Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6634
4A – Daily News – Saturday, February 6, 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. 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 Opinion Most of us know that we have to suspend our disbelief system under certain circumstances. We do this when we read poetry, most fiction, and certainly sci- ence fiction. We also do it at the movies, where we have to set aside our knowledge of computer generated graphics for an hour or two as the hero and the villains play out the plot. The term, "willing suspension of disbelief," was coined by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, late 18th century and early 19th cen- tury author of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner and other poems we hated to memorize in high school. He also introduced us to Xanadu, the land where Kubla Khan had constructed his pleasure dome. Coleridge sug- gested that if a writer could infuse "human interest and a semblance of truth" into a fantas- tic tale, the reader would suspend judgment concerning the implau- sibility of the narrative. Politicians help us willingly suspend our disbelief system when they address a controver- sial issue by reducing it to a spe- cific example of an individual who was harmed by the status quo. Thus we see "Mrs. Jones" paraded before us as damaged by a frivolous lawsuit; "just think of all the Mrs. Joneses who could be saved by stronger lawsuit control, which will ultimately contribute to the overall reduction of med- ical costs to all of us." Even our own congressman has used a variation on this theme with us, and our President did so in his recent state of the union speech. When we go to the movies we want to enjoy ourselves, not be a movie critic who spots every spe- cial effect and grades it; we will- ingly suspend our disbelief sys- tem to enjoy the film; when we listen to politicians, we usually hope we can gain some knowl- edge, but we are often tricked and misled by carefully crafted words. These days it seems like there is a fact check team listen- ing to major political pronounce- ments ready to temper excessive statements. I find this helpful because it takes place before the opposition (be it Republicans or Democrats) can further distort the usually nuanced inaccuracy, and because it helps keep me informed. Recent automobile insurance commercials have intrigued me for just that same reason. GEICO, the once failed Govern- ment Employees' Insurance Company, reinvented itself with vigor through aggressive adver- tising and marketing. Using cavemen, a gecko, and other clever approaches they have cap- tured the imagination of many. Geico has many advantages besides their advertizing; their overhead is minimized through direct selling. Warren Buffet bought the company in 1994 for Berk- shire/Hathaway, and he is big on its potential. One of their recent claims is that customers switch- ing from a specific company to GEICO for car insurance will save on average $350. Allstate insurance stated customers switching from GEICO to All- state would save a similar amount as well. Yesterday I got a mailing from AARP—you guessed it, I am over 50—telling me what average customers switching from Allstate, GEICO, and State Farm save when they switch AARP's plan. Next thing you know we'll be offered money to take insurance. My concern is that all these companies make it seem you will save money when switching to them. Where is the proof? Who stands behind all these numbers? Can they be accountable? The terms and conditions that must be met to net such a saving must be stringent and subject to frequent changes; I am pretty sure that it would be difficult to substantiate or refute the claims, which is fine with the insurance companies. I noticed that Mercury Insur- ance has recently qualified a bal- lot measure that would allow insurance companies to impose a penalty on applicants for auto- mobile insurance if those applicants are without insurance the time they apply. This sounds simple enough; if someone has not fol- lowed the law and obtained insurance most of us would think a penalty would be fine. However, why should the insurance company collect and keep that penalty? After all, it is we, the taxpayers who bore the burden of the unin- sured. Mercury's attempt is viler than that however; it would apply to service men who upon return- ing to civilian life try obtain auto- mobile insurance. It would apply to those who had a lapse in dri- ving and dropped their insurance temporarily. Data show that in Nevada where the Mercury plan was implemented, auto insurance premiums skyrocketed. (Mercury is a large insurer in California, and the Department of Insurance has written: "Mercury has a lengthy history of serious mis- conduct, and its attitude—con- tempt towards and/or abuse of its customers, the Commissioner, its competition, and the Superior Court [need to be considered in imposing penalties on the com- pany]….Among Department staff, consumer attorneys, and consumer victims of its bad faith, Mercury has a deserved reputa- tion abusing its customers and intentionally violating the law with arrogance and indifference." When I was in the school busi- ness dealing with insurance com- panies was difficult. For exam- ple, we had some portable bleachers. Those bleachers com- plied with state law and with OSHA. The insurance company said we had to add some railings to them. I protested that we bought insurance to cover rea- sonable risk, the bleachers com- plied with the law, and they couldn't force us to put the railings on. I may have had reason on my side, but they would simply not cover those bleachers for anything, in which case even though we had assumed reasonable risk and purchased insurance, we would be out of luck, up the fis- cal creek with the Gov- ernator. So, guess what happened? ….You're right, those bleachers had railings added. My advice is that when deal- ing with individuals or compa- nies who make claims about their services, prices, or reliability, take time to ask even the most foolish questions; ask those ques- tions until you are satisfied with the answers. Ignore the superflu- ous items they dangle in front of you and stay focused on what you want to clearly understand. This may drive some people crazy, but it will provide opportu- nity to learn as much as possible about the product, service, proposition, or candidate being discussed. A person with clear answers and who demonstrates patience usually represents something different from a hesi- tant person who beats around the bush and has trouble answering your questions. We do not live in Xanadu. A good word of advice: Don't sus- pend your disbelief system until it's time to go to the movies. 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. We do not live in Xanadu 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 Joe Harrop 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 Fundraiser kudos Editor: Big shout out and thank you to all the people that came to and sup- ported the Marva Jackson Raffle & Pasta Fundraiser at the Tremont Café & Creamery Jan. 29. What an amazing turnout we had. We couldn't accommodate everyone, so for those who could not get a table to eat we are sorry, but are grateful for the donations. This is just the beginning. Please watch for boxes around town where you can donate your unwanted cell phones and inkjet cartridges for our Pay It Forward Cancer Fundraiser. Not only will you be helping our locals fight cancer with Genesis, but you will be helping our environment. For more information, call Beth Moell at 690-3360 or stop by 796 Lay Ave., Red Bluff. We'd like to thank our local businesses and community that donated to the fundraiser: Tremont Café & Creamery, Daily News, Cassidy's Auto Lube, Let's Talk About Hair, The Green Barn, Julie Robertson Razors Edge, Brynn Ross Stylist Razors Edge, M&M Ranch House, Alisa Bentley Razors Edge, Chago Satellite, Hair Maneia, Hairlines Salon & Beauty Supply, Act II, Plum Crazy, The Gold Exchange, Westside Flowers & Gifts, Don Francisco's Taqueria Market, Beautiful Hair & Nails, Sugar Shack, Les Schwab Tires, One Stop, Two Peas in A Pod, H.L. Rodney Cinders, Stone Cre- ations, Gaumer's Jewelry, Luigi's Pizza and Pasta, Tri Counties Bank, Rainbow Bread Store, Chris Patterson, Carrie Patterson, Joyce Jackson, Shelley McCullough, Yvette Bline, Kathy Hausman, Katie Hartman, Jessica Leitem, Peggy Jessop Amazing Art, Ana Nelson & Phil Dynan, Red Bluff Art Gallery, Fast Auto Payday, Sierra Sound, Copy Center, Sher- iff's Department and Symmetry. Beth Moell, Red Bluff Natural birth Editor: According to the hospitals in the area, more than 60 percent of all pregnant women have drugs in labor. Even some of the nurses are disgusted with the mothers' lack of interest in trying to labor before asking for medication. Apparently it has become all to common for women to come into labor and ask for drugs when they walk in the door. Having had my own child natural and doing plenty of research I am appalled by mothers' lack of knowledge. I became a natural childbirth teacher in hopes of changing that statistic because, according to the ACOG states that only 3 percent of cesareans are neces- sary and with proper training and support from family, women don't need labor drugs. There are many effects of drugs for the fetus, and all drugs affect the baby and can cause discoloration, unrespon- siveness, decreased sucking reflex, slowed and irregular fetal heartbeat, increased occur- rence of jaundice, increased risk of drug addiction as an adult, an increased chance of teen suicide and the list goes on. It is surprising to me how you are told not to drink or smoke or doing any sort of drugs while you're preg- nant because it will hurt the baby, but doctors routinely give narcotics to women who are in labor. Since epidurals are done almost routinely and there are 4,245,671 babies born in the United States yearly, that means 424 women have nerve damage each year from epidurals. Cindy Seiler, Corning Your Turn