Opinion
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- Written by: Laurel Elliott
There is a misconception that unions are still like the days of Jimmy Hoffa. The truth is, that Service Employees International Union (SEIU)/California United Homecare Workers (CUHW), is not. I have been involved with this union for some time now and have seen firsthand the caring people who are involved and most of them have been subjected to this misconception because of the large corporations and politicians that play their hands to make it seem that way, that all unions are "bullies."
SEIU/CUHW is a "No Strike, No Lockout" union, which means that they don't really have the same powers that most unions have. They have to rely on the good sense and morality of the counties that administer the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, and try to compromise on every situation, knowing full well that they are representing, not just the IHSS providers, but the consumers as well, and need to provide various protections to those people, especially when it comes to "freedom of choice."
This union worked and is still working in conjunction with the consumers, to find ways to help them live better lives and protect them as well. I know, in fact, that this union has tried many ways to come up with ideas for a compromise here in Lake County, but instead was rejected over and over. They are then being subjected to the conception that the union is here to "bully" this county.
The fact is, our county Board of Supervisors has been bullying the union, knowing full well that the union doesn't have the same powers as any other union and can only ask for the county to help represent the program in an ethical, moral, and professional manner.
The recent history of our board has shown the people in Lake County that they do not represent us and the people in Denise Rushing's district proved that, by electing her into office, thereby replacing someone who didn't want to support the community.
The remaining board members should take a long look at themselves and consider their constituents and know that they have the power the vote either for them, or against them, and they'd better do it soon, or the reality of a recall could be a rude awakening.
Laurel Elliott is an IHSS care provider. She lives in Nice.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
It’s time to read that old Faustian play, Damn Yankees, again. Everyone has forgotten. In the show, Joe Hardy agrees to give his soul to the devil if the devil helps him and his favorite team (Washington Senators) beat those damn Yankees. The devil agrees. Joe is happy when the devil gives him youth, athletic ability and stardom. He’s especially happy when his Senators beat the Yankees. Joe is not pleased, however, when the devil comes to get him.
Unfortunately, fantasy tales are sometimes true. Without knowing, baseball players today are making contracts with a real devil. They take steroids that make them strong and famous and help them win championships. In high spirits for a while, they have a change of heart when the devil returns with health problems and early death. Tragically, they have to pay the devil’s price. If Ken Caminiti had known the devil was coming for him at age 41, he might not have enjoyed those 40 home runs he hit for the San Diego Padres in 1996. He might not have celebrated so much when they won the division.
Sorry to say, the devil isn’t only interested in baseball players. He’ll make a pact with anyone who doesn’t have vision. He particularly likes the, “I’ll hate myself tomorrow but I’m going to love you tonight” ladies. Smokers enjoy good nicotine feelings and doing things with their hands while lighting up but, when the devil comes with emphysema and lung cancer, they have a change of heart.
Trying to be secular, parents and teachers don’t tell kids about Joe Hardy and the devil anymore. Too many are easy prey for the actual devil and make deals they regret. They get pleasure now and don’t know there’s going to be hell to pay later.
Darrell Watkins lives in Kelseyville.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Let me revise a suggestion I previously made regarding In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). I still believe that once hired, criminal background should not be used to keep some employees at a lower pay level than others.
However, I totally agree that some people should not be licensed at all. And that is essentially what is happening with the IHSS Registry – it is becoming a licensing body. Examples of criminal charges that might permanently disqualify someone from the registry include criminal negligence, assault, rape, murder, child or elder abuse, or other crimes against persons.
One problem with the current situation is that the registry is based on how long ago an offense was committed, not the seriousness of the crime. Background checks generate all felonies for the past 10 years. That means that someone who committed a truly horrible crime long ago may register; and, conversely, someone with a lesser or “victimless” crime cannot register for many years.
The criteria should be changed to reflect the level of danger (to the person or the person’s environment or finances) along with recidivism rate for certain behaviors. Professions like nursing could serve as a model for establishing degree of risk of certain offenses.
IHSS recipients can choose their own caretaker, and this person might not meet the highest traditional standards. Many caretakers do not see themselves as career professionals (they are often untrained family members or acquaintances motivated to provide very good care) and shouldn’t object too strongly if pay level is translated into “provable” skills. The difference would be similar to that of a nurse and a nurse’s aide, and caretakers would always be welcome to qualify for the higher category.
It is this same freedom – that allows a recipient to choose whomever they want as caretaker – that allows them to choose someone with a criminal past. This introduces a heated and valid debate – should certain people not be hired at all? And if hired, what are IHSS’s responsibilities and rights to warn recipients or oversee their care? However, this “right” is state law, and not likely to be influenced at this moment.
The immediate controversy is because Lake County is considering a two-tiered pay structure (California has always paid a uniform rate per area), and criteria needs to be established for the higher pay. The question “to reward or not reward” those with a criminal past may actually have a simple solution.
Why not separate the two issues – membership in the registry and higher pay? Obviously, the registry (because it furnishes the names of potential employees to the public) must restrict membership to those who do not pose a threat. But if a caretaker is willing to consent to all other criteria for the registry (drug checks, training sessions, competency testing, to be decided) … why not let these caretakers earn higher pay? After all, they would be providing a higher level of care. And the county would avoid protest based on violation of civil liberties.
Janis Paris lives in Clearlake Oaks.
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An article in the latest Lakeport Lamp Post by Phil Smoley of CPS Country Air about Indian Mascots begs to be answered, because it is deceptive, as he is rewriting history and turning it on its head.
He stated that America has always been proud of its Indian heritage.
Fact: They were called savages, heathens, in some cases barely human, and a problem that stood in the way of "progress" and "civilization" and had to be eliminated by any means necessary, including extermination. Indians were not citizens until after WW2, their religions were made illegal and their
cultures deliberately destroyed by Church and State, that worked together to "kill the Indian and save the man" in boarding schools, to make the man (and woman) into an obedient American manual worker.
He states that Indian school mascots were created to honor Indians.
Fact: They were created at a time (first half of the 20th century) when racism was rampant in America, and Indians were portrayed in books and movies as mindless savages bent on burning wagons and killing and scalping everything in sight, and kidnapping and raping women. Like the Washington
Redskins, they were portrayed as grotesque caricatures everywhere in the dominant culture.
He states there is an all out attack on "America's Indian heritage" today.
Reality check: It was America that attacked and destroyed its own Indian "heritage," that attempted to assimilate (terminate) Indians, shipping them to big cities where they ended up in ghettos, and continues to do so today by letting Native people live in third world conditions on many reservations, by letting corporate interests grab Indian resources (water, oil, coal, timber) and poison reservation lands and exhaust water tables with the complicity of the BIA.
He claims that only a small minority of Indians want to change the name of mascots. False, and he forgets to mention that Indians were never consulted as to whether these mascots were a proper way to honor them, whether they wanted to be reduced to being America's mascots, after having been decimated, betrayed, dispossessed, persecuted and forgotten, left to starve as prisoners on reservations in the late 19th century.
He states that these people do not know the meaning of the term "Indian." They do: it means people from India. They never called themselves "Indians." They were Anishnabe, Lakota, Pikuni, Dineh, Hupa, Yokut, Karuk, Miwok and they were not all warriors, they did not all wear feather headdresses, they were as different from each others as Englishmen are different from Greeks or Russians.
Finally, he thinks his own idea of Indian "identity" (based on stereotypes and movies) and of Indian "heritage" should take precedence over the thoughts, feelings, wishes of actual, living Native people, that to "honor" Native people means to force them to accept America's fantasies of what it means to be "Indian", whether they like it or not ... nothing new here, but it all boils down to disrespect and arrogance, which have until recently been a significant part of America's heritage, and would remain if he had his way.
Raphael Montoliu lives in Lakeport.
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