Courthouse rock?

To the Editor, 

I would like to thank the appropriate local governmental agency for their newest art installation. Most counties would not waste time to improve the sonic architecture around us, so I’m grateful to live in one that does. 

I’d like to know what the work is called and who the artist is, because whoever thought of having the courthouse bell tower ring a random amount of times every day at 6:50 a.m. is a genius. I’m sure the artist was influenced by the composer John Cage, who would have appreciated having the bells ring 31, 14, 72 or any random number so that everyone who is asleep can start the day with a vivid conception of the beauty of art. 

To use such a basic symbol as the small town bell tower for a medium is evocative; akin to dipping the U.S. flag in a different color every day. 

And the length of the piece is refreshing. For years it would toll 14 times at 7 a.m. and when people complained, they were told it would be fixed. As if you can fix art. 

There is a piece by John Cage that will take 689 years to complete. Who knows how long this local work will last? And if it tolls 72 times on some days now, what ecstasy will next year bring? 

Personally, I wish the art was more like Cage’s 4’33,” which is 4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence, but I’m just so proud to live in such an artistic community, I’ll wake up happily to the sound of art. 

Well, I’ll wake up for sure. 

Christopher Van Tuyl 

Sonora

Continuing to Occupy Sonora

To the Editor,

Why, passersby, may wonder, does our small “Occupy Sonora” band continue to stand Saturday mornings with our signs at Courthouse Square? 

Mainly it’s because of our deep dismay about two closely entwined political and economic realities: 

1. the impact of extraordinary amounts of money on American politics; and 

2. the hugely unequal distribution of wealth in present-day America.

The 2012 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United allowed unlimited private donations to election campaigns at all levels.

Time Magazine projects that $5.8 billion will be spent on presidential and congressional races by the two parties this year (the figure was $4.1 billion in 2004). 

Karl Rove’s super PAC expects to raise $240 million chiefly for anti-Obama attack ads. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is expected to give $50 million to Republican candidates. The single biggest disclosed donor, Sheldon Adelson, reportedly contributed $50 million and has pledged $100 million all told to the Romney/Ryan campaign. 

Government offices and candidates can, and are, literally being bought.

Exercise of political power by moneyed interests over legislative and regulatory bodies has preserved and increased the wealth of the nation’s uber-affluent economic elite — the “one percent,” as they have been dubbed. 

They are able to protect themselves by tax rates and breaks and other financial practices that are questionable legally and, certainly, ethically. 

Needing fewer public services, they use their influence to curtail government spending for the general good — on infrastructure, health care and education, for example. Favoritism for the rich, that is, rather than services and opportunities for the overwhelming majority — that “ninety-nine percent.”

In short, we “Occupiers” are appalled by money-driven electioneering and the massive concentration of wealth at the socioeconomic top. These twin realities make a mockery of American democracy.

Our objectives are not grand. 

Dick Peterson

Sonora

No force or effect resolutions

To the Editor,

Why would the Board of Supervisors vote on a resolution that essentially has no force and effect? In the same vein one might ask: Why would a couple get engaged if they had no intention of getting married?

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution that board Chairman, Dick Pland said is not binding on the county. 

The three board members approving the resolution assured the sparse audience that the resolution is “only advisory” and has no force and effect of law. 

So why bother to vote on something that means nothing? 

The dirty little secret is that it does have meaning. An engagement ring is a visible commitment to the future marriage of two people. 

The board resolution is a visible commitment to a future marriage of the Blueprint Plan and the county General Plan. 

The Blueprint Plan is what the Board adopted by resolution and it provides guidance to county staff on all future planning issues. 

Even though it supposedly has no force and effect the resolution will be the gorilla in the room whenever the county General Plan is updated. 

The gorilla may not have a vote, but it won’t need one because he has all the bananas. Don’t go along with the gorilla and you don’t get your state and federal grant funds. 

What is the Blueprint Plan? Hint: Government control of how you live. 

If you are a concerned citizen and value your liberty you will take the time to find out about the Blueprint Plan. Thanks to Supervisors Evan Royce and Randy Hanvelt for standing up against this invasion of Big Brother. Visit http://portal.co.tuolumne.ca.us Search ‘Tuolumne Tomorrow.’ 

David Wynne 

Columbia

Water conservation

To the Editor,

Again we are being told to conserve water. We should be doing this all year for good reasons. We should also conserve propane, electricity and gasoline as much as practical.  The questions are: 

1. Besides telling us what to do, what is the water company(s) doing to help now and for the future? 

2. Are they selling what we conserve to others? 

3. Are they taking on new customers?  

If the shortage is real, more water consumers should not be added to the problem. 

Roy Jueal

Twain Harte

Playing God with world markets

To the Editor,

I think it is time, long overdue, to speak out against popular myths about the nature of the economy when in a recession, and our real possibilities for recovery.

Uncritical support of the “Full Employment Act of 1946” without modification is no longer a realistic approach to the application of fiscal and monetary policy in Washington. 

Clearly our dependency on shifts in aggregate demand — largely the realm of business expectations that govern final results in ‘Employment, Interest and money’ — are a severe miscalculation we can no longer entertain in the halls of government or amongst our political leadership. 

National, state and local policies that have emerged since Ronald Reagan restructured economic expectations when he moved to mobilized the nation to put an end to the Cold War, have perhaps permanently crippled our ability to respond to such global crises.

Yes, we wanted to put an end to the terror that accompanied the contest between superpowers. 

Yes, adding the ‘second sex’ to the work force enriched and benefited the entire nation. 

But implementing the Welfare Reform Act did not reduce the roles of the working poor at subsistence level living. 

Signing the international NAFTA Treaty did not enhance our competitive edge with the European Union, China  (or Japan and South East Asia). 

And realization of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the final ingredient of global capitalism, and a living monument to John Maynard Keynes at Bretton Woods, may prove our undying nightmare as such globalization moves to the next phase of corporate monopoly capital. 

Surely we can no longer play God with world markets as if we were the only players that mattered...

Tim K. Fitzgerald

Sonora

Obamacare takes from Medicare

To the Editor,

In response to Lloyd Kramer’s Aug. 17 letter: 

Do you not realize that Obama is taking from $716-$750 billion dollars from our Medicare funds to support his Obamacare? Just what do you think that will do to Medicare? 

I worked insurance most of my life. This is the worst thing that can happen to our Medicare. We will have 15 non-medical people telling our doctors what they can do and not do for us. It will take months to get an MRI or CAT scan. The ERs will have 8 to 10 hour waiting to be seen. 

I worked with Canadians who had socialized medicine and they came to the U.S. to get their medical care because it took forever to get tests done, etc., in Canada. 

If we put Obama back in office, you will lose a lot more than your Medicare. 

With Paul Ryan, he will see that nothing changes for those who have it now or are just getting on it. 

Obama is not telling the truth about any of this. He hasn’t told the truth about much of anything. 

I pray the seniors wake up before election day and study what is really the truth. I know because I worked with Medicare and Medicaid for years. 

Obama’s plan will destroy Medicare/Medical. 

Patricia DuFur 

Sonora

Obama sign is offensive

To the Editor,

What is it that Dorothy Stevens (July 27 Letter to the Editor) finds “uplifting” about the Phoenix Lake Road display? 

It it connecting her president to the man responsible for the murder of 6 million Jews and the deaths of millions of allied soldiers in World War II? Is it the black portrayal of her president? One can disagree with the current administration, as many did with the last, but some level of decency should be exercised. 

This display is shameful and I think Mike Macon’s letter expressed it best, “Sir, have you no decency?”

Sharon Petersen 

Twain Harte

It’s time to
shake up TUD

To the Editor,

Californians know earthquakes; the earth’s plates are held in check by friction for decades. Then one day the forces of change because movements that release a force causing the whole thing to erupt. Social change can look a bit like tectonic events. 

Years of resentments and frustrations can suddenly erupt, fracturing long-held relationships or understandings. In 1773, English tea was dumped in Boston Harbor by frustrated colonists. 

In 2010, Tea Party freshman took ideological control of Congress successfully changing the conversation around federal spending limits. 

Today in Tuolumne we face a fault line that runs through the residents and Tuolumne Utilities District. Tensions are mounting. 

Humans cannot survive five days without water. Every community depends on successful water management. 

The board overseeing TUD swore a promise to be good stewards of public funds. No other authority has access to the water district organizational assets: minutes, files, policies, records, emails, invoices, contracts, request for bids, accounting ledgers, memorandums of understanding, etc. That data describes exactly how the district operates. 

However, unlike the bankrupt counties in our state, our county will suffer no surprises going forward, right? 

Tectonic tension builds over-time as multiple small infractions occur. Disasters are often a combination of small infractions that reinforce one another. 

We need a water Board that we can trust. Trust isn’t simply about truthfulness — its a matter of amity and goodwill. 

Laws don’t have to be broken for trust to be squandered. When management is willing to sacrifice long-term economic security for short-term political advantage — trust is eroded. It’s time to shake up the board at TUD.

Ruanne Mikkelsen 

Sonora

Let’s hear the other side on vaccination

To the Editor,

I read the article about childhood vaccination rates declining in Monday’s Health and Medicine section with interest.  

I kept reading, expecting to hear the other side of the issue.  

Surely, if the vaccination rate is declining, those who choose not to vaccinate have a good reason for their choice?  

And isn’t “choice” our right as U.S. citizens under the Constitution — not “the problem” (with our vaccination rates) as Tuolumne County Public Health Officer, Dr. Todd Stolp, put it?  

Too many people think our rights should be taken away simply because we do not agree with their views.   

I wanted to hear from those parents who don’t agree, who have done the research and chosen not to put aluminum, formaldehyde, and sometimes mercury, directly into their child’s bloodstream 30 times in the first six years of their life.  

Where’s their story?  

If we heard from them, we would have a more informed view and could fully understand that all sides have a right to make their own choice as they see fit for their family, and neither should have that right threatened.

Ann Hince

Sonora

Condolences to the Sikh community

To the Editor,

The following members of the Calaveras County faith community add their condolences to the American Sikh community: Faith Lutheran Church of Murphys ELCA, Pastor Doug Merritt, and the Church Council; First Congregational Church of Murphys United Church of Christ, Pastor Jeff Cheifetz and the Church Council, Joe Jackson, Moderator; Grace Hills Bible Church, Angels Camp, Pastor Dusty Bach; Sierra Bible Church of Murphys, Pastor Chad Wible, and the Church Board.

We are repelled and saddened by the recent senseless act of violence in Wisconsin against our Sikh brothers and sisters.

Violence against any religious community is an act of violence against all of us. 

We stand together in supporting religious freedom and the Constitution of the United States.

The Rev. Jeffrey Cheifetz

First Congregational
Church of Murphys

Repeal the 17th Amendment

To the Editor,

We pledge allegiance to the flag and the Republic for which it stands. 

Few citizens understand the difference between a republic and a democracy. 

Our founders established a republic by writing into our Constitution several safeguards to prevent pure democracy. 

Our textbooks and federal education have failed to educate our citizens on these most  important principles of freedom. 

These forgotten details have nurtured our nations’ longevity and brought blessing to multitudes.

The principles that kept us from becoming a Democracy and destroying freedom are: 

1. We are individual states and were intended to stay that way. 

The electoral college was agreed upon so each state would always have a say in each election according to their totals and not lose their individual governments. 

The smaller states could not be swallowed up by larger states. 

2. The second principle that made us a republic was that the Constitution provided for each state government to send two senators to Washington. 

The U.S. Senate was to represent states rights in legislation and the House was to represent the people. 

In great ignorance and foolishness the 17th Amendment repealed the provision ... We must repeal the 17th Amendment.

There has been a flood of human reasoning; (a way that seems right to man, but destructive to justice) that has moved us from order to chaos. 

In discarding our founders’  wisdom we now have a government that has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent among us swarms of new officers (through taxes and regulations) to harass us and eat our substance.

Let us renew our Covenant with God and George Washington which was made at St. Paul’s Cathedral in New York (still standing adjacent to Ground Zero).

Jan Higgins

Sonora

Summerville Union High School District trustees are scheduled Wednesday to vote on an athletic department policy shift that defies common sense and needs better explanation.

It would limit the number of varsity sports overseen by 25-year Summerville PE teacher Ben Watson, who is head coach of the Bears’ football, basketball and softball teams.

Talk of the policy change, spearheaded by Trustees Dave Marquez and Bret Taylor, has wasted hours over the past few board meetings. The last, on Aug. 8, also drew a concert of concerned parents and student athletes supportive of Watson.

All this talk at a time when the district is facing possibly crippling state budget cuts and is asking voters to pass an $8 million property-tax-funded bond in November to pay for facility renovations and repairs.

Marquez and Taylor claim Watson is spread too thinly.

Watson himself, though, has made no such complaints.

In fact, he has earned Mother Lode League Coach (or Co-Coach) of the Year honors in football, basketball and softball. 

Under Watson’s guidance, Summerville’s varsity football team, which is small by division standards, has been to the postseason in three of the past four years. In 2009, the Bears won the MLL title and were victorious in a playoff game for the first time in school history.

The Bears softball team is a perennial fighter and has captured three MLL titles under Watson’s tutelage.

Spread too thinly?

Marquez and Taylor seem to have other motives or insights which haven’t adequately been explained.

Wednesday’s meeting would be a good place to specify why this policy change is needed.

Keep the discussion brief, though, as there are far more-pressing matters that need to be addressed.

The Summerville Board of Trustees meets at 6:30 p.m. in the campus library.

Caricature used to just be an ant

To the Editor, 

This is in response to the Aug. 1 letter written by Gilbert Hofacker, regarding the “black pipe caricature of President Obama” on Phoenix Lake Road. 

First, and most certainly foremost, the “black pipe caricature” was and never has been a caricature of President Obama. It is, and always has been, a black ant that originally held the homeowner’s mail box, a rather clever idea, I thought. Most writers protesting the signage have forgotten that fact or may have never noticed it before now. 

Secondly, this is the United States of America. Because of our great Constitution, we are guaranteed the right of free speech. 

I am a registered Independent voter. I base my voting decision solely upon whether or not a candidate will do the best job for our country, not because of party affiliation, race or religion. If you don’t like what the sign says, don’t look at it; if you don’t like what you see on TV, change the channel. It’s as simple as that! 

C’mon people, there are more important issues at hand beside the ant! 

Kandy Bell 

Sonora

Elected officials speak unwisely

To the Editor,

Your otherwise good coverage (“Lake is water priority”, August 15) of the August 14 joint Board of Supervisors and TUD Board meeting on water issues missed one disturbing element that was apparent to many in the audience.  

When are our elected officials going to learn that it is counterproductive to publicly bash State officials who hold our fate in their hands?  

TUD staff did a reasonably diplomatic job of spelling out the exceptionally complicated water issues that may impact Tuolumne County that are currently on the front burner in Sacramento.

 Sadly, the response of our local elected officials was to simplify it all and blame Sacramento for all our woes. 

Whether there may be some truth to their paranoia or not, it’s not helpful when a county Supervisor publicly questions whether the members of the most important State level water agency have any “brains.”  

And it’s no more helpful when a TUD board member describes the actions of that and other state water agencies as being “antics.” 

Inflammatory rhetoric like that has a way of finding its way back to Sacramento.  

It’s no way to make friends and positively influence people. As far back as biblical times it has been understood that you reap what you sow. 

Some of our local elected officials need to refresh themselves on Paul’s letters to the Galatians.

Jerry Cadagan

Sonora

K through university education

To the Editor,

If the teacher stinks, fire them. I have seen movies with teachers with pure passion. Edward Olmos “math,” Morgan Freeman “principal,” Richard Dreyfuss “music.” I  don’t know who starred in the story about teaching every grade. 

Oh my goodness. If every teacher taught like he did what a wonderful world it would be. Parents help teachers: 1. Listen to your child/children; 2. Children lie. Find out from other parents if your child is telling the truth; 3. Help your kids teacher with books, pencils, color paper. If you don’t have children, I know we pay taxes for schools; 4. Be helpful. Supplies, money over and above your taxes or volunteer to help your teacher without pay. 

Wear funny hats. Go on field trips. Teach outside in a tree. Make it fun for kids, not just the intelligent ones. Put your desks in the round not in rows. Teach with passion. If you can’t, get out of teaching. You are not helping the kids. I never had a good teacher.

Jackie Davis

Sonora

Slap in the face
to taxpayers

To the Editor,

I can’t believe it! I just heard on the news that the Department of Fish and Game wants to spend approximately $250,000 to change their name, logo and websites. I am hoping that while state and county employees, and many other taxpayers, are taking cuts in pay, losing jobs and being forced to take furlough days that the state will not condone this waste of money. 

I don’t usually do this, but I wrote to the governor, the senator and the assemblyman, as well as the Dept. of Fish and Game.

I would encourage the other members of this community to do the same. I believe that this is a slap in the face to taxpayers that are being affected by government spending cuts. 

Teresa Hernandez 

Twain Harte

Cents per gallon of gas do matter

To the Editor,

Over the years I have read many letters regarding the price of gasoline per gallon. The recent article in your paper dated Aug. 14, 2012 has finally prompted me once again. We are all affected by the cost per gallon of gas. We all use it.

First off, it was quoted, “a fire last week at a large oil refinery in Richmond reduced capacity at that facility that produces at least 15 percent of the state’s fuel ... which required a special blend of cleaner gasoline making it difficult to replace that lost supply.” 

Who then replaces my home if that burns, can I expect local citizens to start paying to replace my home? No. 

That is why I pay insurance so why doesn’t the refinery pay insurance for the same reason? The same goes for the high price of crude oil, insurance. The paper was right, we do not give up a vacation for a few pennies per gallon. 

There are many citizens affected by many cents per gallon. We all need necessities just to survive our daily needs for such as food, doctor visits, visiting aging parents, Sunday church and those trips to the “gas station.” Some such are the elderly, kids for travel to and from school (some at great distances).

Why do we need to pay extra per gallon to support gas stations, they certainly do not support we who must drive to live? The gas stations should have paid insurance in advance of need as do we to cover the unexpected.

Gene Smith

Sonora

Lottery should benefit schools

To the Editor,

Here we go again!

The lottery people, in their in their stupid wisdom, have yet another asinine commercial on T.V.

That money they spend could, and should, go to the strapped schools.

The latest one does not make sense at all.

Jackie Baker

Groveland

Obama v Romney

To the Editor: 

M.C. Long: You attack Romney for having “Mansions, cars” and his wife’s “prancing horses.” I have a problem with taxpayer financed trips to Spain with an entourage of friends by Mrs. Obama. Travel and security we the people paid for. Two planes, one hour apart, to Martha’s Vineyard to vacation with the elite society, paid for by we the people. 

Mrs. Romney is spending her own money. Check out the salary for Michelle Obama at the University of Chicago Medical Center in 2005. 

Regarding military service, tell me where Barack Hussein Obama has served. The Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Services did not know the difference between a “Navy corpsman” and a “Navy Corpse Man.” 

Swiss and offshore accounts? Look at the Clintons. Can you produce work credentials for B.H.O.? 

Gov. Romney made his fortune for himself. In Obama’s own words he was raised in a privileged environment (private schools, etc.) 

Why criticize a self-made person in opposition to a person who was manufactured by the media and the Chicago Daley machine and sold to the American public. Take a look at just a few of Obama’s 30 some-odd appointees.

Van Jones (green czar); Kevin Jennings (safe school czar); Anita Dunn (communications director). 

I’ll take Romney’s B.S. and raise you challenge to restore our morality, our self respect and above all, our Republic.

Katherine Van Hatten

Jamestown

Phoenix Lake Obama caricature 

To the Editor,

Why are so many offended by the Obama caricature?

Is it because it’s painted black?

Obama calls himself a “black man.” He is in fact, half white, which the dictionary says is mulatto. Are we allowed to use that word? Or is “mulatto” offensive?

Obama seems to be proud of himself being black — why is it racist to portray him as black?

Probably the statue should be more correctly half black and half white, but if so, which half should be white? Surely not the left side, people would be offended. 

George Bush is accused of being “dumb” (degrees from Yale and Harvard — where are your degrees?), and a “draft dodger.” (He was a fighter pilot — what uniform did Obama wear?)

Effigies of President Bush showed up frequently during his presidency. Offensive speech about Bush is “political disclosure,” but offensive speech about Obama is “shameful racism.”

Since we’re all socialists now, people on both sides should keep quiet about their views — it’s what good socialists do.

Richard Eller

Sonora

Scraping by and increased rates

To the Editor,

Well now, I said to myself, self, Calaveras looks like a good place to retire to, on our fixed income.

Wrong. The house is nearly paid for along with the vacant lot next door, so we’re scraping by, even  with the present economic situation.

Now it looks like my home lot and my weed lot are both going to become a luxury, or an unneeded expense. How many folks are singing that song?

Last week it was CCWD that is talking about an increase for water service and the entire county is going to be charging more for fire prevention by parcels. Even though we use minimum water at the house and just mow the weeds next door.

Why not allow gray water irrigation to save water for irrigation? And fine people that don’t live in the county, that start fires, according to how much it costs to put them out?

Al Duncan

Valley Springs

Stop government overspending

To the Editor,

The recent defeat of the Transient Occupancy Tax on only private RV parks for the benefit of the State of California, coupled with the unique discovery of monies to fund certain State Parks should be a grateful signal to all. 

The significant waste, fraud and abuse of our state and federal governments to entice us to vote for funding of items while hiding funding monies has convinced me to vote ‘No’ on all funding measures where the money goes to the state and the federal governments, no matter what!

We must stop the overspending to save our country.

James P. Beaty 

Columbia 

Obama is the American dream

To the Editor,

Ray Anderson’s claim that “Obama’s world view is wrong and dangerous” from his Aug. 7 Letter to the Editor, is based on his selective, out of context, and ultimately dishonest reading of what Obama said about building a business. No business was built without lots of help. Help means someone fought to keep the country free so a business could prosper, and someone else paid taxes for police, etc so the business could survive. Also, someone paid the business’ customers money for their labors so they could spend it elsewhere. Obama is a classic example of the American dream come true. 

William Bergmann 

Murphys

Don’t let the fair disappear

To the Editor:

Let the funeral procession begin.  No wait! We’re talking about the Mother Lode Fair.  

A funeral procession, is lively, a celebration of a life and the loss of it. The fair this year seemed more like a Bataan Death March.  

We all know where we’re headed, stay in line, stay put and no turning back. How have we gotten to this point? While there are those to blame (some more than others), this one’s our fault, maybe because we all thought that our fair would always be there for us (that old pair of shoes and the like).  

So it wasn’t nurtured and attended to as it should have been, and this is the result.

I love this fair, warts and all. I’m just as guilty of neglecting the place as all the other “extraordinaires” out there, and if this is the first step on that march and the Mother Lode Fair fades away into the annals of history, the loss to us all cannot be quantified. But I will leave roses.

Tom Griffiths

Sonora

Thank you Candidate Romney

To the Editor,

Candidate Romney has selected Paul Ryan as his running mate. This is a huge gift to the Democratic party. 

Ryan is opposed to Social Security and to Medicare “as we know it.” If I lacked these two programs I would be dead. 

Moreover, my two children are approaching the age for these programs. They are not stupid. And they vote.

Thank you, Mr. Romney, for probably ensuring the reelection of a fine and intelligent statesman, Barack Obama.

Lloyd Kramer

Twain Harte

Paying our bills

To the Editor,

Since 2003 the U.S. has waged two wars in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  These wars have cost trillions of dollars, yet who asks how these costs are covered?   They are the only wars in our history that have been fought without raising taxes to pay for them. 

Indeed, they were waged simultaneously with a tax cut. 

So how are the costs of these wars paid for? 

The costs were paid for by loans from China. Congress deferred the costs to the future.  

The future is now. What are the proposals for paying for these wars now? Cuts in public safety, education, safety net programs that help the needy and the elderly; cuts to maintaining our infrastructure and to research programs that give business cutting edge innovations.

Rather than raise taxes to pay for the wars we supported, legislatures are cutting programs that will restrict the future options of our children and of our country.  

Cuts in education reduce options for our children and deny businesses the skilled workers they need.  

Microsoft alone has 5,000 jobs unfilled because applicants do not have the necessary skills.  

These cuts are foolhardy and a huge threat to our country.   

We must reconsider our views on taxes and send a new message to our elected representatives, insisting that they act in our country’s best interests.

When President Ronald Reagan doubled the defense budge in the early 1980s, he also proposed increases in taxes which were passed by Congress.  He understood the need to pay for what you buy.  

We bought two wars and now it is time to step forward and pay the bill.

Ellen Beck

Sonora