Page 4 - Reedley Exponent 12-14-17 e-edition

The Reedley Exponent A4 Thursday, December 14, 2017 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
When structuring an operational plan, all businesses are aware of an old axiom dealing with the risks a company faces when it in- vests in any single account. When a business excessively vests in the outcome of a single source, any interruption in cash flow can be catastrophic!
Jon Earnest — Editor
Chris Aguirre — Sports Editor Felicia Cousart Matlosz — Panorama Editor Budd Brockett — Editor Emeritus
QUOTE
“The universe may have a purpose, but nothing we know suggests that, if so, this purpose has any similarity to ours.”
— Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)
The e-edition of The Exponent is now available — send us your feedback
When one realizes that the relatively small
numbers in the upper income brackets are pay-
ing most of the tax while roughly half of Cali-
fornia residents pay nothing or get money back
through earned income tax credits, it appears
that we are placing the state in the very position
that business schools warn against. Colloquially that would be “put- ting all of one’s eggs in one basket.”
What happens when the growing exodus of high earners acceler- ates and the high tax payments over which politicians literally slob- ber begin to move to Nevada or a number of states that are more tax friendly?
We are all keenly aware that governments, in and of themselves, produce absolutely nothing. The ladies and gentlemen who comprise the bandits of Sacramento have broadened their sights when it comes to “picking the pocket” of the hard-working Californian in their pur- suit of money to spend on failed social programs. We’ve just got to face facts. California has this nation’s largest percentage of poverty and the highest taxes. That should be counter-intuitive but the two seem to go hand in hand. The more money your government takes, there is less for the hard-working taxpayer.
Taxes, fees, regulations and environmental problems have placed us squarely atop the list of expensive places in which to live. The state geography is beautiful and diversified. But with the cost of utilities, fuel, rent, food and clothing, we’re faced with making the decision of feeding our families or being able to see the mountains or the ocean.
California, at the present time and projected well into the future, is experiencing a real crush in its need for affordable housing. When one finds that the per unit price of such a residence is approaching $500,000, there can be no doubt that something is wrong! There are too many rules, regulations and restrictions attached to every job, and the state seems to have an endless stream of fees to fund the bureaucracy which oversees the inane regulation.
Our population has roughly doubled in the last 25 years which adds to poverty and low school scores. Yet our politicians seem to ac- tually be recruiting low achievers by fighting the federal government at every turn over tightening access via our borders. The intentions to take care of the poor people of the world are indeed commendable, but we have to exercise some judgment and care that while we’re doing so, we’re not dragging others — as well as the entire country — into poverty.
Our roads and highways are in shambles and yet the governor is so dug in on his legacy project of building a high speed rail that it appears too few will be able to avail themselves of this amenity to make it “pencil out” as existing without subsidies far into the future. Money from everywhere is being gathered to throw at the HSR proj- ect where there appears to be no real need or demand.
California, there was a time when the world was humbled by your beauty and the opportunity which you offered. Anyone called the Golden State can be proud of such a definition but when we seem to devolve into pockets of unbelievable wealth and others of excruciat- ing, grinding poverty, something has gone terribly wrong.
The powers which put us here are in Sacramento and it will take lengthy periods of sanity from those same people to turn things around. Forget about personal animus toward people who think dif- ferently than you do and stop using our money to build a useless project which you see as a legacy.
But, as always, that’s only one man’s opinion.
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Give all points of view a platform
It’s great to see free
speech being upheld in the lawsuit against the Fresno State assistant professor, Greg Thatcher. We should be able to hear controver- sial speakers of unpopular opinion/views because if we truly believe that these speakers are wrong, then we need to shine the light on them by hearing them out so that we may prove or disprove them.
Denying these contro- versial speakers or views a platform to communicate their reasoning and evi- dence to those with other perspectives circumvents critical thinking, and re- duces confidence in one’s own world view in that they haven’t tried to test their world view against others at a very deep first principles level. This type of engage- ment needs to occur in all schools because it keeps the power of choosing what is right and wrong with the people, not in the hands of faculty acting as a surro- gate parent that screens what you see or hear and then claims it is for the good of the student.
Truth does not fear in- vestigation.
Brandon Spencer Clovis
Concerns about vandalism, safety This letter is in response
to a Nov. 21 article in The Exponent. The article titled “Man accused of vandalism
tying rib-
bons to
wreaths
that are
stored
at the
Reedley
Armory.
They will
be trans-
ported JonEarnest
to the cemetery on Dec. 16 and be displayed at veterans gravesides through Satur- day, Jan. 6.
The public is invited to the solemn ceremony, and volunteers are welcome to help place wreaths.
•••
It appeared to me that
more people attended the Dec.7 Electrical Farm Equipment Parade in down- town Reedley than last year. Chairs were being placed early that morning — even some the night before – along G Street by people attempting to reserve curb- side viewing spots.
People lined the street from the start of the parade at 8th Street all the way to 13th Street. There was plenty to enjoy with the 45 entries including brightly- lit floats from businesses, agencies and schools. Live music, food and other at- tractions made for a fun evening for the crowd.
said anything to diffuse the situation.
Nonetheless, a few by- standers applauded the woman and congratulated the man when he wanted nothing more than for the situation to cease. No one was there to ask him if he was well, and no one told the woman to stop.
Luz Fernandez Fresno
Former player talks of ‘true underdog’ This is a response to the
article published on Nov. 30 pertaining to the Immanuel High School football team. Immanuel’s football pro- gram is portrayed as the underdog of Division V, as if they are expected to face adversity year after year when in reality this isn’t the case.
As a former player for the Mendota High School football team — another Di- vision V school at the time — I played against Imman- uel twice. We lost to them in the Valley Championship after they had a dominating season by a score of 35-20. At the time Mendota was ranked seventh in the divi- sion and Immanuel ranked first. We were the true un- derdogs.
True underdog teams are commonplace on the west side of the Valley, at public high schools where recruitment isn’t allowed. Contrary to the article, they are expected to do well.
Jose Rodriguez San Joaquin
Fred Hall
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
From left, Susan Lusk, Carmen Martinez and Kayla Martinez tie bows of ribbon onto wreaths Dec. 11 at the Reedley Armory. The wreaths will be displayed at veterans’ gravesites at the Reedley Cemetery beginning Dec. 16 at the Wreaths for Veterans event.
ing e-editions for Decem- ber at no charge.
Keep in mind, this doesn’t replace your fa- miliar hard-copy issue but provides an added reading option. Call The Exponent at 638-2244 if your want more information. Give it a try, you should like what you see. And we welcome your feedback by email, telephone or in person.
•••
It’s always a good time
to remember our military veterans no longer with us, and the Christmas season is no exception. For the fourth
time, the Wreaths for Reed- ley Veterans event will be held at the Reedley Cem- etery. This year’s event is Saturday, Dec. 16, beginning at 10 a.m.
Members of the Reed- ley High School Navy Ju- nior ROTC will present the colors and white doves will be released in a brief ceremony before volun- teers adorn 1,400 veterans’ gravesites with ribbon-cov- ered wreaths.
On Dec. 11, Gold Star mothers Susan Lusk and Carmen Martinez along with other volunteers were
Letters from readers
and threats” goes into detail of a Dinuba man arrested in “connection with vandal- ism and criminal threats.” The article recalls three separate incidents that re- cently took place. As a fel- low Fresno County resident I am concerned with the growing vandalism that has recently taken place in the community.
The man arrested made multiple threats and was charged with two counts of vandalism that we are aware of. How are the resi- dents supposed to feel safe knowing such crimes are being made daily? Although the man was arrested he has since made bail. Who is to say that he will not make such threats again?
I expect our communi- ties to feel safe, and feel that our opinions on such important issues matter. I hope this response can enlighten other concerned citizens of the community to come forward and voice their thoughts. Maybe we then can come together as one voice to put an end to such incidents.
Victoria Fierro Fresno
Are you safe?
I lived in a place south of Reedley Cemetery for nine years. I lived there until I was broken into two times. I then moved to Sierra View Homes Retirement Commu- nity into an apartment.
After some time, I had to use a walker. I was walk- ing in the parking lot and
standing by some parking cones. A person from the maintenance department hit me and broke the two back wheels of my walker and also chipped one of my front teeth.
IfIwereacatoradog and was abused like that I would be in jail. I thought when you go to a retirement center that you would be in a safe place. Are you safe?
Ivan Mauer Reedley
A tale of two incidents
One morning, there was a man catcalling a lady on the street. Appalled, she looked away and continued walking. However, bystand- ers were not as passive. A man who was walking passed the scene, began scolding the man who had catcalled the woman, “Have some manners man, you don’t treat a woman like that!” To which he had noth- ing more than a wave of the hand for a response.
This made the lady stop and take notice, he then ap- proached the lady asking if she was okay. The man asked if she wanted him to continue walking with her the rest of the way. She agreed, and the rest of her day went well.
However, one afternoon a gentleman was catcalled (if you may) by a woman. She told him he was cute and although he asked her politely to stop, she contin- ued. In comparison to the way the public reacted in the previous scenario, no one
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