Letters for November 15, 2018

Who’s the bully?

Re “Service interruption” (Newlines, by Meredith J. Cooper, Nov. 8):

Enloe has had no problem paying (reimbursing) their senior management the same as facilities in bigger cities like Sacramento or San Francisco do, so I guess that makes it reasonable for Enloe to expect Anthem Blue Cross to reimburse them at those rates also.

Don’t take my word for it—nonprofit organizations’ IRS Form 990 is public information. Look at senior management’s salaries, pay increases, golden parachutes and bonuses starting with Phil Wolfe’s hiring. Maybe then you will see the real profit at this nonprofit organization.

When Enloe purchased Chico Community Hospital in 1998, it created a monopoly for health care and hospital employment in the area. Ask current and former Enloe employees, especially those who currently are or were members of the CNA or SEIU unions, who the bully is at Enloe hospital. Just don’t ask them while they are at work or in public.

Due to Enloe’s disciplinary and termination policy, aka their Core Values Commitment, employees must agree to “speak of and represent Enloe Medical Center in a positive manner.” Employees are not allowed to speak negatively of Enloe, its policies or any of its employees, including the senior management staff.

Gordon Reimer

Chico

Election look back

Re “Liberals take Chico council” (Newslines, by CN&R staff, Nov. 8):

At Audrey Denney’s election night party, I was impressed by her bravery, grace and intelligence. Most people were expecting TV screens with election results. Instead, there was joyful entertainment and recognition of her staff and volunteers.

There was no political gnashing of teeth or claps or boos for winners and losers. Instead, a reverie among her multigenerational supporters. There was no mention of her opponent. Instead, her “concession” speech was about the politics of love and hope.

I hope she thrives. She is a civic treasure. Please don’t go away, Audrey Denney.

Roland McNutt

Chico

I witnessed the future of activism and community involvement at the El Rey Theater in Chico. While congressional candidate Audrey Denney lost her bid, she started something bigger; there were young, old and LGBT people, Republicans and Democrats, and folks of all ethnicities and religions who were energized by Audrey and her passion toward each and every one in attendance. It was a packed house.

While she may have lost, did she? She will be the strongest and most viable voice and advocate for the North State. I can only speak for myself, but I will become more active by attending City Council meetings and challenge our elected officials on issues that affect all of us. I won’t always be right in my opinions, but will do my due diligence on any issue that I feel needs change.

Jim Mead

Chico

Dogmatic Doug descended deeper, demeaning Denney’s disheartening defeat. Does district dummy defend Donald’s demagoguery? Definitely! Democrats duck! Disingenuous disciple displays decaying dentals during discombobulation. Divisive dude decries dependable dailies doomed during despicable display downtown.

Dams, deforestation—did diddly despite damage. Dougie’s disgraceful, demented demigod dictator darling denies distraught disaster declaration. Demise developing. Designated, distinguished, determined, diligent director daringly discovering dramatic dishonest dealings.

Kenneth B. Keith

Tehama

Hit the road, sir

Re “Not blast-worthy” (Letters, by Ray Estes, Nov. 8):

A recent letter writer gave his opinion about the Electoral College. His gripe: Popular votes need to be the deciding factor in national elections, not the Electoral College. He apparently wants to turn the Constitution upside down!

For those who never learned history: Our founders thought the votes of the less populated states should be just as important, in national elections, as the more populated states. If only “popular votes” are counted, then the West Coast and the East Coast will always decide national elections! This thinking would rob states of their constitutional rights.

He went on to call our United States president the vilest of names. He says we have a democracy. No, sir, we have a representative republic! The whole point of our Constitution is to make each citizen feel his or her vote is of value, no matter what state he or she is from.

Our country’s not perfect; it’s made up of flawed human beings (even our president). More importantly, it’s the longest and most successful representative government in existence!

If you don’t like this type of government, I think you should find another country that is more to your liking.

Loretta Ann Torres

Chico

Duh, it’s global warming

Dear Mr. LaMalfa, according to Cal Fire, nearly half of the most destructive fires in the past 100 years in California have occurred in the past three years. Will you please consider this evidence, imperfect as it may be, that perhaps global warming is actually occurring and adversely affecting your constituents?

Martin Wallace

Chico

Camp Fire = LaMalfa #3 Fire.

Beau Grosscup

Cohasset

More on Camp Fire

Our community’s loving and generous response to the evacuees from the Camp Fire reminds me that wherever and whenever there is a catastrophe—whether it be fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, tornado, mass shooting, etc.—we humans always help each other, no questions asked. It is wonderful to see that so many businesses in Chico are offering a variety of free services to the evacuees.

But I wonder why people are more willing to help those who are homeless because of the fire than those who are homeless because of dysfunctional, uncaring families, mental and physical illnesses, and loss of jobs? I guess the evacuees from the fire are considered “deserving,” whereas the other local homeless are not.

As we head into colder and hopefully wet weather, I pray that all the people in our community who are homeless will receive warm, safe spaces, food and other needed services, regardless of the cause of their suffering.

Renee Renaud

Chico

Butte County is so sad over the catastrophe in Paradise. With the loss of housing, I’d guess Butte County’s population declines this year. And what of the business districts in Paradise? Paradise had no sewer, so businesses on the Skyway were curtailing their operations. Why would they rebuild now? The federal government could decide to save Paradise. If leadership in Washington, D.C., decided to use this tragedy as an opportunity to connect Paradise to Chico’s sewer plant, and create fire-safe zones, Paradise can be reborn.

Our 1st Congressional District recently re-elected Doug LaMalfa. He is close to President Trump ideologically and politically. We call on LaMalfa to impress upon Trump the need for big, beautiful infrastructure to resurrect Paradise. I’m sure the Democratic leadership in the House will enthusiastically collaborate with such an endeavor.

Michael Jones

Chico

That ‘SOB’ POTUS

President Trump’s inference that the Camp Fire was the fault of the “liberal” residents in this state (yes, it’s blue) showed not only his unfitness to be America’s president, the leader of all the citizens, but also a total lack of knowledge of the country he governs. And his threat to cut funds to the firefighters is unconscionable.

California is 67 percent federally owned—most of that forested lands under the management of the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service. True, there are large forested areas in Northern California owned and managed by private timber companies for the sole purpose of commercial timber production.

Additionally, the congressional district encompassing all of the burned area has been supported by those under the leadership of the Republican Party for over 30 years. This was reinforced on Nov. 6 with the re-election of Trump’s choirboy, Doug LaMalfa.

So, the majority of those who lost homes likely were Trump supporters. But, to Trump, any state supporting Nancy Pelosi should be scorched with the fires of hell. The only effective path to making America great again is through the ousting, arrest and imprisonment of this SOB named “Trump” as soon as possible.

Dean Carrier

Paradise

Let’s start in France with the observance of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, which was followed by a multinational peace conference. Trump could not join other world leaders at an American military cemetery because it was raining! Boo hoo! I guess he didn’t want to mess up his fake hair. Then it’s back to D.C. on actual Veteran’s Day and nothing was on his schedule to honor those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

Hell, the National Cemetery is practically within walking distance of the White House and it wasn’t even raining, but Igor couldn’t make it there either. He simply took the day off. What an insult to veterans. Meanwhile, Igor has sent thousands of active-duty military to our southern border to stop an “invasion by a caravan” of mostly women and children looking to save their own lives.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Ed Pitman

Chico

Empathy: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts and experience of another of either the past or present. This is an emotion totally alien to Trump. Heartless: displaying a complete lack of feeling or consideration. This is Trump to a T.

Thirty-six firefighters lost their homes in the Camp Fire; 48 deaths, another 228 missing; over 7,000 homes destroyed, 260 businesses. So while Trump was sitting on his fat ass in Paris, after skipping an event honoring the fallen soldiers of World War I, he threatens to cut off aid to the victims of the cataclysmic fires in California. He is ill-informed, ill-timed and demeaning. He cites California’s “mismanagement” of our forests.

What our petulant, divisive and selfish president doesn’t comprehend is that 2 percent of California’s forests are owned by the state, 60 percent are owned and managed (or should I say mismanaged) by the federal government; take a guess at who cut funding to forest management in the budget? The rest are owned by private companies, families and individuals.

Imagine a president who looks beyond self-interest, possesses compassion and leadership; you won’t imagine Trump. Excuse me while I get sick to my stomach.

Roger S. Beadle

Chico

Dems’ health care sham

I can’t understand how some people are buying the fact that the Democrats are leading on health care. This is so far from the truth it’s scary. I know for a fact all the middle class people that I know have crappy health care. Since the advent of Obamacare, our health insurance is just, well, terrible. Everybody’s premiums went up dramatically and the deductible is crazy. Health insurance is only for a catastrophic event.

The only thing Obamacare did was take care of the poor. Subsidized health care does not help the middle class, only the poor. It is a fact that people will put off health care issues with this Obamacare, as it is too expensive. I really have to laugh that it’s called the Affordable Care Act. What a joke that is!

Travis Smith

Biggs

Food for thought

Duality: On one hand, he/she (insert name) is talented, accomplished and politically astute, while on the other hand, he/she has warts.

Joe Bahlke

Red Bluff