Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6125
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 – Daily News – 5A A MediaNews Group newspaper 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. 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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 Opinion "You've got to help me. If I don't find a job soon, the wife is going to brain me." "Relax, the government is here to help. We've been dis- bursing funds from the $787 bil- lion stimulus bill for nearly a year now. We've created or saved almost 2 million jobs." "But isn't unemployment stalled at 10 percent? Didn't the president say his stimulus bill would keep it from going above 8 percent?" "It's not our fault we inherited such a mess. Why, things were so bad, we had to spend months overhauling the health care sys- tem." "But won't your health plan raise health insurance premi- ums, health care costs and income taxes? Won't that hurt the economy and make it even harder for me to get a job?" "Look, we have smart people running the country now — many from our leading universi- ties. They're making difficult decisions to do what is best for you." "Best for me? How will cap- ping greenhouse gases help me find a job when such a move will drive up costs on everything and further hurt the economy?" "You have to understand we're investing billions in gov- ernment programs and grants that will ultimately stimulate the economy." "But our deficit is terrifyingly high. Our debt is growing by leaps and bounds. Everyone knows if we keep spending like madmen that will hurt the econ- omy more and make it harder to get work." "I'd be as concerned as you, were I not learned in the science of economics. The first $168 bil- lion stimulus under President Bush was so effective, President Obama gave us a second for $787 billion. Now there's talk about a third!" "Look, all I want is a job, but many companies say there is too much uncertainty for them to hire. Their taxes are surely going to go up. They don't know what government mandates they'll be forced to fund." "Thanks to government spending there are lots of new opportunities. You can see them at recovery.gov and through news reports. You just need the right skills." "The right skills?" "Have you ever done research involving the study of sexual arousal in anesthetized female rats?" "No, but —" "Well, what do you know about video games for senior cit- izens? We gave out a $427,824 research grant to study Grandpa's game-play needs." "But my grandpa can't even work an ATM." "How are you with m a c h i n e - g e n e r a t e d humor? We gave a $712,883 research grant to Northwestern University to design artificially intelligent 'comedic performance agents.' This will sup- port the 'enjoyment and illumination of everyday citizens.'" "I know how to use a com- puter, but —" "How about Census work? We set aside an additional $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which already has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion." "I'd be happy to take any work, but could use a little more pay than what Census workers —" "How are your upholstery skills? We set aside $248 million for furniture at the new Home- land Security headquarters in Washington, D.C." "Well, that sounds like a pos- sibility, but —" "But what? For an unem- ployed fellow you're awful picky. How about this then: We provided a $389,537 grant for an academic study that compares the 'outcomes of the concurrent and sepa- rate use of malt liquor and marijuana.'" "You really think spending almost $400,000 to fund a study in which partici- pants get bombed and high will somehow stimulate the economy and produce jobs?" "Absolutely, though in this case I'm not sure if participants will be paid." "Sign me up. At this point, I'll be happy to do that one free." 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. Government work Commentary N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY 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 Tom Purcell STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), 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), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 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; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Your officials Apology not offered, nor deserved Editor: Regarding Les Wolfe's letter to the editor in the Jan. 12 Daily News. "Apology accepted," Mr. Wolfe? You need to check your meds because your grip on reali- ty is slipping, as usual. I have no reason or intention to apologize to you, or Ken Say, for the facts I presented concerning Sarah Palin's political and finan- cial revisionisms and excuses. If you want to compare Sarah Palin and Nancy Pelosi's "politics and fiscal" responsibilities, knock yourself out. If you can't defend Sarah Palin's record by itself, that's your problem, not mine. Get a grip, please. Larry W. Gray, Red Bluff Better speed enforcement needed Editor: I read with interest Thursday the story explaining the flashing lights at the Antelope Elementary School. I agree that the children there need to be protected and the speed limit is something that all drivers should adhere to. I drive by that school every day, some- times three and four times a day, and I can attest that there are always those drivers that believe the speed limit is not intended for them. I never see a policeman there, either of the county or state type. I'm sure if there were, and if the limit were enforced, there would be plenty of speeding tickets handed out. I see three or four such speed- ers each time I go by the school. Carl Boggs, Red Bluff Pot is about addiction and users know it Editor: In response to Jaime Cowley's backlash — Real crime, Jan. 2 — perhaps I should make a few things clear. My family has three active police officers with the daily crime database at the tips of their fingers. The remaining four offi- cers are retired and one deceased. Being that is a total of six infor- mants. That said, I do know what I'm talking about. Obviously only five of the six share crime with me. The subject here is a "a better quality of life or the choice of social degradation," regarding marijuana in general. The topic is "Trickle down economics." 1). Higher cost to prosecute driving under the influence of mari- juana. Many cities have seen an increase in D.U.I. due to drugs and Rx opiates mostly including marijuana at large. 2). Will increase health care cost due to effects on respiratory system and traffic collisions with marijuana in the system are very common. 3). Due to the above many more people will enter Social Service programs due to losing this employment. 4). Teenagers now being rec- ommended medical marijuana will have adverse effects on their brain, reproductive organs and ADD. 5). Money spent on marijuana leaves less money to purchase the commodities that generate need- ed taxes to pay for infrastructure. Those to be commended for their stand against our marijuana chaos are the very educated, and many have voiced their views in letters to the editor. And thanks to all the teachers who spoke during the first meet- ing to testify at Board of Supervi- sors in support of a moratorium regarding medical marijuana. I understand that those in the local health pro- fession want to get involved but haven't had the chance to take off of work. There are still citizens out there that aren't aware that rec- ommendations thought of as pre- scriptions are given freely for depression, menstrual cramps, post traumatic stress or fake pain — just hand over either $100 or $150. No questions asked. In other words you do not have to be tested, since the state as of yet has not set a criteria to challenge your word by doing a thorough med- ical evaluation. Appears to be quite the scam for those living in addiction, or dealing it. I watch The Tonight Show with host Jay Leno since my daughter has been employed as his security guard during film- ing. He talked about successful cures for pain regarding medical marijuana. His quote was, "Painful hemorrhoids? Try blowing smoke up your butt. It doesn't work." Kathy Bonner, Red Bluff Your Turn