Don’t be foolish
In response to Ed Calklins’ letter in the Record-Bee of Wednesday, Aug. 26, claiming that climate change is all one big conspiracy. He seems to have joined with Mac McKay, who also has put forth this idea on various occasions in his long and sometimes rambling letters. Their thoughts beg this one question: Why? What reason on earth would cause learned people from all over the world to get together and perpetrate this “scam of all scams” not only on the American people, but people all over the world. What could they possibly hope to gain by it? It is not only the law-makers that are saying this. Scientists, engineers, professors, and very smart people from all sectors are also saying it. Also, people of very different political views. How on earth could all of these diverse people have got together and come up with this plot. And, once again, why?
Now, I don’t pretend to be really smart, but I do know things that have actually happened. Back when I was a young woman in England in the 1950s, London was best known for its smog. It was said it was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Some of my American friends said that with us British being so proper, we would probably use a knife and fork. It was horrible. Some days you could not go outside without a mask over your nose and mouth. Old people and those with respiratory problems were told to stay indoors. And it wasn’t just in London, it was in many big cities. The government was concerned enough to put into effect some very stern measures, which were not too popular at the time. I came to the U.S.A. in December of 1959, and a couple of years later one of my sisters came to visit me. She told me the problem of smog in London was almost completely cleared up. Most days there was none.
Sometime in the 1990s — I don’t remember the exact date — I had some friends who visited China. They told me, when they got back, that the smog problem there was terrible. People had to wear masks most of the time. Obviously the Chinese Government had not taken their smog problem seriously. My point here is that saying nothing we do can help our environment is not only incorrect, it is very, very foolish.
Betty Chirco, Lakeport
Doesn’t it matter?
This is an open letter to the “City” (lol) of Clearlake Officials/Council et al:
How is it that a “red-tagged,” unsafe, filthy, fire-trap house on our road continues to house people who aren’t renters, aren’t owners, but apparently are squatters who have no financial/rental ties to the property? The red-tags don’t mean anything??
There is a tax lien on this property; Eight years no taxes. My place, being a well-built, desirable property, would have been sold after five years — just read all the tax default notices in this paper.
P.S. Homeless people, listen up! The city of Clearlake says that you can all move into any abandoned house, and it’s yours! (Hooray?)
Roon Searcy, Lower Lake
Life lessons
I like to talk to others like me who grew up in the 50s, a time soon after war when many of our parents had developed new views and values that were shaped by what they had seen and experienced overseas, coupled with recent memories of the Great Depression. There’s a mind set with our group that over the past 30 years a negative change has come between family members that are very different.
In the 50s, young folks, though not completely, put a lot more value in the wisdom and life experiences of their grandparents and parents, in building their own views and values. We gave respect to parents and unrelated other seniors who offered information about the right and wrong ways of handling present day problems that crop up from time to time. For one thing, when a teen graduated from high school, they were basically given the respect of becoming an adult. This brought the expectation that they would be held responsible for their personal actions within the community.
This being so, the young folks of the 50s felt a degree of shame if they found themselves still being supported by their parents, or seeking funds from parents that were to be used to support them in their retirement years so as not to be a burden on their children. Those values were a driving force in the young folks securing a job and working hard to make advancement to earn an income to support their new families. If jobs were scarce, many turned to the military for more training and possibly a trade to build a future on. It also, in many cases, allowed for travel beyond many of their dreams which added more in their education about life itself. Others went to college, working at odd jobs when needed to pay for the expense of same.
The negative change so many folks from the 50s and 60s are now experiencing, is far too many of their children have not done their best at building a lifestyle to support themselves or families, failing to mature and take on responsibilities. They now think nothing of seeking funds from the life savings of their parents, with little thought of repayment, but instead, believe they are due such funds. They use deplorable actions, using threats, the plight of grandchildren, or false accusations of favoritism for their brothers and sisters. Many parents who have given in to such actions are now faced with uncertain futures and reduced living standards, all due to those types of actions.
In this time of increased cost of medical needs, housing, and everyday expenses with no end in sight in the near future, more and more parents are having to stand up to such actions, as heart wrenching as it may be for them, and turn off the flow from their hard earned savings. The purpose of this letter is to let those still facing such situations know, that many, many more folks have found the strength to do the right thing in order to live out life in dignity, without any feelings that they have failed their children in anyway. Life is choices, ones we all must face in living it, and some will make bad choices and have to suffer the penalties for having done so. For those who can offer help, do it responsibly, by offering needed material things that may help those who deserve such help, and never do it with cash. It also is a wise thing to make sure those family members who have lived within their means and do not need your help, are rewarded fairly in the future when it comes to dividing any estate benefit.
It is right for seniors to enjoy the last chapters of their lives and not to have to be burdened by others’ mistakes and failures. By standing up for your rights, firmly, it can and will send a message to those who need to understand that they are expected to take on adult level responsibility in order to better their own lifestyles.
Jim Hall, Clearlake Oaks
