Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/59128
6A Daily News – Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Opinion Response to 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 irked parents Editor: I am writing in response to 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 "Parents irked by handling of pot brownies." On Feb. 9, my wife and I were called in to the vice-princi- pal's office at Maywood Middle school.We were surprised and shocked to find out that our son had brought marijuana laced brownies to school. My son was honest and straight forward with what he had done. We knew there would be consequences for his actions. He was given a five-day suspension. This is the same punishment that other students received for the same offense. Our son's offense was treated no differently than anyone else's. We were not given any special treatment, nor did we ask for any. Why aren't these angry par- ents going to the news media to complain about the other first time offenders. Why did these angry parents wait two weeks after my son served his five-day suspension to voice their concerns. I feel I know at least part of the reason. These angry parents have personal issues regarding my family. They couldn't care less about the offense that occurred on Feb. 9. Luke Green seems to be the most vocal of this small group of irked parents. He feels that the school district and our legal system is wrong. I have 100 percent faith in our school districts as well as our police department. I know we have the right people doing what's best for our community. Luke Green and his followers don't want to hear about how our school district and police depart- ment handle first time offenders (minors) at the middle school level. Instead he chooses to harass and badger school offi- cials. He has no regard for the right of a minor's privacy. I do not know these angry par- ents, but clearly they have a per- sonal grudge against my family. Again, there is no cover up at the Elementary School District and my child did not receive any special treatment. Steve Crane, Corning Thank you Editor: The Tehama County Gleaners Food Bank would like to thank the many people who donated food to be distributed to needy families in Tehama County. We greatly appreciate all the businesses that participated in the Food from the Heart food drive in February. We thank Jessie Wood, of the Gold Exchange, for helping us with the planning, and Car- mona's for donating the truck to deliver the food to our warehouse. Many, many people, businesses and organizations made this a great success. I and my wife have been over- whelmed by the volunteers that help throughout the county at the food banks. Many of our volun- teers are senior citizens. They are hard and devoted workers. Some members deliver food to shut-ins throughout the county with their own vehicles. We appreciate our warehouse- man Fred Brockman, and his never-tiring wife, Marlis, for their endless hours of work. There are too many men and women who volunteer to list in this letter. But they, God and we know who they are. Daniel Dempsey, Red Bluff Daniel Dempsey is the execu- tive director of the Tehama County Gleaners. It's all blather Editor: Mr. Harrop, can you explain the difference between Jeremiah Wright's messages from the pulpit and Louis Farrakhan's ly when you consider the discrep- ancy with his Social Security card, Obama's Social Security number begins with 042, all 042s are issued in Connecticut, Obama lived in Hawaii. Also, what's hid- den in his college records, why doesn't he open them up to the public? Then consider Maricopa Coun- Your Turn blather? Jeremiah Wright is a for- mer Farrakhan follower and they both are anti-Semites and preach a radical black liberation theology. Obama was a member of Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years. A Muslim by any other name is still a Muslim. Obama was elected with the help of such community organiza- tions as ACORN, the New Black Panthers and others. ACORN helped by fraudulently registering voters, most likely both living and dead. The New Black Panthers helped with voter intimidation, by keeping people who didn't vote for Obama from entering the voting booths. There are currently 2 mil- lion dead people registered to vote, who do you think they will vote for? When it's considered, by many people, that Obama is the most corrupt, the biggest liar and has in his circle of friends more col- leagues, associates, mentors and college professors that are radical America-haters than anyone who has ever occupied the White House, then it's not a far stretch to question his citizenship. Especial- ty Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a five-time elected Sheriff. Arpaio's creden- tials include serving in the United States Army from 1950 to 1953, ser- vice as a federal nar- cotics agent serving in countries all over the world with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and served as the head of the Ari- zona DEA. Without doubt, this is a serious Law Enforcement Officer, not one to be taken lightly. Arpaio's six- month ongoing investigation reveals not only was the "Long Form Birth Certificate" likely a digitally created forgery, but the president's Selective Service Card (Draft Card), allegedly filed in 1980, was also a forgery. "At a state of the union speech a Congressman shouted 'you lie' during part of the speech on health care and illegal immi- grants." Now, Joe, tell us, who was lying? Also, what do you call a 30 year old single, college student, woman that spends $3,000 on con- traceptives during her attendance at a prestigious law school? "Whatever happened to class?" Boy, that's a very good question. If you believe "liberal" is a dirty word you should hear and read what the liberals call me on this very opinion page. Les Wolfe, 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. Debt, deficit picture one massive downer Commentary "It puts me in a bad mood, if you want to know the truth." "Ah, yes, you speak of recent comments by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, reported at CNSNews.com. He articulates America's debt and deficit prob- lems better than anyone in poli- tics today." "You got that right. Daniels says the rate at which we're pil- ing on debt will lead to our ruin -- that no other outcome is math- ematically possible." "Regrettably, that is true -- and so obvious, a fifth-grader could figure it out. Consider: When George W. Bush assumed office, the national debt was $5.7 trillion. He nearly doubled it in eight years to $10.6 trillion." "Some fiscal conservative he turned out to be." "In 2002, Bush was the first to propose a $2 trillion budget. In 2008, he was the first to pro- pose a $3 trillion budget. In six short years, spending soared by nearly 60 percent! Now Presi- dent Obama wants to spend $3.8 trillion -- nearly double what we spent a decade ago!" "That doesn't sound so good." "Sure, Obama inherited a horrible economy and high deficits, but the fact is he has grown our debt by more than $5 trillion in only three years. Our national debt now stands at $15.5 trillion!" "You sure know how to make a man worry." "ABC's Jake Tapper will surely make you worry all the more. He broke down America's finances by comparing them to a typical family's finances. If you remove eight zeros from Obama's proposed $3.8 trillion budget, you have $38,000 in annual spending." "OK, I follow you." "The problem is we only have $29,000 in revenue. So we are racking up $9,000 in new debt every year." "That's not so good." "Here's what's worse: We already have a $155,000 debt on our credit card. Paying off that amount of debt with $38,000 in income would be hard under any circumstances. But we're not only not paying it off, we're growing it by $175 a week!" "You're a real downer, man." "The truth is painful, no doubt. Daniels argues it is very possible that the U.S. can pass a point of no return. We could get to a point where we are so indebted and so bankrupt that the payments on the debt alone will eat up most of the budget." "So what do we do to get out of this mess?" "Despite all this talk about taxing the rich, Daniels says there is no way we can tax our way out of our fiscal mess. We need to reform entitlement programs, such as Medicare, which are growing at massive rates, but cuts alone will not fix our mess." "Then what will?" "Massive economic growth. Tom We need policies that will unleash growth in America. We need broad-based tax reform to simplify taxes and encourage investment. We need leaders who aren't afraid to lead. We need Americans to understand how serious our debt problem is. And we need them to press their legislators to come together to solve the problem." "Good luck with that. More Americans are receiving govern- Purcell ment goodies now than are pay- ing for them. They want the gravy train to keep rolling." "That is certainly cause for worry. French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville predicted 176 years ago that 'the Ameri- can Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the pub- lic's money.' Haven't we already passed this point?" "Hey, after talking with you, I'm not in a bad mood anymore." "You're not?" "No, I'm in a horrendously miserable mood and worried sick about the future of my country." ——— Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e-mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com.