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Letters
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- Written by: Dennis Pluth
Now look at your sample ballot and do the math. Your new fee will be a 100-percent increase to a $120 parcel tax per year, which is a forever tax with no sunset. Undeveloped and vacant property has more than doubled.
The special election on April 10 is costing the district more expense. Why not wait until June or November and keep the cost down?
I am grateful for the services provided by the Clearlake Oaks Fire Department and firmly believe we need to keep updated on all services, but not with an open cash account.
Vote no and send the measure back to the board, asking them to come up with an equitable solution.
Dennis Pluth lives in Clearlake Oaks, Calif.
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- Written by: Deb Baumann
I quickly recognized this was a "push-poll."
A push-poll seems to ask people's opinion, but the real purpose is to manipulate. Each question is designed to lead the respondent toward a destination-answer. When successful, a push-poll makes participants believe that this answer is their own idea.
First, it was explained to me that resources are limited, and I was asked which county services I least wanted to see cut. I waited for the words that would tell me what this phone call was really about. Finally: "Would you support a 1.5 cent sales tax increase?"
Nope. Absolutely not.
I joined the 34 percent who resisted being manipulated into saying "Yes."
I am against the proposed hike because sales taxes are regressive and hurt people who can least afford to pay.
The two most regressive taxes are sales tax and wage tax. Wage taxes have risen steadily over the past several decades, while taxes on the wealthy have decreased.
In 1960, 35 percent of all taxes were paid by corporations, while less than 10 percent came from wages.
Today, those numbers have flipped – 35 percent of all tax revenue comes from wages, while less than 10 percent of the total is paid by corporations.
That's 40 years of the largest transfer of wealth in history – trillions of dollars from the pockets of the paycheck-earning classes into the tax havens of the wealthy. Working folks keep being taxed more, while services decline.
After watching 40 years of trickle-down failure, I do not believe that the solution to a budget shortage is to raise taxes on those who can least afford to pay more.
The working poor, people on disability, seniors on fixed incomes … In California, Lake County has the highest percentage of people living in poverty. These people will be most hurt by a sales tax increase.
Bernie Sanders said, "Enough is Enough."
And, Lake County is Bernie Country!
In the 2016 primaries, the number of Lake County votes for Bernie dwarfed the number for either Trump or Clinton.
Bernie ran on policies that would help most Americans. His revolution continues today, as hundreds of citizens have taken up Bernie's call to action, running for seats at local, state and federal level. Real people, running for real change.
Lake County's Our Revolution chapter endorses candidates for local, state and federal office in 2018.
The June 5 primary is an opportunity to vote for positive change, to vote for a better future.
Our Revolution's Lake County chapter meets the second Thursday every month at 6:30 p.m at Stone Fire Pizza, 383 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport. Our next meeting is March 8. We welcome all party affiliations.
Find out how different things could be, if politicians actually represented us, the people. Help restore government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Please visit www.ruralvalues.org to learn more about Lake County's progressive movement.
Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Brock Falkenberg
Local girls and young women have been targeted, and continue to be at risk.
Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, and can be defined as “the exploitation of someone for the purposes of compelled labor or a commercial sex act through the use of force, fraud, or coercion.”
The most common type of trafficking is sex trafficking, followed by domestic work and agriculture.
In 2016, the National Human Trafficking Hotline found that 7,500 cases were report – up 35 percent over 2015.
California has double the rate of any other state of reported cases.
According to the Polaris Project, a national nonprofit that works to combat human trafficking, 25 percent of trafficking victims are children. In the US, the average age of a trafficking victim is 13 – the typical age of a seventh or eighth grader.
The two most vulnerable populations of children that may be trafficked into sexual exploitation include:
– Runaways: One-third of runaways are lured into sexual exploitation within 48 hours of leaving home. Approximately 90 percent of them end up in the commercial sex trade.
– Children on the fringes: These may be children from abusive homes; neglected children; latchkey children; children with parents who may be working multiple jobs with little or no time to keep track of them; or they may just be children who don’t fit in.
Traffickers maintain control through force, violence, lies and psychological abuse.
These methods cause psychological damage, and victims grapple with shame, fear, suicidal thoughts, and an inability to trust, making it difficult for them to ask for help.
As adults, we can protect our youth.
Educate yourself on the issues and learn the signs of a trafficked victim. To learn more go to www.polarisproject.org .
Discuss the following items with your children or children you have influence over:
– Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know on social media. Traffickers commonly use popular social media sites to lure their victims.
– Don’t reveal too much about yourself to people you don’t know, no matter how friendly the person may be.
– Never agree to meet someone you don’t know without first consulting a trusted adult such as a parent, teacher, and guidance counselor.
Report it if you suspect someone is being coerced into compelled labor or commercial sex acts, by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting “BeFree” to (233-733).
Although this is a worldwide problem, it hits home locally here in Lake County. Take the time to learn more about this devastating issue, and protect our youth and our community.
Brock Falkenberg is superintendent of schools for Lake County, Calif.
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- Written by: Leona M. Butts
Rebuilding America's depleted military?
The Obama administration left our military in a poor state of repair. Parts are being scavenged to keep our planes flying. Remember, it is the weak that are attacked, not the strong.
Slashing taxes and unnecessary regulations to spur economic growth?
Lake County needs all the help it can get for future growth. Right now hours are being cut in county offices that server our people.
Regarding regulations, are you aware that California has 343 agencies that slow all economic progress with undue paper work and cost? You may have heard that the only place state government can cut expenses is police and fire.
State agencies employ over 350,000 people directly and countless more via contracts with the state. All of these people get salaries, medical coverage and pensions at our expense and almost all are unionized. Ask yourself, is it a time for change in Sacramento?
Judeo-Christian principles on which our country was founded?
These are the principles on which our country was founded and we now have a president who believes in these principles. The National Prayer Breakfast took place on Feb. 8, however, we saw little mention of it in the national media. Isn't it time for Americans to stand with our our founders and President and preserve our nation?
How can we not support our country? When was the last time you and your children stood tall, with your right hand over your heart, and made the following pledge?
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Leona M. Butts lives in Clearlake Oaks, Calif.