Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/782112
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: Daily News 728Main St., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS Mostteachersrememberthe self-important, almost arrogant student who would bring in an essay that he or she was sure was wonderful. I have known gradu- ate students who would do this. When a teacher reads the essay, it becomes clear that the writer thought the teacher was a mind reader and would understand what was written; sometimes foggy thinking was more ev- ident, and other times a dis- regard of proper English was a problem. In such cases I of- ten sat down with the student and went over the problems with that essay and gave that student a chance to re work it. There was no penalty. Part of being a student is having a per- sonal learning opportunity. Our "Tweeter-in Chief" could use such a private lesson; how- ever, it may be difficult for him to understand he has much to learn. The recent rush to draft a new Presidential edict regard- ing immigration and refugees is a clear example of that. It seems the President is ei- ther surrounded by too many "yes men" or he is overly sure of himself. The worldwide up- roar, the embarrassment of detaining those who worked with our military, the death of a green card holder who was forced to wait behind while the rest of her family could travel here, and the separation of other families could have been avoided if he had deigned to run his proclamation by a few in the know who could have drafted it to make it more ac- ceptable, more specific, and less embarrassing. So now he is be- coming an international em- barrassment…. And just in the first ten days in office. Photographs this week reveal that he that he is morphing into a caricature of Alex Bald- win who parodied him during the election campaign on Satur- day Night Live. Meanwhile, there has been an exponential growth in fact checkers because of the many "alternative facts" our leader has tried to have us believe, and the many half-truths he claims are fully the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Some have even called him the "Liar in Chief;" I am not willing to go so far, but he is a salesman, and willing to exaggerate, twist and shout to make his points. It may be that he spent so much time study- ing the things that he discussed with Billy Bush that he has se- rious gaps in his knowledge about the nature of our form of government. If our new commander in chief had taken more time over the last 70 years to study the body of the constitution in- stead of the bodies he was dis- cussing with Billy Bush, or if he had read the body of the work written by our Found- ing Fathers, he would more clearly understand the nature of the government he is sup- posed to be leading. Our gov- ernment was never designed to allow for knee jerk impulsive- ness, tyranny of the majority, and the tyranny of a potential tyrant. It is designed for delib- eration and careful decision making. It seems "our own" state sen- ator, allegedly of Gerber, must have some gaps in his knowl- edge base as well, by uncondi- tionally endorsing Trump's lat- est edict because of what he claims is the "obvious" safety issue…. Like not living in the district where you are elected. Today, February 2, the proud leader of the free world demonstrated his lack of hu- mility in his back-patting speech the National Day of Prayer Breakfast. Most of us believe that prayer includes submission to whom you pray, humbling yourself, seeking the reassurance of forgive- ness, and asking for support to do better. Normally it does not include puffing out your chest or denigrating others. Maybe the Donald just didn't understand what the National Day of Prayer was all about. In the meantime, it is more important than ever that we, the electorate, pay attention, question statements that are clearly "alternative facts", and help our President do a better job. Our Founders believed in a discourse of reason, not necessarily agreement be- tween the government and the citizenry. When we are distracted by instant news, alternative facts, quick decisions, tweets from on high, things happen in a rush; deliberation does not take place. We need to make America Deliberative Again. JoeHarropisaretired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Joe Harrop Let'smake America deliberative again Systembroken Editor: This is on my mind. People go to jail. People read in the news- paper someone getting 3 years in jail. This lady works hard for her money, finally after 5 years buys a car. A mom with a child to sup- port, a single mom to boot. Life is good. Good for a person that is good. One day someone steals her car. She loses her way to work. She can't afford a new one. What to do? Until the insurance pays something she can't even get a used car. Can't buy a new one, she still owes for the one that got stolen. The thief gets 2 years with half time. But good lady has 5 years of hard work and sav- ing her money. Everyone knows how hard it is to save money, es- pecially with a child going to school and all. Where is the justice in that? I did 2 years in prison in Mexico 15 years ago. I know what prison is, for real. But to lock someone up with hot wa- ter, food, place to sleep, cable TV, medical, while a mother is put on the street with a young child. I don't have the answers, but something has to be changed. — Steve Henderson, Red Bluff Readerquestions countycontract Editor: Here's another example of how our officials deceive us, they cre- ate positions and pay high sala- ries for certain people. In 2015 the county hired Cay- lyn Brown, also known as Caylyn Wright, for the position of Stra- tegic Alliances Principal Job De- veloper. Don't bother looking it up as you won't find it. This job was solely created for Ms. Brown and it never opened up for the public, even though Ms. Brown lives in Sacramento. Here are the highlights of the contract between the Board of Supervisors, dictated by Bill Goodwin. Brown is supposed to be a contractor not an employee of Tehama County. She is to re- ceive $789 for the month of Jan- uary 2015, $3,550 for the month of February 2015, and $7,100 per month for the remainder of the term of this agreement. The maximum compensation pay- able shall not exceed $75,339. County and contractor may mu- tually agree to two one-year ex- tensions, which the contract is still on going and this is the third year. However she received another raise in 2016 to $89,539. I don't know what it is for this year. She is required to work 20 hours the first month, 80 hours the second month, and 156 hours thereafter. There is no record or any other type of proof of her working schedule. Ms. Brown doesn't have to have a business license as she is self-employed. The county doesn't carry workman's com- pensation nor does it pay any health insurance as she only works full time for the county and lives in Sacramento and is self-employed. She is to meet regularly with Bill Goodwin and the board committee to pro- vide activity reports, "if there is any," and it really states that. She is not to have an office in the county building but Goodwin will set up a cubicle for her use when she is on sight. Ms. Brown cannot assign, transfer, delegate or sublet any interest herein without the prior written consent of the county so the supervisors have hired an as- sistant for her, not as a county employee, but she has been em- ployed for sometime, however they're not supposed to spend more than 25 percent of their time together under this contract in any month. I will give that in- formation in my next letter. Under scope of work, in the contract, I couldn't seem to find anything that has actually been done so I asked Goodwin and he said it takes awhile to set things up. So I ask these questions: How many developing poli- cies that positively impact the economy and local economic development, within the coun- ties existing legal authority has been developed in the last two years? Where is the website of the Golden Shovel located? Has there been any magazine advertising, or "finder" services such as "310 marketing?" I would like a copy of the 6-month and 12-month imple- mentation plan for Tehama County Economic Development Strategy as I can't get it any- where. My problem with all these outlandish salaries is none of these people live here so we, our community, do not receive any sales tax revenue from them nor have I seen any accom- plishments out of the work they claim they've done. I will write again on Mr. Goodwin's salary and some of the others next. I don't have the answers. — Kathy Nelson, Red Bluff Wishing inflation was just 2 percent Editor: Retirees average 7 percent annual inflation rate, because their Social Security pensions are seldom inflation adjusted, the small pensions are never in- flation adjusted, and purchased services, not things or com- modities, are the major retiree spending. The average Social Security inflation increase was 2.1 per- cent yearly, and the two small pensions have zero inflation ad- justment. Because of Qualita- tive Easing under Obama and Yellen, our interest rate on the half of our investments in Tax Free Municipal bonds dropped from 6 to 7 percent yearly in 2008 to almost zero as bonds were recalled and reissued at well below retiree inflation rates. The zero Social Security in- flation adjustment in 2016 and 0.3% in 2017, and a negative value after 2017 Medicare Insur- ance increases, obviously can- not pay for the double digit in- flation increased on services and the one-third of income out of pocket health care costs. Al- most double digit Inflation is badly harming retirees who saved for retirement. — Joseph Neff, Corning Your opinions Cartoonist's take Donald Trump is the political reincarnation of Tina Turner — he doesn't do anything nice and easy. Also, they're both Type A per- sonalities who ex- pend a lot of en- ergy, but hardly move at all. And both are famous for high-mainte- nance hair. Since his Jan- uary coronation, the New York City real estate developer turned Leader of the Free World has partied like its 1939, issuing po- larizing edict after polarizing edict. The surprising thing is Fox News hasn't started to refer to him as Chancellor Trump. Or Gropenfuhrer. Yet. Traditionally, a newly elected, first-time president hits the ground running with hand out- stretched in a gesture of socia- bility, solidarity and camarade- rie. Not Donny John. He hit the ground whining, with a fistful of disdain for everyone he slapped upside the head: Democrats, Re- publicans, the media, Iran, Mex- ico, Great Britain, the media, his own Cabinet appointments, ref- ugees, the media, the NSC, TSA, and National Park Service. And don't forget the media. Experts theorized the weight of the White House would set- tle him down but alas, no such luck. He's still up all hours tweeting out a barrage of alter- native facts, choosy truths, ques- tionable veracities and marginal actualities that reflect a real- ity only he can see. As fluid and murky as the Potomac River. What little presidential hon- eymoon he enjoyed ended long before the cake was cut. The groom ditched the bride and boogied across the floor alone performing a solo victory dance in front of a mirror. As graceful as an angry anvil. You could describe his move- ments since as jerky, spasmodic and frenzied, like when he ob- sessed over the election being stolen. Ignoring the fact that he won. Even 46's own staff is having problems negotiating his tricky hairpins turns. Not only does the emperor have no clothes, his skin is really thin and kind of blotchy. According to the most aero- dynamically coiffed president in history, 3 to 5 million undocu- mented aliens illegally cast bal- lots for Hillary Clinton causing him to lose the popular vote. It's the only possible answer. Be- cause how could Donald Trump not be associated with whatever was most popular? It's unthink- able and unpresidented. President Trump loves his in- visible people. And there's tons of them. The invisible people who cast fraudulent ballots- to- tally different than the invisi- ble people who came to Wash- ington to be part of the largest crowd ever to witness an Inau- guration but conveniently van- ished when aerial photographs were taken. Maybe they're shy. And neither of those two groups of invisible people should be confused with the thousands of invisible people who celebrated in New Jersey after the World Trade Center came down. Which only he saw. Maybe it's a Sixth Sense sort of thing; "I see non-existent peo- ple." No wonder Bruce Willis supported him. During the rest of his first term, we can expect an expan- sion of Trump's hallucination theme. Much time will be spent discussing ghosts and lepre- chauns and sprites and phan- toms and pixies and the vast le- gions of his invisible enemies. Turns out Donald Trump doesn't just have a vision for this country, he has an X-ray vi- sion for this country. He's like Clark Kent only less buff and way blonder. It was bound to happen: America finally has its first super hero President. Er- ratic-Man. Will Durst is an award- winning, nationally acclaimed columnist and comedian. Go to willdurst.com for info about his new one-man show "BoomeRaging: From LSD to OMG," and the documentary "3 Still Standing." Will Durst Partying like it's 1939: An analysis of President Trump Our government was never designed to allow for knee jerk impulsiveness, tyranny of the majority, and the tyranny of a potential tyrant. Joe Harrop Will Durst OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, February 4, 2017 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A8