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6A Daily News– Wednesday, May 23, 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 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 Patricia Johnston and I actually agree on something. Her letter of May 17 was "spot on." The problems she referenced are absolutely correct. I especially liked her last paragraph when she said she would be, "getting more involved." When she does get "more involved" she will find a group of dedicated people who are working to solve the prob- lems she referenced and any new positive ideas would be wel- comed from anyone working to promote solutions. Bill Moule, Red Bluff Agreement Editor: Will wonders never cease! Thank you Editor: I want to thank the many community members who devote their time, effort and money to support the important volunteer organizations in this community. The Sacramento River Discovery Center was recently the beneficiary of some of these volunteer efforts. The annual Watershed Celebration,was held the second Saturday of May, under the beautiful "Old Oak Tree" in the Discovery Garden. The first of April, new Executive Director, Bobie Hughes, looked at the gar- den area and worried that with the mass of invasive grasses and weeds and poor looking plants, that there were some real chal- lenges ahead to hold a Celebra- tion with no corporate event funding support. The garden area had, since August, volun- teers to do weeding and some replanting, but it "certainly was not ready for company." In six weeks with the efforts of the RBUHS Workability 1 students, the Job Training Center Work- Force members, the Mendocino National Forest employees, the garden volunteers and the William's family, whose daugh- ters attend Whittenberg Country school at the site, "had the gar- den looking better than it has looked in years." Then we were ready! Satur- day morning May 12th started with, the Sacramento River Dis- covery Center holding a success- ful Walk-Run event thanks to the work of an all volunteer organi- zation. A wonderful walk-run course has been created along the trails of the Mendocino National Forest's Red Bluff Recreation Area. This year the Sartori family, again, provided help guiding the 10k runners. It was a wonderful day for a run. Volunteers received gift cards from Dutch Brothers Coffee. The youth volunteers, at the start and finish area, were from Red Bluff High Key Club, and Soroptimist International of Red Bluff. The setting of cones and stanchions and trail markings on the course was done by Tom Cairns. After the walk-run people gathered around "the Old Oak Tree" to learn about the water- shed and groups that are work- ing to restore, protect and pre- serve the quality of life and water resources in this part of the state. Zach Whitten and Whittenberg Country school provided information about the school and the SRDC Summer Camps program. Groups and agencies presenting information and fun learning activities for visitors included: DWR, Tehama County Resource Conservation Dis- trict, Tehama County Farm Bureau, US Fish & Wildlife Ser- vice, Coleman Fish Hatchery, California Fish & Game, Battle Creek Watershed work group, Lassen National Park, Ide Adobe State Park and Tehama Landfill with the REAP trailer. There was a visit by Smokey Bear and Frank Fish. The Bureau of Reclamation provided a wonderful display showing aerials photos of the near com- pletion Fish Passage Improve- ment project directly across the river. Sharon Kessey of the Red Bluff Garden Club and Jane Nixon provided information about native and drought toler- ant plants. Food was provided by Twilford family. Nature in art was showcased by both the Red Bluff Art Association and the Red Bluff Photography club. The Ridge family brought three adorable alpaca's, Shasta Wildlife Rescue provided a pro- gram about turkey vultures and other predator birds, Ardith Read showed visitors Native American basket weaving tech- niques and brought some beauti- ful baskets, some of which the materials were gathered at the RBRA. The Sacramento River Your Turn Discovery Center wishes to con- vey a big Thank You to the com- munity businesses for their donation of items to the Silent Auction that helped raise funds for the Summer Camps programs and the garden beautification project. That same evening, I had an opportunity to see a completely different group of volunteers help support the Fairgrounds, by per- forming a play, providing "fair" style food, having auctions all to raise money and awareness of the importance of "OUR" fair. I love living in Tehama Country, it is an area that CARES! Want a Peak Experience- Volunteer! Bobie Hughes, Volunteer Executive Direc- tor, Sacramento River Discov- ery Center Pot holes Editor: ing crew? Where is the city pot hole fix- I suggest instead of a $162,000 boat ramp we spend that money on fixing the pot holes in our streets. It is getting pretty bad in the older part of town, Walnut, Johnson, Lincoln, etc. are full of pot holes. Maybe the city manager should drive this part of town and get a feel of the rough roads, instead of beautifying in front of city hall and building the boat ramp. Opening the pool also is a thought so the town kids have some recreation this summer. Suzie Carlson, 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. The life of JimboBob Commentary While everyone's been talking about "The Life of Julia," I've been investigating her "missing years." Julia, you see, is the title char- acter in an online slide show creat- ed by the Obama re-election cam- paign that explains how the presi- dent's policies give Julia a better life. research, I was able to determine Zachary's father's name — and what happens during that time. The father's name is JimboBob — and, boy, is he different from Julia. qualify for all kinds of govern- ment assistance: welfare, housing, insurance, food, utilities, transportation ... At age 3, Julia is enrolled in Head Start, a pre-kindergarten program for children from low- income families. lege and is better off, the Obama folks say, because he's keeping her college-loan rates low. By 27, she benefits from Oba- maCare and the "free" birth con- trol it forces insurers to provide. The slide show follows Julia through age 67, with Obama-sup- ported government programs helping her every step of the way. But one item the slide show At 25, she graduates from col- doesn't explore is this: At 31, when Julia decides to have a child, Zachary, there's no mention of a father or a husband. She's clearly a sophisticated, highly progressive liberal, free from the stodgy traditions of more conservative people. JimboBob, on the other hand, is a country bumpkin who never attended college. He's a skilled laborer, working hard to make a decent wage. JimboBob pleads with her to marry him. "But I will love you and take care of you and our son," he says. "I will take our son hunting and teach him good values." "No country bumpkin He and Julia have a chance encounter when her government- subsidized electric car breaks down and JimboBob, having just wrapped up his shift, helps push it to the side of the road. Julia's 30 and eager to have a child. After she stops using her government-mandated-"free" birth control, she and JimboBob begin a relationship. At 31, Julia gives birth to There's no mention of anything that happens between ages 31 and 37 — Julia's "missing years." After some investigative Zachary. JimboBob wants to marry her, but she refuses. "Are you nuts?" says the inde- pendent woman, "And sacrifice my government benefits?" Julia quits her job to stay home with Zachary. After all, the two boBob is hit by a bus and killed instantly. That's very bad for Zachary. of government pro- grams to help him, Zachary eventually falls into the path taken by so many fatherless sons. Despite all kinds like you is going to teach Neanderthal values to my child," she replies. "Now beat it." JimboBob spends thou- sands of dollars trying to win custody of his son, but is laughed out of court. He knows government benefits are necessary to help those truly in need. Nobody disputes that, not even conservative Republicans. But he senses those benefits are so out of control that they're dis- placing him as a man and a father. Isn't that a key reason why more than half the children born in America today are born to single mothers? Distraught, and not paying proper attention as he walks across a busy intersection, Jim- Tom Purcell consequences common to "benev- olent" government programs. Now you know what happens during Julia's "missing years" -- and why they're missing from the slide show. He gets in with the wrong crowd, drops out of school and eventually does time for breaking and entering and grand larceny. His fate is one of the many unintended Tom Purcell, a freelance writer is also a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune- Review, and is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Email Tom at Purcell@caglecartoons.com.