Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6356
6A – Daily News – Thursday, January 28, 2010 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 Voter frustration has been building and the Obama admin- istration doesn't seem to know what to make of the backlash to their economic policies. It's as if they don't think we're being grateful for what they've done so far. That's because a lot of it hasn't been aimed at the middle class voter. While it may be true that President Franklin Roosevelt and President Barack Obama have had to face similar crises that occur only once in a gener- ation, there are starting to be signs that President Obama may not have grasped some of the lessons from FDR's term. Both men came into office with a world economic crisis that threatened to flatten an already damaged US economy while having to address a com- plicated and costly war on for- eign soil. They also both had large social agendas that held the potential to change the American way of life. FDR introduced Social Security, a system of welfare and created large government agencies to provide jobs for a vast and diverse network of people from all walks of life. President Obama has intro- duced sweeping changes to a health care system that is gener- ally agreed to be failing and pledged billions more in taxpay- er money to provide bailouts for ailing industries. One set of policies, the ones created by FDR, worked with a single focus to get millions of unemployed Americans back to work by any means necessary and to ensure they would at least be able to stay fed or keep a roof over their family until they could secure a job. Even his suc- cessor, President Harry Truman carried on with this individual thesis by offering affordable home loans and access to col- lege educations to GIs returning from WWII. It may have been good social policy but it was also creating a strong work force from the level that counts the most, the middle class. The middle class is the back- bone of the American economy providing the most jobs through small businesses and are the bulk of the tax base. While the giant corporations may be more visible in the media, they aren't the engine that keeps us moving forward. However, this time around under Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke's tutelage, the Obama administration decided it was the behemoths of banking and business who couldn't be allowed to fail. The results have been pre- dictable. The industries that were ailing due to poor business practices, such as giant automaker GM, continue to struggle. The industries that largely lead the way into the economic tsunami such as AIG or Citigroup with murky lending practices or complicated account- ing took billions of bailout dollars and for the most part quickly recovered and paid off their loans to the American taxpayer. Their next move was to pass out large bonuses to themselves. Not much changed. Again, this is all a question of where the government believes recovery really takes hold and builds a strong baseline. None of the banking and investment institutions that are now patting themselves on the back with wads of cash were obligated to come up with more altruistic ways to help out the rest of the economy. They may have had a large hand in the initial problem and they may also still be charg- ing large fees to credit card holders and mortgage holders who lost their jobs as a result but that's all legal and business as usual. Well, that's the problem and the reason the housing market has nose-dived and the unem- ployment rate contin- ues to rise. The large corporations in Amer- ica don't drive the economy, they don't support the local com- munities across the country and they don't ensure the most jobs or tax dollars for the most people. They just benefit from all of that. The showy flowers at the top of the stems got all of the attention while the roots under- neath were largely ignored. Now, President Obama is talking about adding policies that will benefit the middle class but are puny in comparison to what was offered big business and are more of a band-aid to keep people from losing further ground, not a solution. Martha's latest book to embrace change, Live Your Big Adventure is now available at www.marthasbigadventure.com. Email Martha at: Martha@marthasbigadventure.c om. It's about the job market 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 Martha Randolph Carr 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 Boy worked hard for bicycle Editor: On Jan. 1, my 12-year-old grandson had his bike stolen while he was inside of USA Food Mart purchasing a drink. I bring this up for several rea- sons. First, this child worked hard and saved his money to build this bike. He mowed lawns, raked leaves, etc. He spent every penny and waking free moment on this project. Second, I wonder what kind of parent allows their child to come home with a brand new bike and not ask questions? Or, was it an adult who took off with this bike? Really doesn't matter. What my grandson learned was that there are many people out there that can not be trusted. The world is full of liars and thieves. He learned something valuable through this heartache. Yes, for a 12 year old it is a heartache. No, he did not lose a parent or his twin brother or any other family member. Thank God. But nevertheless to him it is a loss. There are too many parents out there that are not teaching their children the morals that most of us have come to expect our children to live by. Mainly due to the fact that they them- selves are not living by a moral compass. I would like to offer a $50 reward for the return of the bike and if the person that stole it is turned in and found to be the actual person who took it, then I will up it to $100. His bike has a black frame, grips, sprocket and tires; the forks, seat, handlebars, cranks and wheels are white; front hub is red; peddles are clear plastic. There are no stickers on this bike.It does have a serial num- ber on it. I can be contacted at weedee216@hotmail.com or contact the police department with any information you may have on this bike. DeeDee LaChance, Red Bluff Not all pot use is abuse Editor: I am writing in response to Kathy Bonner's letter "Pot is about addiction and users know it," where she began "In response to Jaime Cowley's backlash." I am interested in Ms. Bon- ner's qualifications as to "I do know what I'm talking about." Is a family in law enforcement her only qualification? I am Jaime Cowley's mother. During our daughter's childhood, her father was a law enforcement officer. I myself worked as an RN with 10 years as a Correc- tions RN. I may not always totally embrace what my chil- dren believe in, but I do respect their right to voice their own opinion as is granted by our own Constitution. My daughter has a legal med- ical right to use marijuana as a medication and as she says it does help her pain, I cannot help but support her right to use this medication. My daughter has lifetime chronic pain that she chooses to relieve with this herb. If it helps her, I make no judgment. Marijuana, or cannabis, is an herb that once grew naturally along the roads and fields of Mexico and Southwest United States. Its active compounds are cannibinoids — THC. There are at least 60 known cannabis derived compounds that may be of medical use today. Not all herbal remedies that may be misused to get high are bad. Some have been in use for years but were misused to make another street drug, as in psuedoephedrine. It is also interesting to note marijuana has only been crimi- nalized in the United States since the mid 1900s. As evi- denced by documentation and films of the time, it was original- ly banned as a way to focus anti- Mexican sentiments. The per- ception at the beginning of the 20th century was that most smokers were immigrants com- ing to the United States from the south. The original legislation was in the form of the Marihuana Tax Act in 1937 that made it illegal to possess the substance without a federally issued tax stamp. Since the government had no plans to ever make the stamps, the law essentially made the possession of the substance illegal, never mind its sale, purchase or use. The point here is "Judge not lest ye be judged." Many drugs used in medical care derive from substances now considered street drugs. Marijuana is an herbal remedy that is used legit- imately for medical purposes. If it is used solely to get high, then its use becomes an abuse. Cold remedies and other over-the-counter remedies, when used appropriately, may help in relief of common cold, etc. When used inappropriately, it is an abuse. People who obtain legal med- ical certificates for marijuana use in the absence of a true med- ical need are misusing and abus- ing. My own daughter has a legitimate medical reason to use this herb. I wonder if we can see our way clear to make it a legitimate controlled drug for medical use, requiring the same narcotic and controlled drug checks and cross-checks now used in main- line health care. Barbara Cowley, Red Bluff Your Turn