READER’S EDITORIAL: WHEN VAGUE PROMISES EQUAL FAILED POLICIES
By Vincent Wallgren, Jr, L a Mesa June 23, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)–A quick perusal of the definition of the word “govern” reveals the critical inclusions to be: manipulate, restrain, control and exercise authority. In consideration of same, one cannot but conclude that even the most legislatively restrained government is a sovereignty led by a body of rulers; who, in the USA, are elected to “serve and protect” the governed. Buoyed by frequently spoken electioneering ambiguities such as “progress” and “change,” the illusion of functional, humane and just government has somehow managed to survive; and the electorate—whether it be at the city, county, state or federal level—has seemingly assumed a posture of distant disinterest as their country falls apart at the seams. A harsh assertion? You bet — but nonetheless true. The socioeconomic state of our nation has digressed to the point where many social and economic fears are manifest in the everyday lives of the average person. Yet a significant plurality of the electorate inexplicably continue to place their trust in government, notwithstanding a series of very costly failures — especially when considering the unjustifiable and recent loss of thousands of American lives, millions of American jobs, and the ever increasing indebtedness being foisted upon America’s future generations. Consider the following federal government initiatives: >Prohibition (1920 – 1933): When the production, distribution, sale and consumption of alcohol was deemed illegal, it gave rise to both organized crime and federal law enforcement — both of which are with us to this very day. >War on Poverty (1967 – Present): There are currently 44 Million people on food stamps; with nearly half of the American people needing one form or another of public assistance. >War on Drugs: After 40 years and $1 trillion, the US war on drugs has resulted in the same dismal failure as prohibition. With approximately 5% of the world’s population, our nation presently consumes close to 50% (see paragraph “Consumption”) of the world’s cocaine. >Post-WWII foreign policy: Korean War (cost $320 billion); 33,686 killed in action and 8,176 missing in action; there are 30,000 U.S. service members still stationed in the ROK. Vietnam (cost $584 billion); 58,212 killed in action, 153,452 wounded and 1,711 missing in action. >Defending the homeland: The USA spends hundreds of billions annually on national defense; which includes the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) that is chartered and equipped to defeat every possible airborne threat contingency. Yet on 9/11/2001, a group of rag-tag miscreants were able to murder more than 3,000 Americans and, inexplicably, none of those people responsible for our nation’s defense and, specifically, the gross failures of that fateful day, were ever held accountable. >Education: In California (as well as other states) there are initiatives promoting public school advancements in gender identity curriculum. Assuming a leadership role in this GLBT initiative is none other than the California Teachers Association — a labor union. The ranking of student performance (by industrialized nation) reveals the USA below average in math, science and problem solving, and but average in reading. >Crime and punishment: This chart reveals the rate of crimes (see bottom half of chart) committed per 100,000 people in the years 1960 through 2009. As of this date, the USA’s rate of incarceration (751 people in jail for every 100,000 in population) is the highest of any nation in the world. With untold trillions already spent and a national debt exceeding $14 trillion, it is should be obvious to all that we Americans are suborning incompetence at every level of government; all of which has lead to a series of costly socioeconomic failures that, unless draconian cuts in spending are enacted and the debt ceiling frozen, will continue to haunt many generations to come. The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of its author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.
SHERIFF DEPUTY FINDS SHOOTER IN VALLEY CENTER SCHOOL BUS INCIDENT
Update June 21, 2011: The shooting has been found to be the result of a 17-year-old who was target shooting at his family’s property when a bullet ricocheted off an object in the target area and struck the bus. Deputy Ken Simon, special purpose officer assigned to the Rincon Reservation, contacted the homeowners who were "very cooperative" in the investigation." While the act is believed to be unintentional, the investigation will be sent to the District Attorney’s office for review. June 20, 2011 (Valley Center)–A Project Headstart school bus with two adults and six children on board was struck by a single .22 bullet around 8:45 this morning in Valley Center. None of the children or adults were injured, Sergeant Bob Bishop with the San Diego Sheriff’s office confirms. The incident occurred on Valley Center Road near Boucher Heights Road on the Rincon Indian Reservation. According to the Sheriff’s report, the round struck the glass panel in the bus entry door and was recovered on the floor of the bus just below the window. The driver, Judy Arnett, 70. and the other adult on board did not hear the round fired, nor did they see anyone in the area at the time the bullet struck the bus. Arnet drove to the near-by Rincon Reservation fire station to report the incident. Deputies from the Valley Center Sheriff’s Station and Officers from the Pauma Valley CHP office responded and searched the area. They contacted several home owners in the area and found no one heard the shot being fired. The area of the shooting is on the south end of the Rincon Indian Reservation, mainly brush covered hillsides with isolated homes. There have been no other reports of related incidents. There have been no reports of other vehicles being shot at in the area at anytime. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Valley Center Sheriff’s Station at (760) 751-4400.
MAN SEVERELY BURNED IN SUICIDE ATTEMPT AT BURNING LAKESIDE HOME
June 21, 2011 (Lakeside) Updated 2:25 p.m. – A man has suffered second and third degree burns over 70% of his body in an apparent suicide attempt, according to Sgt. Everard Dayrit with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. Emergency personnel were called to a report of an explosion at a modular home in the 12000 block of Lakeside Court at 7:20 this morning, where firefighters found the man suffering burns to his face and upper body after the blaze was doused. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson unit investigated and determined that the man, who has not yet been identified, tried to kill himself by igniting gas vapors at the home. "He used a gas line from the stove to fill up his residence and at some point a spark was introduced," Sgt. Dayrit told East County Magazine. He confirmed that the Bomb-Arson Unit has solid evidence indicating the tragedy resulted from a suicide attempt, not an accident. The victim is approximately 34 years old and lived in a trailer on the property, which has another residence, according to Dayrit. Despite the property damage he indicated that filing charges is not likely since it was a suicide attempt. The burned man was treated at the scene for his injuries, then taken by ambulance to UCSD Hospital’s burn unit.
POWERLINK CASE HEADS TO COURT TUESDAY JUNE 21
June 17, 2011 (San Diego) – Opponents of SDG&E’s Sunrise Powerlink hope to have their day in court on Tuesday, June 21. A lawsuit filed by three local organizations seeking an injunction to halt the Powerlink is set for hearing at 9 a.m. in U.S. District Court at 940 Front Street, Courtroom 3, in downtown San Diego. “We are asking our supporters to wear green,” said Laura Cyphert with Protect Our Communities Foundation and c-founder of the East County Community Action Coalition, both groups seeking to stop the project based on concerns over fire danger, destruction of views, and other factors. Backcountry Against Dumps, a Campo-based group, is also participating in the suit. To date, the legal effort to stop Powerlink has raised more than a half million dollars (about $560,000, Cyphert said last night). The case has been plagued by delays, including four changes of judges. Judge Roger Benitez is now assigned to the case. Benitez was nominated by President George W. Bush and joined the court in 2004. Born in Cuba and raised in the Imperial Valley, he obtained a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University and a juris doctorate from Western State. He worked as a private practice attorney for two decades and also worked as a part-time instructor at Imperial Valley College in 1998-1999. He became a California Superior Court Judge in 1997 and in 2001 was appointed a federal magistrate Judge. His supporters, including Marilyn Huff, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court in San Diego, praised him as the “embodiment of the American Dream,.” But according to the San Diego Union Tribune, opponents cited a rare “not qualified” rating from the American Bar Association, which gave four such ratings to judicial nominees under the Bush administration and four under President Bill Clinton. The rating was given not due to rulings made by Benitez, but due to his courtroom demeanor. Richard Macias, an investigator for the ABA, called Benitez “short-tempered, rude, insulting, bullying, unnecessarily mean, and altogether lacking in people skills,” among other criticisms. Benitez said he strives to be “fair and courteous” and suggested the criticism stemmed from the fact that as the only magistrate in El Centro, he handled 1,494 cases—more than 10 magistrates in Northern California combined. “Sometimes we don’t have the liberty to be as relaxed, as accommodating,” he explained. As a judge, Benitez has ordered Viewtech, Inc. and its jailed founder to pay $214 million to Echostar Satellite LLC for building and selling piracy devices to break Echostar encryption signals. He also dismissed a fraud case brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission against Gateway’s chief executive officer. He drew controversy for ruling that a Poway teacher had the right under the First Amendment to display banners reading “One nation under God” and “God shed his grace on thee” in a public school classroom. Prior to Benitez being assigned the case, a prior judge removed himself, another was removed, while the earliest judge assigned was transferred off the case in order to preside over the trial for the gunman who shot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and killed several others, including a federal judge. SDG&E is well underway in constructing the Sunrise Powerlink and an injunction, if granted, would be a costly proposition. The company contends Powerlink is necessary to meet our region’s power needs and presents its arguments for the line at www.SunrisePowerlink.com. Opponents contend power needs locally are dropping as the number of solar installations increase and that future needs could better be met through local power generation, not long distance transmission lines.
EXPLORE THE CALIFORNIA MISSIONS ART EXHIBIT AT MISSION TRAILS
June 21, 2011 (San Diego)—Paul and Denise Strahm, a husband and wife team, set out on a mission to paint and photograph the 21 California Missions. Now Plein air painter Paul and photographer Denise share their art covering their unique journey at an exhibition hosted by Mission Trails Visitor Center Gallery from Saturday, June 18 through Friday, July 15. What better venue to showcase the California Mission artwork than in the Mission Trails Visitor Center Gallery, named after the historic start of the California Mission system? There will be an artists reception open to the public on Sunday, June 26 from 1-4 p.m. (just before East County Magazine’s SummerFest event at 6 p.m. in the same venue, with a trail walk in between at 5 p.m.). Savor both events–enjoy wonderful art plus an evening of feasting, winetasting, merrymaking and fabulous prizes! “We are excited to showcase the treasures of our trips to the missions, our artwork,” said Denise Strahm. “We each have our own take on what inspired us and the exhibition will include a feature called ‘He Said, She Said’ which spotlights a side-by-side his and her showing of same subject, different inspiration artworks.” Most of the missions are in need of continual restoration; so to help the cause the couple are donating 10% of each sale to the mission that was represented in the artwork purchased. The exhibition consists of 41 pieces, 21 photographs (13 on canvas) and 20 oil paintings. Although not every mission is represented, each artwork in this exhibition is a part of the 21 historic California Missions. Everything from a painting of a pulpit inside a church, to the standard façade of a mission, to a beautiful fountain outside in the courtyard, to a gate that surrounds the grounds, to…as you can see the artwork is varied. In addition to the “He Said, She Said” feature there is special attention paid to the Jewel of the Missions — Mission San Juan Capistrano — as it is Denise’s personal favorite. The Strahms are excited to share their paintings and photography with you. You can see examples of their work at www.paulstrahmpaintings.com and www.denisestrahmimages.com. Mission Trails Visitor Center Gallery is located at 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119/ Parking and admission are free. For more information, on the art show, see http://www.mtrp.org/exhibits.asp. For SummerFest tickets and details, visit http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/summerfest-2011.