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6A Daily News – Wednesday, September 5, 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 divided times, people ask me why I'm a Republican. Here's why: I like parting my hair on the side and wearing penny loafers without socks, with real pennies in them. I like showing up for meetings on time, balancing my checking account and retiring for the night before 11. In these partisan, highly But part of me longs to be a Democrat. I love buying rounds for the whole pub — to heck with fiscal sanity on the weekend! I love making grandiose promises, par- ticularly to women, that I know I can never keep. I have had my struggles as a Republican. Why I'm a Republican Commentary and basked shamelessly in the perks of power and corruption. A Republican president got us into an aggressive war with Iraq that would divide the country, give Democrats control of Con- gress and eventually help put a novice, Barack Obama, into the presidency. too. ill, in a country of 300 million people. Democrats have their flaws, Democrat politicians are like Santa Claus. They love to give "free" things to people, then bask in the resulting praise. Thanks to Democrats, college kids, even those from high- income homes, are qualifying for — and happy to accept — food stamps. Sometimes, I've been proud, such as during the Ronald Rea- gan era, when real reforms sim- plified our tax system and unleashed American ingenuity and economic miracles. I was proud when Republi- cans took over Congress in 1995 and brought discipline to Wash- ington. With the economy firing on all cylinders and spending restrained, our government soon began producing a surplus. But I've often been disap- pointed. In the early 2000s, a Republi- can Congress spent carelessly Radical Democrat wing nuts occupy Wall Street and poop on police cars. They chain themselves to trees and curse at lumberjacks. Some Republicans Democrat politicians thought health-care reform would win them praise. Their plan, essen- tially, gives people the goodies we all want — care for all, no more pre-existing condition concerns and so on — without worrying about how we will pay for it. I love to be generous, too — but, being a Republican, I have never figured out how to do so using other people's money. The truth is that both parties have their own nutty ideas. A few think a woman can't get preg- nant if she's raped. Oth- ers say federal funds should be used to pro- vide marriage counsel- ing — as though the institution of marriage is not in enough trouble already. for — or interest in — getting our fiscal mess in order. Our debt is soaring under President Obama. Is anyone confident that he can fix this prob- lem? Tom Purcell By and large, though, most Republicans and Democrats are good people who go to work every day, pay their bills on time and want what is best for their country. have good and bad sides. How can they not? We have, essen- tially, two parties to represent almost every interest, good and Most Republicans are not the unsympathetic rich, white cari- catures that some people, partic- ularly "objective" journalists who work for big-city media outlets, wish they were. In any event, at this point, as America is about to go over a fiscal cliff, it is good to be a Republican. Look, Democrats, have shown regrettably little aptitude Republicans, though, are finally doing some good work again. Republi- can governors have been bringing fiscal sanity and order to state governments — the very thing we must do at the federal level. cy, get our affairs in order and pave the way for another era of robust economic growth. That's why I'm a Republican — and also because I like tuck- ing my Oxford shirts into my pants, even though nobody does that anymore. ——— I hope the Republi- cans win the presiden- Landscaping is The landscaping at the PG&E Red Bluff substation on Monroe Street is pathetic. Too bad they didn't sign on to the Cleaner and Greener Red Bluff efforts. Venita Philbrick, Red Bluff pathetic Editor: Another brutal political election year. Election year Editor: Health care single payer plan or competition in private sector. private sector multiple com- petitors, will people vote for political or economic rea- sons? Post Office monopoly or Consider the amount of abrasion a stone receives to become a gem. Steve Kelsey, Corning Wolfe Editor: Mr. Wolfe's point I assume is socialism and charity are not the same thing. However socialism by its definition is more concerned for the gener- Response to al welfare of the populace than the capitalist system is. His letter of Aug.18 implied to me that socialists use unscrupulous tactics but capitalist don't. I strongly disagree with that notion. Let's see, solar cells have been sold in this country since 1956 and he wants me to expound on one that popped up in 2005 with the apparent purpose of ripping off the American tax payer. I'll leave that dissertation to Mr. Wolfe, I'm sure he's done the research. I have not seen much of the banking scandals in his letters. I wonder why that is. It's funny, Republicans want us to believe the huge tax deductions that oil corpo- rations get is not a subsidy but the tax breaks for renew- ables are, that poor folks caused the housing bust not manipulating Wall Street bankers, and that tax reduc- tion, especially for the super rich is our most likely route to prosperity. Vice President seems to be crazy about Reagan's trickle down theory. Trouble is not much has trickled down since he sprung it on us some 31 years ago. Most of us are still waiting for that trickle. Orval Strong, Gerber The Republican pick for Raises for It is poor manage- ment practice to pro- vide pay increases to recognize additional degrees, professional licenses or certifi- cates, or prestigious certifications, for public employees. The recognition should be a small one time bonus such as $250 or $500, Pay increases for keeping skills current with additional degrees, a Professional Engi- neering License, or even a primary degree is poor prac- tice because it does not nor- mally provide increased job efficiency. degrees Editor: environment of plentiful employees for most Public Employee or civilian jobs, to provide a 5 percent pay increase for a promotion, and a 3% average annual pay increase to compensate for unchanged job performance including cost of living. The reason California pubic employees now receive 50% higher pay and benefits than their equals in the private sec- tor is because of city, county, and state practices of increas- ing pay scales for another It is common in today's Your Turn degree with limited current job value, a Professional License, or a prestigious cer- tification. As an example, in the field of Engineering, it is common practice to not provide a raise for a Master's Degree or an MBA because it is assumed, that in time those degrees will result in future promotions, but not increased current productivi- ty. This includes completing the multi year process of receiving the Professional Engineering Certification. My global employer granted $500 for a patent application that has cleared the search process, and then another $500 upon patent granting, that may be worth many mil- lions to an employer. That is a bonus. The Corning and Red Bluff City Council, Tehama Coun- ty Council, and School Boards should consider end- ing the practice of granting pay raises for additional degrees, professional certifi- cation, or prestigious awards. Small bonuses are a less costly and more effective way to recognize the need for life- long education to keep you job. Joseph Neff, Corning 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: governor@gov- ernor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Ceanothus 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. Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e-mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com.