for that matter, need more water for their developments, have them desalinate…" Back in the day, that attitude was called FUJIGM. The last part of that acronym was "…Jack, I got mine." Linton Brown, Red Bluff More Mill Creek Editor: I am writing in response to two recent articles in your publication regarding a potential assignment of water rights from Orange Cove Irrigation District to a planned development in Napa County. OCID purchased two water rights on Mill Creek in Tehama County in 1999 as part of a pro- gram to enhance instream flows for the benefit of salmon and steel- head fisheries. After strong initial Your Turn with several potential partners, the OCID Board of Directors determined that assign- ment of a portion of the water rights to the Napa Pipe Project was consistent with the intended use of those rights. That project will allow the water rights to enhance instream flows in lower Mill Creek for environmen- tal purposes on a year-round basis, while also being put to use for a LEED-certified redevelopment project in Napa County. Contrary to statements in your newspaper, the program would result in more water being avail- able for fish, not less. While your paper characterizes opposition by the Los Molinos Mutual Water Company and other local landowners as being con- cerned with environmental pro- tection, your readers should be aware that those parties actually seek to block the proposed pro- ject, so that they can divert more water from Mill Creek for their own private benefit, leaving less in the stream for fish. H.A. "Gus" Collin III, Orange Cove Gus Collin is vice president of the board of directors of Orange Cove Irrigation District 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: governor@gover- nor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Ceanothus 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 Mont- gomery St., Suite 240, San Fran- cisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. 'Nobody's got no class' Commentary The musical, Chicago, opened on Broadway in 1975. It was not a smash hit, but it was revived in 1996 and was still running as of January this year with a record of over 6,200 per- formances. The storyline is from Prohibition era Chicago with speakeasies, corrupt politicians, crooked lawyers, and the low life world of drink, dancing, and show business. It was based on a story written in the 1920s about an actual event. I did not enjoy the musical when I first saw it. I guess I was a little prudish. The production took place one summer in New Hampshire. It is a very earthy show about show business and female jail inmates during the roaring '20s. John Karder who wrote the music was present for this particular performance; he was there because in those days there were not many productions of that musical, and he wanted to see it. I didn't appreciate the crudity of the vocabulary, but the most difficult part for me was seeing my daughter portray a hard liv- ing chorus liner. My prudishness has diminished as both my daughter and I have aged, and I have enjoyed seeing Chicago several times since then and even own a DVD of the movie. One of the songs from Chica- go starts out like this: Whatever happened to fair dealing? And pure ethics? And nice manners? Why is it everyone now is a pain in the Ass? Whatever happened to class? The subject matter degener- ates from there, and it conclude by saying "Nobody's got no class!" You might think that song was inspired by the current political climate, but it was writ- ten in 1975, in the Watergate Era, fifty years after the events portrayed in the musical. When the current President was inaugurated, the opposition party made it their goal to limit his tenure to four years. It wasn't long before there were stage whispers about the President's true citizenship, and even today we hear of computer analysis of the so-called long birth form the White House produced. Then there were questions about whether the President was a Muslim; no branch of which was mentioned, but open rumors were circulated. At a state of the union speech a Congressman shouted "you lie" during part of the speech on health care and illegal immi- grants. Recently a primary candidate proclaimed the President a "snob". At first that candidate sounded like he was for more home schooling and less col- lege, but then he changed his tune and said he was just upset because the President was trying to make all of us be like him, whatever that means. That can- didate also said that a majority of pregnant women who have a certain pre natal tests proceed to have abortions; he had no data to back up his claim. A prominent loose cannon radio talk jock recently called a col- lege student a "slut" and "prostitute" for asking that her health insurance include con- traception. Now we have open discussions about contraception, prenatal exams, and abortion. Maybe I am old fashion, but these topics are not the best subject matter to be ranting about in public forums. Joe "Whatever hap- pened to class?" Mark Twain once said: "Of all the creatures that were made he [man] is the most detestable. Of the entire brood he is the only one--the solitary one—that pos- sesses malice. That is the basest of all instincts, passions, vices-- the most hateful….He is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport knowing it to be pain….Also—in all the list he is the only one with a nasty mind." Perhaps the blood sport of politics and political commen- tary has gone too far, like the gladiatorial fights to the death. Locally, the word "liberal" has been turned into an epithet, a short cut code word that lets the user off the hook for explaining what he or she is referring to. Six years ago, Harrop before I started this weekend column, I wrote an op-ed piece recommending we declare a moratorium on the term "liberal." I said at the time "Name calling is a common children's playground activity. The problem with name-calling is that while it may label someone, it mostly tells us about the per- son doing the label- ing, usually that he/she is mad or angry for some rea- son." Without the shortcut of name-call- ing maybe we could generate a civil dis- cussion of issues for a change. We could apply that moratori- um to other terms such as con- servative, snob, socialist, etc. Let us say what we are for or against, not merely label it. I added: "Our country's strength comes from an informed electorate. It is our responsibility to contribute to the dialog that will propel us into a bright future. By having a moratorium…on name calling we can contribute in a small way to just that [bright future] here in Red Bluff. Maybe that will spread. Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. .