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6A Daily News– Wednesday, September 12, 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 Editor: Today, Sept. 11, as I travelled through town I was taken by the number of businesses that have opted to fly the American Flag at their locations. Flying the flag As today is a day proclaimed by the President that flags are to fly at half staff in remembrance of the catastrophe incurred on this date, I noticed that some flags were in fact flown as directed. Others were not. The problem came in when I noticed that one flag flying at half staff was accompanied by a Cali- fornia state flag flying at full staff as well as a corporate flag at full staff. This is not an acceptable practice, all flags adjacent to the American flag must be lowered to below the US flag. I also noticed that several flags displayed are faded, frayed and oversized or undersized for the pole on which they fly. Recogniz- ably flags are expensive to replace, however it should be a matter of pride by the owner or manager of a business to fly the flag correctly, or remove it. When the proper rules of dis- playing the symbol of our nation and its people are not followed this reflects poorly on the displayer and our town. The US flag is not an icon for advertising it is repre- sentative of our people Robert Emge, Red Bluff Editor: I want to share something with the people of Tehama and Shasta counties. Only in America Manton has had a devastating fire come through our area and there are things a lot of people did not get to see. One was the Command Post at the Long Ranch on the Manton Road. There were a group of heli- copters, gas trucks, tents and antennas for the communication post. Above the antennas was the American flag flying. terrible fire and the command post still let people know this is Amer- ica, our symbol is always there in time of need. Here we are in the middle of a Larry Rodrigue, Manton Thank you CalFire and all the people for your help. Only in America would you see this hap- pen. "I don't fully endorse him for president." That's quite a Romney Editor: many promises to voters if he is elected President. Most promises are the same ones he has made before. Yet, they are completely the opposite of his promises and his actual record as Massachusetts governor. For example, Romney has promised to cut taxes. Yet, during his term as Massachusetts gover- nor, the state raised business taxes by $140 million in one year, most- ly with measures recommended by him. Also, Republican law- makers raised hundreds of mil- lions of dollars from higher fees and fines, including nearly $60 million proposed by Romney him- self. ment about Mitt Romney coming from Ron Paul, a leading Republi- can. Republican and Independent voters should follow his advice. As usual, Romney has made com- Paul Ryan makes promises also that do not stand up to factual analysis. For example, he promis- es that his proposed tax cuts will benefit the poor and middle class. In fact, the proposed cuts, with the accompanying elimi- nation of tax exemptions and credits for all filers, would result in a huge deficit which could only be made up by higher taxes on the poor and mid- dle class. Your Turn Re-electing President Obama is a good idea when you look at the truth vs. fiction of the alternatives. Robert Wilkinson, Red Bluff Vice Presidential candidate charity Editor: Orval; snap out of it. You're still as confused as a sterile rabbit and it's my fault because I assumed you had some common sense. Socialism and charity is not the same thing. However, my explanation must have exceeded your level of comprehension and once again, it's my fault. You said: "However socialism by its definition is more con- cerned for the general welfare of the populace than the capitalist system is." In definition, maybe, but in actuality only if you have no ambition and are willing to sit on your butt and wait for a welfare check just to exist at the poverty level. On the other hand, capital- ism if not hogtied by the over-kill of government regulations, fees and taxes, can provide jobs for those who do work and will work so those who don't work and won't work can get their welfare check. Socialism and 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 Ameri- can tax payer." Let me say this about that, you know as well as I that You said: "Let's see, solar cells Solyandra is not the only green energy company that has ripped off the American tax payer and then filed for bankruptcy. Also, you were belly-aching about Dou- glas R. Oberhelman CEO of Caterpillar getting a big pay raise and I pointed out you were obvi- ously okay with bonuses going to the executives of the bankrupt Solyandra and to the employees of GSA. Might I add, at the Democratic National Convention Steven J. Spinner, along with other top fund raisers were given the red carpet treatment until Spinner saw the ABC News cameras and ran for the exit. Spinner was last in the headlines in October, when emails surfaced showing he had pushed for the Solyndra loan from his post in the Energy Department, appar- ently in an effort to score the loan as a political victory for President Obama. You said: "The Republican pick for Vice President seems to be crazy about Reagan's trickle down theory." Orval, just stand on the corner and ask passersby, are you better off now or when Ronald Reagan was in office? What do you think the answer will be? Now let me agree with you that Obama loves the poor. He must, look how many he has put in poverty since he has been in office. Les Wolfe, 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: governor@governor.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 Mont- gomery St., Suite 240, San Francis- co, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. What about the War on Men? Commentary "Lots of people are talking about the 'war on women' these days, but what about the war on men?" 'war on women' thing is mostly just a difference of opinion. Some people think the govern- ment should pass more laws to give women special workplace rights or force faith-based employers to include coverage for contraception and other reproductive matters in their health insurance policies for employees." "OK, fair enough." "Well, just because other peo- ple don't want the government telling organizations what they must or must not do doesn't mean they are against women. It means they don't like the idea of government establishing more laws and mandates to right every wrong, perceived or otherwise." "So you're saying the 'war on "Look, if you ask me, this women' crowd thinks it is being victimized and wants the gov- ernment to intervene, whereas the 'leave us alone' crowd prefers individual freedom and wants the government to butt out. But what does this have to do with the supposed 'war on women'?" "The war on men? This is going to be good." "Well, if we men adopted a victimization mindset, we could complain about lots of things. Here's one: During our bad eco- nomic spell, many states helped close their budget shortfalls with high taxes on beer! It's well- known that men consume way more beer than women, so aren't such taxes sexist?" "Where is the ACLU when you need it?" "And did you know Medicare no longer covers Viagra? That's going to have a terrible impact on my relationship with the wife during my retirement years." "How so?" "If the wife knows I have a stash of those pills, she'll spend way more time at the mall, ensuring peace and quiet for both of us. But there are plenty of other areas where we men are victims." "Go on." "Have you noticed that when you're out at an event, women go to the bathroom together, but men never do? I think it's because the women's rooms are bigger and, depending on the joint, have cushy lounge chairs or couches. The government should mandate equal bathroom rights for men." "You want the government to do that?" "Sure. If we men had more space, we'd go to the bathroom together, too. We could talk about things, such as good prostate health, that will improve our well-being and decrease medical costs. The government should like that, now that it's running our health care." "As odd as it sounds, you make some sense." "But the biggest area where men are being targeted is by female state legislators. You wouldn't believe some of the anti-male laws they're trying to pass." "You are right about that. Angered by some state laws that require women to get vari- ous tests before they make reproductive decisions, such as abortion, some female politi- cians have been striking back. I read about it on BuzzFeed.com." "That's right. One Virginia state senator tried to pass an amendment to a bill that 'would require men to undergo a rectal exam and cardiac stress test before being treated for erectile dysfunction.'" "That doesn't sound very pleasant." "Look, my point isn't that complicated. Just because people want the government to butt out of their per- sonal lives, it doesn't mean they're against women." to me." Tom Purcell "Sounds reasonable your contraception? Shouldn't people and religious organiza- tions in America have the free- dom to follow their own beliefs?" "And the beer tax?" "That's an egregious example of the never-ending war on men!" Tom Purcell, a humor colum- ——— nist 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. "Besides, isn't it a little contradictory to demand that the gov- ernment stay out of your private matters while also demanding that it make religious organizations pay for