Letters to the editor Jan. 26

Slow response

I am writing it regards to the numerous conversations I have had with residents about how long it takes to get police onsite after calling our 911 call center. 

I have a very good friend who is also friends with a police officer and specifically they had to call the police. The officer told him there was 25 minutes that had gone by between when they called and when the call center called the police and dispatched them.  

There was a hit-and-run this week that it took an hour and 10 minutes for them to arrive. I had to call the supervisor a few weeks ago because the gal I was talking to on the phone would not take the license plate number of the vehicle that drove around the bus before I forgot the number. 

I’m not sure how this call center serves our community better as I have heard numerous complaints. I cannot imagine being an officer showing up onsite to citizens who are furious it took so long due to the fault of dispatch. If we are paying for a call center, it should be faster and not slower. Do better.

- Jeremy Phillips, Kalispell

Made in the USA

Marc Rubio says our greatest threat is China. Wow, glad he figured that out. 

They are taking children from parents in Tibet to educate them in communist doctrine and language, reeducation of religious minorities by the millions in camps, planning on invading Taiwan and have an army modeled after our own. Our answer is a few tariffs. 

The corporations that produce in China and provide their income in spite of the Chinese goal to bury us are at fault. They are more interested in their bottom line and paychecks than the people of the United States. The corporation pay little if any in taxes, but pay a lot in political donations. 

The solution is right in front of us; whenever you can do not buy goods produced in China. Granted, sometimes it is hard to tell, but look and do your best. If it doesn't sell, the store won't buy it and China won't have us paying their way. We are fueling their economy and the profits of the corporation that only serve China and themselves at our expense.

Either step up or have your children learn Chinese.

- Dennis McDowell, Bigfork