Page 4 - Dinuba Sentinel 6-27-19 E-edition

Opinion
Summer heat, we have the greatest climate in the world; we have the most beautiful mountains; we
have the greatest beaches; we have the richest farmland to be found anywhere; we have magnificent deserts and yet we have the highest poverty rate in The United States and the highest number of welfare recipients in the entire nation. Obviously, we have a major problem somewhere! Could it have anything to do with having the worst possible political leadership? You think!
Facts can be stubborn things
with which politicians and public officials must deal with on a regular basis. Case in point; Since about 2010, California has been losing a net 140,000 citizens each and every year. The Democrat administration in Sacramento and their sycophants in the media would tell you that
the state is giving itself an enema— ridding itself of waste—to make room for the “best and brightest” as they migrate to the “golden state” with
the people who are leaving. No one really believes that! If what we’re getting are the best and brightest, all I can say is God help us.
The spin placed on the rationale for the exodus is patently untrue. If one will take a moment to survey your surroundings, it doesn’t take long for your “lying” eyes and intuitive brain to detect a far different situation.
The term “enema” was not thrown in as a pejorative element—It’s actually the way the political elite have described those who are leaving! Those being forced to leave are all essentially working people who can no longer afford to live here and pay the ”entitlements” for those who choose not to support themselves or, even worse, are illegal and shouldn’t even be here.
Remember, regardless of what the media might tell you about
the value of this under-the-radar illegal population paying taxes, their negative impact on the economy of California is roughly $26 billion. Their cost of support exceeds
their contribution by that amount. Apparently politicians see them
as potential voters and with our current system of licensing through the D.M.V. With all the potential voter fraud, it is entirely feasible— even probably—that many of these people wind up voting. Allowing the harvesting of absentee ballots makes it a virtual certainty.
Eight million Californians live below the poverty line and about 13 million find themselves on welfare rolls of some sort. Adding to the misery factor for many of these people is the fact that basics—like utilities—are the highest in the nation because of artificial factors such as legislators mandating that a certain—
Fred Hall
sources. Renewal sources are always more expensive than traditional methods of generating power. Blame the cost on P.G.&E. If you will because they are not
A4 | Thursday, June 27,, 2019
Dinuba Sentinel Serving the communities of Dinuba, Cutler-Orosi and Monson-Sultana
Fred Hall - Publisher Rick Curiel - Editor
In My Opinion
e paradox of living in W the 'golden state'
hat’s not to like about ever growing— living in California? percentage of power Even with the current come from renewal
very sympathetic people, but the real source of exorbitant power is deeply rooted in Sacramento at the capitol and all the lobbyists!
It’s reached the point where every hare-brained scheme there is for generating power now has a lobbyist and, through spreading money around the capitol, manage to get themselves adding to legislation mandating their use by the power company. That includes everything from solar to steam and every one of them are more expensive than coal- fired or natural gas.
Yes, we have a lot of things in this beautiful state in which we can take pride but the living standard of far too many of our population sure as hell isn’t one of them. The middle class family in California is being decimated by cost of living increases with which leadership deals so cavalierly. Perhaps a good slogan would be “Make California Affordable Again.”
Donald Trump declared that he would work to make America great again and has worked every day since his inauguration to make it so. But then, on second thought, Gavin Newsom is no Donald Trump, so
we need to prepare ourselves for the whims of a rich, San Francisco liberal who lives in a fantasy world, which is far, far away from reality here in the Valley.
Given the weight of the current problem on the statewide level and the absence of character quality in those we have elected, it appears that the best place to begin is at the local level. There—at least at this time— remains something of a conservative political base here in the Valley. Ask the hard questions of those who
seek public office. Do everything possible to elect people who do not answer to special interest groups and lobbyists. Make no mistake about
it, we understand that money is the “mothers milk” of politics and the unions and special interest groups have tons of cash to spend on their personally selected candidate.
We may be naive, but we believe that common sense is the best defense against some big donor with their thumb on the scale. That means clear thinking, informed voters should always be the winner.
But, as always, that’s only one man’s opinion.
Fred Hall is publisher of the Dinuba Sentinel.
Food for Thought
COhange is the only constant in life
ne of the favorite sayings an old friend used to say That being said, though the mountain was, ‘the only constant in life is change.’ range flag will be going away, I can also It’s amazing how many times I have recalled those assure you that the Dinuba Sentinel will
words over the years, and how many times there have been changes.
Not many of us like change, at least I don’t. I’ve been ordering the same shaved ice since I ordered my first one at Rodarte’s Market on Magnolia Way – grape and lime. When I find an item off the menu that I like, I typically order the same thing at every visit.
Change always seems to be hard to handle, at first. But change is the one thing we can all relate to. We faced change when we left the comfort of our own homes and venture into a world of classrooms and teachers. Yet, somehow we managed and many of us learned to thrive and identify ourselves through the process.
We faced change when ventured out into the real world after high school. Regardless of what path we chose for ourselves, we have all needed to adjust somehow in order to find our way.
When we enter into marriage, things change. When a family of two becomes a family of three or more, things change.
Change is inevitable, and it happens all the time.
Now, another change is upon us – as this will officially be the final edition of the Dinuba Sentinel.
The Sentinel has gone through many changes over the years. In fact, to help illustrate that point, I’ve included several snapshots of Dinuba Sentinel front covers over the years in today’s edition.
Though the changes may have been subtle at the time, when looking back at them they may appear to have been big changes. Wide to narrow formats, going from eight columns of mostly text to six columns with larger photos, many changes have taken place over the years of print her in Dinuba.
This new change, however, may be a tougher pill to swallow for some. I can’t deny that I will miss the days of picking up the weekly paper to see the Dinuba Sentinel flag across the top of it. The Sierra-Nevada ranges in the flag’s background have always had a special place in my heart.
Having grown up here in Dinuba, I have always loved the view to the east. But I didn’t truly appreciate the view until my work as a legal investigator allowed me to travel throughout the entire San Joaquin Valley. Having done so, I can assure you, there is no other place in the Valley with such a view of our glorious mountain ranges.
Rick Curiel
not.
The Dinuba Sentinel will live on
through the Mid Valley Times. Times have certainly changed, and the advent
of technology has not been kind to all industries. Just ask the owner of any brick and mortar store these days.
I like to think that print media is not
a dying media, rather, it’s a perpetually changing media. Newspapers have always
Letters to the editor
From the Veterans'
corner of daily news
Dear editor:
We are excited to let the public know that the JULY 4TH, we will again celebrate the United States of America. For us the Vietnam Veterans we left over 58,000 young men on the battle fields of Vietnam. Now its other group of young men who have seen brothers fall in far way places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Let’s remember them on the Fourth of July. The local Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #643 will have its at Fireworks Booth located United Market Parking lot starting June 28th (Friday). Please pay us a visit and help us raise funds for the good work we do for Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies at Smith Mountain Cemetery.
Another exciting event will be the undertaking of buying a new shed to store the Funeral Casket Flags that are turned in by families of burying the loved Veteran who has passed on. The small storage building we now use has been out grown and we need to increase the space by adding one or
two more wagons that carry the flags. The two wagons we have are full to capacity. However, it will cost money to buy and install the steel building. We will need the public to help us meet this new endeavor. The cost might run $25,000 to $30,000 for the steel building. Corporate Sponsors would be a blessing here.
Other exciting news is the Memorial Wall has been removed at Dinuba Memorial grounds and stored as volunteers work on redoing the cement work that will hold the Wall in place. Once work is completed the Wall is the only wall with over 58000 names of fallen soldiers with names and year they fell in Vietnam War.
Chapter VVA #643 will take new members with $50 buying you a life membership if your are 65 and over and served between 1959 to 1975. Otherwise $100 will do for Veterans over 65. We also have many members under 65.
George Madrid US Navy Seabee Vietnam Veterans of America
needed to adjust to the times in order to better reach the communities they serve.
The transition to the Mid Valley Times is one I feel confident in. Times being what they are, the move strengthens our ability to put out a quality paper each and every week while simultaneously cutting down on overhead expenses.
It also makes us, as Mid Valley Publishing, a better team. Imagine a basketball league where three of the teams only have five players on their roster. Sure, they can play, even win a few games here and there. But over the long haul, this approach may not be the key to success, even with quality players.
However, if you were to combine those three teams, suddenly you have a team with depth. As a result, the quality of play improves across the board.
For us at Mid Valley Publishing, the end result will be a better product reaches the same communities we are committed to serve.
The regional nature of the new Mid Valley Times will
also allow you to follow along with what is happening in the neighboring communities of Reedley and Sanger, with smaller communities such as Parlier, Orange Cove, Cutler and Orosi also being represented.
Next week, a new chapter begins for the Dinuba Sentinel. This change, though it may require some adjusting, I believe, will be a good change for readers, advertisers and the general region.
Thank you to all the loyal readers and advertisers, we greatly appreciate your support and look forward to working with you through the new Mid Valley Times.
Rick Curiel is editor of the Dinuba Sentinel. He can be reached at editor@thedinubasentinel.com
The Dinuba Sentinel welcomes submissions of letters to the editor on topics of local relevance. Word limit is 350. Letters are considered once per month for each submitter.
Letters must include the author’s name, phone number and address for verification. Mail to 145 South L Street, Dinuba, CA,
93618, or e-mail to editor@thedinubasentinel.com.
Letters will be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Libelous letters will not be printed. Guest columns will be considered for publication - E-mail editor@thedinubasentinel.
com. Word limit is 650.
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