Letters
I am concerned that many of us feel that lobbyists, and the big money interests run our government.
Obviously, candidates need money to run their elections and buy media coverage for their campaigns, but too often that money is directly tied to specific bills to assist special interests, and not necessarily in the interest of their constituents.
This leads to the conclusion that many are not representing us, but big money. That is one reason for suspicion when it regards gun control.
Violence is always a last resort, but the second amendment made that a right of last resort. Government should be by the majority vote, and in the people’s interest.
The balance of power is off kilter when one or two percent controls ninety eight percent of the wealth, thus a large percentage of our elected representatives owe their election to big money.
When they talk gun control, we cringe because we do not know how far they will take it. Nobody really minds background checks; we have had them here in California for years.
I can even stomach limiting the size of magazines, though I oppose keeping so called assault weapons from citizens as silly, as fully automatic weapons have been illegal federally for some time. Semi-autos are just fine; in fact, I have always preferred them to fully autos.
I think government should protect us with laws that allow us to make decisions for ourselves. We do not need big brother peeking over our shoulder and micromanaging our every move.
We need to be treated as adults, I understand helmet laws, cigarette laws, alcohol laws, traffic laws, but lighten up on gun laws. Law enforcement is not bodyguards, we need to be able to protect our home and families, and it is our right.
Dave Gebhard lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Dave Gebhard
I don’t have a TV and I leave my furnace off, but I am comfortable curled up next to my books and my computer with my trusty little heater sitting in close proximity atop a padded folding chair.
I read for long periods, and when I need a break, I watch Netflix Instant Watch. I was watching Anna Something, crime reporter (Swedish with subtitles). It was mildly exciting, but not near as exciting as the scene that transpired next to me.
First, the sound effects: zzzt! zzzt! I looked down and saw the padding of the chair on fire! Holy Moly, What was this? I lifted the heater and put out the fire with my hand and then pulled the plug of the heater out of the wall.
Once the smoke cleared, and, when I say “smoke cleared,” I am speaking literally, I went to Google to see if I could learn something from this event.
Forty-two percent of home structure fires originate in the kitchen. Peak hours for home fires are between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Almost two-thirds (62%) of reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.”
By the way, I discovered that I do have an alarm, but it is in the living room of my mobile home, and never went off. If they put only one sensor, why not put it in the kitchen, where the plurality of fires originate? I am certain the laws have changed since my metal box was built.
The U.S. Fire Administration says: “It's a recipe for serious injury or even death to wear loose clothing (especially hanging sleeves), walk away from a cooking pot on the stove, or leave items that can catch fire, such as potholders or paper towels, around the stove.”
How did all this apply to my fire? It seemed like the game “Clue” in reverse: it did not start in the kitchen, a working appliance was not left unattended, it was not between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and I did have a working fire alarm. Clearly this was a statistical outlier.
It felt very unfulfilling not to be able to place blame. Then I had an epiphany. My fire was started by the Chinese. It was probably some slave laborer, who, unable to end his depression by leaping out of a high story window (after the cameras left, they put the suicide nets back on), decided to turn his anger outward, and left one of the wires inside the heater loose.
This will not be a problem immediately, but over time, the electricity will begin to arc, and then build up heat, until one day, flames shoot out. What at first seemed inscrutable now is transparent.
Nelson Strasser lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Nelson Strasser
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