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Letters
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- Written by: David Gebhard
It is my opinion that we are losing our principle of “valuing human life,” as one of our paramount virtues.
The media, such as video games and movies show people killing people, in more and more gruesome ways. Our children are growing up and being instilled with a less sensitive mindset.
One of the manifestations is the reluctance of many police departments to allocate funds for Tasers. A needed non-lethal method for police to restrain suspects is worth its weight in non-lawsuits.
Except for the military whose “no one left behind” principle is famous, our society has devalued human life.
We see homelessness, family hunger and the departure of the middle class as if it does not affect us. America needs to find a consensus of our new identity.
Are we still the compassionate society that we grew up picturing ourselves as? Or are we now just pragmatic former idealists?
We used to temper our definition of laws to be merciful as well as protecting society. Now, we have private prisons that are cheaper because the guards are paid minimum wage and receive a minimum of training.
This is another example of our devaluing of human life, as we have lowered the bar on who needs warehousing on the public’s dime, just to allow rich investors to make money.
Greed has replaced humanism in America. We need to reevaluate who should be warehoused, and be proactive in the rehabilitation of those we do keep in cages. Yes, prisons are like zoos, except we keep humans in them – yes, humans.
We lock them up and allow their families to live on welfare, often making the children into latchkey kids, without parental guidance (example of familial “cycIe of incarceration”).
I realize that what we learned in school was often fictionalized to make us seem to be an exceptional society, one who like Robin Hood gave to the poor (third world) without a “hidden agenda” (example of foreign policy by foreign aid).
Fictionalized history is not a new phenomenon, as our role as one of the worst genocidal societies was glossed over.
Texas is now teaching its students that the Civil War was fought over just states' rights, which was true, but we know slavery was in the mix as well. Leaving out history is the same as lying about it.
Human rights has always been one of my country’s virtues that I grew up being proud of. It is sad that we are regressing, instead of progressing; we no longer have a seat on the human rights commission at the United Nations, a commission we started.
George W. Bush refused to join the World Court at the Hague, because we were refused an exception to prosecution.
Our intention to torture prisoners in opposition to the Geneva Convention keeps us a rogue nation, as does our formation of private mercenary armies to supplement the force Congress refused to supply, because there were no rules of engagement for these private citizen soldiers from a plethora of nations.
When did our armed forces become an extension of Halliburton’s investment strategy? With a profit of $34 billion, they were the definitive winners of the Iraq war. They were followed by the mercenary companies, who paid their veterans $1,000 a day, all on the public’s dime.
Millions in overcharges, paid without investigation, and Congress stymieing further auditing. So, the humanistic morality, and public’s will are depleted and devalued.
It is our own fault for allowing free rein for the industrial takeover of our government. The idea that private companies are more efficient than government agencies, has eroded public trust in government.
Congress cutting the budget of agencies such as the post office and EPA, and imposing rules to keep public agencies at a disadvantage, so private companies can make money is immoral and not in the interest of the public. This shows that Congress no longer represents the public, but the highest bidder.
Another instance is the illegality of buying pharmaceuticals under collective bargaining, even though the Veteran’s Administration has been doing it, defying the law.
Recently, Congress made it illegal to sue Monsanto for wrongful death or any other reason.
Who are they representing? It seems obvious not to be the citizens.
Dave Gebhard lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Craig Waters
Six months ago, I lost my house in the Valley fire. I wanted to let the community know that after losing my house, the biggest, and currently only, obstacle to rebuilding has been the county of Lake.
The state of California cleaned my lot in a timely manner. The insurance company proceeds are sitting in the bank. My architect and contractor have been very responsive.
Ray Ruminski from Lake County Environmental Health has not been returning phone calls to my builder for over two months. My septic permit application has been sitting unanswered at the Environmental Health office for over four weeks.
The house that I lost was only eight years old and environmental laws cannot have changed that much.
It is sad that the governmental organization that should be encouraging rebuilding and healing is the one keeping us from returning to our homes.
I miss living in Lake County. I want to come home.
Craig Waters' home in Anderson Springs was burned in September 2015 during the Valley fire. He is living in San Francisco while he attempts to rebuild.
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- Written by: Linda Diehl-Darms
I experienced the Valley fire and I lost my home. My husband and I are rebuilding.
I am writing today to express my frustration with people who seem to think that just because there no longer is a home, they can walk right onto our property and look around.
When my home existed, people did not feel free to walk through or across my property. We did not even have our property posted with “no trespassing” signs. Now we have them on all sides and they are completely ignored.
How would those exhibiting this behavior feel if I were to disregard boundaries and walked through and looked around at their property as if it were public?
No one can stop anyone from observing from the public right of ways, i.e., sidewalks and streets, but please respect all of us who have lost our homes and stay off our property.
Linda Diehl-Darms lives in Middletown, Calif.
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- Written by: Dee Cuney
Thank you for the opportunity to help wake a sleeping giant here in Lake County – that giant is the Lake County Republican Party.
Our local party has been idle for the past several years, until now.
My name is Dee Cuney, I'm a former Republican county chair from Napa County and a past member of the Napa County Republican Central Committee for 28 years.
I'm the current Lake County Republican Central Committee chair, ready and willing to make our local party stronger than it has been in the past.
I'm DEEtermined to make our party alive and well again as it should be. I can't do this alone, I need a few dedicated Republicans to step up and help. Together we are better!
It's also time to take out your nomination papers to run to be on the Lake County Republican Central Committee. The election is June 7 and those elected will take Office January 2017.
If you're interested in running for the Lake County Republican Central Committee you will need to go to the Lake County Elections Office as soon as possible and take out your nomination papers (there is no charge).
Candidates for the Republican Central Committee are encouraged to bring nomination papers to the Feb. 9 central committee meeting for a signing party.
We are currently making appointments to fill 2016 openings on the Lake County Republican Central Committee for all supervisorial districts.
I'm hoping you will join us Tuesday, Feb 9, at Round Table Pizza, 821 11th St. in Lakeport at 6:30 p.m. for our social time (no host food and beverage) and our business meeting at 7 p.m.
Republicans are always welcome to attend. Our meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at the same time and same location.
Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Lake-County-CA-Republican-Party-401224996588222/?fref=ts or for more information call 707-235-2902.
Let's get this party started! See you Feb. 9.
Dee Cuney is the chair of the Republican Central Committee serving Lake County, Calif.