Page 4 - Reedley Exponent 4-11-19 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent A4 Thursday, April 11, 2019 Editorial & Opinions
Serving “The World’s Fruit Basket” since 1891
A Mid Valley Publishing Newspaper
Founded March 26, 1891, in a two-story building on the corner of 11th and F streets, by A.S. Jones
Fred Hall — Publisher
In my OPINION We often wonder what happens to those
people who espouse such good ideas and plans
when asking for our votes, once they are sworn
into office either in Sacramento or Washington.
It’s as if all the best-laid plans are put on the
shelf as our representative assumes the herd
mentality and it seems as if their only concern
becomes mimicking the actions and thoughts
of their fellow pretenders. What the hell hap-
pened to the common sense they once used
in capturing our vote? If we wanted to send
someone to Washington who was just going to
do what was popular then why not send a pet dog with a note?
With the current Democrat-controlled House of Representatives in full throated roar, demanding up to 10 years of the president’s income taxes — “because presidents have always provided them” — one can be excused for wondering what the real requirements are for being president. Truth is, the president is already rich. Why not look at the tax records of the house members who have become wealthy since being elected?
Actually, there are only three mandated constraints set forth in the Constitution as requirements to become president. Those would be: one must be 35-years of age; a candidate must have lived in the United States for a period of 14 years; third of all, one must have been born in the United States or have at least one parent who is a United States citizen. Probably the most important one is the win the election via the constitutionally-mandated Electoral College.
No one, not even the current much-maligned president can be forced to release his personal nor business income taxes. There is no way the Congressional Democrats can legally compel Donald Trump to release such records against his will. Perhaps I should hedge that a bit because California, Washington, Oregon and Ha- waiian judges have been really squirrelly in their interpretation of the law when it comes to the current administration. They employ painful machinations to make the “law” fit their personal agendas.
We’re not quite sure why the investigations continue in the House, especially since the “Mueller Probe,” which dragged on for almost two years, announced they had found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians. Tens of millions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on the attempt to overturn an election which did not meet their expectations. There certainly are issues, including border security, which are far more pressing than a unilateral attempt to remove a legitimately elected president from office. The most incredible thing about the whole mess is that Jerald Nadler and Adam Schiff claim to see and know things that were not discovered by Mueller’s partisan, professional investigative team!
It seems that, everyday, I find myself exclaiming in some con- versation, what a strange world we live in today! Our own politi- cians and the institutions which educate our children blame our own country for all the ills in the world; people who are experiencing the greatest economy enjoyed in decades are demanding a change from capitalism to the frequently failed governmental form of socialism which is completely destructive of a thriving economy. Where is the common sense in all of that?
Outside of the governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford — who had an affair with a Brazilian women while he was in office — we didn’t think it was within the purview of a governor to conduct foreign affairs. Yet, Jerry Brown of California flew to Beijing and conducted extensive talks and even signed agreements with Chi- nese officials. Not to be outdone, his successor, Gavin Newsom, is on his way to South America to conduct talks with future Califor- nia citizens who currently are outstanding citizens in one of those countries.
Governors — particularly in California — have enough problems right here at home to keep them busy without having to set up a California “embassy” in
locations where they have no business being! Anyway, the mon- ey which Governor Newsom is squandering might be better spent here in California for a whole laundry list of needs.
Although we make every effort not to do so, one of the worst sins one can make when writing this sort of column is to make too many generalizations. There are, indeed, many hard-working, top-calibre people employed by local, county, state and federal governments. They are too often tainted by lazy, union-protected individuals who feel they have discovered a “nest on the ground.” We salute all those dedicated individuals who work for a bureaucracy where their indi- vidual initiative is neither recognized nor encouraged.
A tip of the hat to a dedicated, lifelong, bureaucrat from Man- teca who brought this shortsightedness to our attention. You, sir, deserve our recognition and gratitude.
But, as always, that’s only one man’s opinion.
Shootings present serious challenge
Jon Earnest — Editor / Sports Juanita Adame — Panorama Editor Budd Brockett — Editor Emeritus
Reedley is a city that prides itself as a relatively tranquil community that carries a small-town feel. But the three shooting incidents in east Reed- ley in the past two weeks have dealt a sobering dose of reality that we all encounter in today’s society.
The Reedley Police Department’s method of targeted policing recently has heated up in a specific target area – along Springfield Avenue and surrounding blocks between East and Buttonwillow avenues. There have been three separate shooting incidents that resulted in three people wounded and one person dead — in that case, by an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was especially rough on April 6, when two of the shootings oc- curred just hours apart.
As always, the biggest factor po- lice have to work through while inves- tigating these shootings is the general silence and lack of information from
witnesses who may have seen any of these incidents. And that’s usually the case with shootings that likely are gang-related.
We commend the police’s efforts to bring the problem under control. And as always, the police ask and en- courage the community to speak out or provide vital information anony- mously. There are tip lines, Crime Stoppers and other methods of com- munication, some of which can be lu- crative to the witness.
Cooperation is vital to help ease this problem, one that plagues most cities. If you know something, do the right thing.
•••
On a much happier note, the city
welcomed a positive milestone on April 3 when the new Reedley Middle College High School campus facility had a formal grand opening and rib- bon cutting. The complex – a joint
effort between the Kings Canyon Uni- fied School Dis- trict, Reedley Col- lege and the com- munity — is the latest attraction to a region that is pro- viding increasing higher education options for young people.
Jon Earnest
Fred Hall
By Harold Pease
Guest columnist
In the current College Admission Scandal some Hollywood actors have paid bribe money to get their children admitted into some prestigious institutions for which they are not quali- fied to attend. But colleges have been on the defensive for some time for reducing campus free speech, at least for conservatives and consti- tutionalists, giving predomi- nantly one side of issues, and becoming bastions of progressive — even socialist — politics. Now they are ac- cused of racketeering their students with devastating student loan debt.
The most recent accu- sation was made by Tucker Carlson on March 18. Most of what he shared I wit- nessed as a full time fac- ulty member for 40 years. In remarks entitled “Fixing America’s $1.5T Student Loan Mess” he noted that student loan debt is now larger than “the entire GPA of Spain, of Sweden or any of the 54 countries in Africa. Apart from mortgages stu- dent loans are the biggest source of personal debt in this country, more than car loans and credit card bills.” It is enough debt, he says, “to stunt the entire genera- tion of young people.”
Today the average col- lege graduate owes $37,000 up from $20,000 just 13 years ago. “Student debt is rising far faster than the earnings of the American workers...” For law school graduates it is $110,000 and for medical school gradu- ates it is nearly $200,000.
Other Opinions
Carlson adds, “Over all, two million Americans owe over $100 grand in student loans. Imagine starting life that far behind.” Many with this debt never finished a degree. “Instead of improv- ing their life by attending college they wind up poor- er and in bondage. And not just a few of them but mil- lions and millions of them.”
But students do not have to go to college or incur this debt. Aren’t they alone re- sponsible? No! The culture tells them at an early age that college is the ticket to prosperity and self worth. This is reinforced by par- ents. Going to college is also promoted by the uni- versities as it justifies their positions and campus ex- pansion. It is mostly about money and numbers.
So why blame the col- leges? “Right now the feder- al government allows young people to take out an almost unlimited amount in student loans. Colleges know this, of course, and they hike their tuition to capture as much of that money as they can. Young people have little choice but to go along with it. Colleges control access to the credentials that we are all convinced are necessary, mandatory, to achieve suc- cess in the modern econo- my.” This is why Carlson calls it a racket. “These are the gate keepers of mod- ern society and are ripping up every kid who passes through those gates.”
But this is only a part of the racket? The colleges and universities promote pow-
erful lobbyists who swarm Washington for more un- limited student loan monies from which they benefit. Instead of lowering tuition they use the money to hire mostly more administra- tors and build more build- ings. “From 1987 to 2012 the number of administrators on college campuses more than doubled. It’s far bigger than the increase of actual stu- dents going to college. Col- lege administrators routine- ly make 6 figure salaries.... College presidents often get 7 figure salaries. Their pay is probably the only thing in America rising as fast as tu- ition costs.” Essentially they are getting richer at student loan expense. They also have hired massive staffs.
Where else does the racket money end up? Carl- son invites us to “Drive through rural America and see how well they have done. In a sea of poverty and despair you will notice gated islands of affluence. These are colleges. Outside the gates people are unem- ployed and dying of opioid overdoses. Inside the gates it looks like the rift on south beach. If you haven’t been to an American university late- ly, see it for yourself. Every- thing is new. There has been a building boom under way for decades on campuses. All of it funded by debt that is destroying a generation of American kids.”
So what is the answer? Require colleges to co-sign student loans—to share the liability. Right now “colleges get rich no matter what hap- pens to the kids. Kids are on their own. If students get
a degree and a decent job and repay their loan that’s great. But if they drop out of college and their degrees turn out to be worthless, as so many are, and they can’t repay what they have bor- rowed. So what! Colleges don’t care. They have no stake in the outcome. Col- leges get all the benefits and none of the risks. That is the definition of a scam.... It should not be legal.”
If colleges had to co-sign for loans and be liable for defaulted loans they would implement checks on eligi- bility for the loans. These might include higher GPA requirements for loans, or loan amounts based upon previous success. As more than fifty percent of stu- dents drop out of college the first two years, government financed loans might be lim- ited to junior and above lev- els of college when natural law has already identified those who are ready and will benefit from college. The truth is no one should get a loan to go to college until he/she is self disci- plined enough to stick and have some idea what field is attractive to them and why.
What Carlson has por- trayed, I have seen.
Harold Pease is a syn- dicated columnist and an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedi- cated his career to studying the writings of the Found- ing Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for over 30 years at Taft College in Kern County.
Simply put, the building and cam- pus is beautiful. Two stories of spa- cious classrooms, labs and other cut- ting edge technology. The new campus will give those RMCHS students even more of a hand up in getting a jump on their college learning.
The new RMCHS campus is just the latest growth milestone at Reedley College. More good news is coming. some of which we’ll report in next week’s issue of The Exponent.
Colleges accused of racketeering students
Letters from readers
Have an opinion? Want to share it?
Weigh in. Let your voice be heard.
Send us your letter to the editor (limit of 300 words) for publication on this page in print and our e-edition.
email to jon@midvalleypublishing.com
‘Seussical’ coverage lacking
My week would be incomplete without my Thursday perusal of The Exponent. I have read it for many de- cades, always leaving it more informed than when I picked it up. But I must say that the lack of news concerning the performing arts concerns me.
Reedley High’s production of “Seus- sical” opened [March 29] and is a won- derful show with a cast of 51 young peo-
ple from Reedley and the surrounding environs. I will be the first to admit I am not a journalist, but I do believe I have a rough idea of what “news” is. Fifty-one young people coming together and pro- viding a wonderful evening of entertain- ment is news and it should have been reported on before the opening.
I will admit I am not a disinterest- ed bystander. I am the proud father of Sarah Wiebe, who directs the plays at Reedley High School, and I am the for-
mer president of the Board of Direc- tors of Reedley’s River City Theatre Company, as well as a performer and director of many shows.
Your job, as I see it, is to report as much as the news as possible. You may have to get off your chair and do some actual reporting, but I thought that was what it was all about. Do the job, do it right.
Matt Wiebe Reedley
QUOTE
“Do not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.”
Dandemis