Page 4 - Reedley Exponent 10-18-18 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent A4 Thursday, October 18, 2018 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
With the ever-growing mass of political
claims and a virtual deluge of political ads
swirling about us, it’s abundantly clear that
we are drawing to the close of “silly season.”
A quick check of the calendar reveals there areonly20daysbetweennowandelectionday
on Nov. 6. If you’re one of the ever-increasing
number of voters who opt for vote-by-mail, your
ballots should have reached your home by this
time. We hope each and every one of you have
taken the time to do your own research of the
candidates and initiatives, and have not relied
on much of the scurrilous information being supplied nor the recom- mendations of third parties.
Having spent more than 50 years in the newspaper business, it’s really tough for me to admit that the idea of what is reported as being absolutely factual is open to one’s interpretation. There was a time, believe it or not, when one could actually rely on reporting as being factually correct. Not so much in today’s media, which is so driven by “clicks!” It’s even worse for those who rely on Facebook, Google, Yahoo and assorted others as their way of keeping up on what’s going on in the world. These websites make no attempt at honest reporting, nor do they employ true professional journalists.
In a year when it appears all semblance of rational thought has gone right out the window, it is going to be imperative that people who are capable of thinking in a constructive manner ask themselves “Is this good for the country?” When America has an administration that has given the country an improving economy, more people (in- cluding minorities) working, welfare roles being reduced, record low unemployment and increasing salaries does it really make sense to change horses. We know what the Democrats are offering has been tried and has been an abysmal failure. That’s just the mainstream of the party. The far left wing is advocating socialism which has always resulted in a depleted economy, starving people and eventually the rise of a dictator as a solution to their problems.
Ask yourself, exactly what is the opposition offering you as a reason to put them back in power after a devastating period during which they were in control? The only things I have been able to sort out of the convoluted mess they are offering as a platform are endless investigations of the winners of previous elections and/or appoint- ments and taking back the tax breaks which have been such a part of the engine of this recovery.
Class and racial warfare have been the operative methods of di- viding and conquering the electorate for far too long. Americans are far too good and we fully expect them to rise above the machinations of a political party in search of its lost power. The implication that the rich have become wealthy on the backs of hard working Americans should be a non-starter. With just a moment of rational thought, that claim makes no sense at all.
Early predictions in the press of a “blue wave” have begun to wane because Senate Democrats overplayed a false narrative during the Brett Kavanaugh hearings and employed tactics — which at best can only be called marginal — on their way to voting in lockstep to deny an eminently qualified jurist to occupy a seat on the Supreme Court. What’s especially egregious is the fact that at least three really marginal liberals sailed through the process. It seems that only strict constructionists and conservatives find it tough sledding when they seek such an appointment.
Meanwhile, back in California, voters face a long list of initiatives and are poised to select candidates which, one can only hope, re- tain the conservative tendencies of the population of this area. Huge amounts of outside money is pouring in, in an effort to insure that the Central Valley has a chance of becoming as liberal as the rest of the state. We’re hopeful that the hard working people of this area who fully understand that a paycheck does not come from government will vote to support true American ideals.
In a state which is increasingly pricing out the average family, something has to be done to bring the cost of living into check. We can’t afford higher fuel costs, more expensive utilities and ever grow- ing housing costs. Inane regulations and restrictions being penned every day by a growing bureaucracy is certainly a driving factor. People can no longer afford to live here. How else does one explain the expanding homeless problem?
Recreational marijuana does not help nor does the idea of sanc- tuary “shoot-up” zones for drug addicts. The overreaching attitude of politicians in today’s world seems to be to empty our prisons. We are on the way toward that goal when we seem to be decriminalizing everything. Just put them back on the street with a special leather- bound copy of their special California “rights.”
California is in an absolute mess when it comes to distribution of the limited supply of water. Think about that rationally for a mo- ment. California’s population is now double the size its infrastruc- ture’s original intent. We can do the following: a. grow crops to feed people. b. try to restore rivers that have been dry for the better part of a century, c. flush it down the river to the ocean or cede control to the environmentalists. One can’t provide water service for twice the population and deal with these other issues.
Why the hell are we building a futuristic railroad to nowhere when our roadways, statewide, are so horrible? When we realize that gasoline tax money is going to help build this boondoggle, we need say no more.
Stop voting for people who want more of your money and stop voting for bond issues which only place us deeper in debt and result in no movement on the problem which they are supposed to fix.
Read about the issues and candidates and vote as if your future depends on the decisions made at the ballot box. It probably does!
Jon Earnest — Editor / Sports Juanita Adame — Panorama Editor Budd Brockett — Editor Emeritus
QUOTE
“Usually, terrible things that are done with the excuse that progress requires them are not really progress at all, but just terrible things.”
Russell Baker (1925- )
Community steps up big to enjoy a milestone Fiesta celebration
Fred Hall
A mix of ideal weather, a touch of history and the general sense of tra- ditionmadeforasuccessfulReedley Fiesta weekend.
Cool, not cold, temperatures were welcomed by runners and walkers in the early-morning Rabobank event along G Street. And unlike 2017’s hot conditions, Fiesta-goers were comfort- able in shirt-sleeve conditions for the yearly parade. The crowds cheered and enjoyed this year’s honorees, Grand Marshal Eddie Vasquez along with King & Queen Ron and Carol Surabian. Eddie was a natural choice with this year’s frog theme in line with the 50th edition of the Frog Jump con- test. And judging from comments and praise, Ron and Carol also are worthy representatives.
Also helping the Fiesta attendance was no conflict with home football games from the high schools or Reed- ley College. Last year, the Pirates’
Homecoming game went up against Friday’s fiesta schedule, which may verywellhavecutintoattendance. This time, everything seemed to line up for people to come out and enjoy food, music and the King & Queen coronation.
No event runs perfect, but this year’s Fiesta seemed like it was well- enjoyed by all who attended. Credit goes to the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce along with all the volun- teers who help organize and put the activities to practice.
•••
You may have noticed that we’re
walking a bit of a tightrope with area sports. Chris Aguirre, our hard-work- ing sports editor, has left The Expo- nent for another reporting opportu- nity and we’re picking up the void. I’m getting the opportunity to attend some games and matches, but natu- rally can’t be at every (or even that
Other Opinions
many) sports ac- tivities. Therefore, I am relying on community input and contributions from you, the fam- ily and boosters in the public.
If you’re at an
event and know
the results or have
snapped photos (the public can be very adept at using smartphone cam- eras), I encourage you to email me at jon@midvalleypublishing.com. We want to provide as thorough of cover- age as possible for you, our readers.
The local teams deserve the rec- ognition they have earned this fall. As many as a handful of league champi- onships are in reach for Reedley and Orange Cove athletic teams. We’ll keep you filled in.
Jon Earnest
But, as always, that’s only one man’s opinion.
This family’s autism fight is personal
By J.B. Handley
Guest columnist
My wife, Lisa, and I never started out with the goal of being lightning rods in the national debate over autism and vaccines in the United States. We just wanted to understand what happened to our 2-month- old son Jamison and how we could help him.
The year was 2002. After Jamison received six separate vaccines, his health deteriorated and he never rebounded. He de- veloped eczema all over his body. He didn’t sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time. He developed dark circles under his eyes. His stomach became distended, and he looked skinny and frail. He sweated profusely at night.
By the time he was 18 months old, Jamison was sick, needy, rarely sleep- ing and his behavior was changing. His speech re- gressed. Lisa and I decided to have him tested and he was diagnosed with autism.
As time went by, we ab- sorbed the grief but decid- ed we needed to know more about autism and vaccines. The more research we did, the more we realized that the medical community was split into two camps. One believed autism was a genetic condition, sort of like Down’s Syndrome. If a child had autism, he always would. They believed par- ents should accept their child’s fate. The second camp believed autism was an environmental ill- ness, mostly (but not only) caused by the recent mas-
sive uptick in the number of vaccines given to kids.
Luckily, we both had significant research expe- rience, so we decided to dig in and see which camp we would believe when it came to our son’s health. We were fortunate to find Dr. Lynn Mielke, who was a member of a group called “Defeat Autism Now,” known as “DAN!”
Dr. Mielke, a gradu- ate of Indiana University’s medical school, had com- pleted her psychiatry resi- dency at UCLA. She had been a practicing psycholo- gist until she watched her son disappear into autism after his vaccine appoint- ments, just like our son. Her research led her to the DAN! movement. Her son’s symptoms improved, so she opened a clinic to help other children.
Unlike other doctors we had seen who had dis- missed our questions about the relationship between vaccines and autism, she answered our questions and said frequently it is the vaccines that “pushed them over the edge.”
We removed gluten and dairy from his diet and took Dr. Mielke’s advice on giv- ing Jamison a combination of nutritional supplements, cod liver oil and probiot- ics. The regimen flattened Jamison’s belly, and he stopped leaning on furni- ture to alleviate his gut pain. He started to have more eye contact with us, and the dark circles under his eyes were going away. We could tell he was more aware of the world around him. Although not cured, he
was clearly much better. So once that happens to your child, how do you stay quiet? How do you not want to tell others? How do you not want to do all the research you possibly can so you can help not only your child but others who
may be in the same boat? Contrary to what the pharmaceutical industry wants you to believe, all children and all vaccina- tions are not created equal. There are tests available that can determine which children should not re- ceive which vaccines. Plus, there are other factors that should be taken into consid- eration like if the child has been sick prior to getting a
vaccination.
Children in the 1960s
had three vaccinations — today they get 38. I would ask our critics to follow the money – who is benefitting from all these additional vaccinations? The reve- nue for big pharmaceutical companies went from $170 million in the early 1980’s to more than $60 billion today. In 1986, the US gov- ernment granted vaccine makers blanket indemnity. So the more vaccines they can come up with — and the more of their existing vaccines they can make mandatory for children — the more money they make.
Not only had the phar- maceutical industry’s lob- byists been successful in getting the government to prohibit anybody from su- ing them, but I found there was little government oversight of the industry. A study published in 2013 in the European Journal of
Clinical Investigation con- cluded that the pharmaceu- tical industry “masterfully influences evidence base production” and also “ex- erts direct influences on professional decisions and health consumers.”
So that is our story in- to how we began the long journey into the world of physicians, the pharmaceu- tical industry, vaccinations, and autism. Lisa and I have learned more in the last 15 years on this subject than we ever thought we would learn about anything. But the bottom line for us is our son and his well-being and helping others in a similar situation. Every minute that we have devoted to finding out the truth about autism is dedicated to him. And if that makes us a target for those who want unlimited vaccinations on children without compre- hensive oversight about the possible dangers and with- out screening for our most vulnerable children, that is a price we are gladly will- ing to pay.
J.B. Handley is the co- founder and chairman of Generation Rescue, a non- profit organization focused on helping children recover from autism that was in- spired by the journey of his son, Jamison, who was diagnosed with autism in 2004. Author of the book How To End the Autism Epidemic (https://www. chelseagreen.com/product/ how-to-end-the-autism-ep- idemic/), he is also the co- producer of the documen- tary film Autism Yesterday and the co-founder of the Age of Autism blog.
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