Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/687093
GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIALBOARD How to have your say: Letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and no more than two double-spaced pages or 500words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@ redbluffdailynews.com Fax: 530-527-9251 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 728 Main St., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS HerewearejustafewdaysbeforeCalifor- nian's vote in this year's pivotal primary election. I have a couple of questions for everyone to think about. Areyoureadytovote? Should a 16 year old be allowed to vote? A number of youth rights organizations are already working toward changing this state's vot- ing age from 18, which is today's requirement. Additionally, the San Fran- cisco Board of Supervisors re- cently approved placing that pro- posal on this year's Novem- ber ballot. The folks that sup- port this idea tell us that most teenagers can already drive and pay taxes if they already have a job, so why shouldn't they be al- lowed to vote? If Winston Churchill were still alive, I am guessing he would be opposed to this change. He once was quoted as saying something like; "If you think democracy is the ultimate and best answer to everything, try talking to and analyzing the average American voter." I would agree with Winnie. At my ripe old age of 77, I re- ally do not think teenagers have learned enough yet or had enough life experience to cast a truly informed vote. The next time you talk with a normal teenager, ask he or she to give you their impression of poli- tics in America today. Most will probably say something about its negativity or appear a little embarrassed or even nervous because they would be afraid you won't agree with their thoughts. That does not mean teen- agers are stupid. On the con- trary, at sixteen in most of their thinking processes, I bet most of them simply have what they think are more important things on their minds than try- ing to figure out who to vote for. I did not get the opportunity to vote myself until I turned the more mature years at 21. Even then, and I must be hon- est, there was mostly a ques- tion mark in my mind as to how I should or might vote. What name simply sounded the best to me actually came to my mind. Information is the cor- nerstone of democracy. I feel one should be at a more mature age than a teenager to make our government bet- ter. I am never certain about some of my conclusions, but let- ting teens vote on a host of can- didates, taxes, global warm- ing, marijuana and a myriad of other issues is way too formida- ble to expect the teenage years to handle. There are exceptions, but I can only think of Doogie Howser, M.D. at the moment, and he is only fictional. It's like when I was only sev- enteen and I told my Dad I was going to attend Chico State Col- lege. He was a man of strong opinions and quickly told me; "That's a bad idea. A higher ed- ucation is wasted on a teenager. You are going into the Army. When you get out you will be in a much better position to learn something." I didn't agree then, but I do now. Please tell me what your take is, especially if you are still in your teens yourself. Mytakeonthemovies In conclusion, here's my movie review this week. I saw "Captain America, Civil War." What a bunch of noisy, waste-of-time that is. Just about anyone can enjoy another su- perhero. However, this film is, at a minimum, hard on one's hearing. Do yourself a favor and bring some ear plugs to reduce the decibels in the theater. Even better, see some other movie. StanStathamserved1976-1994 in the California Assembly and was a television news anchor at KHSL-TV in Chico 1965- 1975. He is past president of the California Broadcasters Association and can be reached at StanStatham@gmail.com. Stan Statham My take on California's voting age I am never certain about some of my conclusions, but letting teens vote on a host of candidates, taxes, global warming, marijuana and a myriad of other issues is way too formidable to expect the teenage years to handle. Bruce has proven record in District 2 Editor: District 2 candidate Sandy Bruce is currently running in this primary election. Her past experience in this Supervisory role gave her an opportunity to work with all county depart- ments. Sandy Bruce helped our neighborhood with an issue, she listened to our concerns, worked with the proper depart- ments, stayed in touch with up- dates and truly cared about a fa- vorable outcome. Working well with her dis- trict people, sincerely cares, is a conscientious person and is ac- cessible by e-mail and phone re- sponding in a timely manner. These characteristics are hard to find these days. My household will be voting for Sandy Bruce. — Barbara Secor, Red Bluff Voters beware Editor: On June 7 ballots will be cast for Tehama County Supervi- sors. When you review candi- date's statements, you will no- tice that some candidates boast of their decades of experience as county employees as their major qualification for election as Su- pervisor. In a representative democ- racy, those years should actually indicate that a person is prob- ably unqualified for elected of- fice. County management employ- ees serve the county and repre- sent the county to the public by practicing one-way communica- tion in telling the public about ordinances, fees, services and required procedures. When they move from a county management position to Supervisor, they seem to believe they are the county. Thus they generally don't listen, become impatient with any dissent, are rude, are arrogant, schedule meetings at inconvenient times and don't ask for input on major decisions. They believe they are responsible for telling you what is good for you. Compare that to other can- didates who don't have a back- ground of 30+ years of county management employment. They have a 180 degree different way of operating. They are not the county, instead they believe they represent you to the county. They are available, they seek constituent input, they hold town hall meetings, they rec- ommend meeting times conve- nient to the public, they listen and practice two-way commu- nication. They try their best to represent the 15,000 residents of their district. For better representation, I recommend that voters give se- rious consideration to Richard Lawrence for Supervisor Dis- trict 1 and Candy Carlson for Supervisor District 2. We don't need a board majority being re- tired county bureaucrats. — Don Bird, Rancho Tehama Thanks to all at Bidwell Editor: My, how time flies. It seems like only yesterday our two kids, Ethan and Mia, started their educational ca- reers at Bidwell School. With teary eyes and hopeful hearts, Rena and I dropped them off on their first days of school in kin- dergarten. As Mia completes her final day of fifth grade this Thursday, our hearts are filled with pride and our eyes, once again, with tears. We would like to personally thank and recognize the follow- ing teachers for some wonderful memories: Penni Wilson, Nancy Collins, Annette Null, Julie Buer, Patty Lang, Kurt Harms, Debbie Miller, and Blossum Arrasmith. What you all did for our children is appreciated more than you will ever know. Ethan remembers Mr. Harms, "As a good guy who was easy to talk to and a good helper with math and language arts." Mia recalls Mrs. Lang who encour- aged trips to book fairs at Open House and who once said in class, "Okay, kids, let's all go to the book fair." Mia replied jok- ingly, "No, no, they are all for me." It's no wonder she leaves Bidwell having read nearly eight million words. Perhaps our greatest mem- ory would be the kindergarten showcase of "Three Piggy Op- era" directed by Penni Wilson. At the end of the show, and this is something I will never for- get, Louis Armstrong's classic song "What a Wonderful World" filled the room. The kids up front all sang along in all their youthful innocence and the scene brought tears to my eyes. The thought of it still does. I reminded Rena of this story recently. She replied, "Bidwell is a wonderful world, and it's sad it's over." Thank you all so very much. — Pat Gleason, Red Bluff Summer vacation Editor: What do kids do to be con- structive citizens in society? Summer school, volunteer, prac- tice learning how to learn more about what they can do best, art, music, practical job skills, constructive, entertaining, rec- reational, low-cost things? What about transportation? Grads may want to consider short messages. Obama: We have a duty to stay healthy. Brown: We have a duty to save water. Politicians: We have a duty to die rather than use scarce re- sources. Raising minimum wage treats symptom not cause of poverty. To raise standard of liv- ing increase knowledge, skills and productivity to meet em- ployers' need to meet consumer demand. Thank yous, hugs and smiles need to be passed on. They cost little and can make a difference. — Steve Kelsey, Corning Your opinions Cartoonist's take Danny Tyree For the sake of my son Gideon (age 12), I strain my brain each week to make this column some- thing zany and irreverent instead of soberly persuasive. I beg his indulgence this week, as I celebrate 25 years of mar- riage to his mother. I'm halfway through writing a lighthearted-but-practical book about marriage ("like" my Face- book fan page Tyree's Tyrades if you wish to receive updates), but I'd like to use this week's space to share some highlights. With all due respect to Johnny and June, marriage de- serves a stronger beginning than "we got married in a fe- ver hotter than a pepper sprout." Your significant other should be much more than an object of lust or infatuation. They should be someone you admire, respect, like, trust — a helpmate, con- science, sounding board. Regardless of which cookbooks adorn your library, you need to understand the role of gravy. If you are blessed with high-paying careers, good looks, social stand- ing and steamy intimacy, those things should be treated as the gravy of your relationship. If they are instead the bare essentials on which your happiness and self- worth precariously teeter, you are asking for failure. Get married because you are a basically good person aspiring to do even greater things for the world with a compatible part- ner. Getting married because (a) "I wanna escape Daddy's con- trol", (b) "This'll show my high school rival" or (c) "There's noth- ing else to do in this one-horse town" are all invitations to be- come wards of the state. Take your time getting to know your intended. Take off the rose-col- ored glasses and wait to see the "real them" in a variety of family gatherings, work-related politi- cal wranglings, class reunions, funerals, charity functions, run- ins with ex-lovers, etc. NEVER compromise on your core beliefs. (My persistence on faith issues during our early courtship has been an invalu- able foundation for our mar- riage.) ALWAYS compromise on silly little issues that no one will remember in six months. Whether you're religious or not, marriage should be approached as something sacred. Even the most picture-perfect couples can hit rough patches. If you start out with an attitude of "My un- cle's divorce lawyer is having a BOGO sale" or "We've got a 50- 50 chance of making it work," you definitely have less than a 50-50 chance of survival. Don't make any major deci- sions (especially unilateral ones) unless you could conceivably write a 500-word essay explaining them. "Seemed like a good idea at the time" has been the death knell of many a marriage. If you can't articulate why it makes perfect logic to sleep with your spouse's cousin or lie about your birth con- trol or expect someone who has physically abused their last six lovers to behave differently this time — maybe you should apply the brakes. Learn all of your partner's buttons. Then have a meaning- ful enough life that you can fill up your day without having to PUSH any of them. Never assume your unvoiced gratitude is absorbed telepath- ically. Seize every opportunity to say a sincere "Thank you" for favors large and small or "I'm sorry" for shortcomings. If I am permitted another quarter-century with my best friend, I hope to share even more insights on our 50th anni- versary, when I'll be 81 and Me- lissa will be...um, still young enough to wield a cast iron skil- let if I push the "blab her age" button. Happy, Gideon? Danny Tyree welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol. com and visits to his Facebook fan page Tyree's Tyrades. Danny Tyree Married 25 years ago, and loving it Stan Statham OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, June 2, 2016 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6