Letters to the editor Nov. 12

A little due praise

Yesterday, Nov. 7, while walking the Rails to Trails I had a heart-warming experience regarding a Montana Department of Transportation plow truck driver.

As my little dog and I were crossing Whalebone Drive heading west I glanced up to see the plow truck heading east and the huge spray coming off the edge of plow. I was pretty sure we were going to get drenched! But almost as quick the spray stopped, the truck went by and I heard the blade strike the pavement; he/she must be a very skilled driver as pulling plow up and putting it back down after passing us was all done in just a matter of seconds.

I am writing as I would like to thank and commend the driver. I also would like to use this as an opportunity to thank all working for our city, county and state to take care of so many things in this valley. I know many times they may hear complaints more often than praise.

—Joani Young

Thank you to Round-Up program

What would the Flathead Valley do with Flathead Electric Co-op’s Round up for Safety Program?

The Museum at Central School has been the recipient of the Round Up grant a few times, for projects ranging from fixing our handicap access ramp to ensuring our emergency exit signs are in working order, all necessary upgrades to keep our visitors safe. These projects are essential to the Museum, and assistance from Round Up for Safety allows us to keep fulfilling our mission to educate our visitors and preserve Northwest Montana history. Thank you to everyone who “rounds up” to help support worthwhile projects in the community!

—Jacob Thomas, Kalispell

Care to wager your Social Security?

To Mr. Hill of Kalispell who recommended his school aged son ask Sen. Tester at a school assembly whether a Socialist nation has ever had long prosperity. You told your son to ask this because you said Tester and Democrats are Socialists. Your son was “mocked” by teachers for asking that. No one advocates your son be mocked. But maybe you should be for encouraging your son to ask such a bizarrely, out-of-context question in front of his peers. You set him up for mockery. How is Tester a Socialist as you allege? Is it because he and Democrats advocate not repealing Affordable Care/Medicare funding and protecting those with pre-existing conditions? If that’s your definition of Socialism, are you prepared to look seniors and the ill in the eye and take that away from them in the name of your apparent off-the-grid form of Conservatism? If that’s case, then send me your future Socialist-society Social Security checks and I’ll hand the money over to the people you voted to take health care away from so they can pay medical bills. After all, if you’re against any socialized funding, you should forfeit yours. Next time, let the kid ask his own question. I’m betting your first Medicare payment it’ll be more intelligent.

­—Mark Suppelsa, Bigfork

Echos of kindness

Do you hear what I hear? Listen past the political cheering (and booing). You’ll hear more cheering — for our youth sports teams, for our firefighters and law enforcers and for veterans. Listen closer. Can you hear the echoes of kindness? Listen for the rustle of neighbors raking leaves for those who can’t, for the rumble of vehicles carrying people to appointments and food to those who can’t get out, and for the friendly chat of folks checking up on each other.

There are many ways to make the sounds of kindness, and they all involve donating. Donate yarn or skill to make hats or scarves for Operation Gratitude or for chilly local folks; donate time to help seniors or children; donate food or funds to area food banks. You probably can think of many more ways to donate.

If you donate money to a food pantry, Town Pump will put a megaphone on your echo. Did you know that for the rest of this month, the Town Pump Foundation will match your donation, resulting in a 100 percent return in your investment for our community? That’s not an echo — that’s a shout! In the Polson area, Town Pump will match up to $12,000 for the Loaves and Fish Pantry, and it is matching funding in similar fashion all over the state, resulting in a roar of kindness.

It’s not hard to hear what I hear, and it’s not hard to find ways to donate. If you want to double your donation to a food pantry, you have only until the end of November, though. Let’s keep the sounds of kindness echoing.

Linda Kittle, Polson

Medicare sign-ups

Immanuel Lutheran Communities would like to encourage all older adults who are eligible to enroll in Medicare. Medicare is a government health insurance program administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. To be eligible for Medicare, one must be a legal permanent resident for the past five years or a U.S. citizen 65 years or older, or younger with a qualifying disability.

Open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

This is the time of year when Medicare participants can decide to stay with the plan they are currently on or change to a new plan. Regardless if you have been happy with your current plan, it is always better to review the plans every year, since they are constantly changing and upgrading what each plan covers.

In addition, if you are a senior eligible for Medicaid, you can access some of the most comprehensive care benefits in the state, in part due to privately managed plans and a large network of providers and care centers that extend farther than you might expect.

Between these two programs, seniors who qualify can be covered for the wide range of necessary insurance benefits that is needed as we age.

If you would like more information regarding Medicare, our local Area Agency on Aging is having a Medicare 101 Class on Nov. 20, Nov. 27 and Dec. 18. Please contact our Agency on Aging for more details.

—Jason R. Cronk is CEO of Immanuel Lutheran Communities

Expanded and improved Medicare

Expanded and Improved Medicare for All has benefits so clear and impressive, it is absurd for any informed American to not insist on Congress implementing H.R. 676. The U.S. spends twice as much per capita on health care as other industrialized nations, yet rank near bottom on nearly all health indicators. 30 million Americans still have no health insurance and another 40 million are underinsured. Medical bills are responsible for most bankruptcies, even in families with health insurance. Prescription dugs prices are the highest in the world. We spend $31 trillion per year on health care administrative costs. Expanded and Improved Medicare for All cuts those costs and saves $500 billion per year. Negotiated drug and medical device prices could save $150 billion yearly. These savings are more than enough to cover all Americans with comprehensive care, including dental, vision and prescriptions, with NO co-pays or deductibles. FUNDING through modest progressive taxes would be less than all current health care expenses for 95 percent of households. Care would remain privately delivered with free choice of doctors and hospitals. There would be no insurance companies’ maximizing profits. Employers would no longer provide health insurance. This is NOT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!

—Dr. Richard A. Damon, Bozeman