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4A Daily News – Friday, November 2, 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 This week I received a post card from Durango RV Resort. I was quite surprised on how they were spinning their points of view. I understand they have a dog in this fight, I do not. TOT facts Editor: many opinions in it, both pro and con, I thought a response to what is on this card would be appropri- ate. My understanding of the situ- ation comes from my time on the City Council and how valuable the chamber and the city's relation- ship is to a more successful com- munity. Although the ballot book has The Transient Occupancy Tax is not just a so-called hotel tax. It was created for any situation where temporary housing in a hotel, motel or RV Park where someone comes in, stays for a short period of time and moves on. Certain services and amenities are provided and you pay a tax for that. In all my travels, I have paid a TOT tax at a different percentage rate when paying for my reserva- tion. I for one support the tax. It sup- ports community services and partly goes to promote Red Bluff. I am not suggesting an additional tax, just having everyone do the same for similar kinds of business. It is the right thing to do. It levels the playing field. you vote for and then vote. Larry Stevens, Red Bluff Be sure to think through what Veterans new Veterans Home facilities, one in Fresno the other on Knighton Road here in the North State, when will they be occupied? As of now these are ready for occupancy —yet these Veterans Homes, empty buildings, manicured grounds are just being maintained. Why you may ask? Well low and behold it seems our governor and legislators have held back the funding that would allow occu- pancy. I am wondering if our gov- ernor's new tax plan may have something to do with these much needed homes not being occupied. Vote the tax in and the veterans will be able to live in the homes Editor: Now that the veterans have two that were built for them. The money was there and our politi- cians took it away. At this time there are no veterans living in homes built for them. Beautiful facilities by the way. Being a Vietnam vet- eran one cannot forget our negative reception on our return home. Here it is 40 years later and our legislators and governor have pushed us veterans to the side. Why? Maybe because we have so few politicians that have served our country in active military ser- vice. I know Gov. Brown never served —he was of age too. I don't have an answer as to why our politicians are keeping our veterans from homes that were build for them. Maybe we veter- ans, and others too, need to pay attention to people running for office. No military serve — no vote. Joseph Ostrowski, Red Bluff Follow money Editor: Follow the money. Business wanted government to give tax dollars and tax deductions for research and development of new products. "Consumers, please buy my new product that I've developed for you." Your Turn On the other hand consumers wanted tax dollars to buy things. "Business, develop a product for me. I have money." money government collected was misused to the detriment of the economy. In both cases the A one payer health plan required people to carry out of the responsibility to die rather than use scarce resources. Young people whose lifestyle included using illegal drugs, abusing alcohol and tobacco were sterilized to meet the requirement of not passing on genetic defects. Stop and think about fairy tales. What is reality and has it reasonableness? If something is true then what else is true. Do election years require unemo- tional thinking? Steve Kelsey, 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: 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. The lovely game Commentary I suppose people on the east coast, during the big storm, would not agree that the S.F. Giant's World Series win over the Detroit Tigers was so news worthy as the one word headline in Mon- day's S.F. Chron,"SWEEP "implied, but it cer- tainly was a big deal out here in the west. Giants fans would have liked to have the grand finale in their own AT & T Park...but a win is a win and two World Series in 3 years ain't bad. And despite the inherent drama of baseball throughout the ages, there can always be found a bit of humor. When Mel Ott was managing the New York Giants team years ago, he gave his pitchers one inflexible rule: Don't throw the ball over the plate for a strike when the count is two strikes and no balls. Violation brought an automatic $500.00 fine. One day, a youngster fresh from the Giant's farm system, was sent in as a relief pitcher. With men on first and second, and a .350 hitter at bat, he put over his first two deliv- eries for strikes. Remembering the rule, he tried to throw a waste pitch, but the ball clipped the corner of the plate. "Strike three!" yelled the umpire. The young pitcher grew pale. "No!" he screamed, rushing toward the umpire. "That was a ball! What are you trying to do, ruin me?" *** check stubs indicating local, upstanding citi- zens, had paid their dues to claim membership in The Klan. Also, in the box, were two handbooks. One showed the layout of a typical Klan hall and the method of conducting business in same...and the other book delineated the objectives of the Klan (known as the Ku Klux Kreed) and their apparent fondness for the letter "K." Whereas they recognize the Divine Being, the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and such, the fol- lowing paragraph tells of the true purpose of this once feared group: "We avow the distinction between the races Robert Minch I Say Eastwood movie, "Trouble With The Curve" elicited the following NEW YORKER critique: "The intricate baseball knowledge that gets passed back and forth in the film is much more interesting than the moral simplicities that the movie offers. Good people truly love the game, and everyone else is a jerk." A rather caustic observation, but perhaps spot on. What a lovely game is baseball...and you And speaking of the game, a recent Clint don't even have to be an ex- jock to appreciate it. On a more disquieting note, the majority of people today view the antics of The Ku Klux Klan ludicrous, frightening and completely out of step with those who once wore a white hood and sheet and hung blacks from trees. And yet there is compelling evidence that prominent Red Bluff merchants, and others, were mem- bers of the Klan back in the '20s. D. Dale, retired Insurance broker, dropped *** by the office the other day and removed, from a locked tin box, 6 membership cards dating back to 1925 and 1926, along with several dozen of mankind as same has been decreed by the Creator, and we shall ever be true in the faithful maintenance of White Supremacy and will strenuously oppose any compromise thereof in any and all things." I wonder what the Klan members of that era, back in the twenties, would have thought of our country having, one day, a black President? It boggles the mind. *** ople over the years by the white settlers and soldiers, was quoted as saying when asked if he were a fan of the casinos, answered, "No. When an Indian tribe gets a casino, they've officially declared that they've lost the war. It's the final submission." *** ment regarding his profession: "Voters are basi- cally lazy, basically uninterested in making an effort to under- stand what we are talking about. Reason requires a higher degree of discipline, of concentration; impression is easier. Reason pushes the voter, it assaults him, it demands that he agree or dis- agree; impression can enve- lope him, invite him in, with- out making an intellectual demand...when we argue with him we demand that he makes the effort of replying. We seek to engage his intellect, and for most people this is the most difficult work of all. The emo- tions are more easily roused, closer to the surface, more malleable." *** Gov. Romney can breath a sigh of relief. P. Johnston, the sage of Antelope Valley, has endorsed Obama for President. *** A game of which I'm not aware: A photo in TIME shows a Romney campaign staffer mov- ing "a corn-hole game" from the tarmac in Day- tona Beach, Florida. The photo shows small bean bag objects scattered about the ground and I guess the object is to pitch them into the hole in a vertical board with the Romney logo on same. If Romney is elected, should we expect such a game in lieu of Easter egg hunts on the White House lawn? *** ing firms have been employed over the last 50 years to influence voters in all manner of propo- sitions. A very successful consultant, William Gavin, in the Nixon era, made a disturbing state- And speaking of elections, political consult- Last week's quiz was first answered by N. Rick who surmised the average milk cow deliv- ers about 6 gallons a day, that the donkey in Winnie the Pooh is named Eeyore, that African elephants have larger ear than those in India, and Borden's used Elsie the cows husband Elmer as the name of their glue. This week's quiz: Enumerate the 4 Dimen- sions, the 4 evangelist of the bible and the 4 Freedoms as avowed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. *** John saw Bill studying a chess board. Oppo- site him sat a dog."What's going on?" asked John. Bill. ever heard of a dog that could play chess? That's the smartest dog I've ever seen!" "Oh, I don't know about that," said Bill, "I've won 3 out of 4 games." Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine and author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. "Just playing chess with my dog,"answered "You're kidding!" exclaimed John. "Who