Letters to the editor Feb. 3

Drastic mistakes by county health department

I am concerned about the removal of two members of the County Health Board: Drs. Myerowitz and Miller. We were lucky to have them on the Board influencing rational health decisions. They worked to better the lives of the people of the Flathead. Their removal was abrupt and improper, which is not the way to thank good and competent people for their service. We need more physicians like them.

About Dr. Annie Bukacek, one of the replacements: while I appreciate her desire to serve, I wish it were someone in line with mainstream medicine. Dr. Bukacek appears not to believe in herd immunity. The principal is: if not enough people are vaccinated, then even those who are, can get sick. Our vaccination rate for measles is below the level for robust herd immunity, and has recently dropped. A disease like measles would devastate not only the health of the Valley but it could devastate business here.

If measles or any vaccine-preventable disease spread through the valley, KRMC would be overwhelmed, and many might die. If anyone in the valley had a medical emergency, good luck getting treated with no beds available and perhaps a strict quarantine. Do we want a Wuhan here?

I worry about Dr. Bukacek influencing Board decisions concerning our vaccination program. Many people rely on the Health Department for initial and continuing vaccinations. They also travel abroad and need additional vaccines to keep them safe, as well as the rest of us when they return. I think we should have physicians on the Board who understand modern medical science and vigorously support vaccination. The reputation of the valley will significantly suffer if we do not fix these Health Board problems. We need to replace Dr. Bukacek with two physicians supporting vaccination.

­—Lynne Bradley, Kalispell

Quality of education

The Jan. 26 opinion piece by Eric Feaver, president of Montana Federation of Public Employees, is nothing more than a solicitation for union membership.

The primary purpose of the school system is to educate its students. My experience with four children and 13 grandchildren has been that the quality of education is generally of a higher quality in those educational systems affiliated in some tangential manner with religious entities. My son attended K-4 at a church affiliated school. He spent the fifth grade in a public school. He was so far ahead in his education than his classmates that we returned him to a school affiliated with a church for the sixth grade through graduation (with high honors) from high school. He obtained his bachelors degree from a nationally known university, also church affiliated.

It should be noted that at no time was my son subjected to religious “propaganda” by any of these aforementioned institutions. Schools that are legitimately affiliated with a religious entity should not be penalized by withholding funds to further their educational pursuit. “Separate But Equal” was struck down decades ago.

­—William J. Tewksbury, Marion

Let the voters decide

Weather Trump broke the law to benefit his political ambition, or he was just being Trump. It is all down to what you the voter believes. I was not for this impeachment, mainly I already knew the outcome. Trump will be acquitted by the Republicans and a few Democrat senators.

As for the GOP message, they are all in sync (listen to Sen. Steve Daines CBS recorded message Jan. 24). Conservative groups decided that ads attacking Democrats were not enough; they want to hear from the president’s supporters in person. Their message: Acquit Trump now. Do not call witnesses. If you vote against Trump, you will find your head on a pike (quoted by Nancy Cordes; CBS News’ chief congressional correspondent Jan 24).

Now if Trump is guiltless, then why not hear from witnesses? What is he afraid of?

I am not a Trump fan, I did not vote for him in 2016 and I won’t vote for him in 2020. Not because I don’t like the guy, it’s because he’s not qualified. The infamous dealmaker has never really made a successful deal. He has used investors money in his failed projects. To name a few: Trump Airlines, Trump University, Trump Casinos, Trump Soho hotel, Trump Foundation, and let us not forget, Trump Steaks. However, his Mar-A-Logo Resort is making a large profit, thanks to the U.S. taxpayers. “Trump has spent 123 days golfing, or 1/5 of his term, at a cost to taxpayers of $72,181,957 (Seattle Times, July 27). After only nine months in office, President Trump and family had already spent $147 million on personal travel, amounting to one-and-a-half times as much as President Obama and family spent in the eight years of the latter’s presidency.

Impeach? Let the voters decide.

­—Frank DiNenna, Lakeside