Letters to the editor Dec. 15

Political instincts

When ABC news anchor David Muir asked President Biden in June if he would pardon his son Hunter, it was as if he had never considered the question. Where did his political instincts go? 

He could have said, "He's my son. I love him. Let's see what happens." He could have done what politicians are good at -- not answering a yes or no question. How is it his advisers did not prepare him for the question? 

He could have spoken to this unique power of the presidency, how it has been used in the past, how it has been abused. If anything, that incident, as much as any (other than his debate performance) revealed that he should have stepped aside much sooner than he did. But that is, and will forever be, another questionable decision by President Biden.

As for pardoning his son, he absolutely did the right thing. Just the wrong way, including suggesting that the prosecution was unwarranted. He didn't need to step into the mucky mess of complaints that the charges were unfair. 

Trump is whining about the justice department yet there is no comparison between the charges brought against him and those against Hunter. Just be a father, for your son, the most powerful father in this secular world. I pray that Hunter makes the most of the most profound gift he's received.

On July 21 the Daily Inter Lake printed a letter titled "God bless Joe Biden," in which I suggested two things: one that he should drop out of the race for president (which ironically occurred that same day); second that he should pardon his son. "No parent should begrudge this most powerful gift a president, ironically a father, could give his son. It would be an amazing act of grace."

God bless Joe Biden.

-- Roger Hopkins, Columbia Falls

Be heard

One day in the near future we will wake up and live in a Flathead County shaped by decisions made today. What will our future spaces look like? Who will live there? We face a housing crisis, but we also face a crisis of identity.  

In recent letters, Nathan Dugan and Mallory Phillips of Shelter WF show us a future that feels true to our past, with open farmland, big skies, and welcoming neighborhoods. They want to preserve our community.

But with the wrong development plans (or none at all) we risk becoming a showcase for extreme wealth and poverty. We risk losing our scenic open landscape.

So let’s help Shelter WF. Our voices influence officials and Shelter WF shows us where to be heard. Their website lists county-wide community development meetings that are open to the public. On social media, Shelter WF shares easy email actions. They offer ideas for development that will preserve our community.

No matter our politics we unite in our love for this place, so let’s create a welcoming home for our future generations. Our cities and counties make development plans now. Let’s tell them who we want to be.

-- Marti Brandt, Whitefish