Letters to the editor March 11
Leap Day insanity
No cure for stupid was to be found on the Daily Inter Lake opinion page on Thursday, Feb. 29.
Tom Horelick started off with a slanted to the left rant targeting former President Donald Trump among others. Misinformation reigned as he moved on to other Republican notables.
I guess he missed the “Full Measure” episode on Feb. 25. Host Sharyl Attkisson reviewed some two dozen media lies, or at least mistakes, concerning Trump’s actions or words. Amazingly, these included some from her own network (NBC). Only a very few from the other side were mentioned leaving the obvious conclusion that the media was guilty of very biased reporting slanted to the left.
Not to be left out were the Texas officials involved in the decisions regarding abortions which, in any sane person’s judgment, were justified. Columnist Jim Elliot reported the insanity in his column describing the heartrending saga of two pregnancies doomed to fail with the fetuses’ deaths and possibly the mothers’ if nothing was done. Even after a Texas court allowed an abortion, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote the hospitals saying they would still be subject to criminal charges.
Equally insane were the multimillion-dollar judgments against Trump concerning the 80-year-old E. Jean Carroll over 30-year-old allegations of supposed lies. Really! She waited 30 years to accuse him! Trump claims he knows nothing, and it’s assumed he’s lying. Duh!
It sure is a good thing that Feb. 29 only shows up every four years; now if we could just get past April 1 without any major catastrophes.
— Gary Goers, Kalispell
Secure our democracy
Regardless of your occupation, age, or beliefs, we all care about our communities. As a small business owner active in the Kalispell community, I can attest to the resilience of Montanans and our willingness to always look out for each other. But the best way to fight for the future we desire is through civic participation, and we can thank our democracy for making this possible.
However, threats from power brokers in Washington D.C. could risk our fundamental right to fight for change in Montana. Shady lawmakers and lobbyists are desperately trying to hold onto power, and their only path to doing so is by suppressing votes and stifling our unique voice.
They don’t believe we can govern ourselves — but that’s not what I see. I see a state full of hope, with people who have faith that we will build the best lives for our family, friends and neighbors. We must ensure our state’s leaders abide by this principle, and we can do so by enacting the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
I’ve been assured these bills will secure our democracy from partisan interference, of which I fear we’re at risk from both sides, thus requiring greater accountability from elected officials and safeguarding our citizen access to the ballot box. If that is the case, then I’m grateful for Sen. Jon Tester’s support of these bills, and I hope he will continue to protect Montana’s values in Washington.
— Zach Block, Kalispell