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Hileman for Whitefish judge

Please join us in supporting William Hileman for Whitefish Municipal Court judge.

We have known Bill for many years and trust that he will perform his duties as judge with the same intelligence, honesty and integrity that we have come to respect. Bill is committed to our Whitefish community and the values we hold dear. We are confident that his decision making as a municipal judge will reflect those values, while meeting the high legal standards that the position requires.

Our vote is for William Hileman! —Linda and Charlie Maetzold, Whitefish

Heed George Washington’s warning

In this era of controlled mainstream media, it is refreshing to see that the Daily Inter Lake, through its “Montana Perspectives” and “Opinion” sections, provides its readers with both sides of current issues — as it should in good civil discourse.

I urge Montanans and all Americans to be aware of the natural inclination of lockstep adherence to party policy driven by unelected power-hungry “bosses” who claim to know more than their “juvenile thinking” members.

An example of this exhortation to robotic thinking is the “Gas Tax” Garner debate, with his defenders ignoring “back room deals” and “scratch my back” politics of legislators in favor of excusing anti-people tax hikes for the sake of GOP unity.

George Washington, in his Farewell Address to his friends and fellow citizens, warned “against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.” Mr. Washington went on to instruct us that in elected popular governments, “it (the spirit of party) is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.”

It’s not time tyo grow up; it’s time to wake up! —Willie Douglass, Marion

Fix budget crisis

I am a Libby resident and a mom of two beautiful kids. I’m deeply concerned that the budget cuts by the state Legislature will harm my family and our wonderful community.

I currently support my family by working as an in-home caregiver for four clients. The 10 percent cut to senior and long-term care threatens the entire industry that provides care services for our seniors and people with disabilities. If I lose hours, or worst-case scenario, my job is eliminated, I don’t know how I’d make it.

I also worry about what my clients would do without my service. Three of the people I care for depend on me for everything, including preparing their meals, so I worry about their survival if long-term care is no longer funded. Without my in-home caregiving services, they would be unable to stay in their home and forced into a more expensive and impersonal institutions. No one wants to leave their home, and countless studies show quality of life and length of life go down once institutionalized.

Legislators need to do their job. They need to return to Helena and find revenue solutions to fix the budget crisis they’ve created. Their job is to improve the lives of Montanans, and right now, they are failing us. —Rachel Ray, Libby

Thinning forests is a necessity

I am responding to the opinion column in the Sept. 3 Inter Lake titled “Funding prioritizes fighting fires, not avoiding them,” by Russ Vaagen of Colville, Washington.

Great article. Thanks for educating some of the citizens in this crazy world we have become. Your darn right these forests should be thinned out. What a great way that would be to provide work for the masses and no schooling required. The great outdoors... lumber camps all over the place for our young people to learn how to work and really enjoy what real freedom is all about.

You want to reduce forest fires, start thinning our forests. We the people own the forests, not the other way around.

Also, these politicians work for us — the people. They are the servant of we the people, so why is it so easy to make it look like it’s the other way around.

We all know what any forest should look like, for the safety of everyone, and that is a forest than we can see through. That’s the key to managing our forests properly. —Marcel Guy Cote, Libby

Republicans are party of haters

I have become convinced that the Republican Party is the party of haters and whiners. I read the nasty bilge that is written about Rep. Frank Garner and am amazed. Here is an honest man who has the temerity to understand that he was elected to represent ALL Montanans. But the haters bash him.

Could one of you out there come up with three —three! — things the Republicans have done to improve this country for everyone? You know, done things for the common good?

And this can be a national challenge, I would ask you to name one thing, allowing everyone to name the National Highway System done by President Eisenhower 60 years ago. Come on, name three things the Republicans have supported that benefits the vast majority of Americans. —Dan King, Bigfork

Ex-police chief endorses Hileman

In March of 1990 I was appointed chief of police for the city of Whitefish. I served in that position until March of 2001.

During my time in office, I had many contacts with William “Bill” Hileman as the law firm of Hedman, Hileman and Lacosta was working for the city of Whitefish as its legal counsel.

Over the years, I observed that Bill was very knowledgeable of the Montana Code Annotated, and the Whitefish Municipal Code. He was always available to assist the Whitefish Police Department in the performance their law-enforcement duties for the good of the city of Whitefish. With his years of experience in the legal profession, he understands “the letter of the law” and “the spirit of the law.” I believe as a judge he will make honest and sound decisions from the bench, and I support his candidacy for Whitefish Municipal Court judge. —William J. “Bill” La Brie, Whitefish

Protect our monuments with National Guard

The Bible says the enemy has come but to kill and destroy. So what do we have every time we turn the news on?

Those monuments that are such an eyesore to a very small group in our nation were built to remind us that our freedoms have come to us at a great price and that has included many years, many broken homes and lives. It has, under God, developed into the greatest nation ever seen on this world.

I suggest our president declare all monuments as national property that will be protected by the National Guard, equipped with tear gas and live ammo if that should be needed. Any mass trouble may be treated as fomenting riots and treated accordingly. I believe any spoiled child will do everything he can get away with. Maybe a lot of this noise we hear is basically from grown-up kids that were never taught that others also have rights that should be protected. —Joe Kaufman, Kalispell