Letters to the editor Jan. 24

Fuller takes on role of the ‘elite’

Rep. John Fuller (HD 8, Kalispell) is supporting two bills in the House on transgender issues. Each bill takes complex, sensitive issues regarding transgender out of the hands of the families and medical personal directly affected (in the case of the bill limiting medical procedures) or out of the hands of state athletic officials (in the case of transgender athletes) and uses the sledgehammer of state law to impose his views.

Fuller’s support of these bills triggered memory of his letter to the editor on March 29, 2020 regarding Covid-19.

It is the most openly irresponsible rant I’d ever read by an individual purporting to be a representative of the people. If you didn’t read it, do. My summary is: a. People die from the flu all the time, so get over it and keep the economy rolling; and b: For anyone to tell Mr. Fuller that he should bow to any measure to prevent the spread of the virus was both medically bogus and a fundamental violation of his personal liberty. Compliance to such measures would lead to “tyranny.”

Now Mr. Fuller supports the bills above. His approach to require legislation regarding transgender issues does not jive with his March 29 letter.

Fuller quote 1: “The sphere of liberty shrinks as the size of government grows.”

Fuller quote 2: “Increasing dependence on government and passively accepting that some ‘elite’ somewhere knows best about our welfare is much more dangerous than the Wuhan virus.”

Relative to transgender, Mr. Fuller now feels the need to take on the role of the “elite” he so much despised relative to Covid-19. His only consistency is distrust of medical advice. His bills should not pass.

District 8 can do a lot better in 2022.

—Steve Brady, Kalispell

C-Falls revenue policy

I see in the police reports, another round of $100 cellphone violation rip-offs in Columbia Falls. I don’t know why the people in the valley put up with that.

I would suggest people stop shopping there for the next couple months, or better yet, stay out of the whole town for a year. Maybe they would rethink their new revenue policy.

—Colin Johnson, Kalispell

Trust health officials

Our Montana State Legislature is currently entertaining a bill that would change how the local city and or county health boards issues health department orders. With the current pandemic of Covid-19, and possibly other health crises in the future, it is in the best interest of our local health departments to monitor, regulate and dictate how we keep healthy and safe. They are not out there to assault our civil rights.

The proposed bill would put the local governing supervisors or commissioners in the position of editing, amending or rescinding any order the health department may order. WRONG! I believe this is a political move that is not in our best interest. Seeing the snafu of the Rocking R Bar with the Montana AG calling the shots over the health department, this is not the path we want to travel.

Let the health department officials do their jobs. Let the local health department boards accept the health department official’s recommendations and orders. There is no need by the city or county to edit those decisions. The health department does due diligence to come to the decisions they do make.

—Skeeter Johnston, Whitefish

New hat slogan

Does anyone know where I can purchase a blue hat that says “Make America Last Again”? I’m sure it will be made in China. Asking for a friend.

—Brad Meyer, Lakeside

Traits of a leader

In response to the Jan. 20 letter to the editor “Trump’s Accomplishments,” I concur that some of the accomplishments listed were good for the nation. But compassion, character and virtue also define a leader. In our republic you cannot long endure as president without these traits.

—Jim Swab, Kalispell

Half-truths and lies

I’m an American, I do believe in the two-party system of our democracy. At one time in our nation’s history, the news media didn’t have the power it has today, to dictate how they should think simply because it didn’t reach into every aspect of their daily lives. People read newspapers to understand what was happening in the world, they listened to radio and later television. The good reporters told the news as it unfolded. Was it 100% correct? No, but it wasn’t 100% wrong either. It was reported without personal opinions.

Today’s TV newscasters interject their personal opinions, tainting the news to their beliefs whether Republican or Democrat. The entertainers are dictating to their fans how they should think and believe and the fans follow the celebrities like they were icons. Celebrities are in the business of entertaining not in correcting the policies of our government. They don’t belong in both arenas.

There have been disagreements between the parties of our democracy since it began, there have been ugly fights, challenges to the laws, and yes, assassinations. But never in the history has one party so vehemently blocked a president from the day he was elected than what has happened in the past four years.

Today we have a new president and the general media, entertainment community is behaving like the savior himself has been elected.

Let’s hope the people of America will be more cautious, be more aware of the half-truths in the media, the outright lies in social media, and start to understand that they have to be more vigilant, check out news stories and rumors.

One party is not 100% good, 100% bad, they are equally good and bad. Let’s hope the good tops the bad in the long run.

—Liz King, Polson