Editor:

In April of 2011, there were serious negative implications towards citizens of Syria who challenged and protested against the authoritarian like government they lived in. Protesters were killed for their activism by troops, which caused many Syrian citizens to rebel and fight for their basic social rights. Ultimately, the controversy resulted in a civil war between these two parties who feuded over a style of government. Recently, there have been claims that Syrian officials have been using chemical weapons against their own citizens. The Obama administration felt that these acts by al-Assad were inhumane and that the United States needed to set a degree of limitation in the current civil war in the Middle East. Al-Assad’s regime has tested the supposed consequences of the Obama administration and will not back down to United States authority. Now, the United States is faced in a dilemma on whether a war on Syria should be declared.

According to the article titled “Syria Death Toll: More than 110,000 Dead In Conflict” by the Huffington Post in September 2013, “The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the toll since the beginning of the 29-month uprising now stands at 110,371 people, with at least 40,146 civilians killed including nearly 4,000 women and more than 5,800 children.” The United States is trying to promote global peace and enforce their power as world police, but wouldn’t a war just add more violence to both Syrian citizens and American troops? According to October 2013 statistic on AntiWar.com, there have been 32,021 American soldiers that have been wounded from the Iraq War. The United States needs to learn from its mistakes.

The national interests of the United States are to not invade Syria. Avoiding intervention will help save the lives of Syrians, as well as American troops. While the United States has made a red line that should not be crossed, it is not worth the unfortunate effects of war. Policy makers and government officials of the United States need to make nonintervention in Syria as a way to promote global peace, not to start another war.

Karan Arora

Antioch

Provided by Dr. Brandon Roberts

Every child deserves to live a healthy life. This is a key premise and focus of The 100 Year Lifestyle. The choices you make for them and the choices you teach them to make for themselves will be their gateway to a healthy or unhealthy life.

The good news is that by teaching them healthy choices, you will immediately help children live healthier. The bad news is that children are being bombarded with chemical, physical and emotional stress from day one. So much so, that this generation of babies may be the first in recent history to see a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

Birth trauma, prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs and toxins from the environment combined with an exponential increase in the number of vaccinations, can place babies in a chronic fight or flight, stress, reaction that can lead to all types of health problems. This assault on immune and nervous systems can cause them to fidget, chew on things inappropriately, lose focus, and sleep irregularly. 

The decreasing health of our children is alarming. 1 out of 6 children is labeled as learning disabled. 1 out of 8 is in Special Education classes.  In the 1970s, 1 out of 25,000 children were diagnosed with Autism.  In the 1980s the rate increased to a staggering 1 in every 10,000. Today it is about out of every 50 for girls and every 32 for boys.These numbers are absolutely unacceptable.

There are millions of prescriptions filled each year for children. 25% of children in the United States are on a daily chronic medication. Many of these, such as Ritalin, are in the same category as cocaine and speed, highly addictive and considered to be a gateway drug.

The number of recommended vaccines for children by the time they are 18 years old is now 49 doses of 14 vaccines. In 1989, it was only about 11 doses.

Ask yourself, “Are kids healthier now than they were 50 years ago?”  They can be. If children were raised using The 100 Year Lifestyle model of FitN²ESS (Neurology, Nutrition, Endurance, Strength and Structure), they would be able to experience a life without limits and optimize the expression of their innate intelligence and potential.

Simple lifestyle changes can bring amazing results and focus. Drug use in children would be lower and they would grow up having faith in the incredible ability of the body to perform and function at its best without medication. Their potential would be limitless!

Start by eating whole, organic, nutrient-packed food, getting enough exercise and plenty of rest. Children have a lot of natural energy and not expressing this energy through creative play and physical activity can cause outbursts, stress and anxiety. 

We live our lives based on the function of our nerve system. If it’s clear and there is no interference to it, the Innate Intelligence inside each of us will work properly. The millions of reactions that need to take place in our body every second of our life would flow unimpeded.

Getting regular chiropractic checkups and Lifestyle Care can locate vertebral subluxations in the spine and remove interference to the nervous system, making children more adaptable to the environment.

Children living The 100 Year Lifestyle have the opportunity to live better, more productive lives every day for 80, 90, 100 years and beyond. Contact a 100 Year Lifestyle Licensed Affiliate Chiropractor in your area to learn more.

Roberts is a Chiropractor at Deer Valley Chiropractic. To learn more about Dr. Brandon Roberts and The 100 Year Lifestyle visit www.drbrandonroberts.com.

References

1. http://environmentaldefence.ca/articles/new-report-contains-first-its-kind-evidence-canadian-children-are-born-pre-polluted-toxic-c

2. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/features/birthdefects-dd-keyfindings.html

3. http://www.autismtoday.com/articles/Epidemic%20of%20autism.asp

4. National Health Statistics Reports, #65, march 20, 2013

5. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203731004576046073896475588.htmll

6. Official Recommended vaccine schedules by the ACIP, AAP, AAFP

This week, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that 7,800 support staff members are being furloughed at regional offices around the country. On Wednesday, October 9, 2013, VA Secretary Shinseki testified in a House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing on how the current, temporary government cutback will affect claims processing.  There is already a severe backlog in the processing of claims at the VA regional offices.  Upon hearing the news of the furlough and after questioning Sec. Shinseki, Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton) introduced the Veterans Services Support Act to ensure that Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion can continue to work alongside VA employees at VA regional offices during the shutdown, providing invaluable assistance to the Nation’s veterans.

“The furloughing of nearly 8,000 staff members at the VA is only making a bad situation worse.  Veterans depend on being able to call their regional office to check on their claims, and with the support staff missing, many of these calls may go unanswered.  VSOs provide a critical role in helping veterans develop claims, assisting VA employees, and making sure veterans have all of the information they need to submit their claims,” said Congressman McNerney.  “My bill is a commonsense solution to make sure these volunteers can continue their work with our veterans and help their claims to be processed despite the government shutdown.”

VSOs provide valuable volunteer assistance to veterans and their families throughout the country, helping veterans maneuver the VA system and navigate the complex claims application process.  VSO representatives often work in VA regional offices, acting as liaisons between veterans and VA employees and providing guidance and expertise to claims processors.  VSOs are an essential component of the VA and provide invaluable assistance to our nation’s veterans.  Unfortunately, the government cutback has prevented VSOs from providing their expert volunteer service at VA regional offices, despite the fact that these are completely volunteer organizations, operating at no expense to the federal government.

The halt in funding for the VA has already led to claims processing delays for 1,400 veterans per day.  Before the shutdown, employees who process benefits claims had been working overtime to help reduce the backlog of claims, but the government shutdown has led to overtime being eliminated.  Without action, the already large backlog of disability claims stands to increase dramatically.

“The brave men and women who have served our country deserve to receive the benefits they have earned.  They have sacrificed to protect our way of life, and it is our responsibility to take action to make sure that we honor their service.  The Veterans Services Support Act will ensure that VSOs can continue to do the good work they do for our veterans,” said Congressman McNerney.

The Veterans Services Support Act is cosponsored by Rep. Walter Jones, Rep. Corrine Brown, Rep. Mike Thompson, and Rep. Rush Holt.

“On behalf of the 2.4 million members of The American Legion, I would like to express support for the Veterans Service Support Act. VSOs provide valuable volunteer assistance to veterans and their families throughout the country, helping veterans maneuver the VA system and navigate the complex claims application process.   Unfortunately, the government shutdown has prevented VSOs from providing their expert volunteer service to veterans at VA regional offices.  Your legislation would ensure those VSOs continue to provide their critical service, even as disruptions in government funding stymie the regular operation of the Department of Veterans Affairs.  This critical lifeline of aid is vital, and your bill has the vision to see past partisan politics and make sure those best able to help America’s veterans are able to do so. Again, The American Legion supports passage of this legislation, and applauds your leadership in addressing this critical issue facing our nation’s service members and veterans.” – Daniel M. Dellinger, National Commander, American Legion

“Veterans’ claims are time-sensitive. This legislation will ensure that the veterans are not penalized because of closed VA offices. This legislation will keep the pipeline open for claims by veterans and their dependents and help protect their date of claim, and this bill will ensure that VSOs will continue to have access to help veterans with their claims.” – Ron Green, San Joaquin County Veterans’ Services Officer

“As the commander of American Legion District 11, I want to thank Congressman McNerney for all his support for veterans and keeping our concerns and welfare a priority. It is critical that during this government shutdown the veterans of our region still have access to their VSOs to help them with the claims process.” – Tino Adame, Commander of American Legion District 11

You can view the video of Congressman McNerney questioning Sec. Shinseki at Wednesday’s hearing here.

Only 18% of the federal government workers are currently on furlough and 82% are still at work during what some are calling the government “shutdown.”

Dear Editor,

As a member of the Antioch Unified School District Board of Education, I recognize that our primary goal as a board is to ensure the safety of all Antioch students. Our capacity to do that relies heavily on the partnerships within and outside the school system. PG&E has continuously provided support to our school by safely operating the Gateway Generating Station, rebuilding the Antioch City Park after a senseless act of arson, and supporting the development of the Antioch Community Center so that we can provide educational opportunities for our city’s youth through specialty programs focusing on the environment and sustainability.

Because of our successful partnership, the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion deeply saddened our board and the entire Antioch community. We were concerned about what this type of explosion may signal about the safety of our local infrastructure. It also left many parents wondering if an outdated pipeline existed near or around their child’s school.

Since then, I am happy to see the significant progress PG&E has made in rebuilding the trust of our parents and community members. After the disaster, PG&E has made critical leadership changes, paid over $70 million in restitution to victims, and, most important, has invested over $2.2 billion in pipeline and infrastructure safety upgrades.

Now that three years have passed since the tragedy, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) staff has recommended a fine so severe it ranks as one of the largest penalties on record, estimated at more than $4 billion including the $2.2 billion PG&E had previously made in pipeline safety upgrades. A large portion of the additional $2.5 billion fine, $300 million, will be directed to the state’s general fund; instead of the safety and infrastructure upgrades that so many of our communities desperately need.

I urge CPUC to focus its attention on safety and infrastructure upgrades and not the political needs of Sacramento. This is one opportunity where we can stand up and demonstrate to parents and families that their children’s safety matter to all of us.

Respectfully,

Joy Motts

President, Antioch Unified School Board of Education

Editor:

Vote “NO” on Antioch’s proposed Measure “C” General Fund Sales Tax.  It’s not a dedicated Police Tax. This General Fund Tax can be used for whatever any Council majority (3) wants!  Measure “C” increases your Sales Tax to 9 cents on the $1 for the taxable items purchased.  Don’t be fooled by their misrepresentations, questionable claims on their misleading signs and mailers!

The claimed police manpower shortage situation has been greatly created and contributed to by the Antioch Police themselves!  It’s also been a result of the weak City Council majorities, City Manager, City staff, unknowing volunteer groups purposely misled, and even the news media who don’t investigate or expose their pretentious charades.  They’ve allowed this to happen, not you!

The APOA always vigorously insisted on pay and benefit increase for themselves, not more manpower when given the choice!  Once the highly paid Police got what they wanted for themselves they then cried out about the lack of manpower and pushed for the need for more taxes (e.g., – the APOA’s President Tom Fuhrman signed the Argument In Favor)!  Do you really know what they’re paid and compensated in Antioch?  Well, we do!  Police recently received 9% in wage increases and an additional 4% more effective on 9/1/13, with more guaranteed yearly increases, costly multiyear contracts, and are keeping their generous “3% at 50” retirement package (where they can retire with 100% of their highest pay)!

Some outrageous Antioch Police and City estimated salaries’ and benefits’ costs are; City Manager $350,000; Chief $330,000; Lts. $285,000; Sgts. $240,000; Corporals $200,000; Officers $180,000.  The public gets far less, and some with no retirement pay at all. It’s disgraceful!

They’re again using scare tactics to just tax you more!  This tax increase is unnecessary!  Increasing existing taxes isn’t the solution!  More taxes benefits those favoring its passage and those receiving future increased raises, benefits, and extremely generous pensions!  You shouldn’t pay for their uncontrolled overspending and mismanagement!

Property values are continuing to increase and as adjustments are made the City will receive more tax revenue!  The State has recently raised gasoline taxes by 3.5 cents more per gallon!  We have continuing increases in costs for our foods, utilities, sewer, groceries, medical, and unemployment! Antioch’s already raised water, garbage rates, business fees, etc.  Enough already!

City officials must do more to cut costs, or get out and let others do the right things!  Stop overspending, and definitely cut back excessive salaries and benefits for those overcompensated employees.

Vote “NO” on Antioch’s Measure “C”.

CITIZENS FOR DEMOCRACY

Ralph A. Hernandez, Chairperson and former Antioch City Council Member

By Sgt. Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 8:05 p.m. the Antioch Police Department received calls of shots fired in the 2200 block of Lopez Drive. While officers were enroute additional reports came in of a subject down. Upon arrival officers found a 27 year old male down in the front yard of a residence who had sustained gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later. Details are limited at this time and the investigation is ongoing.

Anybody having any information is asked to contact the Antioch Police Department, Detective Meads at (925) 779-6884. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Frazier, DeSaulnier support another anti-family bill by a San Francisco legislator

Commentary by Allen Payton

Once again, California’s Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill into law that undermines the family and morality in our state.

This time he signed into law a bill, SB 274, by Democrat Senator Mark Leno from San Francisco, allowing children to legally have more than two parents. Brown vetoed a similar bill, last year.

According to a press release from Leno’s office, “Senate Bill 274 allows courts to recognize the rights and responsibilities of each parent if recognizing only two parents would be detrimental to the child.”

It was sponsored by the Children’s Advocacy Institute and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

SB 274 becomes state law on January 1, 2014.

Also, once again, Antioch’s representatives in Sacramento, State Assemblyman Jim Frazier and State Senator Mark DeSaulnier have both voted for this type of legislation, allowing San Francisco morals to permeate our state. (See vote info here)

Earlier this year they voted for what I call the gender-bender bathroom bill for school children (AB 1266 by San Francisco Democrat Assemblyman Tom Ammiano), allowing kids to determine what sex they and then use the bathrooms and locker rooms of the opposite sex, as well as the bill (AB 154) making it easier to get an abortion, by allowing non-doctors to perform the medical procedure. (See vote info here and here)

Why do the Democrats in Sacramento do this? Because they coalesce with the LGBT community, which is one of their bases of support during elections.

Fortunately, a referendum effort is in process on

I’m pretty sure that voters of Contra Costa, Eastern Alameda and Solano Counties didn’t elect either Frazier, a self-proclaimed Catholic nor the Jesuit-educated DeSaulnier, to approve of such legislation. We sent them to Sacramento to solve our economic and budget problems. And that’s what they should be focusing on and resisting this type of legislation. It’s time they both grew backbones and stood up to the extreme elements in their party and legislators in our capital and voted against them and their anti-family bills.

If you’d like to help gather signatures to put the referendum on the ballot to repeal AB 1266, visit http://privacyforallstudents.com/.