The Red Phone is an open community pipeline, inviting area residents to make comments, pose questions and propose ideas for the betterment of Amador County. The Red Phone is loyal, trustworthy and diligent in its pursuit of answers.  Please use the form below to post a comment, question or idea. Comments will remain viewable on the Web site for approximately one month.
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| Martha Washington |
| 6/17/2009 12:21:21 AM |
“I wish you would exert yourself so as to keep all your matters in order your self without depending on others..." - Martha Washington
Looks like the wife of #1 has some wisdom to share with #44... |
| - Bitter Clinger |
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| Credit where credit is due |
| 6/17/2009 11:30:03 AM |
What is America is to Me? Courage, to stand up and say what U know will not be easy. To sign up and risk You’re life, even for those that despise U. To do what is right, not for the ‘now‘, but also for the future…
Kudos to Gwen & Scott for coverage of the “good old days”, keep up the good work to all the ALD writers as I‘m sure many others will also be looking forward to more..
What’s the worst thing about American Democracy? The idiots on the extreme right or left…Look how they argue endlessly about who’s fault it is, try looking in the mirror! Partisan bickering for over three decades as the country goes to hell, ~good idea folks~ ?!$!@?
What’s best about American Democracy? These same chatter heads. They prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that even fools can; say virtually whatever they want, are free to protest, free to protect themselves, can hold those in power ultimately accountable, free to assemble, free of undue persecution, free period.
P.S. Hey history buffs, it was George Washington that should receive credit for term limitations. Remember His Final speech as President, the part about serving too long, becoming like a monarch? Jefferson held slaves and advocated the “eradication” of Native Americans, while Franklin plagiarized the contributions he made to the U.S. constitutions from his knowledge of the Iroquois constitution He acquired some twenty years earlier as a Tory printer’s apprentice. |
| - Mike W. Boitano |
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| Thanks, Mike! |
| 6/17/2009 6:37:49 PM |
| Thank you for the kind words. I've always been a fan of Scott's writing and it was a real honor to be part of the series. I look forward to reading the remaining two pieces. |
| - Gwen Johnson |
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| Credit where credit is due |
| 6/18/2009 2:33:53 AM |
"The idiots on the extreme right or left… Partisan bickering for over three decades as the country goes to hell..."
Yeah, those Founding Fathers were certainly a moderate bunch, now weren't they. No bickering or endless finger-pointing... ever.
"P.S. Hey history buffs... Jefferson advocated the 'eradication' of Native Americans, while Franklin plagiarized the Iroquois..."
Yeah - OK, Mike. Let's remove all references to those evil S.O.B.'s from our history books & museums and take 'em off our money, too.
Gosh, M.B., hold a grudge much? |
| - Bitter Clinger |
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| Credit where credit is due |
| 6/18/2009 2:41:51 AM |
"What’s the worst thing about American Democracy? The idiots on the extreme right or left…Look how they argue endlessly about who’s fault it is, try looking in the mirror! Partisan bickering for over three decades as the country goes to hell..."
Tell us, M.B., is it members of the extreme left or right who spend their every waking moment castigating every conceivable person in history over every single slight against the indigenous people of this continent? |
| - Bitter Clinger |
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| Slavery is bad, indeed. |
| 6/18/2009 2:52:46 AM |
"Jefferson held slaves and advocated the “eradication” of Native Americans..."
Yeah, and so did Washington... and just maybe one or two other evil s.o.b. founding fathers! What's your point, anyhow?
Boy, M.B., it's a really, REALLY good thing that no people-who-were-here-before-anyone-else ever practiced slavery or eradicated other tribes. 'Cause if anything like that ever happened, you'd be looking pretty foolish...oh wait -- What? Really? Slavery and 'eradication' were practiced by the saintly indigenous people? Oh, that's certainly a little inconvenient. |
| - Bitter Clinger |
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| Environmentalists - THANKS!! |
| 6/18/2009 1:01:55 PM |
The Native Sons of the Golden West, Excelsior Parlor #31 is deeply saddened to announce that the Annual Father’s Day Free Fishing Derby at Lake Tabeaud has been cancelled.
After over 30 years of providing free fishing, prizes and food to the youth and disabled veterans of Amador County, the Native Sons have been forced to cancel the derby this year due to the settlement of a lawsuit by The Center for Biological Diversity from Tucson, Arizona against the California Department of Fish & Game temporarily banning trout plants in certain state lakes.
“I’m very disappointed that after 30 years of serving the youth of our community, we’ve been forced to cancel the derby because of this frivolous lawsuit,” said Past President Chad Simmons. “It only hurts our children and the irony is that PG&E is allowed to stock Lake Tabeaud as part of the settlement, but we can’t stock a few hundred pounds of trout for Amador County’s children and disabled veterans.”
After numerous calls to the California Department of Fish and Game and the County’s legislators, neither relief nor assistance materialized leading to the cancellation of the Father’s Day Fishing Derby.
If you wish to voice your concerns, you should contact Senator Dave Cox at
(209) 223-9140, Assemblymember Alyson Huber at (209) 333-5330, or Stafford Lehr, DFG Senior Environmental Scientist at (916) 358-2900. Ken 916 358-2874 is in charge of Fish and Game Hatcherys....
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| - Sam |
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| Bitter or Bigot? |
| 6/18/2009 9:21:00 PM |
| Bigot. |
| - -MWB |
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| Bitter or Bigot? |
| 6/18/2009 11:14:23 PM |
MWB: "Bigot"
Sorry, but I do not think it means what you think it means.
Really, though, I'm neither bigoted nor bitter. I'm just sick to death of always hearing about what so-and-so's great-great-grand-pappy did to some "indigenous" person decades or centuries ago. Your take always seems to suggest that a.) the "people" inhabiting North America when the Europeans landed somehow appeared spontaneously out of the ether, and that b.) they were as pure as the wind-driven snow, just sittin' around mashing their acorns and generally minding their own business.
Not sure what historical perspective you ascribe to in general, but it is my understanding that people have been moving about this earth since they crawled out from the goo... and *gasp* they weren't always huggy-kissy with other people they encountered. It's just part of that whole "Circle-of-Life" thingy, right? |
| - Bitter Clinger |
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| Interesting poll question |
| 6/23/2009 11:08:49 AM |
This week's Ledger Dispatch poll question is a little misleading. Measure M funds are not going to be used to hire consultants to come up with a fire protection and emergency organization plan...They are using Prop 172 funds. It seems the various fire organizations can not agree on a plan for distribution of funds. It will cost $30,000 to $55,000 for someone to tell the various agencies (which I think do a great job), on how funds should be distributed.
For all they do right, this is totally ridiculous. Rather it is Measure M funds or Prop 172 funds it is a sad waste of taxpayer money. They need to get their act together. |
| - John Burns |
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| Budget Cuts |
| 6/26/2009 10:48:07 AM |
| With all the cuts that are occurring or have occurred in government, I am amazed the leadership isn't taking a hit along with their employees. Take the Amador Water Agency, the Board has gone on public record saying since they are new and working harder - they should not reduce their compensation. Similar to the Board of Supervisors who think not taking their pay raise this year is a cut. They should be reducing their compensation, just as they have asked staff to do with salary cuts, furloughs and layoffs. We need real leadership. |
| - John Burns |
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| Budget Cuts |
| 6/29/2009 9:03:49 AM |
John,
I totally agree with you. There should be leadership at the different boards. The board of Supes for example has one self described millionare and another who makes well in excess of 100 thousand a year with his second job. They should take a cut! And isn't their salary tied to what a judge makes? Way to much. Water Agency should take a cut also. Why take the money from middle class folks who were barely making it before the economy tanked? Now furlough days and it goes on and on. Enough is enough!!! |
| - Fourth Estate |
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| Help |
| 6/30/2009 6:43:39 PM |
Hi everyone it's me Charline, are you feeling the pressure of day to day chores? Well have I got a deal for you!. I hve had my hours cut to 24 per month and that is I guess ok. But, I have 3 great people who have been "asked" to work in the cemetery for 400-600 hours. See my problem? Want to grab a lawn chair, a few books and lots of sunblock and dnn't forget your water and then come join me as I watch them work? I guess that makes me a boss and they are 3 great workers.
Remember the old saying "be careful what you wish for?" I just wanted a little help |
| - Charline Buckley |
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| Charline |
| 6/30/2009 10:16:08 PM |
| I thought you said you were gone? You had it had it with the redphone remember? |
| - Curious George |
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| Curious |
| 6/30/2009 11:12:39 PM |
I said I didn't like the last posting prior to me leaving. However, no harm in reading and laughing at all the posts.
The red phone is a great tool to air our thoughts, but some cross the line.
Anyway I can change my mind, thus using my name lets you all know I'm still here watching.
Take care everyone and stay cool, and keep an eye on your senior friends and family. Also, don't forget the critters. |
| - Charline |
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| John/Budget Cuts |
| 7/1/2009 9:00:25 AM |
| Looks like we had some effect, John. The Board of Supes will shortly by resolution voluntarily cut their pay by 10%. Actually, I think the news said all elected officials in the County would take the cut. Congratulations to them all! Real leadership. Now we need to work on the Water Agency Board! |
| - Fourth Estate |
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| Banning of Personal Fireworks - Ledger Poll |
| 7/1/2009 12:09:30 PM |
I noticed in the Ledger Dispatch Poll, that many of you are voting to Ban Personal Fireworks! My question to you is Why?
Legally sold Safe and Sane Fireworks are not the cause of the fires we have during the summer throughout the State.
Almost everyone advocates Community Firework Shows; however who is willing to pay for these Firework Shows.
Will you step up and pay?
The Jackson Lions Club has the one and only Fireworks Booth within the City of Jackson.
The Jackson Lions Club provides for the only Fireworks Show in Amador County. This event is known as the "3rd of July" and is held annually at Jackson Junior High School. This has become a family tradition for hundreds of families to enjoy the 4th of July Celebration.
The sale of Fireworks at the Fireworks Booth pays for the one and only Fireworks Show in Amador County.
If you Ban Personal Fireworks, then those who enjoy celebrating the 4th of July, will find another venue to celebrate the 4th of July, which may or may not include the purchasing of Fireworks at another location, only to bring them back into Amador County and ignite them illegally, if they are banned.
Not to mention they will be spending their money in another community, not in ours.
If you are advocating the Banning of Personal Fireworks, then you are advocating the Banning of the Fireworks Show for all to see.
Please take these things into consideration, before making a hasty decision about banning fireworks and please have a Wonderful, Safe and Sane Celebration of the this GREAT NATIONS Independence! |
| - Fireworks Booth Chairman |
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| John/Budget Cuts |
| 7/1/2009 9:30:06 PM |
| Oops, I was wrong John! The article I relied on actually says the 6 elected officials in the County, EXCLUDING the Board of Supes, has agreed to a 10% pay cut. Sorry about that. |
| - Fourth Estate |
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