Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/60805
6A Daily News– Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Opinion DAILYNEWS 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 To write, or not to write – that is the question. 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 Readers ask me from time to time why I don't contribute columns as much anymore. As much as I want to offer a simple answer, it's not that easy. I could say I don't have the time or the energy (which is true to a certain extent). I could say I get tired of all the negativity out there, so why bother writing about that? My preference is to inspire readers, whether into action or conversation. If I don't feel I can do that, then there is no point in writing. I know how hard it is to present something every week; I did that every Friday for quiet a stretch a few years ago. While I would love to have that space back, I know I couldn't realistically fill it up with captivating material. So, I just sit around and wait for small nuggets of inspiration. For example, my neighbor recently asked about my absence in print. I stumbled over various reasons; then I was struck by something he said. "For what it's worth, after you left the other night, we sat around talking about your 'bus stop dad' story. We talked about how neat it was to live in a small community where a person could drop his kids off in the morning and actually get to know the neighbors in the process." And, "how many places are still out there where a parent can do that?" I left happy knowing my column left a small group of dads with something in com- mon to share. For me, that's partly what my writing is all about. *** that still create jobs? My concern is that if we hang our hat on a fickle tourism indus- try, then we're possi- bly setting ourselves up for a major disap- pointment. To me, it seems like quite the gamble. Along that line, what I really want to know is whether or not there's anyone out there talking about the one thing that will truly resus- citate Red Bluff: jobs, jobs, and more jobs. As residents of this unique place, many of us share another thing in common: improving the quality of life for all citizens. I have read with interest all the articles and comments regarding the recent branding effort. While I applaud the overall purpose, I still can't help but wonder: if we "build it" and all these "people" come, will will turn into another Radia- tor Springs, like in the Pixar movie. The issue of writing, Red Bluff, Radiator Springs "Main street isn't Main street anymore; lights don't shine as brightly as they shone before; tell the truth, lights don't shine at all…in our town." Pat In my opinion, the only thing that will turn this town around is to get its citizens back to work. I look around and see too many people doing nothing. The powers that be need to Gleason Face Time bring business and opportuni- ty to this region (can the branding effort accomplish this?). And it needs to happen soon, or this once proud town words will become a reality if our people don't have a place in which to work. If our town is a James Taylor's such as business and indus- try? Pat Gleason grew up in Los Angeles and has taught English at Red Bluff High School since 1990. He can be reached at phgleaso@rbuhsd.k12.ca.us. It's just a thought. ——— Your officials STATE ASSEMBLY- MAN — 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. REPRESENTA- TIVE — 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 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286- 8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. President Obama's health care soliloquy Commentary President Obama, dis- traught by last week's Supreme Court oral argu- ments, which do not appear to bode well for his health care plan, gathered his inner circle. Inspired by Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet," he recited a tormented health care solilo- quy: A tax or not a tax, that is the question. Would it have been nobler for middle-class citizens to openly suffer the slings and arrows of new taxation, neces- sitated by my federal overhaul of America's health care sys- tem, or better that we disguise our new taxes as "penalties and mandates" instead? There is a cost for expand- ing coverage to those without health insurance -- a cost for mandating that private insurers cover pre-existing conditions and offer many other goodies that we politicians like to promise voters. Only a naif would think that a 2,700-page law would not require new taxes to pay for it. But the middle class does not understand what is best for them. And so we were forced to conceal and contort many complexities that would only frighten them and weaken their favor. To get my health care bill passed by Congress two years ago -- to win support from fence-sitting politicians -- we had to avoid all mention of taxes on the middle class. We had to use the term "penalty" to conceal these taxes. One way to create revenue without calling it a tax was to create an individual mandate. It would force able-bodied cit- izens who do not have health insurance to either buy it or pay a "penalty." Our plan worked at first. By the skin of our teeth, we passed our bill into law! How clever we thought we were at the time. Now our cleverness cuts deep like a bare bodkin. Twenty-six states and the National Federation of Inde- pendent Business have chal- lenged our law's individual mandate. They say it is not a tax, but a federal mandate that far exceeds the limited and enumerated powers of Con- gress under the Constitution. Regrettably, their challenge made it all the way to the Supreme Court. We had to reverse course. We had to pro- claim to all that our individual mandate, and its associated penalties, is really just a tax. Had we created a tax in the beginning, rather than an indi- vidual mandate, the seas would be smooth, the skies without clouds -- and we would not have found our solicitors standing before the highest court in the land. will need health care sooner or later. How we tried to con- vince them it is therefore con- stitutional. tive justices did not bite. They said that if the federal govern- ment can make private individuals buy health insurance, what can't it make them buy? Broccoli? Cell- phones? But the conserva- Why? Because the Supreme Court agrees that the gov- ernment is allowed, Tom under the Constitution, to cre- ate a national health insurance program. We already have Medicare and Medicaid. The Supreme Court agrees that the Constitution gives the federal government the right to levy new taxes to pay for such a program. How we tried to convince the justices that our individual mandate is indeed a tax -- that our individual mandate is a necessary requirement unique to health care, since everyone Purcell cy. heavy. The writing appears to be on the wall. The Supreme Court may cut, with a bare bodkin, my entire plan, the crown jewel of my presiden- My woe is great, my heart A health plan, a health plan, my kingdom for a health plan. ——— 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. possible "world class destination" for tourists (the brand- ing guy said so), why can't it be the same for those who would bring jobs,