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Letters
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Probably the oldest lake in North America, a unique ecosystem supporting fish and birds and wildlife in teeming abundance, and a landscape of breathtaking beauty, Clear Lake lies at the social, economic and spiritual heart of our community. This natural treasure is in trouble, and the responsibility of bringing it back to health falls on those of us lucky enough to live here.
That’s why I’m supporting Measure E, despite personal reservations about spending money on nuisance weed and algae control rather than on the identification and repair of the root causes of the problems afflicting the lake.
Although some of Measure E’s objectives are more significant than others, all are beneficial and some – keeping invasive mussels out and implementing the Middle Creek marsh wetland restoration project – are of surpassing importance.
Furthermore, by demonstrating our willingness to take financial responsibility, we will increase the probability of obtaining additional funding from additional sources for other desirable projects.
Restoring Clear Lake’s vitality is imperative for its own sake, and also indispensable for the future of our community.
The proposed tax is too tiny to be burdensome to any individual, all the receipts will stay right here in Lake County rather than being exported to Sacramento like most other sales and property taxes, and the measure includes a far greater level of public oversight than applies to any other segment of the county budget.
Please join me in voting for Measure E.
Victoria Brandon lives in Lower Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Deb Baumann
Like many Californians, I have received multiple big glossy color pamphlets in the mail, paid for by the over-$40 million No on Prop 37 campaign.
Corporate biotech is relentless in its campaign to stop consumers from knowing what is in our food. Most of that $40 million-plus has been spent on television ads, a veritable blitzkrieg of misinformation.
I have closely followed both the science and the politics of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) since 2009. In the expensive pamphlets I received last week, I recognized lies that Corporate Food and the biotech industry have been telling for years. The level of deceit in these mailers is shameless.
For instance, one mailer presents two columns representing food groups, as a way of presenting inconsistencies in the Proposition 37 language. In the “Would be Labeled” column is listed “Dogfood made with beef.” In the “Exempt” column immediately opposite the dogfood entry is listed “Beef.”
Sounds crazy, right? Why should “Dogfood made with beef” be labeled, but not beef itself ...?
Well, it’s really quite simple. Big Food is, once again, lying to you.
In this case, a subtle lie is created by juxtaposing words in a manner to create a false impression.
The reason that dogfood would be labeled as containing GMOs is because most dogfoods contain corn, soy or canola oil made from genetically engineered crops (80 percent of all GMO crops go straight to animal food industries).
It does not matter whether or not the dogfood contains beef, because beef is not the ingredient that triggers labeling.
And yet, through clever and deceptive advertising, Corporate Food creates doubt in your mind about the validity of Proposition 37’s language, by inserting the words “made with beef” after the word dogfood.
Don’t be fooled. Don’t allow corporate ag and the giant food manufacturers to dissuade you from voting for Proposition 37. We have a right to know what is in the food we buy.
And no, it will not raise food prices. That is another lie. Sixty one countries around the world have mandatory GMO labeling. The citizens of those countries are not paying higher food prices because of it. The citizens of those countries are not “confused” by labeling, and Americans won’t be, either.
Vote yes on Proposition 37. Stand up for democracy. Don’t let big corporations continue to steal our voice.
Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: David Gebhard
One of the most important issues on the ballot is Proposition 30.
If we do not support our schools now, we are facing a bleak future.
Private schools do not have funding problems, at least not the ones for the privileged few.
Our public schools and colleges are a different story. They serve the majority of the population, and keep our workers competitive with the workers from the rest of the world.
Civilization is a tenuous idea, and must be fed by a knowledgeable and skilled labor force.
The principles of civilization are perpetuated by education and religion.
Please support Proposition 30 and keep our schools relevant and on track.
David Gebhard lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: James Hankins
I did not attend the town hall meeting in Lucerne this year regarding the most recent demand for a water rate increase but did read about it.
As always there was citizen after citizen reciting stories of water bills for $500 and $600, how they have had to stop bathing, or let their lawn and gardens die, stories of having to decide between paying the water bill or getting their medicine.
While these stories are all so sad and very true, they are, I am afraid, a complete waste of time.
You see, there was not one person sitting up there on the panel who gives a damn. California Water Service is just another greedy, ruthless corporation that is only interested to making the most money for its shareholders, this is its only concern.
The California Public Utilities Commission doesn’t care either. Their salaries are paid by the corporations that they are supposed to be watching so they don't take advantage of us. Their weekend retreats, seminars in Vegas and Honolulu, Hawaii are all paid for by the corporations.
Next you have our elected officials. None of them live here, there is not much campaign money here so they are not going to protect us either.
So where does that leave the good citizens of Lucerne? Who is going to save us, who will come to our aid?
The answer is quite simple – no one but ourselves!
First we all must vote! Do everything you can to get rid of all elected officials who support corporations before citizens.
Pressure the state and local government officials to put us ahead of their own personal interests.
We cannot change this over night as it has taken many years for us to get to these desperate times.
For those of you who do not live in Lucerne, take notice because this problem is only going to grow. We are all in danger.
James Hankins is a 12-year resident of Lucerne, Calif.