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4A Daily News – Saturday, September 29, 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 Where, along the line in this great country of ours, did it become the responsibility of the over-burned tax payer to support so many people? After living through the Great Depression I can tell you that we were all responsible for our food, clothes, housing, education, etc., etc. Responsibility Editor: our pride. We have such a great country, let's get back to basics and take responsibility for our own lives. It's not the tax payers fault that so many babies are born to parents who have no means to support them There were no hand-outs. Who would we have asked? Most of us made it through and learned a good lesson in the process. It was a matter of providing for our needs without expecting aid from anyone. new subject in the school system which we could call responsibility. It would be mandatory for all children from the first grade through College. I think we should introduce a would learn how to manage on their own without relying on someone else to foot the bill. I am not against helping those in need and I also think welfare is a wonderful solution for helping one who is experiencing a hard- ship in their life but not a way of life generation after generation. We did without so many things Just maybe the children today What would those parents do today with nobody to turn to? My heart goes out to all the lit- tle ones being introduced into a nation of all take an no give. It's true there are so many more people today (I just mentioned that) but if a person sat down at the dinner table and their plate was empty I am sure they would find a way to fill it, we did. who's drawing welfare, disability and so many other programs too numerous to count. The government is not a thriv- ing money tree, it is wilting day by day. The rechargeable bark-con- trol dog collar business would probably boom, and within five years, America's neighborhoods would be quiet. Real estate values would also surge, work productivity would rise and the cost of animal con- trol would plunge. Of course, a lot of Look around you and see lawyers, judges, police, mental health workers and animal control officers would be out of work. This is probably why a bark tax hasn't been — and likely never will be — implemented. That and the fact that no politician would be willing to risk losing the votes of citizens who would rather annoy their neighbors than pony up $85 for a bark-control collar. Nathan Esplanade, Corning Imagine leaving this terrible debt to our children, grandchildren and their children. Iris Sander, Red Bluff The IRS should set up sensors in neighborhoods that record the incidence of dog barking. The dogs' owners should then Bark tax Editor: but we were grateful for what we did have and guess what, we ended up with an added benefit, be taxed one penny per bark. The revenue gained would prob- ably enable the national debt to be paid off within a year. Do you know what is pivotal this election? Not voting for either corrupt party. Turn off your television, which tells you how to think and what to say on a daily basis. Tune into reality and research how you are being enslaved by both parties. This election is not about Democrat versus Republican, it is a fierce battle between main- taining liberty or succumbing to Pivotal election Editor: Your Turn tyranny. The political process leading up to the November election has been nothing more than scripted political theater. It's a shame to see so many people fooled into think that voting for the lesser of two evils is the logical thing to do. Com- mon sense would remind you that if you are in a car heading towards at cliff at 90 or 95 mph, your desti- nation will still be at the bottom of the cliff. Unless American's find the courage to stand up and stop consenting to more of the same failed economic, foreign and domestic polices offered up by both parties — America will continue towards the cliff and at the bottom waiting will be the antithesis of liberty. Instead of following the herd mentality, start researching independently on your own. The political establishment counts on you to stay un- informed on the real issues that threaten our liberty and free- dom. Do yourself a favor and Google the NDAA, Patriot Act, Blowback, Agenda 21 and the Federal Reserve. Like Albert Einstein said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Nelissa Goedhart, Orland 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. Sam discusses term 'limits'and career politicos Commentary Sam and I had coffee the other morning. We had been going our separate ways and had a lot of catching up to do. Sam had noticed the signs for LaMalfa and Nielsen posted next to each other throughout the county. "It looks like Jim Nielsen is running for the state senate again," Sam stated. "What do you mean again?" "You may have forgotten that Nielsen had been a state senator from 1978 to 1990 but was defeated by a newcomer for reelection in 1990." "Was he a resident of Gerber in those days?" "I don't believe he claimed Gerber residency until much later," said Sam. "It was a recent move, although nobody recalls seeing any moving vans." "So what's so interesting?" I ry of observation….if it walks like a duck, and…." "Okay, maybe they are in cahoots. What is your second concern?" "Apparently, Nielsen does not asked Sam. "At least two things stand out. First, why are he and LaMalfa so closely tied together? It was clearly a coordinated effort when LaMalfa resigned from the State Senate and almost simultaneously Nielsen launched his campaign to replace him? A similar thing happened when LaMalfa left the Assembly and Nielsen announce his candidacy for that." I asked, "Are you saying that calling LaMalfa the $2 million man for saving the taxpayers a special election is not all that he claims?" "I subscribe to the duck theo- own any mirrors. You must have noticed how his ads for his can- didacy really blast anonymous career politicians and bureau- crats, and how Sacramento doesn't understand us" "That's a pretty standard spiel from politicians. What do you mean about mirrors?" "Well, look at his track record. If Nielsen wins, this will be the second time he will be in the State Senate; he served from 1978 to 1990 when he was defeated by a fresh face in the Democratic Party. Then he ran for the State Assembly when Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa finished his six years in the Assembly and ran for the State Senate. That pretty much fits the description of a career Sacramento politician." "This is sounding a bit famil- iar," I said."So what is your sec- ond concern?" "It is the way our career politicians of a certain age can circumvent our state term limits laws. Jerry Brown did a similar thing, becoming Governor after having been Governor for eight years from 1975 to 1983. The term limits law was passed in 1990, so it did not apply to him. In a similar way Nielsen has been grandfathered in because he was not a state senator when the term limits took effect. Even with the new changes in term limits last year, he can serve more than one term as State Senator." "Are you telling me that we voted on term limits to get rid of the rascals who were hanging on at our expense in Sacramen- to, but that some of those very same ras- cals are able to reclaim old offices because the law does- n't apply to them?" "Yes, it has some- thing to do with ex post facto, you know shutting the barn door after the horse is out." the very people we were sick and tired of in 1990 are coming back to haunt us." "Yes, some are." "So you are telling me that LaMalfa have been particularly hard on California's reputation of its alleged over regulation of business. They hit hard on reg- ulations, claiming they delay growth." "That's right," Sam Joe Harrop I then told Sam that during these kinds of contests I remember the speech Michael Douglas gave at the end of the film, the American President. President Sheppard character- izes his opponent's tactics by saying 'I promise you, Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it [prob- lems]. He is interested in two things and two things only: making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it.' That is how he gets you to vote for him." "I noticed that Nielsen and for California, but Georgia's index dropped down to .35. So although things are not as we might like, California is doing relatively well. " "Okay, maybe they exagger- ate a little." "You mean like Nielsen liv- ing in Gerber?" "Well maybe it is a little more than a little. I guess what it boils down to is whether or not the voters will be savvy enough to identify the Sacra- mento establishment candidates and seek new blood." said," but the facts do not support their claims of an adverse business environment. According to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activ- ity Interactive, Cali- fornia had the second highest index of busi- ness start ups in 2010; the index for Califor- nia was .47; Georgia's was .51. For 2011 the index slipped to .44 Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net.