Letters to the editor Feb. 10

Dismantling of USAID

To Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy: As fellow Christians who are concerned with alleviating human suffering wherever possible, I am sure you are as appalled as I am at the current dismantling of USAID by Elon Musk and President Trump. 

I have spent much of my life working on human rights issues in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on the poor in these regions. I know firsthand, as I am sure you do, what a vital difference USAID has made and continues to make in these regions, alleviating pervasive human suffering while advancing U.S. national interests in human rights. The current dismantling of USAID is leading directly to the preventable deaths of thousands of innocent persons and the suffering of tens of thousands more, from no longing having access to life-saving medications to preventing famine through hunger aid. This is appalling and unacceptable, and is causing millions of people worldwide to lose faith in the United States. 

I urge you to speak up and speak out against this travesty, and to use your influence as a senator to restore USAID and its vital foreign aid programs.

— Dan Spencer, Missoula

Sowing fear

The opinion editorial from The Guardian “Inauguration speech rings alarm bells” was a hit piece on Donald Trump. The editorial would have us believe that President Trump has all kinds of nefarious intentions and is sowing fear and division in America. 

I do not get that impression at all. My impression of Trump’s speech is that it was a message of hope, strength and unity, not division and retribution. 

The Guardian editorial board is projecting their own feelings onto Trump without any justification. One of the strategies of the radical left is to accuse the opposition of doing what they are already doing. It is not Trump that is sowing fear in America, it is The Guardian editorial board that is sowing fear along with all the others with Trump derangement syndrome.

— William Fry, Kalispell

Pocket Constitution

No, really, I am serious. Why is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her staff still receiving checks from the Treasury? We elected Trump to fix things, so why is he afraid to finish the job? He has control of the Treasury’s payment system. His people are already cutting off payments to universities — universities with existing government grants that are executed with legally-binding written contracts. You love that part, right? Because universities are crawling with sneaky little elites who are brainwashing our children. 

I want the dedicated and devoted MAGAs here in Kalispell to tell me what, exactly, is the legal or constitutional doctrine that is limiting what he and Musk can do. Why are the lights still on at the Ninth Circuit? Why are people who voted for Democrats still receiving Social Security and Medicare? 

“Ooooh, he would never do that.” Really? Why not? Because if he did he might not get reelected in 2028? Is that your only answer? And are you OK with that? 

Judging from your ongoing celebrations, or the silence from you moderate Republicans, I can only assume that you are OK with this. “Serves them right,” you mutter as you turn and walk away from my questions, still clutching your pocket Constitution. 

— Doug Bonham, Essex