Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 1-13-22 E-Edition

Thursday, January 13, 2022 | A4 | Mid Valley TiMes Editorial & Opinions
Serving the Readers of the Reedley Exponent, Dimuba Sentinel and Sanger Herald.
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
In my OPINION Discussing the politics of
Play it smart during sharp increase in COVID active case numbers
Fred Hall — Publisher
Jon Earnest — Editor
Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
sports and athletes
Sports are so ingrained in people of the world that they can be reasonably considered a part of our DNA. The be- ginning of the Olympic competition in 776 B.C. is one of the earliest examples of humans testing their athletic prow- ess and skills against others. We are, however, unable to find a single circum- stance where athletes' egos elevated themselves to a position of providing political advice to the rank and file.
The eye-popping numbers don't lie. Omicron strain- caused or not, COVID-19 num- bers have taken a huge jump in the Central Valley in the past two weeks, both in active cases and hospitalizations. While there may be an argu- ment that the many higher incident numbers can be of a less severe nature because of those fully vaccinated and boosted, there's still no dis- puting the jump in hospital- izations at Fresno and Tulare counties' already stretched thin medical facilities.
While we only can gauge community numbers at our region's locations in Tulare County (Fresno County hasn't
provided update communi- ty numbers for more than a month), it's obvious that more people have been hit with CO- VID. In Dinuba, the total case numbers jumped by nearly 200 in a week, meaning it's a safe bet that close to that number currently have the virus. Ma- ny active case numbers soared just within the past weekend. There even could be a few cas- es of "flurona," a mixture with influenza as the cold tempera- tures and foggy air can affect more susceptible people.
It can't hurt to play it smart and a little more cautious in these remaining weeks of winter. No matter your opin- ion on the virus, keep a mask
close within
reach (we ARE
in an extended
indoor mask
mandate, after
all) and show consideration
for others.
Dress warm, and limit you chances at weakening your immunity.
While we're at it, practice safety on the streets and ru- ral roads as students now are back in school. Best wishes to all students for a successful remaining winter and spring.
Jon Earnest is news-sports editor for The Times.
Can you remember— as I do — a time when, during our youth, that professional athletes were role models for the young people of America? Not so much today, with the current collection of overpaid, poorly-educated, inarticulate spoiled young men who provide the ugliest possible image for our youngsters who want to grow up and be just like them. In all fairness, outside of soccer's Megan Rapinoe, women athletes seem to have more self awareness that they are simply athletes and most people don't care much for shenanigans or stupid statements off the court or field of play.
Seldom does one witness a first rate female athlete doing or saying something really stupid. A shining exam- ple from that demographic group as a role model would certainly be Olympic swimmer Simone Manuel who has won the hearts of many Americans for her performance and attitude toward opportunities this country has pro- vided her with. While others may turn their back on the American flag during awards ceremonies, Ms. Manuel actually embraced it as a representation of the country for which she competes!
And yet, the politically correct “woke” crowd has done everything possible to destroy female athletic competition by deeming that “transgenders” should be allowed to compete heads up against biological women. No one can honestly argue that taking hormones for a short period of time is going to mitigate the disparity be- tween genders in terms of muscle mass. Thank heaven that men and women were created to be different. It's fine if you wish to live life as an alternative gender. That decision is yours personall, and should not be allowed to impact the lives of others.
With alarming regularity we see many of the antics of professional athletes trickling down to youngsters at the high school and collegiate levels. How difficult must it be to coach some of these kids who mimic the attitudes of their big money idols who regularly have their igno- rance on full display?
Speaking of young athletes, I remember playing base- ball in a top-of-the-line MacGregor baseball shoe, low cut football shoes from Riddell and basketball shoes made by Converse. What do all of those have in common? They were all affordable. Compare that to today's player en- dorsed shoes which can cost hundreds of dollars. Those outrageously expensive basketball sneakers are making a company wealthy that relies on cheap Chinese labor. That is the same firm whose contract endorsement play- ers support positions of the Chinese government against those of America.
Although the cost of those inflated salaries and en- dorsement deals ultimately falls on the consumer and fan base, I understand it's a matter of what the traffic will bear. It can cost the working man several hundred dol- lars to take his family out of see their favorite team play.
Although we seem to have singled out only one intel- lectually challenged group we should not lose sight of the fact that the media and Hollywood are active partici- pants to sowing misinformation. Probably there is not a more ignorant group collectively than the celebrity class who, for some reason, are completely comfortable with their really dumb utterances.
Certainly everyone has first amendment rights to free speech, we would beseech them that the platform they are using to let their views be know are simply that—your personal thoughts and opinion.
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Americans would pay a heavy price for amnesty
Fred Hall
QUOTE
“In preparing for battle I have al- ways found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”
— Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)
Jon Earnest
By Mark Thies
Guest columnist
Democratic leaders on Capi- tol Hill are scrambling to find a way to amnesty illegal immi- grants in their nearly $2 trillion budget bill.
The Senate parliamentar- ian, who decides what provi- sions can and can't be included in the bill that's being advanced under the filibuster-proof "rec- onciliation" process, shot down their first two proposals. So now, lawmakers are proceeding with "Plan C" — which would grant illegal immigrants "pa- role," a status that gives illegal immigrants work permits and a reprieve from deportation, without immediately granting them green cards.
Lawmakers are also plot- ting to expand legal immigra- tion levels. All told, their cur- rent plan would increase the number of immigrants living and working in this country by several million people at a minimum.
Such rapid growth will put immense strain on our resourc- es, both financial and natural, and the ensuing damage to our environment threatens to set progress there back by a gen- eration or more.
Our country is not under-
populated by any reasonable reckoning. Schools are already overcrowded, especially for young children. California, for instance, would need to build a new school every day for five years to provide class sizes of 15-19 students. Over the next 50 years, immigration is set to account for 96 percent of the increase in school-age children.
Mass migration is making life more difficult — and ex- pensive —for working-class citizens. Just like everyone else, migrants need a roof over their heads — so they compete against low-income Americans for our scarce supply of rental housing. Nationally, the me- dian rent has surged over 16 percent since January, in part because of competition from new arrivals.
Environmental groups pre- tend to be blissfully unaware that adding so many people to the population does irreparable harm to the environment.
Transportation is another example: more people mean more cars, gas or electric, cre- ating more traffic and more emissions (electric cars pol- lute too — albeit at the power plant, rather than the tailpipe). More development requires the clearing of woods and fields to make way for pave-
ment and parking lots. Federal data shows that around 90 per- cent of open space lost in the past decade — both urban and rural — can be attributed to population growth. Yes, more and more of our unique out- door heritage is being lost.
This sprawl comes with se- rious environmental and health consequences, threatening wet- lands critical for clean water and flood protection as well as harming endangered species. The American Southwest, in particular, faces a dystopian future of water shortages as its population skyrockets. Lake Powell just above the Grand Canyon is now at 29 percent of capacity, an all-time low, an astounding 156 feet below full capacity.
Poll after poll shows that amnesty is unpopular — as we all see right before our very eyes that such an unsustainable flood of migrants is worsening the quality of life for all. The only question is whether our leaders will grow backbones before it's too late.
Mark Thies, Ph.D. is an En- gineering Professor at Clemson University whose research is focused on energy and sustain- ability. This piece originally ran in The Hill.
A civics refresher is needed
"I pledge allegiance..."
Jack Worthington (Jan. 6 letter) must have missed all of the history and civics classes that were offered during his schooling. More's the pity, if
he had perhaps he would real- ize that the same group of men who coined the phrase "we the people" also included in the Constitution, "freedom of reli- gion."
I must assume that Jack wants a world with no rules or laws, to- tal freedom of choice. That, of
course, is simple anarchy.
As children, we were taught
the pledge of allegiance; we re- cited it every day in school. I would suggest that Jack review that simple pledge which holds our society together.
Matt Wiebe Reedley
Letters from readers