Letters to the editor Aug. 8
A republic
Linda Evans in her letter to the editor (Protect Democracy, Aug. 6) stated, “When our founding fathers created our Constitution, they had democracy in mind.”
This is incorrect. They wanted and did create a republic. You will not find the word democracy in the constitution.
Websters 1828 dictionary: REPUB’LIC, noun [Latin respublica; res and publica; public affairs.]
1. A commonwealth; a state in which the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in representatives elected by the people. In modern usage, it differs from a democracy or democratic state, in which the people exercise the powers of sovereignty in person.
— Jay Allen, Kila
Busse will work for us
Growing up in Montana has been the privilege of my life. I’ve had access to a wildly diverse landscape and a tight-knit community that has pushed me to become more socially aware and environmentally conscious.
The Montana that I have come to love is inclusive, protective of our resources and supportive of locals who are the backbone of what Montana is.
In the last four years, I’ve seen Gov. Greg Gianforte turn his back on Montana and what matters most to us by supporting legislation that undermines voters, is exclusive in nature and threatens the very ground we walk on. I believe Gianforte is a liar from out of state who has shown us time and time again that he is not willing to put in the work to serve anyone other than himself.
As young people, we deserve a governor who seeks to support future generations rather than limit them — someone who will be there in times of crisis and recognize the needs of the many over the desires of the wealthy few. Ryan Busse is more than just a candidate for governor; he’s an active community member, outdoorsman and father. As a young woman, I trust Ryan to advocate for my right to choose. As a student, I trust Ryan to protect our Montana public school systems and support our educators, who have taught us everything we know. And as a Montanan who grew up in the lakes and on the trails, I know that Team Busse will work tirelessly to keep our public lands just that — public.
We deserve a governor who works for us and not for himself, for our environment and not against it. It’s up to us as young people to advocate for ourselves and the future we want to see for our state, which is why it’s never been clearer why we should choose Ryan Busse for governor of Montana.
— Sofia Beers, Whitefish