| Letters
to the editor from this week's Chronicle
Hey, Jim, To comment on your letter last week, you needn’t worry about the redneck hayseeds here in Idaho County wearing their homemade patriotic masks serving up breakfast on the Fourth of July at Greencreek. You need to worry about the bigger fish to fry in your own back yard being so near to Portland. P.S. The only herds we know much about are cattle. Jeanne Arnzen To the Editor American "Exceptionalism"?? As a nation of laws, just what is it that makes America unique or special in the world? One thing and one thing only, I believe! America's specialty stems from our being, to date, the singular nation in all of Earth to have been established, first with the deliberate focus and intent of its earliest pilgrims, later reinforced by its political framers, on the supreme importance of the natural, universal, immutable Law of individual liberty. This eternal Law has but one, twofold tenet, as it both decrees and guarantees that every human being created is totally free and sovereign, just so long as one does not infringe upon his or her fellow equals. How more exact and simple could a law be? But, my friends, there is a monstrous problem: We Americans today have long since forgotten, and are no longer living - - no longer free to enjoy life fully - - under this perfect law of liberty (James 1:25). Need I say that the hour is late?.....that it's time and way past time for each of us to stand tall and work to fight our way back to the kind of life that all good people are meant to live? As you ponder this invitation and its challenge, realize then that NO WOULD-BE "AUTHORITY" HAS ANY LEGITIMATE POWER AT ALL to command you to do anything! Cover your face? Wash your hands? Stay six feet apart, etc., etc., etc.?? To help decide on that, just remember that true Law does not compel performance; it merely upholds the principle (a principle encombent upon all) to do no harm. So again, it's best we turn off some of the television PROGRAMMING, long enough to go seek and compare some alternative sources of information, support, and guidance - - such sources as are dedicated to truth and to true news. Thank You. Carol Asher Kamiah, Idaho
Practice the Jay-walk: stay busy, be helpful,think of others A postscript and tribute to the amazing Jay Hinterlong who passed on to his reward on July 2. Jay was one of our quiet superheroes. Although he and his wise and wonderful wife, JoAnn, chose to live in Cottonwood, their living and giving covered a wide swath of Idaho County. Jay was the Johnny Appleseed of Good Deeds – spreading the seeds of service, volunteerism and goodwill to benefit local communities. Many knew Jay as a Cottonwood city councilor, distributor of free dictionaries for classrooms, instructor of senior safe-driving courses, a member of the Eagles, an active associate of the Elks. Jay was a people-person and a goal-go-getter. Rather than bemoaning a problem or ignoring a need, Jay jumped in with decisive determination. As affiliates and advocates of Idaho County Recycling, we are grateful and indebted to Jay for his energetic involvement with I.C.R. Jay came to meetings with great ideas and a can-do attitude. He was always prompt, well-prepared and primed for action. And jovial! Initially, Jay would drive from Cottonwood to volunteer at the Grangeville collection site. When it became obvious that a facility was needed in the Cottonwood area, Jay became the face and force of that project. He tirelessly pursued a site, funding and partnerships. The Cottonwood site became a reality in in 2013. Jay and JoAnn developed and nurtured a particularly lovely mentorship and work-release program with N.I.C.I. inmates – a mutually beneficial partnership in which the N.I.C.I. crews would provide labor to collect recyclables in exchange for Jay’s friendship and JoAnn’s tasty snacks and lunches. Regardless of the cause, Jay was an incredible, unstoppable do-er. Jay walked his talk. In this time of uncertainty, we should all practice the Jay-walk: stay busy, be helpful, think of others. Janie Fluharty, chair Idaho County Recycling Steering Committee Grangeville Support Public Education: Sign Initiative Petition As a parent of two successful children who attended Idaho schools, I recognize the value of a good education. Skilled workers help attract business to the state, ensuring a strong economy and good paying jobs. Education opens doors for our children, giving them the option to learn a trade, attend college, or start a business. Well trained workers provide the services we all need. Reclaim Idaho is now collecting electronic signatures for the “Invest in Idaho” K-12 Initiative. To get this initiative on the November ballot they need 30,000 signatures prior to August 25, 2020. If approved, this will establish a new fund to help school districts pay for teachers and support staff, career technical programs, classroom supplies, art, music, drama, special education, and full day kindergarten. If enacted, this new fund will be paid for by a higher tax on earnings above $250,000 for an individual, or $500,000 for a married couple, and by increasing the income tax for corporations from 6.925 % to 8%. Most Idahoans will not see an increase in their income taxes – and this new source of revenue will make school districts less reliant on property tax levies. Invest in Idaho – sign the petition so this important initiative can be considered by voters in the November election. For more information or to sign electronically go to: https://www.reclaimidaho.org/ Shireene Hale Legislative District 7 Grangeville Redneck Review! No. 274 - 7/27/20 A couple of comments this week! Both related to old topics, but the second a wee bit newer! First: Have we not been told that the Corona virus would lose some of its strength during the summer months? Much like the flu which seems to come on hard during the "flu season" that begins later in the fall? If true, then why would any state, community, school, or sports program back off of earlier commitments or cancel or postpone sessions or games because of new spikes in the Corona virus! Especially since the death ratios at our state and national levels have been reducing over the past several weeks! Today a Google search gave me 149,000 deaths and 4,290,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. This is a death ratio of .0347319, or 3.5%, down from the 6% a similar research gave a person just weeks ago. The statistics do vary from site to site, but the overall trend is definitely down And the same is true of Idaho's rate over roughly the same period, hovering around 1% recently compared to 3 to 4% weeks ago. My point is simple! Until a reliable vaccine is found, some WILL contact the virus, so I am forced to ask: What is the advantage in delaying the further opening of the economy, or of delaying or canceling sporting events, anywhere, from the highest professional to the college or high school level? To me it makes more sense to move forward now, rather than wait until a colder time when bugs like these seem to thrive a bit better! Especially when the states, the communities, the schools, or even just the individual person involved choose to take their chances now, during warmer weather, than in a colder maybe more dangerous season. Or maybe choosing the possible safer choice of staying totally locked down and out of all contact with the virus... for only the Lord knows how long it will take to be perfectly safe! Especially when a bit more math tells us that half way through the year 2020, the 149,000 deaths so far compared to the 330 million people in the U.S. tells us that only 1 of about 2200 citizens of our country has died of Corona so far this year. At the same death rate, for the year, the odds of any single citizen dying of Corona still hovers around only 1 in every 1000+. I FAIL TO BELIEVE that ratio can justify the fear of the virus or can justify the trillions of debt dollars spent in the fight! Second: The unparalleled expenditure WILL trigger dangerous INFLATION, and furthermore does threaten us with national bankruptcy! Will the average citizen continue to listen to the modern Pied Pipers in government and the banking industry who try to assure us that they can solve the problems and all will come out OK! Or will we listen to the lessons that history keeps shouting to us that WE ARE IN TROUBLE! Repeated claims here that precious metals, especially silver, are due for a price explosion are already beginning to happen. The reasons are many, and are known to those who have studied the facts and the history involved, so the current breakout from the $17 sn ounce average level over the past couple of years, has recently spiked to $23 an ounce! And mark my words, aside from bit movements up and down, it is destined to go much, MUCH higher! And of course, have we learned the lessons taught by the 1930's depression? The "Roaring '20's" was similar to our last decade of an ever soaring stock market, traced to near zero interest rates, then as is the case today! Then as now, people dove deeper into debt, lured by cheap borrowed money, and an every increasing market. It ended in "Black Friday!" All came crashing down, and every sign today is that we are in the same boat today, Repeatedly we are told that national debt, corporate debt, personal debt, even college student debt are at all time highs today. Are we totally blind to what will happen if the FED is forced to raise interest rates to combat a serious surge in inflation? Read the most eye opening book I have just read: Rickards THE ROAD TO RUIN! On p. 121, he says: "Today we see lessons being ignored again. Wall street is back to business as usual. The next catastrophe will be exponentially larger....the next time the world will not bounce back." Jake Wren |
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