Letters for November 22, 2012

Prayer’s healing power

Re “Christian Science healing: another view” (Letters, by Kenneth Stringer, Nov. 8):

In response to Kenneth Stringer’s comments regarding my healing of stomach cancer, and his denouncement of the healing practice of Christian Science:

One can only feel compassion for one who lost his young sister to pneumonia, as his parents relied on Christian Science prayer. Mr. Stringer appears not to have considered, however, that many children die each year under medical treatment. It is also true that many children have been healed through Christian Science prayer, after medical doctors had deemed their cases hopeless.

Among other healings I’ve experienced over the years were those of a badly abscessed tooth, burns, and an acute kidney/bladder infection. Muscle and joint pain which had caused severe immobility were also healed.

I did receive medical help some years ago when I had experienced severe female hemorrhaging. I was given blood transfusions and am very grateful for the help given me. With persistent prayer, that problem was healed without further medical assistance.

I have great respect for those in the medical profession who have dedicated their lives to alleviating human suffering. I have simply found that turning to God in prayer has been a very effective and reliable source for healing.

Susan Stillwell
Chico

We’re in this together

Re “Confessions of a ‘taker’” (Guest comment, by Jaime O’Neill, Nov. 15):

Didn’t Newton say that if he could see farther than those who came before him, it was because he stood on their shoulders?

The rich who worked for their wealth—the Steve Jobses of the world—were able to achieve success in part because of the culture that they grew up in. How many engineers who work for Apple were trained in public schools? How many Apple products incorporated discoveries paid for by the public?

I’m not a 1 percenter, but I’m wealthier than most folks, and I know that I didn’t get where I am only because I worked hard—although I have worked hard and I continue to do so. We are in this together, a fact that some of the super-rich either haven’t learned or deny as a way of puffing themselves up. Either way, they are less than the Newtons of history, but that’s not a surprise.

Murray Suid
Inverness

Missed communication

Re “Who’s got the iPod?” (Newslines, by Stephanie Geske, Oct. 4):

We [Chico Cash Exchange] have never, nor would we ever, knowingly purchase or loan on stolen items. We question any customer who brings in anything that looks or seems suspicious.

Upon the purchase of George Marley’s iPod, we asked the seller where she got the iPod, and she provided us with a convincing story. When Mr. Marley came in to pick up the iPod, it was on police hold, leaving us unable to release it to him or anyone else.

We always act in complete accordance with the law, and we work very hard to cooperate with local law enforcement and bring criminals to justice. Your author failed to get our side of the story, not because we did not want to talk to her, but because she failed to return our calls or do research on pawn shop laws.

This article is so far from the truth that it should be considered a fictional piece, rather than an act of news reporting. We have been working hard with our association, the California Pawnbrokers Association (CAPA), to educate the public and mandate laws that will be beneficial for victims. We want to bring justice to the criminals in our community and reunite the victims with their property.

Unfortunately there are many buyers who will never report to law enforcement: flea markets, Craigslist, non-compliant antique and second-hand dealers, and private buyers.

Articles like this one overlook all the successes we have had in solving police cases and arresting criminals. If anyone has additional questions about the laws regarding pawn shops or the best ways to recover stolen property, we would happily educate.

Danielle Batha-Bengtson
Chico

Editor’s note: We applaud Chico Cash Exchange for its proactive efforts. However, it is incorrect to say the story’s author didn’t get its side of the story because she failed to return calls. She called the store several times and even visited it on one occasion, but was unable to speak to a person who could answer her questions.

Why I’m not a Republican

Conservatives seem fixated on the false idea that people voted for Obama only because they “want something for nothing.” Let me offer an alternative perspective.

I’m a 61-year-old white man. I’ve never been without a job for any length of time since getting my first paper route at age 10. I’ve been married for 39 years and have a paid-for house and a decent retirement fund. Sounds like I ought to be a Republican, right?

But, as a registered nurse, I understand the power of science and believe in what it teaches us about the natural world, past and future. I know the earth is billions of years old, that evolution is a fact and global warming is real.

As a student of history, I know that from 1946 to 1976 the top marginal tax rate was at least 70 percent and that our economy was healthier during those years than it has been since. As a human being, I am thrilled that there are three more states where my gay and lesbian friends can be treated as fully human and their relationships recognized as equal.

I believe that women have a right to control their own bodies—and know that the best way to reduce abortion is to make contraception widely available. I know that part of the reason I have what I have is that a quality, tax-supported public education was available for me, and I believe today’s young people should have the same. And so I’m not a Republican.

David Welch
Chico

Four modest proposals

Proposition 30’s passage only assures the hiring of even more bureaucrats into an already grossly obese state government. Don’t be naïve enough to think the new taxes will be spent on education—that doesn’t grow the kleptocracy’s power base. Students, your tuition will go up anyway—mark my word. Have you ever heard Gov. Medfly-Receivership propose cuts in the bureaucracy to pay for education? Huh-uh.

Why should college students pay higher tuition to help support these unproductive people? California’s government is the most expensive, most inefficient, most wasteful and most abusive of any state. The bloated bureaucracy/kleptocracy has become numerous enough to decide elections, and the officials they support and get elected are merely fronts for and rubber-stampers of their rapacity.

They are the ultimate special interest group. You want to solve California’s budget problems? Dispossess this kleptocracy.

Four proposals:

First, calculate funding needed to provide places for all well-prepared high schoolers, free, at all state institutions of higher education; and for K-12 education including reduced class sizes, arts, sports.

Second, deduct that amount from state employee pay (except firemen, emergency responders and peace officers) through pay cuts and layoffs as needed.

Third, lay off redundant administrators in the CSU and UC systems and cut others’ pay.

Fourth, require anyone getting a state paycheck (except firemen, emergency responders and peace officers) to report their employment to the registrar of voters, and prohibit them from voting in state elections.

Chad Wozniak
Chico

An eye-opening insert

I would like to commend the Chico News & Review for the special insert in the Oct. 18, 2012, publication. The insert discussed depression and suicide. I appreciate the CN&R’s dedication to fighting stigma, especially for those individuals with mental disorders. The stories shared showed empathy and understanding of the struggles these individuals have experienced.

I work for a behavioral-health agency, specifically dealing with crisis services. Too often I meet individuals who are ashamed of their disorder and have few supporters in their lives. This insert hopefully helped the community have a better understand of what it may be like to walk in these individuals’ shoes. The CN&R should be recognized for their efforts in awareness.

Reidun Gilbert
Chico

Wall Street wakes up

It’s interesting that right after Hurricane Sandy the cover story on Bloomberg Businessweek was, “It’s Global Warming, Stupid.”

It takes Wall Street literally being under water to make corporate America open its eyes to environmental concerns. They are finally realizing that oil-company profits pale in comparison to the continuation of business in general.

Even so, I still don’t think their main concerns are the survival of the planet for future generations, just the ability to keep the corporate business world functioning.

Ron Sherman
Chico

Who took the pledge?

At the Synthesis Magazine candidate forum, all 10 of the attending council candidates were asked for one promise they could keep if elected to City Council. My one campaign promise was not to appoint anyone to any board or commission who had given any monetary donation to any candidate.

No money, no appointment. I made it clear that other non-monetary campaign supporting activities were not part of the promise. I just believe there is a public trust that needs to be upheld and honored between elected officials and their various appointees. In fact I turned down campaign contributions from donors who expressed an interest in being appointed. This is not a hard promise to keep.

I challenged the other candidates to take the same pledge that day at the forum. Guess what: No one accepted my challenge, and one candidate began to tell me how mistaken I was for the notion of linking cash contributions to appointments. So much for perception in politics.

It will be fun to connect the dots this time around and see if any campaign contributors are “recognized” for their particular skills and “value” to the community at large.

Dave Kelley
Chico