Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, November 5, 2016

B4

OPINION 

DICK Polman

Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 5, 2016 

MOUNTAIN VIEWS NEWS VOTERS 
GUIDE 
A very diverse group of readers influence the 
recommendations below, however, as I say in every election, I 
don’t care who you vote for, please, JUST VOTE! 
S. Henderson, Editor 
PRESIDENT: HILLARY CLINTON 
U.S. SENATE: KAMALA HARRIS 
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: 
27th Congressional District – JUDY CHU Representing (Partial 
listing) Altadena, Arcadia, East Pasadena, Monrovia (Part), Pasadena 
(Part), Rosemead,San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena 
28th Congressional District - ADAM SCHIFF: Burbank (Part), 
Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Los Angeles (Part), 
Pasadena (Part), West Hollywood. 
32nd Congressional District: GRACE NAPOLITANO 
Duarte, Monrovia (Part), South Monrovia Island, 
CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE 
District 42 ED HERNANDEZ 
District 29 JOSH NEWMAN 
District 25 MICHAEL ANTONOVICH 
ANTHONY PORTANTINO 
CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY 
49 ED CHAU Arcadia/Monrovia (Part) 
48 ROGER HERNANDEZ Duarte/Monrovia (Part) 
41 CHRIS HOLDEN (Partial Listing) Altadena, East 
Pasadena, Monrovia (99%), Pasadena, So. Pasadena and Sierra Madre 
LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS – DISTRICT 5 
KATHRYN BARGER 
BALLOT MEASURES: 
STATEWIDE (17) 
YES ON 51 SCHOOL BONDS. FUNDING FOR K-12 SCHOOL AND 
COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACILITIES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. 
YES ON 52 MEDI-CAL HOSPITAL FEE PROGRAM. INITIATIVE 
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. 
NO ON 53 REVENUE BONDS. STATEWIDE VOTER APPROVAL. 
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. 
NO ON 54 LEGISLATURE. LEGISLATION AND PROCEEDINGS. 
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND 
STATUTE. 
YES ON 55 TAX EXTENSION TO FUND EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE. 
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. 
YES ON 56 CIGARETTE TAX TO FUND HEALTHCARE, TOBACCO USE 
PREVENTION, RESEARCH, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND 
STATUTE. 
YES ON 57 CRIMINAL SENTENCES. PAROLE. JUVENILE CRIMINAL 
PROCEEDINGS AND SENTENCING. INITIATIVE 
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. 
YES ON 58 ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION. 
INITIATIVE STATUTE. 
YES ON 59 CORPORATIONS. POLITICAL SPENDING. FEDERAL 
CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS. LEGISLATIVE ADVISORY 
QUESTION. 
YES ON 60 ADULT FILMS. CONDOMS. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS. 
INITIATIVE STATUTE. 
NO ON 61 61 STATE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PURCHASES. PRICING 
STANDARDS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. 
YES ON 62 DEATH PENALTY. INITIATIVE STATUTE. 
YES ON 63 FIREARMS. AMMUNITION SALES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. 
NO ON 64 MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE. 
NO ON 65 CARRYOUT BAGS. CHARGES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. 
NO ON 66 DEATH PENALTY. PROCEDURES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. 
YES ON 67 BAN ON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS. REFERENDUM. 
COUNTYWIDE MEASURES – (2) 
A REGIONAL PARK AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 
Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks, Open Space, Beaches, Rivers 
Protection, and Water Conservation Measure. To replace expiring local 
funding for safe, clean neighborhood/ city/ county parks; increase safe 
playgrounds, reduce gang activity; keep neighborhood recreation/ 
senior centers, drinking water safe; protect beaches, rivers, water 
resources, remaining natural areas/ open space; shall 1.5 cents be 
levied annually per square foot of improved property in Los Angeles 
County, with bond authority, requiring citizen oversight, independent 
audits, and funds used locally? YES 
M METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY 
Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan. To improve freeway 
traffic flow/safety; repair potholes/sidewalks; repave local streets; 
earthquake retrofit bridges; synchronize signals; keep 
senior/disabled/student fares affordable; expand rail/subway/bus 
systems; improve job/school/airport connections; and create jobs; 
shall voters authorize a Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan 
through a . ¢ sales tax and continue the existing . ¢ traffic relief tax 
until voters decide to end it, with independent audits/oversight and 
funds controlled locally? YES 
SUSAN Henderson

Mountain 
Views

News

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR

Susan Henderson

PASADENA CITY 
EDITOR

Dean Lee 

EAST VALLEY EDITOR

Joan Schmidt

BUSINESS EDITOR

LaQuetta Shamblee

PRODUCTION

Richard Garcia

SALES

Patricia Colonello

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John Aveny 

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Joe Frontino

CONTRIBUTORS

Chris Leclerc

Bob Eklund

Howard Hays

Paul Carpenter

Kim Clymer-Kelley

Christopher Nyerges

Peter Dills 

Rich Johnson

Merri Jill Finstrom

Rev. James Snyder

Dr. Tina Paul

Katie Hopkins

Deanne Davis

Despina Arouzman

Renee Quenell

Marc Garlett

Keely Toten

DIFFERENT BUT 
NOT DIVIDED 

Different: adj. not the same as another or 
each other; unlike in nature

Divided: verb. separate or be separated 
into parts

Well, this is the last weekend before the 
United States of America elects a new President. Note, the UNITED 
States of America. The very fabric of this country is our diversity 
of thought and opinion, ancestry and culture, which separates us as 
individuals while we remain, “one nation, indivisible….”, not divided. 
And even though the mainstream media, social media and one of the 
Presidential Candidates insists that as a country we are divided, we 
are not!

In a few weeks, the nation will also celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday 
and many of us will sit down with family and/or close friends and the 
discussions will absolutely display the ‘differences’ within the cocoon 
of our families and loved ones. But, we won’t be divided. Many 
will argue, insist that their recollection of events, or their opinions 
or their positions are the only right ones. Others will disagree with 
effervescence. BUT when we push back from the table, give hugs all 
around and leave, you will still be a united, committed family.

That’s America. That’s how it always has been and hopefully, it will 
remain. That doesn’t mean we are perfect, but that is the basis of our 
existence. For us to keep the pieces of our fabric together, however, we 
are going to have to start recognizing what the world has become, and 
deal with the reality of changing times that seem to be determined to 
tear us apart. 

For instance, with the onslaught of Social Media, infiltrating the 
minds of voters with misinformation is far too easy. It is far more 
insidious than the bully pit of the early 20th century. Even the 
internet’s Bully in Chief’s own wife, Melania Trump acknowledges 
that social media has become an unhealthy environment. And while 
she was referring to cyber bullying and its impact on children, what 
about when children see adults who put themselves in the public eye 
to be leaders use social media to bully and send their twisted brand of 
hatred viral? Equally disturbing is what social media has become to 
adults who, for the most part, still operate under the assumption that 
anything put out before the public is true. Well my friends, that is 
no longer the case. Anyone who has a computer or smart phone can 
spew forth as many lies and innuendos as they want. The higher the 
profile of the person posting the misinformation, the more credible 
it becomes to the unsuspecting masses, and that is more dangerous 
than any viral disease. Seriously. 

Another disturbing truth about the proliferation of misinformation is 
that once it is out there, there’s no reeling it back in. On Friday, a Fox 
News Reporter apologized for his misleading indictment statement 
regarding the FBI reopening the Clinton email investigation last 
week. That is not what Director Comey said and that is not what 
happened. However, what did Trump’s campaign manager have to 
say about the retraction, “The damage is done to Hillary Clinton 
that no matter how it’s being termed, the voters are hearing it…..”. 

These are all things that make this election so heartbreaking for 
me, regardless who wins. First of all, the fact that a person with 
absolutely no demonstrated ability to serve anyone other than 
himself has manipulated himself to the top of the Republican 
ticket, bullying his way right past 100’s of well qualified, 
experienced Republicans. The other is the bastardization of 
the concept of free speech, and the impact of the two issues 
have become ingratiated into the decision that we will make on 
Tuesday.

Let’s face it. Donald Trump is a charlatan. He is a liar and a 
predator, as demonstrated by his own words on video, and quite 
frankly in my opinion, mentally unstable. He is not the leader 
of a ‘movement’ but the master manipulator of lies, deceit and 
propaganda that divert attention from who he is. He started out 
the gate with the sophomoric tactic of being the first to call names 
so that any response to the contrary seems like the banter of a 6 
year. “No I’m not, you are”. Need examples:

Trump made about Hillary: The Truth

She’s A Liar He lies 70% of the time 
he opens his mouth 
(Source: Politico)

She’s Crooked Not 1 lawsuit or charge against 
her; More than 3500 against 
him including defrauding 
students and seniors

She’s Hiding Stuff We’ve seen her Tax Returns

 Where are yours?

She started Birther Movement He not only started it, he 
continued to propagate the lie 
until a few weeks ago.

And I could go on and on. 

All his tactics are aimed at dividing the differences between us 
to his advantage. If he had a platform (and he doesn’t because 
he changes his positions on EVERYTHING). If he had a plan, 
then this country might be able to rationally decide whose plan is 
better and make an informed decision. Instead, he and his team 
of unsavory surrogates (and I’m being generous), spend their time 
demonizing his opponent and anyone else who doesn’t do or say 
what he wants. (Remember his remarks on FBI Director Comey 
two months ago compared to his love for Comey this week?).

And that’s what they’ve done the entire campaign. Their motto 
isn’t Make America Great Again, it is, as shown by their actions, 
“Let Us Divide and Conquer”.

So, the question becomes, are we going to knowingly allow Donald 
Trump to define who we are as a nation and break us apart? Are 
we going to elect someone who is a few short sentences away from 
plunging us into war, civil unrest and economic chaos? Or are we 
going to get back to the business of being Americans, where we 
learn to live and work together despite our differences because of 
our common love of this country? 

For certain we have problems that need attention, but we don’t 
need anyone as our ‘leader’ that will only pour salt on the wounds. 
Yes, we are different and that’s great. But we are not divided. Just 
as you would not let anyone come into your home and divide it, 
don’t let this man move into the 
White House with the intent of 
using chaos and deception to 
divide this country. He may 
think that’s the right thing to 
do but I don’t. Do you?

If you haven’t already voted, 
please vote on Tuesday and vote 
for Hillary Clinton. She is the 
only one in this race that can 
move us forward. Remember, 
“We Are Stronger Together”.

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