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Independent The Taft

March 3 - 9, 2016

The Taft Independent

www.Taftindependent.com

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Publisher@Taftindependent.com

March 3 - 9 2016 • Volume 9 Issue 37

“Serving the West Kern County Communities of Taft, South Taft, Ford City, Maricopa, Fellows, McKittrick, Derby Acres, Dustin Acres, and the Cuyama Valley”

Qik Smog & Tune

No Appointment Needed for Smog Check!

Local Motorcycle Repair

European and Japanese Street Bikes and All Dirt Bikes Safety Inspection Professional Service Dirt and Street BikeTire Mount and Balance Experienced Mechanics Basic Tune-up to Major Overhaul

• 661-763-4445 • 500 S. 10th Street

Now Servicing Japanese and European Motorcycles

Proudly Servicing The Taft Area For Over Ten Years

See Our Ad On Page Two (661) 345-7350

N o w S e l l i n g Te c h I n s p e c t e d a n d S m o g g e d Q u a l i t y Us e d C a r s

Monarch Fleet Services and Automotive Open Monday - Friday 8am-5pm Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm

217 Center Street (661) 765-2886 www.monarchfsa.com

Financing Available - Buy Here-Pay Here Available

The Taft Independent

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March 3 - 9, 2016

Shop Taft western shop & PET Wash Fish - Reptile - Supplies Tack - Feed - Livestock Supplies Western Clothing - Boots - Work Apparell Pet Grooming Fred and Cheri Shaw 419 Harrison Street, Taft, CA 93268 (661) 765-2987

Geiger Construction & Plumbing

Men’s Clothing, Boots & Shoes In the Save A Lot Shopping Center

Merced Moreno - Licensed Bonded (661) 345-7350 P.O. Box 755, Buttonwillow, CA 93206

Residential • Commercial

Cement & Asphalt Cutting

Your Ad

Armstrong Locksmithing New Local Locksmith Commercial - Residential - Automotive & More

Here!

Professional Key Duplication & Code Generation

Bring This Ad for a Free House Key Lic # B-721903

661-765-4377 Fast • Friendly • Affordable Se Habla Espanol 661-301-4660 24 Hours/ 7 Days a Week

Black Gold Brewing Company An American Craft Brewery in Taft

Pub Burger and French Fries Every Day $7.50 508 Center Street (661) 765-6556

(661) 348-7884 LOC. # 6214

765-6550

A Hint of Class Bakery

Fresh Pies Baked Daily Cakes and More Now Serving Frozen Yogurt

Ten Percent Firearms 1277 Kern Street (661)765-6899

420 Center Street 623-1783

BRC Painting

Mobile Sandblasting and Painting Inc.

“Proud to Serve” Industrial - Farming - Trucking - Oil Extending and Restoring The Investment of Your Life

Merced Moreno - Licensed Bonded (661) 345-7350 P.O. Box 755, Buttonwillow, CA 93206

Adam Dayton Lic. No. 983535 (661) 809-3919

Billy Ray Cox

Contractors License 988395 (661) 623-4082 Billyrcox1@hotmail.com 900 E. Ash Street, Taft, CA 93268

March 3 - 9, 2016

Events Inside

The Taft Independent

Taft Business of the Week

Cooper’s True Value & Just Ask Rental

Shop Taft..........................2

By Gardener Field

Calendar...........................3

Westside Watcher..........4

The Taft Business of the Week: Cooper’s True Value & Just Ask Rental at 407 9th Street. True Value has everything you need for home repairs, plumbing, gardening, paint, home decor, outdoor living, and Just Ask Rental has everything you need for your next party or event no matter how big or small. It is locally owned and operated by the Cooper Family. True Value has been recently remodeled and they are having a Grand Re-Opening Event this weekend.

Classified Ads.................10

Shop Taft........................11

The Taft Independent

CITY OF TAFT COUNCIL MEETINGS

508 Center Street P.O. Box 268 Taft, California 93268 (661) 765-6550

Tuesday, March 1, 2016 – 6:00 p.m.

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER 209 EAST KERN STREET, TAFT, CA (661) 763-1222

Email: Publisher@taftindependent.com Website: www.TaftIndependent.com Locally and Independently owned since 2006

We welcome contributions and suggestions.

Our purpose is to present news and issues of importance to our readers.

SUBSCRIPTIONS. Subscription home or business delivery of the Taft Independent is available for $6.50 per month or $78.00 per year. To subscribe to please call 765-6550.

LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITOR. Send us your letter to Taft Independent at the above address. Limit it to 300 words and include your name, address, and phone number. Email your letter to: Publisher@taftindependent.com.

ADVERTISING. Display Ads: Rates and special discounts are available. Contact our advertising representative at (661) 765-6550, or email to Publisher@taftindependent.com.

Classifieds: Call 765-6550 or fax us at (661) 765-6556. Phone orders are taken. Visa and Master Card accepted.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Michael J. Long Publisher@taftindependent.com Advertising Publisher@taftindependent.com Contributing Writers Stephanie House, Jerry Livingston Wesley Morris Andreas Fault, William R. Taft Columnists Randy Miller Dr. Harold Pease Newspaper Delivery Tim Webb

1st Friday Cruise Night on Center Street starts at 6pm. The weather is perfect to Cruise, check out Hot Rods, shop, and eat. Several Shops will be open late, Black Gold will be serving drinks and great food, Pizza Factory will be tossing Pizza, Asian Experience will be making Sushi, A Hint of Class Bakery will have lots of Treats and Frozen Yogurt, Ong’s Cafe will have their amazing Orange Chicken, and Mi Casita will be serving their famous tacos. Be there!

Saturday: The Taft High Wildcats boys basketball advanced to the D4 championship game with an 87-55 win over Orosi. Game is at noon in Fresno at Selland Arena this Saturday.

Liberty Under Fire........8

The Independent is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies are $1 each. The contents of the Taft Independent are copyrighted by the Taft Independent, and may not reproduced without specific written permission from the publisher.

by Andreas Fault

Taft High Varsity Baseball vs. Liberty at Home at 7pm. Cheer on the Cats under the lights!

Westside News................6

The Taft Independent is a locally owned community newspaper published weekly on Fridays for your enjoyment and reading pleasure. We publish 3,500 issues and distribute to over 225 locations in the city of Taft and the neighboring communities of Cuyama Valley, McKittrick, Maricopa, Fellows and Western Kern County, California.

Taft Calendar

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AGENDA POSTED ON BULLETIN BOARD OUTSIDE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND POSTED AT THE CITY OF TAFT WEB SITE www.cityoftaft.org TELEVISED ON BRIGHT HOUSE CABLE CHANNEL 11: Wednesday 8 p.m.

Thursday 10 a.m. 8 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m.

The Taft Independent is seeking Experienced Writers News and Feature Writers Experience Required.

Contact The Taft Independent Send Bio or Resume to Publisher@taftindependent.com

West Side Urgent Care Dr. Timothy Lee, Board Certified Pediatrician Taking appointments for children under the age of 18 Monday thru Friday 1:00pm – 5:00pm 765-1935

Temblor Special Recreation meeting with BLM at the Rec at 6pm.

Saturday- Taft College Baseball at Home vs. West Hills at 1pm.

Taft College Softball at Home vs. Reedley at 2pm.

Thursday- “Coffee with a Cop” at Black Gold Brewing Company at 9am.

Save the Date for these Future EventsMarch 12th: Taft High Swim Invitational at 10am.

Taft High Track invitational at 9am.

Westside Wreck Hers Roller Derby Bout at 801 4th Street, Gates open at 5, Bout at 6pm. .

March 27th-28th: 2016 Vintage Motocross Championship Races at Honolulu Hills Raceway.

April 1st: Taft High Swim & Dive-athon from 3-7pm.

April 2nd: Westside Little League Parade at 10:30 on Center street, Opening Ceremony near Oil Worker Monument at noon, , Carnival, Raffle, and more from 12:30-3:30pm.

April 5th: Taft High Softball vs. Shafter at Home at 4pm.

April 9th: Kiwanis Superhero Themed Color Fun Run at 8am from the Oil Worker Monument. Pre-register $30 adults, $20 kids 12 and under. Register @ www.raceentry.com.

Soroptimist Garden Tour- Tickets are on sale from all members for $25.

The Annual Alpha House BBQ and Auction at 5pm. Donations are being accepted for the Auction April 14th: Taft Jobfest at The Fort from 9am-noon. Dress for success and bring resumes.

State of the City Luncheon.

April 23rd: TUHS Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Ceremony, call 765-2165 for tickets.

April 29th: Al Baldock Memorial Golf Classic.

May 4th: SSL Diving Championships at Home at 3pm.

May 5th: SSL Swimming Championships at Home at 3pm.

May 21st: Taft Relay for Life at the Taft High Track. 10am-10pm. www.relayforlife.org/taftca.

June 18th: Taft All Star Band 4 Man Team “Golf Tournament”. More info soon.

July 2nd: Taft Chamber Fireworks Show. If you want it, please donate.

October 1st: Taft Chamber Car Show.

Cooper’s True Value at 407 9th Street is having a Grand Re-Opening Event this Friday, March 4th through Sunday, March 6th. The Taft Chamber will host a “Board Cutting” at 9am on Friday. There will be special items for sale, raffles, food vendors, and various events throughout the 3 days weekend event. Come in and check out the beautiful remodeled store today.

It pays to advertise in The Taft Independent Taft’s Locally Owned Newspaper.

Our Readers do not pay to see your ad.

Call 765-6550 to Advertise Today!

The Taft Independent

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Editorial

Westside Watcher

The Taft

Independent

Restaurant and Entertainment Guide Your Guide To The

Best Restaurants and Entertainment on the Westside Tumbleweed Café and Steakhouse

Steak, Seafood, Wild Game, Full Bar Monday – Friday 6 am to 2 pm Saturday – Sunday 7 am – 2 pm Dinner Hours Friday and Saturday 6 pm to 9 pm 24870 Highway 33, Derby Acres 768-4655

Paik’s Ranch House Where Everybody Meets Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Open 7 Days Mon. Tues. Wed., Thur. 6 am-8:30 pm Sun. Fri. & Sat. 6 am - 9 pm 765-6915 200 Kern St. Taft

Black Gold Brewing Co. American and Asian Food Burgers Pasta Thai Food Espresso - Beer - Wine Craft Beers Open Monday to Friday 7am to Close Saturday 7:30am to Close Sunday 10am to 12pm 508 Center Street 765-6556

Sagebrush Annie’s Restaurant and Wine Tasting Wine Tasting and Lunch Sat. & Sun. 11:30-5 pm 4211 Highway 33, Ventucopa (661) 766-2319

514 Center Street • (661)765-7469 LIKE us on Facebook: Fox Theatre Taft TAFTFOX.COM

Week of Friday, March 04, 2016 through Thursday, March 10, 2016 London Has Fallen (R) Fri & Sat: 6:40, 8:40 Sun: 3:40, 6:15 Mon - Thu: 6:15 PM Zootopia (PG) Fri & Sat: 6:10, 8:20 Sun: 3:10, 6:00 Mon - Thu: 6:00 PM Gods of Egypt (PG-13) Fri & Sat: 6:30, 9:00 Sun: 3:30, 6:30 Mon - Thu: 6:30 PM

Paik’s

Ranch House Restaurant “Where Everybody Meets” Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Open 7 Days

Mon, Tues, Wed., Thurs & Fri. 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Sat. and Sun. 6 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

765-6915

200 Kern Street, Taft, Ca.

March 3 - 9, 2016

Letters and Rants

Climate Exaggeration: Buy Now! Robert Bradley Jr.

New to Taft

by Willam H. Taft In the last few years there are several new places in Taft and several others have upgraded. The newest store in Taft is Poppy’s Melting Pot at 1117 Kern Street (across from Chicken of Oz). They have a variety of candles, soaps, Tie-die shirts, gifts, and much more.

Lots of stores have made great improvements and others have not.

As I drove by the old Taylor’s Bakery the other day the door was opened. It made me remember Taylor’s famous cookies that were great for any occasion but now the store looks like a storage shed inside. Thinking about Taylor’s Bakery made me think of Loperena’s Bakery and their amazing cakes and Jelly Filled Donuts. I really miss Loperena’s Bakery and their great family but Tacos Y Mariscos has done a great job filling their shoes, they have excellent Mexican Food. Across the street the old Mr. Burger was an eyesore for years but now Jacob’s Burger has great food.

The building where Old’s Cool is has been lots of things over the years but it was in bad condition when the Hill’s started Old’s Cool. Old’s Cool is now one of the coolest looking buildings around and has all kinds of cool things inside. Next store Eye Kandi was the same way. The building was ran down and Kandi, her family, and friends have turned it into an amazing business.

Across the street lots of businesses have came and gone, the only ones that have stood the test of time are State Farm Insurance and the Fox Theatre. Several years back Black Gold Brewing Company was opened and is probably the coolest looking place in town. Next Step Cardio is packed with nice equipment, Gene’s Tax Service is very popular this time of year, Marty’s has something nice for all the ladies, and The Color Bar Salon will keep you looking beautiful.

Valley Graphics and Screenprinting moved last year into the old Westside Office Supply. Valley Graphics makes all kinds of clothing. It is nice seeing Jones Chiropractic got some needed upgrades and is now for sale. Sno White had a huge facelift last year and their food taste great. Art’s Corner Bar at 400 Harrison Street is one of Taft’s longest running businesses, the Jackson’s bought it a few years ago and have made lots of improvements.

They recently put in Horseshoe Pits in the back. All in the Sandwich got ran into the ground but luckily we now have Route 33 Sandwich Company, they have made major improvements to the building and the food is great. I think the corner of 2nd and Kern Street use to be a Insurance business but now it is Rosemary and Thyme, they have great Italian Food and Sandwiches.

428 Center Street was an eyesore but now lots of work has been done recently and Yogolicious Frozen Yogurt Shop will be open soon. Everyone is very excited! Makes you think of the old days with Kay’s Frozen Yogurt and then K2 Frozen Yogurt. I can remember many nights going to rent a video at C&C Video then getting a Yogurt at Kay’s. The owners of Kay’s were such nice people. Taft got a Frozen Yogurt Shop last year at A Hint of Class Bakery at 420 Center Street. Like Kay’s, the owner of A Hint of Class Bakery, Pam Ward is one of the nicest people around.

Besides Frozen Yogurt she has lots of amazing treats, soups, wraps, and much more. Stop by A Hint of Class Bakery today.

The abandon building at 5th and North Street was empty for years but luckily Glenn Black and Dennis Schertz turned that building into The Bank Sports Lounge. The Bank is the best place in Kern County to watch the Race or the Big Game. Most of the 200 Block of Center Street was run down for years but now Taft Sears, Monarch Auto Sales, Monarch Fleet Services, Fertile Earth Nursery, and Asian Experience have the block looking good and have business flowing. Mi Casita moved up to the old White Elephant for some much needed room for their delicious menu.

The Better Business Bureau warns consumers against highpressure sales tactics, such as “today only” or “last one in stock.” According to the BBB, “Deadlines are designed to force you into a sale before you’ve had time to think.”

Now-or-never climate warnings would make a hyperactive used-car salesman blush. The message? Act now, act big.

Replace the carbon-based energy economy. Get rid of coal, petrol, and natural gas. The future of the planet, as Obama stated in his final state of the union address, is “at stake.”

Where have we heard this sort of doom-and-gloom before?

Remember the 1960s scare of mass starvation in the United States and around the world? The mineral exhaustion scare in the 1970s? The global-cooling scare implicating coal-plant emissions of sulfur dioxide?

These predictions were wrong. Instead of famine, we have obesity. Instead of oil and gas depletion, we have a historic glut.

And instead of global cooling, we have global warming.

Now it’s climate change all the time. When the climate scare arose in the 1980s, the director of the UN Environment Program’s New York office stated there was only a “10-year window of opportunity to solve” global warming.

Seventeen years later, in 2006, scientist James Hansen said the same thing: “We have [...] ten years to alter fundamentally the trajectory of global greenhouse emissions.” That same year, Al Gore pronounced a ten-year deadline to avert a “true planetary emergency.”

But with these dates past or approaching, don’t look to these exaggerators to admit error. Expect them to soldier on.

Climate crusaders have lost patience and are revealing their authoritarian impulses.

In 2014, Robert Kennedy Jr. called for the legal system to “punish” skeptics of climate alarmism. More recently, climate scientists sent a letter to President Obama encouraging him to use the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act against “corporations and other organizations that have knowingly deceived the American people about the risks of climate change.”

ExxonMobil has come under attack for allowing internal parties to debate the issue in the 1980s. Over 40 groups signed a letter claiming that the company knew the dangers of climate change decades ago but concealed the information to protect profits.

The rhetoric has only become more intense. In November, Pope Francis claimed that the world is at “the limits of suicide,” while President Hollande of France said: “I can’t separate the fight with terrorism from the fight against global warming.” New York Magazine’s Jonathan Chait cited “the rise in atmospheric temperatures from greenhouse gases” as “the most dire threat to humanity [...] since Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany launched near-simultaneous wars of conquest.”

Meanwhile, the evidence actually points toward global lukewarming, not catastrophic warming. Modest warming is a positive, not negative, externality for the economy, according to climate economists.

The greenhouse blanket could protect against a future ice age, which even alarmists admit. Carbon dioxide, the major manmade greenhouse gas, enriches the biosphere. Trees and plants Thanks to the businesses that have been around a long time and still look great like Acme Jewelry, Blue Jeans and Bling, Messenger are growing faster today than in pre-industrial times because Automotive, Jack’s Flower Shop, Jo’s Restaurant, Country Corner atmospheric concentrations of CO2 are one-third higher.

Florist, Bang’s and Tangles, Pearseys Rentals, Pizza Factory, Trends, OT Cookhouse, Caprice Motel, Westside Furniture, Oasis, Personal Style, KC Photography, Holland Inn, and Paik’s Ranch House. Rather a business is new or old they should join the Taft Chamber. I do not know why there is a taco truck on the corner of 10th and A Street when there is an excellent Mexican Restaurant a block up at 101 B Street. Taco Trucks are another thing we do not need in Taft. Times are hard so whenever possible please support Taft Businesses.

The stream of alarms is getting old. We do not need to make climate change policy the “central organizing principle of world civilization,” as Al Gore claimed in 1992.

The good news is that such campaigns are not persuading the majority of Americans to buy climate alarmism. Let the debate continue -- and the hyperbole end.

March 3 - 9, 2016

McKittrick claims overall victory in Whiz Kids competition

The Taft Independent

February 26, 2016 — Small schools in rural parts of southwest Kern County held an academic competition yesterday called “Whiz Kids.” The annual competition is for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students and is modeled after the high school “Academic Decathlon.”

Students from Belridge Elementary, Elk Hills Schools, McKittrick School, Midway School, Caliente School/Piute Mountain School participated. Each school/district selected six students for their team for a total of 30 participants.

Competition consisted of four subjects — Math, Social Studies, Science and Essay, plus the Super Quiz. Individual titles were contested in the Essay and Social Studies categories.

Super Quiz is the highlight of the event wherein teams face off against each other in a TV game show type of competition. Teams are given 24 questions and each student must answer fourquestions in an allotted amount of time.

“Whiz Kids” is sponsored by the competing schools with logistical support from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office.

2016 Whiz Kids Results: Overall Team Results 1st — McKittrick 2nd — Piute Mountain 3rd — Belridge Team Category Winners Science — McKittrick Math — Elk Hills & Midway (TIE) Super Quiz — Midway Individual Results Essay 1st— Lupita Diaz — Belridge 2nd— Cole Thompson — Piute Mountain 3rd— Lily Noland — McKittrick Social Studies 1st— Chloe Dodson — McKittrick (TIE) 1st— Ashlynn Smith — McKittrick (TIE) 2nd— Viridiana Lopez — Belridge (TIE) 2nd— Anotnio Nunez — Belridge (TIE) 2nd— Emalyne Davis — McKittrick (TIE) 3rd— Erick Tortola — Elk Hills (TIE) 3rd— Macayla Wells — McKittrick (TIE)

The Taft Independent Visit Us On Facebook or online at www.taftindependent.com

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John Nilon Retires as Kern County CAO after 35 Years Service After nearly 31 years of service to the County of Kern, County Administrative Officer John Nilon has announced his retirement effective January 7, 2017.

Mr. Nilon, 59, joined the County as a permanent employee in March 1985. During his tenure with the County, Mr. Nilon served as Executive Director of Employers’ Training Resource, Director of Child Support Services, Director of Public Health Services, interim Chief Executive Officer for Kern Medical Center, and County Administrative Officer, a post he assumed in June 2009. Mr. Nilon has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Bakersfield.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve the residents of Kern County for the last three decades as an employee of the County of Kern,” Mr. Nilon said in announcing his retirement.

The Taft Independent “John Nilon has steered the County through some extremely challenging times by maintaining fiscal discipline while always seeking innovative ways to do the County’s business better,” Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Mick Gleason said. “Our Board greatly appreciates the amount of notice he has given, which will allow us to plan for his departure as we work with him on the budget and policy issues facing the County and the people we serve.”

March 3 - 9, 2016

Letter from St. Andrews

From the desk of Mary Vera at St. Andrews Earthquakee Well hows the Weather? cold then Hot then Cold again. A funny story: We had an earthquake. Sitting in my room with my friend Bob and one of my daughters, listening to the news of teenage life in Taft. Lol The bed starts to shake and the walls begin to rumble, my daughter starts to laugh and blames the movement on a mother daughter in the at her room. Stating her sister is :”working out with a dance game on their X Box”. well some 2 hours later the news man informs us, we had a 4.9 earthquake 3 miles outside of Wasco. Then the whole Family just laughed. Friends from out state calling “Is everyone ok”? Is funny an earthquake to them is as lightning as a hurricane on tornado is to most of us. I guess you really do learn as a child good from had, things to fear and things that aren’t so scary and it all depends on your parents and your surroundings. We are taught to teach own children when they’re young in the paths that they should walk and they will not town far from it. I wonder if that has something to do with people having the place they are raised in and almost always coming back.

Save the date; May 6th St. Andrews famous Barque chicken dinner. Tickets on sale now! Just call 765-2378 or 577-7777 to get yours before they are game. Remember limited sitting and limited tickets.

Another date to save March 21st St. Andrews Quad FREE lunch for everyone bring or send the children NOON to almost 2 on until the food is gone. Free tours of our facilities will be available. Come check us out and feel the love!!!

St. Andrews Priest Mother Heather Mueller is now visiting a local prison. Spreading God’s Love is our biggest job. and we so enjoy the job God has giving us. God’s Love is through our Sunday school. Remember teach ‘em while they’re young. Come visit our beautiful house of God. Our doors are open everyday from about 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. to anyone who wants to come in... light a candle, say a prayer, or just ponder your relationship with God. Until next time May the Peace of God be with you!

WEST SIDE URGENT CARE

765-1935 HOURS

Monday thru Friday 8:00am –9:00pm Saturday and Sunday 10:00am – 9:00pm 100 E North St. Taft CA

George and Billy Terry Owners 301 Tyler, Corner of Cedar and Tyler

Yard Sale Ads New Years Healthy Options Rosemary Chicken Salad Salad $6.95 Grilled Chicken Pesto Panini $6.95

$3.00

Gourmet Hot Dogs Hebrew National All Beef Hot Dogs on a 7” East Coast Bun California Dog East Coast Dog Pastrami Dog Chili Cheese Dog New York Dog Chicago Dog

Call

765-6550

149 Kern Street, Taft, CA 763-1740

March 3 - 9, 2016

Liberty Under Fire Why is Half of America Running to Socialism?

By Harold Pease, Ph. D We have previously demonstrated that presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, if elected, will not be the first to introduce socialism into mainstream America. Previous presidents have done so already and it has been in our diet for most of a hundred years. Both he and opponent Hillary Clinton would make militant socialist Eugene V. Debbs, founder of the Socialist Party of America (1901) and five-time presidential candidate, look like todays conservative republican. With a vote for either Sanders or Clinton many Americans are almost running to socialism. Why? The Athenian democracy idea profoundly changed the world that was ruled by monarchies; a king stayed in power and passed it on to posterity until removed. The “great idea” gave ever-larger portions of vote power to the masses but it had no brakes. When is society democratized enough? Should every man have an equal vote? Are they equally informed, equally intelligent, equally gifted? No, but as it expands the next level wants everything as well. Once tasted it enlarges until all have an equal participation despite their differences or ignorance.

Nearly 300 years after democracy was first introduced in Athens Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC), wrote of democracy’s inherent weakness, that being, when everyman is allowed to rise to the level his talent and industry permit him, some will become rich and others poor. The rich will always despise the poor, and the poor will always envy the rich. When the poor obtain the same vote power as the rich under a democracy, as they always will, given their greater numbers, they will use that power to take from the rich. It may take some time for this to happen because democracy does initially encourage the profit motive, which stimulates everyone’s desire to get rich. This is good for a society because to do so they invest in society, which creates additional business, that employ more people, that develop an ever-larger middle class. The middle class, Aristotle believed, should be the ruling class as it is closer to the poor and better understands their legitimate needs and, at the same time, it has enough of the world’s goods not to covet, thus destroy, the rich class. Still, in time the less productive will grow, especially when they can attach their vote to politicians who, to get elected, promise them ever more.

Again, history has demonstrated that democracy has no brakes and, once entered into, gradually transitions into socialism, which also has no brakes. At what moment is society democratized enough, or socialized enough? As things become freer for the non-productive part of society, and they believe themselves entitled thereto, more money must be confiscated from the productive middle and upper classes and it is the rich class and entrepreneurial middle class that risk their money to create the jobs. When has a poor man ever created a job for anyone? In time these classes cannot provide the money that is demanded of them to feed and otherwise subsidize the less productive class. They are disincentivized, and then destroyed, by ever-higher taxes. All too soon the definition of rich is ever lowered until it destroys the rich class and feeds on the middle class through excessive taxation—even until all are poor. Despite the promises, the only thing that socialism gives is slavery and shared poverty.

My point again, democracies have no brakes. They do not know how to stop, and failing to stop, always degenerate into socialism.

They do not have a limit. Aristotle recognized this when he wrote, ““Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.” When that understanding is lost, the force to democratize more increases as voting becomes more universal which is what democracies encourage. Shouldn’t everyone have an equal vote? Those in Athens came to believe so. Said Aristotle, “Democracy arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects; because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal” (Ibid.).

The Taft Independent As voting becomes more universal, vote power favors the poor as they, in time, become the majority. This process is accelerated, and corrupted, when politicians link government gift giving with their election. As the poor, as a class, always tend to favor government intervention and thus financial favors from government to their benefit, and since all government money comes from the middle and upper classes through ever increasing taxes, (presently 47% of the adult population pay no federal income tax and a good share of these make up the non-productive class) they eventually destroy the productive base of society as government takes over more of the economy by confiscation or regulation. The overriding principle is, the more socialism the higher the taxes and burden on the producing class.

As government controls ever more portions of the economy, democracy transcends to socialism. Again, at what point does democracy become socialism no one can say. Obamacare alone transferred one seventh of the economy to the federal government.

Sometime in this transition democracy ceases to be democracy although the term continues to be used, socialism more accurately describes the real system, hence Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s warning in 2009 to Fidel Castro, one a socialist the other a communist, “We have to be careful lest we become right of Obama.” It needs noting that both Clinton and Sanders are left of Barack Obama.

So why is half of America running to socialism? They first desire what is from the sweat of others. Then once given come to believe it owed them. Getting something for nothing has always been a powerful motive.

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Becky Ashcraft For all your Real Estate Needs Tholco Real Estate Group

2016 is forecast to be a great year to purchase real estate. The stock market goes up and down daily; but real estate is always a good safe investment. People will always need a place to live. Free list of all Taft, Maricopa, and Fellows/McKittrick Homes for Sale.

Get prequalified for a home loan or get a comparative market analysis of your property. Call Becky for an appointment or stop by, 915 N. 10th St., Suite 11, Taft.

661-342-3058 661-763-3344 BRE#00969396 beckyla@earthlink.com

8

SUDDEN DEATH JONAS KIRK MYSTER

BY DICK SNYDER, IV Devlin just looked at me, hard, took a sip of his coffee, and then looked up into the ceiling and moved some electrical impulses around in his head. “Well, let me tell you where we are.

We have a corpse but no evidence of a crime and no coroner’s report. Why don’t we meet again in a couple of days, and I’ll let you know if you are imagining things, or if the things you imagine truly are.”

“O.K., but let’s go to Denny’s for lunch. I like sleeping in during the morning, and they make the best strawberry shakes in the Cities.”

Devlin grimaced. “That stuff will make you fat.”

“And pancakes won’t?”

He just looked at me, sighed, reached for his wallet and said, “See you Wednesday…you buying today or then?”

“Then,” I quipped, “We may not make it til then.”

But, we did, and after a nice burger, surrounded with ketchup-laced fries, I drained a strawberry shake, and then started our word dance.

“Well, is there a crime to report?”

“Isn’t all crime reportable?” Devlin asked.

“Not for me, but for thee it is. What say, my community protector? Is there a private wrong that needs to be publicly righted?”

He wiped his lips, and chin too after I motioned to it, and then let the words slip out, “He was murdered.”

I stopped sipping my water chaser and just looked at him.

“Seriously?”

“Yep, but the coroner is not sure how. His heart stopped, that is for sure, but then, doesn’t the heart always stop when you die? Still, it didn’t appear that he had a heart attack, and a stroke seemed unlikely according to blood work. What puzzled the coroner, and still does, is that our victim had a potful of blood in his stomach, and he can’t seem to find out why.”

“Well,” I said, “the coroner may not have yet found the cause, but I am pretty sure that I know what it was. Blood in the stomach is either going to come from bleeding or a deep throat transfer of Type O through a tube. So where did the bleeding originate?”

Devlin just looked at me, “I give up…where?”

“Well, I have thoughts.”

“I have them too,” Devlin said tightly, “and right now I’m beginning to think that you should go away.”

“No, you don’t; you want me to give you an answer, and then go away.”

“I stand corrected. Let’s have it.”

“You buying?”

“It’s your turn.”

“I have thoughts…buy out my right to cover lunch,” I smiled and placed my hands along the backside of the booth and just waited for Devlin to puff up, watched his facial complexion turn bright red, and then give in.

It took almost thirty seconds. He must have been short on change.

“O.K., but just the shake, burger and fries. From this point on, you are on your own. So, what happened; how did he die?”

I paused, and tried to milk the drama a bit. Devlin started fidgeting, and then I began.

“This is my thought. This dude was killed by insertion, with force, of a long, thin knife-like pointed object into his nose.

Now ordinarily, if you shoved a tool up a person’s nostril it would travel into the cerebellum and create something like a frontal lobotomy. There would be blood, a lot of it.”

Devlin just said it softly, “Frontal lobotomy? That would be

The Taft Independent

one way to stop hearing about your ‘thoughts’, eh?”

I ignored him and went on.

“But, if the death tool did not go up his nose, but rather went from the bottom of the nostril opening aiming directly toward the back of his head, parallel with the jaw line, it would enter the sinus space, continue to the brain stem, pierce it and kill him instantly.”

Devlin just looked at me, thought then commented, “There would be blood; there would be reaction, involuntary muscle contractions; he would not just remain sitting.”

I had an answer for him. “What you are saying, Lieutenant, is likely true for most brain injuries, but if the knife entered the brain stem, there would be no muscular reactions.

Nerves are disrupted, muscles don’t react. And there is a good reason why there was no blood.”

“Really?” Devlin thought he had me here.

“Yes, with a caveat.” I smiled “You don’t like the way I knot my tie?” He was offended.

“No, I grinned, ‘caveat’ not ‘cravat’ which I submit to you, is no longer stylish. Fashion has moved on.

“I don’t like uncertainty.”

I just looked at him. This was fun, but he was starting to lose patience.

“O.K., Devlin,” I grinned, “Let’s not spoil a good breakfast,”

March 3 - 9, 2016

and I gave him the rest of the story.

“Clearly the knife did not hit an artery or you would have your blood. Sans that, do you know that word, Devlin, your victim probably shuddered once and then just sat there, dead. The cranial blood flowed down back into his esophagus and went right to his stomach. When the death tool came out, it stained his mustache, the only visual evidence of the crime. It was a quick murder, a clean murder and done long before the train ever stopped in St. Paul.”

“Sounds like you were right there,” he burped, gently thank God, then settled and looked at me, “Oh, yeah…you were.”

“I was,” I replied.

“So then,” Devlin lowered his voice, “You are talking about someone on board with the strength and resolve to place the knife where it belonged so suddenly that he didn’t even feel a nose tickle. Are we looking for someone with medical expertise?”

“Maybe, maybe…but we also need motive. Sometimes motive is more important than method,” I offered, “Sometimes a method is just a lucky strike.”

Copyright 2016 by Dick Snyder. Released to Taft Independent for one printing on March 3, 2016.

March 3 - 9, 2016

9

The Taft Independent

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Trinity Southern Baptist Church 400 Finley Drive We invite you to join us each week as we worship

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Sunday Bible Study 9:45 am Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 am Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 pm Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study 6:00 pm

Peace Lutheran Church- LCMS Taft- A caring community under Christ We welcome you to worship with us at peace lutheran church, 26 Cougar Court (across from the College). Worship service begins at 10:00 a.m.

Communion will be offered 1st and 3rd Sundays Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

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10

Classifieds

Classified Ads are $3.00 per issue for up to three lines, $5 per issue for Classified $2.00 per off up to 5 lines,Ads andare $7 per issue forline. up toPhone, 10 lines.fax, Yardmail Sale or adsdrop are free. your adfax, tomail the or Taft Independent.

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Payment can bebe made by cash, check, or credit Taft Independent210 508 CA 93268 Taft Independent 6thCenter St., Taft,St., CA Taft, 93268.

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We do estate sales. Let us make the job easy.

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Apply prior to Wednesday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. Salary DOE.

Help Wanted (Part time) Taft City School District is accepting applications for the positions of Cafeteria Server and Crossing Guards.

Employment process includes application screening, a written exam, interview, DOJ fingerprint clearance, and physical exam with drug screen.

These part-time, 10-month positions are 1.5 to 2.5 hours per day, with a salary range of $10.40$13.27 per hour in 6 steps. Application

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Classified application may also be filled out online at: www. taftcityschools.org Midway Elementary School District is hiring an Executive Secretary. Must have at least 3 years of experience and an Associate’s Degree. The deadline for applying is February 5th 2016 at 2p.m. Interviews will be scheduled following the deadline. For more information please call 768-4344 or pick up an application at Midway School, 259 “F” Street, Fellows, CA 93224.

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March 3 - 9, 2016

The Taft Independent

Sandy Creek Estates New Homes for Sale in Taft

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The Taft Independent

March 3 - 9, 2016

Catholic Religion Explained Part I of III Do Catholics Worship Statues?

“Catholics worship statues!” People still make this ridiculous claim. Because Catholics have statues in their churches, goes the accusation, they are violating God’s commandment: “You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow down to them or serve them” (Ex. 20:4–5); “Alas, this people have sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold” (Ex. 32:31).

It is right to warn people against the sin of idolatry when they are committing it. But calling Catholics idolaters because they have images of Christ and the saints is based on misunderstanding or ignorance of what the Bible says about the purpose and uses (both good and bad) of statues.

Anti-Catholic writer Loraine Boettner, in his book Roman Catholicism, makes the blanket statement, “God has forbidden the use of images in worship” (281). Yet if people were to “search the scriptures” (cf. John 5:39), they would find the opposite is true. God forbade the worship of statues, but he did not forbid the religious use of statues. Instead, he actually commanded their use in religious contexts!

God Said To Make Them People who oppose religious statuary forget about the many passages where the Lord commands the making of statues. For example: “And you shall make two cherubim of gold [i.e., two gold statues of angels]; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end; of one piece of the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be” (Ex. 25:18–20).

David gave Solomon the plan “for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

All this he made clear by the writing of the hand of the Lord concerning it all, all the work to be done according to the plan” (1 Chr. 28:18–19). David’s plan for the temple, which the biblical author tells us was “by the writing of the hand of the Lord concerning it all,” included statues of angels.

Similarly Ezekiel 41:17–18 describes graven (carved) images in the idealized temple he was shown in a vision, for he writes, “On the walls round about in the inner room and [on] the nave were carved likenesses of cherubim.”

The Religious Uses of Images During a plague of serpents sent to punish the Israelites during the exodus, God told Moses to “make [a statue of] a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it shall live. So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live” (Num. 21:8–9).

One had to look at the bronze statue of the serpent to be healed, which shows that statues could be used ritually, not merely as religious decorations.

Catholics use statues, paintings, and other artistic devices to recall the person or thing depicted. Just as it helps to remember one’s mother by looking at her photograph, so it helps to recall the example of the saints by looking at pictures of them. Catholics also use statues as teaching tools. In the early Church they were especially useful for the instruction of the illiterate. Many Protestants have pictures of Jesus and other Bible pictures in Sunday school for teaching children. Catholics also use statues to commemorate certain people and events, much as Protestant churches have three-dimensional nativity scenes at Christmas.

If one measured Protestants by the same rule, then by using these “graven” images, they would be practicing the “idolatry” of which they accuse Catholics. But there’s no idolatry going on in these situations. God forbids the worship of images as gods, but he doesn’t ban the making of images. If he had, religious movies, videos, photographs, paintings, and all similar things would be banned. But, as the case of the bronze serpent shows, God does not even forbid the ritual use of religious images.

It is when people begin to adore a statue as a god that the Lord becomes angry. Thus when people did start to worship the bronze serpent as a snake-god (whom they named “Nehushtan”), the righteous king Hezekiah had it destroyed (2 Kgs. 18:4).

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