Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/71150
6A Daily News – Thursday, June 21, 2012 Opinion Human spirit 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 Vista Middle School Parent Club held a dance at the Red Bluff Community Center to celebrate Vista's 8th grade graduates. Though the parent club funded much of the expenses for the dance, there were several busi- nesses and individuals in the community who generously donated toward the event as well. Each of these businesses and Editor: On the evening of June 8 the individuals gave without question or hesitation. So that they don't go unno- ticed, I, along with the Vista Par- ent Club, would like to thank Luigi's Pizza, Firehouse Pizza, Roundtable Pizza, Tremont Cafe and Creamery, Baskin Robbins Ice Cream, Scoops, Tommy K's Yogurt, Taco Bell, Balloons & More, Hair Goddess, Riverbend Salon, Human Bean, Kris Sauve Cakes, D.W. Plumbing Inc. and Christopher Louisell M.D. With the start of summer, my hopes for some free time seem to evade me, as I am once again pounding the pavement gathering donations for another youth orga- nization. I cannot complain how- ever, as the experience has actual- ly been uplifting. I have visited dozens of busi- nesses and again, have not been turned away by anyone. Though times are tough, I am happy to say that our community spirit remains intact. The people of Red Bluff care about our youth and they care about each other. My children have accompa- nied me on some of these visits, which has provided teachable moments. They have seen that the generosity of the human spirit still bums bright, even in these difficult times. I have always supported and will continue to support our local businesses and I hope those who are able will do the same. Thank you again to all of these businesses and individuals who help make Red Bluff such a wonderful place to live. This morning I was reading about AB1475 which is another bill to fleece taxpayers. If passed, the Franchise Tax Board will be able to not only penalize taxpay- ers for not paying their taxes on time, but for paying too many taxes. Can you believe it? A 20% penalty. Disgusted Editor: Alexandra Louisell, Red Bluff dough for them to spend however they like. Disgusting. Also, another boo hoo story crying many of the chosen pen- sion plans aren't funded. Well, guys, join the party. When the taxpayer's IRA goes down the drain, who suffers? The taxpayer. No, we aren't reimbursed from taxes like so many of the pension funds are now, even though they've donated billions to vote their candidate in office. Does this sound Democratic? Pun intended. This is the problem. In the same article it stated what the monthly pensions are for those big shots in our universities. $20,000 to $34,000 monthly. monthly. How many of we aver- age guy-on-the-streets get that amount a year? We're the ones with our pockets inside-out and someone shaking us for even more to enhance their lifestyle. No, they're not greedy, they have college educations, they deserve it. I and many others have claimed fewer exemptions so we would either be even with the tax bandits or perhaps get money back, which rarely happens any- more. These dumbells just don't get it, they spend too much, cut the spending. So, where else to go but their local bank, US. No prob- lem, we can just pony up more whatever they're doing is for the children's sake, I laugh. There are some fine teachers, no doubt, and some not-so-fine who can still teach because their tenured. How that ever came into law is beyond me. If we common people don't do our jobs, we're out the door. Not so with teachers even if they're caught molesting, etc. Takes an act of God to get rid of them, and then usually, they put Every time I hear a teacher say them some place out of the way but they're still on the payroll. Disgusting again. Maybe that's why they have a money crunch? You think? Your Turn office offering so much hope and change. We got the change. Not good. Nothing more than big government fleecing the public again. I sincerely hope he's as desperate as they say he is. I love my soap operas on Fox, CNN, MSNBC, etc. Check in every so often to see what he's up to. Not for political purposes, as he's accused. Oh, no. He's just decided he should do something before the election. He may for- give student loans. Wonder if my granddaughters can get a refund on their $80,000 student loans? One's a elementary school teacher, a good one, the other a graphic artist. Will take them a lifetime to repay their loans. Probably only the minorities, undocumented students will have this privilege. I loved his phrasing of his executive order regarding undocumented children being allowed to stay in this country. "For the good of this country." Yeah, right. We spend billions taking care of these people, many of them a total burden on our society, some not, some being good people, but they're here ille- gally. This President came into What a mess. Bernice Cressy, Cottonwood 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 reporter interrupting Obama: Lowering the bar Commentary If a reporter from an ideolog- ically-anchored publication interrupts a President by shout- ing out questions right in the middle of his statement and it's unprecedented, will some parti- sans immediately rush to his side to defend him and claim this is the way real, respectable, professional journalists operate? Yep. Will all his fellow partisans defend him? Happily: Nope. But once again the bar has been low- ered on how political business is conducted in the United States – lowered so far that the sharks are now ordering Bloody Marys. The bar was lowered on June 15 when The Daily Caller reporter Neil Munro interrupted President Barack Obama as Obama was delivering a state- ment on his administration's his- torical immigration policy shift. Munro later claimed he didn't intend to interrupt, but at least one journalist there insists it was clear he did and video confirms that view. dent Reagan. Donaldson told The Huffington Post: "Never once did I interrupt a president in any way while he was making a formal statement, a speech, honoring awardees or in any other way holding the floor." In reality, Munro wasn't emu- lating Donaldson. He seemed to be channeling the late, obnox- ious Morton Downy, Jr. Some conservatives later got footage showing Reagan interrupted as he was turning a podium over to someone else. But the bottom line is authentic journalists at all media levels and political per- suasions have never screamed out questions at public officials who are speaking, even if they don't think they're getting answers. Munro yelled a question akin to one that would be screeched by an ideological cable talk show host: "Mr. President, why do you favor foreign workers over Americans?" The defend- ers ( the green-card carrying) Munro, including his enabling, cheering-section boss Tucker Carlson, later defended his ques- tion, equating Munro with retired ABC newsman Sam Donaldson's shout outs to Presi- every politician they felt was not being candid answering ques- tions, politicians would have to learn to sign and mime. And Mitt Romney – who evaded Bob Schieffer's question several times about what whether he'd rescind Obama's immigration order — would be the first in line. If journalists interrupted The larger issue is that we're again seeing the bar lowered on expected and "given" behaviors in American discourse in the never ending partisan struggle for power and political domi- nance. It's not just about civility. It's about being willing to listen to another point of view without trying to drown someone out, keep him from making an argu- ment, or demonizing him. If this behavior is allowed to stand and not totally repudiated, then it will occur again. And if it does, say goodbye to any vestige of politi- cians or leaders being allowed to finish state- ments or speeches with- out being interrupted by some loudmouth who wants to advance his career, or who has a political axe to grind, or who has an editor who realizes that notoriety brings hits, readership and audience share from many like-minded, angry partisans. Reporters every- where let officials deliv- er speeches and public state- ments and ask questions after. When I was a reporter in Spain, India, Baja California, Califor- nia and Kansas, not one Ameri- can or foreign reporter would ever interrupt an official speech or statement because they were there to gather information -- not to halt information that was being given. Top conservative media types (Michael Medved, Bill O'Reilly, Bill Kristol, and Chris Wallace) were critical of Munro and Carl- son. Meanwhile, CNN"s Don Lemon did a withering piece taking Munro and Carlson to task – even asking Carlson how he would have liked it if some- one had interrupted him when he was performing on "Dancing with the Stars." And Carlson? His descent from a once promising young, serious conservative pundit into partisan hackery was com- plete when he told Fox News' Andy Levy that he was "proud" of Munro and not worried about "thinking through the conse- quences for society." (Oh.) Joe Gandleman istic behavior, I suspect the even the sharks wouldn't let Carlson sit at their bar far below. They'd tell him to go jump in Due to his being an editor who enables and encour- ages his reporters to discard worldwide standards of journal- the lake -- and sit with the crap- pies. Joe Gandelman is a veteran journalist who wrote for newspapers overseas and in the United States. He has appeared on cable news show political panels and is Editor- in-Chief of The Moderate Voice, an Internet hub for independents, moderates. He can be reached at jgandelman@themoderatevoi ce.com. centrists and