Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/70726
6A Daily News – Tuesday, June 19, 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 Tempests in Tea Party pots make that will most certainly find favor with those that fan the flames of discontent with our president and speak with contempt against progressive causes. With the heat of summer upon us in the north state I will spend much of mine in the cooler climes from whence I came to take a hiatus from writing in this paper. It is my hope that this "cooling off" period will have its intended effect to calm the tempest of Don Polson's campaign to mis- construe and mischaracterize my desires and diminish the disre- spectful tones of our commen- taries. I have an announcement to otic "Tea Party Patriot" sympathiz- ers who defame our commander in chief, and the democratic princi- ples upon which a government of the people and for the people is founded. Unlike Mr. Polson, my father, my brother and I have each honor- ably served our country as officers in the United States Army to defend your freedom of speech and other constitutional rights with something other than a pen and loud mouth. The lengths to which many pundits of the right gone wrong will go to make a point regardless of facts and common decency is truly distressing to me. I can only suppose it is too conve- nient for them to publish excerpted out of context statements of their detractors to further their causes without having to make com- pelling statements of their own. Such is the apparent game plan of the "party of no" and their unpatri- Stong words I have chosen for all readers to consider as I leave you with the virulent negativity of my colleague below the fold toward all things progressive, envi- ronmental, sustainable, liberal and otherwise offensive to those of a conservative bent. While those that outrageously question the citizen- ship, faith and adherence to demo- cratic principles of our duly elect- ed president will continue to do so in a campaign of no bounds, I will be cooling my heels in the calm and placid waters of the Pacific Northwest to focus upon possibili- ties to reinvigorate those that seek to work as one meeting the myriad environmental, economic and social challenges now upon us as a species. tives that believe unbridled capital- ism, unregulated free markets and hard labors are the forces that will best overcome our problems, I envision a more humanistic approach is best by sharing our abundance while manifesting a respect for our environment and all creation. There is considerable biblical and ancient wisdom to In contrast to most conserva- support my quest and I am of the belief that should we fail our cul- ture will soon face cata- clysmic crises that force the issue. Some arche- ologists and followers of the Mayan calendar foresee the winter sol- stice of December 21, 2012 to be that day, which turns out to be on the precipice of a per- fect storm of national economic and social challenges during the lame-duck or pre-sec- ond term period follow- ing the November pres- idential election. Richard Only time will tell if this period of unproduc- tive political intransi- gence and unlimited financing of what promises to be nasty campaigns of great negativi- ty will soon end or if we as a nation and world must endure more of the vitriol and disrespect of our government and elected officials that has taken hold since the Tea Party has come to be. This is not to infer that they alone con- tribute to our ills, but it is to say that their defense of such behavior as a right being subjugated to intimidation from the left is noth- ing more than a smokescreen to excuse what I consider to be Mazzucchi Positive Point defamation and disrespect. In closing I wish to apologize to anyone who may have naively or mistak- enly interpreted my admonishments of those that slander on line as an attempt to squelch freedom of expression. I fully appreciate and respect the right to express yourself and outrage at my opinions. I will now take my leave to help calm the waters that divide opposite sides of our political spectrum by letting you know until I might return: old soldiers never die – they just fade away. In any event I pray that more of us put faith and positive action into progres- sive causes that lift everyone before fears and negativity of those that think primarily of self interests by brewing tempests in Tea-party pots. Richard Mazzucchi is a retired research engineer specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy. He has travelled extensively and now makes his home in Los Molinos. He can be reached at living-green@att.net. 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. Local sheriffs, standing for Constitution Commentary It's simply called "Support Rural America Sheriffs' Event," to be held this coming Saturday at the fairgrounds' (air conditioned) Home Arts building – gun show and fiddle contest venue. Doors open at 12:30; the program begins with the flag salute at 1:30; admis- sion is free. Tehama County's own Sheriff Dave Hencratt is hosting a panel of "Constitutional Sheriffs" who will address attendees on their unique challenges and guiding principles navigating the high call- ing of serving their constituents' and citizens' public safety, service and, increasingly, the roadblocks thrown in their way by state and federal agencies. Why, you might ask, does "rural America" need support, and what do local sheriffs have to do with the United States Constitution? First, this event is sponsored by the Tea Party Patriots of Tehama County, Yreka, Redding and Corning, as well as Scott Valley Protect Our Water and Siskiyou Water Users Association. Take a few minutes to check out these websites: "PieN- Politics.com" and "SupportRu- ralAmerica.com" and, even if you can't attend on Saturday, explore the content, links and issues, book- mark them and return to learn of coming events and issues. Call 527- 6915 for questions or vendor info. Would it surprise you to find out that the entire efforts of the many Founders and Framers of the Dec- laration of Independence and Con- stitution were devoted to enshrining and protecting the individual citi- zen from the ravages and abuses of despotic, powerful national govern- ments? Would it occur to you that the most powerful offices of public order and law enforcement that they envisioned were local and municipal sheriffs and police? Those brilliant men had the burning desire to craft, or "consti- tute," government at the federal, state and local level that was suffi- ciently reined in and bound by law that the individual citizen, that citi- zen's property, indeed everything that that citizen created in the "pur- suit of happiness" was sacrosanct and shielded by inviolable restric- tions against government. They had witnessed, and had learned from history, what despots, kings, rulers (benign or not) and tyrannical mobs were capable of in the course of pursuing even the most well- intentioned (though usually not) designs for those under their rule or sway. Mark Levin's "Ameritopia" you know that man has, for thousands of years, sought out ideal, or utopi- an, forms of government, with the wisest of overlords and their equals formulating the best means and structures to guide, more often to mandate and force, all members of society to do what is best for all. Even the most beneficent of kings would hardly want less than that for his kingdom's subjects. Levin showed, through quotes from their works, how Plato's 'Republic,' Thomas Hobbes' 'Leviathan,' Thomas More's 'Utopia' and Karl Marx's 'Com- munist Manifesto' all did just that in their respective visions of an ide- ally ordered society and govern- ment. Our Founders and Framers also knew what all free men and women (set aside for the moment indentured servants and slaves) had If you have read or listened to come to cherish in this New Land of colonies, towns, farms and enterprise: The unheard of freedom to pursue their individual dreams and designs for support- ing themselves and their families. They began to believe, dream and ulti- mately act to realize a new kind of constitu- tionally ordained society of productive people lib- erated from far-off despots, mob rule or colonial powers. They drew inspiration from such thinkers as John Locke and Charles Montesquieu, who'd written on the philo- sophical underpinnings of representative self- government. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote of the marvel of seeing Americans act in concert to reme- dy the challenges they and their communities faced, without wait- ing for permission, authority, bless- ing or resources from a far off cen- tral official or agency. far from the original vision and reality of a land of hope, individual freedom and opportunity America has wandered. In the Federalist Papers, wherein our Founders elaborated on the principles enshrined in the Constitution, it was explained how difficult it would be for basic political ele- ments – the individual and local governments – to fall under the tyranny of the federal state. Even worse, having the power of that state become a tool for one group, Perhaps you get a sense of how Don Polson The way I see it or faction, of people to force their will on another group, taking from them the fruits of their labor for the benefit of those who had no claim to it. You get the idea. That's where local, particularly rural, sheriffs should be the enforcers of law applied to the land and citizens within their counties' borders. Their interests and priorities most closely represent their citizen voters. The Constitution contains no provision for federal police or SWAT teams under the purview of the EPA, DEA, Department of Education, Homeland Security, Interior, Immi- gration or any other agency, which can ride roughshod over local citizens or law enforcement. Conflicts arise, however, over the fact that the federal govern- ment, beginning about a hundred years ago, assumed control over ever-more-vast expanses of land in the western states, land that had been locally or privately held. Local governments and law enforcement thus find themselves the figurative tail of the dog. Fact: Of Tehama County's $100+ mil- lion budget, only a small portion is truly ours to control and spend. Plan to come on Saturday and hear local sheriffs in their own words. Don Polson has called Red Bluff home since 1988. He can be reached by e-mail at donplsn@yahoo.com.