Unforeseen consequences
I think it is time we Americans “bite the bullet” and take some credit for our role in some of our country’s, and the world’s problems. I suspect we get ourselves in trouble because, compared to the world, we have been very successful. For some 400 years we have built a wilderness into (arguably) the greatest country ever. Good!, but we have also gotten ourselves into trouble because of it. Sometime it has affected our values, our egos, our approach to other countries and cultures. When you are very good at what you do, you tend to think you can tell others what they should do, and sometimes you get in trouble for doing so. Perhaps “politics” is a good example. I suspect that had we taken more effort to understand the history, the complex religious situations, and the (far different) cultures of the middle east, Iraq would not have been invaded.
Because we offer more “opportunity” than most, we have a “south of the border” problem. When people feel they have more to gain by illegally immigrating to the US than they have if they remain in their home country, Americans can be sure of two things: Americans have made the country great; and the “home” countries have failed badly by comparison. Not the first time immigration has caused has caused concern: The Chinese exclusion act; and in the 1920s when the isolationist government first placed immigration quotas on other countries.
Other areas of success are education (although we seem to be slipping a bit), manufacturing and agricultural progress and technology, our capitalistic, free market based economy, and our belief in competition as a good thing, which gets us into job/employment problems. When other countries can supply the same production at a lower cost, American firms are going to have them do it and make larger profits at the same prices charged. Those people who think those jobs are “coming back”, have their heads in their armpits! Too often “price” (high labor costs) eliminates our ability to compete. In our country demand “price” is a prime creator of “demand”, given product equality, we tend to like “cheap”, and the cost of goods will rise if we do not utilize foreign labor—and that includes our “illegal “ agricultural labor.
Another way we have influenced the world is by our leading the movement from labor intensive agriculture and manufacturing to capital intensive. Cesar Chavez, in his efforts to improve agricultural labor conditions and wages is a good example. Much manufacturing has gone from handwork, to machine work, to mechanical control of machines, to computer control, to robotics—all based on the presumption that reduction of (human) labor lowers costs.
For a lot of workers, maybe the Luddites (late 1700s) had some good points!
Guff Worth, Lakeport
Yes on Measure D
I would like to urge voters in the Lakeshore Fire Protection District to go to the polls and vote YES on Measure D on March 7th. I attended the Measure D information meeting at the Brick Hall on February 13th and after listening to the presentation, came away in full support of the measure. I know that many people worry about taxes, and since Measure D is a Special Tax, it will need 66.67% support to succeed. However, I think that this tax will ultimately save lives, property and in many cases, will save property owners money.
My reasons to support are as follows: We get a lot for our money. First, we will have improved EMS response in the District, going from 2 staffed ambulances to 3. This is important to all of us in the South County, where ambulance requests are quite high. Secondly, the Lower Lake Fire station will again be open and staffed and not just housing equipment. This is critical for early response to fires. The firefighters attending the meeting feel strongly that early response is critical in saving lives and property.
What it will cost: Currently I pay $60 a year for local fire protection fee (in my property tax bill). That will double for my home to $120. This is an increase of $5 per month in my property taxes, many of us spend that much per week on coffee drinks. Other areas of the south county pay $45 per year currently.
WHAT WE WILL SAVE: Fire insurance premiums relate to our fire risk rating (from a 1 to a 10 rating, as reflected on an “ISO” map used by insurance companies to assess property risk). With Lower Lake Fire Station open again, our ISO ratings will improve, lowering our fire insurance premiums. It is likely that property owners will SAVE MORE than the $60 additional property taxes in REDUCED COST for our fire insurance. This is especially true for anyone who currently lives more than 5 miles from the Station on Olympic Drive in Clearlake (Lower Lake, Twin Lakes, Murphy Springs, Morgan Valley, etc.).
I hope this helps to convince others to support Measure D as well. Please vote YES.
Sissa Nelson Harris, Clearlake
