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6A Daily News – Thursday, July 26, 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. 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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 Despicable me Be diligent with vote won't be the last, but I blew it. I was even prewarned. I knew this was a big deal. But, I blew it. My wife had been telling me for months there was going to be a drastic change. Well, I blew it. I'm not the first man and I This is a person I've been with nearly every day for seven years and she looked different. It's not that I didn't like it, but it kind of looked like she had a wig on at first. By the time my brain had gotten over the initial shock and formed a com- pliment it was too late. I had blown it. She would later tell me I said it was cause she's turning 30. was one of the She said it Rich Greene fun things about being a woman — changing your hair. Then a few days ago she called and told me she was at the hairdresser having her blonde locks cut and dyed dark. match. way. I was prepared, as I waited at home with a great compli- ment to adore her with as she walked through the door. "Don't blow this," I told myself. "Every guy blows this situation. Don't be that guy." Then she came home with a big smile on her face. And my reaction? Stare. "Don't you love it?" Stare. "Well, say something!" Stare. I couldn't stop staring. she was hoping for a more passionate welcome. That is once she started talking to me again. I had nailed the speech- less part of her dream reac- tion, just not the actions to What is it about us men who fear change so much? I hadn't always been this I used to be spur of the moment, rebellious. The normal routine of life is where I find comfort. It's where I go more than anything to feel safe. I used to dye my hair too. I used to be younger. Not anymore. Thank you for printing Robert Wilkinson's Common Sense opinion July 11. The message is crucial to America, If we contin- ue to buy our presidents and to ignore the fact that elected officials can power struggle us into becoming a third world country, then we deserve what we get. However, please vote and please be diligent with your choices. Here is something you really need to consider this November: We do got have the time or resources to make a mistake. Our country is in crisis. We waited in frustration while they played tug of war in me last session of con- gress and we must we due diligence in November at the ballot box. So please consider these three ideas as you struggle with what we can do. 1. Pay real attention to the people running for senate or congress Editor: Your Turn I'm starting to think that's what holds me back as well. I just hope I snap out of it before my wife comes home with a tattoo. Daily News reporter Rich Greene can be reached at 527- 2151, ext. 109. Connect with him at facebook.com/richgreenenews. seats! We need to get party politics out of the law making process. We need our representatives to put party aside and find solutions to this mess first and foremost. Let your representatives know you expect them to quit bickering and work as a team to find solutions to get this country back producing real jobs. 2. Consider the fact that Romney's only consistency is in sling- ing insults at Obama with the twisting of words. He has proven time and again that his character — or lack thereof — rears its ugly head while he plays the part you want to hear in order to gain your vote. He does not have a clue that being rich and handsome does not entitle him to lie and refuse to answer direct questions. It is clear by this dodge ball technique that he does not have a plan other than shooting down any effort to regulate the Wall Street thieves. Please remember, if you have not considered his former flip-flopping on issues of dire importance, then take me word of your fellow citizens who have watched his record and do not chance it by voting him into the position he is trying so desperately to purchase. 3. We all know that we need to get on with trying to turn this mess around. Consider the fact that President Obama is already in the hot seat. He has stated his ideas for recovery and he has achieved some, lost some, but you cannot say he waffles much. His history of integrity has stood a lot of tests even into the ridiculous waste of time about his birth certificate and religion. Let's keep his feet to the fire, concentrate on keeping the steam of the engine mov- ing and don't start over until you are able to trust that the new per- son has a real and stated plan, and that it is realistic and not some- thing he can say now, then blame the failure of onto just about any other person but himself. Please don't gamble with the next crucial 4 years. Carlene Pollard, 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. Olympians represent the best of our team efforts Commentary the Winter Olympics. Watching elite athletes do elite sports is not on the same level of human drama that plays out at the Sum- mer Games. Face it - you have to be pretty well off to even dis- cover an aptitude for skiing. The winter games are mostly watch- ing privileged people be better at something you can't afford to try. Plus if you qualify for the Winter Olympics you are more than likely from an industrial- ized nation with a history of human rights (something about snow ensures basic government functioning). It's hard to get excited about In short: Curling isn't the only reason the Winter Olympics are lame. While only 82 countries par- ticipated in the 2010 games in Vancouver, every nation save three (South Sudan, Kosovo and Vatican City) will be competing in the 2012 games in London. It's truly a global event. It's also the first time every nation will have sent a female athlete. Saudi Arabia, where women can bare- ly vote (let alone drive), is send- ing two female athletes to the games for the first time. Qatar and Brunei (also with spotty women's suffrage) have women representing them as well this year. The Summer Olympics are not just about seeing who throws farther than other people who can throw far. The Summer Olympics are a metaphor for what we idealize as the Ameri- can Dream. Our impenetrable Puritan values: Hard work has a pay off. It's the pageantry of the best of the best and how they got there. Sure, it's sportsmanship, but for Americans the summer games is an opportunity for us to romanticize individualism. Americans, after all, see our- selves as pioneers — as home- steaders — people who in our mythology can handle a hurdle race or two. For us, Olympian rags-to- riches tales are what America is based on: Pulling on your boot- straps until you find yourself on the center rostrum. Last week, President Obama botched paraphrasing an Eliza- beth Warren line, "No one in this country got rich on his own," and ending up saying (if you scrub all context) no one built their own business. The right- wing has been quick to refute this gaffe with a col- lective "did too!" The theme (at least) was clear: Success is a group effort. Every Olympian represents an army of people supporting, nurturing and encour- aging ability. No one gets to the Olympics on their own. No mat- ter how naturally gift- ed — they're on their way to London because people helped them get there. "Peo- the state) investing their time and energy into my wellbeing. I showed up and did the work but I could not have done it all by myself. I had help. Tons. Tina ple" meaning communities, par- ents and yes, governments. I was raised in foster care. Dupuy The alleged nanny state was my actual nanny. People will argue with me that I was raised by "people" and not the govern- ment. Which is like saying you don't need electricity to light your home because you have a lamp. I know there was a mass of people (many employed by That's what the pres- ident was talking about: infrastructure. Our collective invest- ment in our country. When I watch the Olympics I see how the world treats its young people. I see their hope for the future on a bal- ance beam. I see poli- tics. I see progress. I see individuals repre- senting the best of us — and all we can accomplish. I see the opposite of isolationism and selfishness. But mostly I see that truly American story of coming from behind and going for the gold. Go team! Tina Dupuy is an award- winning writer and the editor-in- chief of SoapBlox. Tina can be reached at tinadupuy@yahoo.com.