Page 4 - Dinuba Serntinel 12-27-18 E-edition

Opinion
A4 | Thursday, December 27,, 2018
In My Opinion
INew laws for new year
t isn’t difficult for one to amount of frivolous continue the imagination of law-making which is hearing the joyful sounds of done in a “feel good”
Christmas at this point in time. Listen carefully and one will hear joyous laughter, the sounds of Christmas carols, the ringing of bells as well
as all kinds of indications of the happiness this wondrous season has traditionally brought.
I’ve even been able to move beyond the report by one CNN reporter claiming Donald Trump hated the month of December because he was jealous of the fact Christ received more attention than did he. That bit of breaking news was so asinine that it was quite easy to ignore because the large amount of hate needed to even utter such crap. A statement such as that truly shows the amount of contempt our “main stream” press feels for the American people.
Now, a brand new year is upon us and every Californian needs to securely fasten their safety belt—and hide their wallet—because the state, as usual, has enacted more ridiculous laws and mandated more regulations. It seems the only ones not impacted by legislative intrusion are those who do not work and the lawmakers themselves. Perhaps I should hedge a bit on that proclamation because our rather sizable criminal element has seen a reduction in their sentences for crimes and felonies are now misdemeanors. Ever wonder why it seems ever more lucrative to be a career criminal?
The Democrats, who now seem to be in charge of about everything, continue to treat the impending pension crisis as a shell game. We’re looking at an undertaking by our government which is severely underfunded. When the great “bank call” comes on this, guess who will ultimately responsible for making up the deficit. That would be the hard working folks in the private sector who will have no pension of any kind when they retire. That’s after a lifetime of working really hard at about half the rate at which public sector employees are paid. Government represents a huge voting bloc here in California who always seem to vote to protect their self interest which is usually at odds with common sense and the private sector.
New, for 2019, laws, rules and regulations range all the way from being nonsensical and innocuous to some which are truly egregious in terms of economic costs and intrusions on our Constitutional freedoms. We find at the lower end of the scale one new offering which truly turns the biology we were taught in school on its ear. My best recollections are that there are two sexes of each species. Now, in California that is no longer true.
It seems that the folks who look after our best interests in Sacramento have discovered there are at least three. In 2019, your drivers license will indicate whether you are male, female or non- binary. Binary apparently indicates you are composed of two very different factors; a male side and a female side. Interesting as to what is considered politically correct these days!
Silly legislation such as this really harms no one but it does point out the
Guest Column
DOon't let 'toxic family' steal Christmas spirit
Fred Hall
Collegiate Dictionary (1975). Definition selected from an older reference book for clear understanding.
The following is in response to Jasmine Aguilera’s article in the Opinion section of the December 13 Sentinel. Quotation marks are not quotes, but emphasizing comments persons have used about the Immigrant “crisis”.
The present border chaos needs clear thinking for solution. A caravan of hundreds/thousands embarked from their native countries in hopes of entering the United States. The rationale being that their native country was full of gangs, violence, drugs, corrupt government officials, and the lack of police / military protection. (Of how many countries south of the border is this true?)
“The United States should offer asylum.”
Why the U.S.? Why not another country like Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico? Venezuela is in an economic free fall disaster. Should they come to the U.S. too? How did such an idea begin in distant nations? Who suggested that the U.S. was the answer?
Is Trump a racist when he wants to build a wall? Reread Robert Frost’s poem: “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors.” Will you tear down your fence to let any passerby come into your yard? Will you unlock your front door for others to gain admission?
“But he is against people of color who want to enter.” There is logical reason why we build fences and it has nothing to do with racism. Why did mayor Gastelum of Tijuana consider the newly arrived immigrants a dangerous threat? Because they are upsetting the orderly conduct of the city, putting demands on the local citizenry. Even Tijuanans are objecting. Immigrants in town, NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) Are
they racists? I sympathize with immigration, yes, but orderly immigration. Get in line.
Why is this a humanitarian crisis? Did anyone force the caravan to walk 2,500 miles? Did the U.S. cause this crisis? “But Trump sent 6,000 soldiers to the border six weeks
before the immigrants arrived.” Does a leader prepare for
a crisis the day it occurs? What would have happened if he waited until a surge of people crashed the border? President Clinton described the 90’s immigrant problem as severe. What did he do? How did Obama handle it? Didn’t he distribute illegal unaccompanied youth into communities around the country?
The Democratic Party has been absent for twenty-five years, except to blame Trump for what they failed to do. Name one step they took to fix the border, immigration laws, the INS, and the illegals problem. Have the Democrats any reasonable
European nations are reacting to immigrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Trump said “Enough is enough.” Trump is a protector of the border.
How did immigrants gain a right to asylum? They don’t have citizenship rights. They have the privilege to seek it. There is an orderly process for admission.
A school administration task is to supervise the lunchroom. On a daily basis some students, arriving late, try to “jump theline”,notwantingtowait. Theyaresenttotheendofthe line. How about the movies, or Disneyland? How do people, waiting in line, feel when someone jumps in front of them? What about the people who have waited patiently to legally enter the U.S. feel when “coyotes” guide illegals across the border?
I am not against immigration. I revel in the racial diversity of my neighborhood. But I steadfastly oppose letting people jump the line. Oh, there are folks who want their parents or relatives or friends to come here. Get in line. Am I racist for wanting persons to enter the country by following the law?
“Theyarerunningfromterriblelivingconditions!” Then should the U.S. open its borders for all who don’t like their government? If the administration relents, there will be no end. Every non-American will find the asylum reason-of-the- day. Talk about a flood of biblical proportions! Get in line.
Are there criminals in the caravan? Certainly, but not the majority. ArethereMS13hiddeninthegroup,drugcartel workers, murderers, tunnel borers? How does the border security vet the genuine from the clandestine?
Are Trump’s statements a rhetoric of fear? Trump did not invite immigrants here to hate them. Of course they want
a better life. The United States is a most generous country. But politicians, giving away benefits, have created taxation spending without representation. We cannot afford to be the freebie handout nation of the world. Get in line.
Who’s willing to sponsor/support these people? When Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi’s, politicos, and celebrities bring immigrants into their communities and mansions, then
we can believe the rhetoric of “kindness to immigrants”. Showing up at our door expecting handouts, citizen rights, free housing, free phones, free medical, welfare, American protection and the American dream is not the way to endear Americans to one’s plight. Rhetoric supporting immigrant line jumpers instead of real substantial action is lip flapping. Follow the rules. Get in line.
Ed Abair Dinuba, CA
Fred Hall - Publisher Rick Curiel - Editor
by the legislator or an attempt to show us that they “really care.” Too bad that they don’t seem to care about the rank and file of the populace instead of
special interest groups.
In sharp contrast with the silly laws
are those like the “values act” which has already resulted in death and injury to California citizens—the most recent episode being right here in Tulare County. That inane bit of action—also known as Senate Bill 54, was quickly passed to send a message to the new President as to who was really the boss in California.
Our State government’s insistence on resisting the President at all costs has resulted in the release of criminal aliens back into the population without advising ICE. In an attempt to publicly spite the man who was elected to run our country, our local elected officials decided to release criminals, who aren’t even citizens, back into our population to wreck havoc on the citizenry. That single bit of idiocy has already resulted in death, injury and property crimes, which were avoidable.
This law even goes so far as forbidding cooperation between law enforcement in California and Federal immigration authorities. The making of law is fine if there is an area in need but it should never be done in such a capricious manner as displayed by our Democrat masters in Sacramento. We urge those legislators to consider the Hippocratic Oath, to which medical doctors swear to, first of all, do no harm. In the rarified air of the State Capitol, these folks seem to quickly lose touch with the reasons they were elected in the first place.
Add this to the well-cloaked ballot initiatives—47 and 57—in which the people were lied to and tricked into passing which reduced felonies to misdemeanors and expedited the release of some really bad people back to the streets so they could continue to ply their trade.
With the current standard of “How much legislation have you passed or authored” being the one which legislators have subscribed, one shouldn’t expect any improvement. Short of common sense, research and thought there seems to be little hope for improvement because our politicians seem incapable of such basics requirements. Welcome to California!
However, one area which they refuse to address that has gotten out of control is social media. It seems that such a simple act as declaring that those who claim status as a platform for messaging would be identified as publishers would bring them under the same guidelines as real publishers. Having to deal with libel claims would put a stop to a lot of the current garbage.
But, as always, that’s only one man’s opinion.
Fred Hall is publisher of the Dinuba Sentinel.
Letters to the editor
IWhen it comes to immigration, get in line
mmigrate/immigration: toenterandusuallytobecome plan to control the border?
established; esp: to come into a country of which one Name another country which allows people to cross its
is not native for permanent residence.” Webster’s New threshold without due process or consequences. Check how
ver the holidays, you are not required to do hear, “Yes, I’m abusive, and I fully anything. support your decision to avoid me You are not required to spend time with so that I can’t treat you that way,”
people who are unkind to you, even if you’re related to them. You’re not required to spend more money than you have on gifts, decorations, travel, or anything else.
You don’t have to do things just because you did them in the past and they are traditions. If traditions stress you out or cause you pain, don’t do them.
Some people love the holiday season. They can’t wait to get their decorations up as soon as Thanksgiving is over. They savor the Christmas music spewing out of speakers in every single restaurant and store, and then they play even more of it at home. Or they bake batch after batch of cookies.
If that’s you, more power to you. Enjoy.
Then there’s the rest of us who approach this season with some degree of dread. If you aren’t in love with
all of the trappings of the holiday season, it can feel oppressive. If you find this season painful, you can’t get away from it.
My point is not to project my Grinchiness on everyone else or ruin the joy of those who are having a good time. It’s to say that if you aren’t having a good time, that’s OK too.
If you have a toxic family who hurts you when you’re together, there’s no rule that says you have to spend time with them. The best advice I got for handling abusive family members was to treat them like I would treat someone who isn’t very nice to me. I don’t spend holidays with people who aren’t very nice to me.
The second best advice I got is that you don’t need your abusive family members to buy into your decision to reduce or minimize your contact with them. You’ll never
Jill Richardson
so don’t wait for it. Just do whatever you need to do to keep yourself safe, healthy, and happy.
If you feel frazzled because you must do a long list of things — decorate the house, buy and wrap the gifts, get the family photo taken, send out the cards, bake all the
cookies, make the gingerbread house, clean your home, host one party, attend other parties, take the kids to see Santa, and on and on — it’s OK to start pruning down that list.
If cutting back in some areas can help you be more present and less stressed this time of year, it’s worth it. The world won’t end if you decide this is the year to stop sending Christmas cards, or you refuse to participate in the office gift exchange, or you decline to host a party at your home.
The theme of pretty much every Christmas movie out there is that when loving families are together, that is the magic of Christmas. Even though the Griswold and McCallister families were dysfunctional, on Christmas they found their love for one another despite everything else.
Real world dysfunctional families tend to remain so even on Christmas (trust me, I have experience here). But if you come from a loving family that enjoys being together, that’s the most crucial ingredient to the holiday season. Everything else is optional.
Distributed by OtherWords.org.
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