Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

The Union wised up and finally dumped Russ Steele’s column — the same week he asked “is it really true that local grown produce, which is sold at community farmers markets, is good for the environment?”

This weekend, Russ’ right-wing friend George Rebane writes that “even babies practice profile.” It is here.

“In a similar vein, we would rather the country continue flooding with illegal entrants through a porous border than use obvious, but not perfect, telltales of a fugitive alien to catch them. This political paradigm is so imbedded in our culture that our leaders use their own mea culpas to highlight profiling and continue the strick bans against it.”

We also are introduced to the imagery of “often seeing silver-haired Caucasian grandmothers being spread-eagled, while more plausible candidates for plastic explosives in their shorts are hustled through.”

Russ’ response: “I always look forward to George Rebane’s learned columns in The Union. Beyond learning something, there is always the fun of reading the comments by our local nut cases and rabid lefties who hide behind strange sounding monikers.” (Never mind that people who sign Russ’ blog don’t sign their full names).

Immigration is not exactly a burning issue in the foothills, though it is used to whip up fervor. I’m reminded of Dan Logue’s “Protect our borders” campaign signs in the middle of Butte County — or ours.

A good local paper focuses on local, relevant issues on its op-ed page. Most important, it also should provide opposing views, such as this week’s L.A. Times analysis that Arizona’s immigration law is likely to be struck down of longstanding principles that states do not have control over immigration policies. The Union gets the L.A. Times wire, but I haven’t see that story appear.

As a newspaper, you also have to respect your audience: In our county, a majority of voters chose Democrat Charlie Brown, not extreme conservative Tom McClintock. Vocal Tea Party supporter Barry Pruett lost to the incumbent clerk-recorder. And Democrat Terry Lamphier upset conservative Republican John Spencer.

The newspaper seems to be operating under the mistaken assumption that only conservative people read newspapers or advertise. With an older, shrinking population in our county that’s not a “growth strategy” — it’s a “survival” strategy.

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