Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/97877
4A Daily News – Saturday, December 8, 2012 Opinion Flag protest DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY 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 letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All 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 cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community 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 vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents 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: Not surprisingly Mr. Raglin's political statement caused tremendous controversy. Interestingly most of the ones praising Mr. Raglin's action say he was merely exercising his right as an American to freedom of speech under the Bill of Rights. Had the situation been reversed and Mr. Romney won the election and someone placed a public flag upside down in protest of Obama's defeat, would these same people been so eager to defend his right to freedom of speech? Jack Watson, Red Bluff Out of balance Editor: The current federal income tax system is out of balance, showing favor to some while showing disfavor to others. It also creates a stagnant economy for our Nation. It drives good companies out of our country because of the leveraged tax liability which makes our good and services less competitive. Most companies will not return, and many new companies will not start up until our tax system gives them equal footing to foreign competitors. Our current tax system creates an imbalance from day one. This needs to change and soon. The real answer to the above problem is a federal Fair Tax Plan, House bill #HR25 and Senate bill #S13. The wording in these tells the story, providing the following: Eliminate any federal requirement for income tax payments for both businesses and individuals; eliminates the IRS; jump starts the economy by brining companies back to our Nation which will increase demand for qualified workers; by eliminating tax fraud by individuals and businesses; allows individuals to keep 100% of their pay checks; lets both individuals and business save and invest money without being tax on the earnings and dividends; encourages large investors to come back here bringing possible billions or even trillions of investment dollars; eliminates embedded taxes you don't know you are paying; lowers and keeps interest rate low; makes April Editor: 15 just another beautiful While I contributed to the spring day. Sounds to good to be true, Obama campaign and voted for him I am mature but think about this: enough to realize that We would abandon Your other tax paying citiAmendment #16, our zens do not agree. current out dated tax But then Mr. plan, and put in place Raglin stepped in and a federal consumption the Obama lemmings tax plan which taxes on purchases based upon what stepped in and set up a horrific you spend, not what you earn. howl, hiding behind the flag, one This plan spreads the cost of of them even stated that those running our government to that said Mr. Raglin's actions include people who get paid in were not illegal would have been cash under the bale, tourist horrified if either of the Clintons spending time here and anyone had been elected. It is not whether it was proper who else who buys new goods and services within the bound- to take the actions that Mr. aries of our Nation. Included in Raglin took, we as a nation can the wording is a provision to not take one citizen's actions and pre-bate money back to those rights away from him or her on a prorated basis whose without endangering the rest. Anyone can go on the open household incomes are either at or below the federal poverty market and buy a flag and it is rate determined by household theirs. But it must be rememincome and the number of peo- bered that it is also Mr. Raglin's. Where is the howl. When any ple being supported by that person buys a flag and hangs it total household income. We have work to do con- on their car radio antenna and vince our law makers of the drives down a public roadway in the rain? That is disrespect. merits of the Fair Tax Plan. Robert Hogan, Red Bluff James Monson, Proberta The flag Turn 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 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 2240454. Commentary Solar flares and fiscal cliffs I scratched the question of who was going to win the Power Ball lottery off my list of concerns, but my list was still too long for me to handle. The list makes me feel at a loss; I am not sure just what I should worry about. The list seems to grow longer each day. I decided to cull the items on the list so I could narrow them down to a manageable among, and I am a little more relaxed than a few weeks ago. First on the list, of course, is the prediction by some regarding the end of the world on December 21, 2012; this prediction is based on a Central American native peoples' stone calendar; the media have been paying less attention to it of late, and we have gotten several offers to subscribe or re-subscribe to various newspapers and magazines. I think that the media are worried that if they publicize the end of the world anymore we might figure that it makes no sense to extend our subscriptions or to start new ones for 2013. As far as I can tell Mayan predictions had little to do with the world as a whole, and it may be they just ran out of space on their stone calendar, sort of like we do on the front of our refrigerator. So I can probably cross that concern off of my list as well. Another worry is the so-called Fiscal Cliff created by our inactive representatives in Washington D.C., and also repeatedly hyped up by the media, as if we were lemmings just waiting to jump. I sort of blame this on Nancy Reagan who told everyone to "just say no." The current groups of Congressional representatives seem to echo her advice every day. She, of course, was talking about behavior different from spending or revenue enhancement, I mean taxes. David Petraeus may know what she meant. My guess is that ultimately shame will actually make our elected representatives do something about the national debt issue. My younger son warned me that if Congress actually does something I would really have something concrete to worry about. It is interesting that the very tax cuts which were proclaimed as wonderful incentives to stimulate our economy and which were embraced by both parties during their honeymoon period with George W. Bush are now highlighted by most economists as a significant contribution to the debt issue, along with the propensities of both parties to spend, and two unfunded wars. I am not sure if I should cross the cliff off of my list. Perhaps I should consult Cliff's Notes to see if there is a short answer to this concern. I only recently placed the third item on my list when we returned home from Orange County the weekend after Thanksgiving and I had a chance to review the local news. While in Orange County it took me more time to review the news in the Los Angeles Times each morning that it did to read the five Daily News editions that greeted us when we got home. If I am to believe what I read, there are some local individuals who are convinced that a 20 year old plot by the United Nations is afoot here, yes right here, in Tehama County. The plot has been named Agenda 21. I am not very good at tracking they spoke up. However, I susdown conspiracy theories, but I do pect that as long as they have the freedom to spout these know there is a lot of beliefs, I don't think Internet chatter about we have to worry about Agenda 21; that in itself this 20 year old "plot" does not guarantee legitagainst us. If the plotimacy, but it can keep a ters have not been able pot stirred. Assuming to squelch free speech we will be around after in 20 years, or brainDecember 21st, I did wash the ill informed, take some time to look they certainly can't be into the allegations very good at what they made before our Board are trying to do. So, I of Supervisors while I guess I can cross was out of town. Joe Agenda 21 off my list. If our local cabal of Phew! conspiracists is right, The remaining item then Presidents George on my list is the preH.W. Bush, William Jefdiction of stronger than ferson Clinton, and George W. Bush were complicit normal solar flares next year, if in this plot even before our current there is a next year. This predicPresident came on board. As tion is made by reputable scienunlikely as it may sound, these tists who study solar events and local conspiracy theorists are have apparently not looked at the telling us there may be some Mayan calendar. My guess is things that these four Leaders of they know what they are talking the Free World might have agreed about, and we should be aware upon and which would allow that those flares may impact our them to take away everyone's overly electronic life style, parfreedoms and subject everyone to ticularly those satellites we rely a one world government. This is on so much. All this reminds me about the even more radical than not trustfather who asked his teenage ing anyone over 30! My understanding is those daughter why she looked worlocals who are trying to help us ried. She replied, "I just read that understand Agenda 21 believe: kissing spreads diseases." The 1.) that we do not really want to father asked her, "What are you live with more sustainability of going to do?" She replied, our resources; 2.) that we do not "Stop." His retort was, "Stop want to consider energy efficien- kissing?" Her rejoinder was cy policies; 3.) that we do not "No, stop reading." want to care for our environment; Joe Harrop is a retired and 4.) that we just do not undereducator with more than 30 years stand the threats to our "freedom". I am sure they mean to be of service to the North State. He be reached at helpful; I know that I didn't know can I didn't want those things before DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop