Reality check about trust and taxes

Karl Ory complains about the failure to pass a tax initiative. Here’s the funny part. The liberal block on the council have the needed five votes to put any measure on the ballot they chose. Why didn’t they?

Because they could not bear to say the words “fund the police.” That would upset their base clamoring to “defund” them, and they do not acknowledge profound mistrust by Chico citizens.

EMC research asked their question in the form of a special tax measure. 70% said they would support a 1 cent tax for those purposes. 66% is needed.

Karl thinks council should be trusted to spend millions of additional revenue, while not even saying police is a priority. When asked about it, they each squirmed like a worm on a hook.

Kasey Reynolds proposed a special tax measure and Sean seconded it. Those are your Republicans for you, Karl. Instead of acknowledging the real issues, trust of this crew to do what they say, or even to say what they really mean, Karl resorts to his old friend, “blame the Republicans.”

The five liberals couldn’t agree among themselves on how to handle the police matter, one of the most critical issues surrounding any new taxes. They couldn’t say “yes” and not offend their base, and they couldn’t even support the minority saying it. So Karl lies about it all and blames others. Funny.

— Rob Berry, Chico

Removing statues does not erase history

Recently, many Americans were outraged by the removal of statues across our great country. Claims of “erasing history” often accompany these arguments. Yet this claim is fallacious. Germany no longer has statues venerating Nazi leaders, yet Germans still know their history. Proponents of Confederate statues argue the sites foster opportunity to teach people about the horrors of our country’s history. However, this too often misleads. Plaques that accompany statues, or standalone, seldom explain the dark side of the Confederacy. A plaque in Kentucky (a Union state) honoring Jefferson Davis described the Confederate President a “Patriot — Hero — Statesman.” This plaque, among others, does not accurately teach our country’s history.

Additionally, statues are landmarks that people ought to celebrate. The Statue of Liberty, the Marine Corps War Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial are celebratory representations of our history. Statues of the traitorous Confederates should be removed and put in museums so professionals can teach people the truth behind them.

Californians recently were up in arms about the removal of a Christopher Columbus statue at the State Capital. Columbus, who never visited North America, participated in the slave trade that sent

“550 Indians from Española … the slave market of Southern Spain,” according to Historian Dr. Andrés Reséndez of UC Davis. The modern-day United States was discovered years before Columbus voyaged to the Caribbean. The removal of his statue from Sacramento ought to be a no brainer.

Historians must teach the truth about our country’s history. Not statues erected decades after the Civil War.

— Jason Bohnert, Chico

A history lesson about Jones and Kool-Aid

Jeff Lindsay needs a lesson in history, school teachers failed his educational needs. Jeff wrote: “Does anyone remember Jim Jones and sharing the Kool-Aid? I think Trump may be sharing the virus like Jones shared the KoolAid. Just saying?”

Just saying? Not thinking. Jeff I lived in San Francisco during the Jim Jones period. Being a conservative I was not a supporter but Democrat politicians were lock, stock and barrel. Let’s look at some googled quotes:

“Such greatness I have found in Jim Jones’s Peoples Temple,” Harvey Milk extolled. Willie Brown compared Jim Jones to Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. Dianne Feinstein joined the rest of the San Francisco board of supervisors in honoring Jones “in recognition of his guidance and inspiration” in furthering “humanitarian programs.”

Jones and his cult would trade favors with the Democrat politicians for making sure Democrat rallies had huge attendance (hundreds of cultists) and roughing up any dissenters in attendance (ANTIFA now copycats). Jerry Brown, California governor actually spoke at Peoples Temple. Jimmy Carter’s running mate, Walter Mondale, met with Jones on the tarmac in San Francisco.

Jones preached, “I call capitalism the devil,” Jones said from the pulpit, “and socialism is God.”

You need to abolish history Jeff to get away with your statement.

Also get rid of the fact that the Ku Klux Klan was the strong arm army for the Democrats just like Jim Jones. And the “Virus” came from China, the Democrats’ socialist buddies and Democrat staunch supporters.