Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6907
6A – Daily News – Tuesday, February 16, 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 Actually, the third Monday in February is still officially on the books as George Washing- ton's Birthday. No one in Wash- ington has ever gotten around to changing the name even though it's widely accepted that this is the day we remember the con- tribution of everyone who's held the highest office in Amer- ica. That's a great sentiment and considering how much we love to kick around whoever is cur- rently the president, offering a little respect for the office is a good idea. President Chester Arthur started the holiday in 1885 as a way to celebrate George Wash- ington as our founding father. Arthur, who was most famous for becoming president after James Garfield was assassinat- ed, was a Baptist, a lawyer and a Republican who fell out of favor with his own party. They wouldn't give him the nomina- tion even though he was the sit- ting president. That's rough politics. That's also more than most of us have probably ever known about Arthur. His most positive accom- plishment, besides the federal holiday, is the Pendleton Civil Service Act, which is well regarded today but is believed to be what cost him the nomina- tion. It created the modern civil service system and points out the reason the day eventually grew to include all presidents. Despite all of the pomp and perks, this is a civil service job where we all get the opportuni- ty to choose who fills it. It makes the day a great time to pause and reflect on how we can all be of service. No matter what job each of us has, we can approach our duties with the idea of being of service to oth- ers. It's a lot harder to feel resentment over the details we don't like if we can see all of it as serving a purpose. Then it's no longer about our ego and whether or not we shine and more about being a grateful member of society. That's where George Wash- ington, our very first president, really set the standard for the rest of us. The monarchs of that era fully expected Washington to make a power grab and declare himself, president-for- life. That would have been the norm and a more proven system of continuity as a means to keep a country moving along peace- fully. Countries were seen as most vulnerable when the leader was brand new and untested. To purposely set up a system in the US that chose to change the commander in chief every four years and then let the common people decide who'd get to lead was thought of as nutty. But, when the sec- ond term ended and even the voters begged Washington to stay, he declined, refusing once again to allow anyone to compare him to roy- alty. It was a very important turning point for our country as Washington chose to uphold an ideal and let go of the control. Imagine a CEO of an enor- mous conglomerate stepping back and letting the sharehold- ers decide who gets to take his place. Imagine that over 200 years later, eve when your choice doesn't win, the corpo- ration continues to grow and thrive. We have been the some- what grateful recipients of all of that, and all on a civil servant's salary. There wasn't even a pension until just after Harry Truman, when he and the only other living presi- dent, Herbert Hoover, began to receive $25,000 per year until their death. Not exactly the golden parachutes we've become painfully used to on Wall Street. So, if you enjoyed your cherry pie in honor of Washing- ton's example of rig- orous honesty yester- day, I hope you'll salute those who still give of themselves to make sure democracy rules. Belated happy President's Day everyone. Martha's latest book, Live Your Big Adventure is available a t www.MarthasBigAdventure.co m. Email Martha at: Martha@caglecartoons.com. President's Day 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 Ask hard questions on Bend Area Editor: On Feb. 3, I attended a meet- ing at the Bend School to dis- cuss and learn about the Conser- vation Recreation Area Act pro- posed by the Bureau of Land Management in the Bend-Jelly District. The leading advocate for this plan turned out to be our Tehama County Chief Adminis- trator Bill Goodwin, who is sup- posed to work at the direction of the Tehama County Board of Supervisors. He must have a job promised him by the BLM because he promoted the proposal without first having it approved by the Board of Supervisors. He answered all the questions con- cerning the proposed Conserva- tion Recreation Area from peo- ple that were from out of the area but did not answer the questions concerning who would pay for the road improve- ments around the recreation area, for the sheriff when need- ed, for CAL-Fire when needed, trespassers or fence mainte- nance. You, the citizens of Tehama County, will put up the monies for these expenses. The extra Federal Grant monies received by this proposed act have to be spent only within the recreation area and these are not guaran- teed. The Conservation Recreation Area Act is proposed by US Sen. Barbara Boxer and I, for one, cannot remember her help- ing anyone in Northern Califor- nia. The Tehama County Board of Supervisors is required to hold a public hearing about this proposal and you, the citizens of this county, should ask the hard questions then. Jerry Hemsted, Cottonwood Discrimination alive in Calif Editor: The only reason that people lose employment due to cannabis use is because, thanks to our supremes and the gover- nator, it's still legal to discrimi- nate against us in California. Imagine how insane we feel to be told, "OK, you can use your cannabis, but when you do, you no longer have the right to contract or to be employed." Making cannabis users into sec- ond class citizens is obviously un-American. It's also a last gasp effort on the part of those who insist that we continue in this failed war against the herb. This too shall pass. Cannabis will be legal in our lifetimes, here in California. Medical cannabis is legal now. How long shall we continue wasting public resources on this war against cannabis and hemp? The only children who have medical approvals to use cannabis are those whose lives are so improved by using cannabis that to withhold treat- ment would be irresponsible. They also have the consent of their parents and legal guardians. Otherwise, people have to wait until they're 18 in California to even be considered for cannabis approvals. And remember, these same "healthy looking young people" get to serve in our military, where they have the opportunity to risk their lives, limbs and craniums on a daily basis. Cannabis helps many returning soldiers who suffer from brain trauma, PTSD, phantom limb syndrome and a number of other ailments they received on our behalves. Legal is legal, whether the patient is 8, 18 or 108 years old. And for that matter, why is it OK for people to receive mind- altering and heavy side-effect wielding prescription drugs, but it's not OK for them to use an herb that God has provided for us? If it's a "scam" to receive a recommendation or approval to use herbal cannabis, how is it not the same scam to prescribe harmful and addicting chemical substances? How many children have received brain damage and other health risks, as a result of being forced to take legal speed like Ritalin, for example? Medical evaluations for cannabis use are as thorough and professional as their coun- terparts in all other realms of medicine, for good or ill. There are some great cannabis special- ists out there, whose care of their patients is better than most family physicians. There are also charlatans that conduct rather fly by night operations. As in all other areas of medicine and commerce in America, let the buyer beware. In closing, if we don't want to legalize the sale of cannabis, so that it can function in our capitalist system, then we need to take the next step and allow groups to collectively or cooperatively pay salaries and wages to their cannabis farmers, so that the medicine belongs to the group and the farmer doesn't have to sell it when it's harvested. If it's already paid for, in membership dues and garden investments, and the farmers are paid regular pay-checks, then there are no sales after harvest. Rather, the medicine is just packaged up and handed to the patients when it's finished. I don't understand why peo- ple who otherwise identify as capitalists somehow turn into radical communists when it comes to cannabis, but please lose the crazy expectation that money can't be involved in our transactions, because we do in fact live on the same planet as you, and we are required to pay our bills, too. Our community should con- sider various tax ideas, so that the legitimate medical com- merce of cannabis brings money back into our community, just as other crops here do. Jason Browne, Red Bluff Your Turn