Letters to the editor March 2

Layoffs miss the mark

Most of us have experienced inefficiencies and waste at various federal agencies. As a fiscal conservative, I think these issues need to be addressed. However, the current method of reactionary mass layoffs is something akin to a first-time surgeon performing exploratory surgery with a machete. 

This is especially true of the agencies that manage our natural resources where the long-term stakes could be very high, both economically and environmentally.  

 National parks and the national forest staffing were already at bare-bones levels prior to these layoffs. These employees are critical to managing habitats, enforcing rules to maintain public land and keeping basic services like trails, campgrounds and restrooms open.  Sudden, mass layoffs will cause long-term declines in both the user experience on public land and the overall health of that land. Much of Montana’s economy relies on public land as an attraction so there will be negative financial consequences for numerous business owners and their employees statewide.

If this is about increasing government efficiency, I think two avenues should be explored before anyone is laid off. The first is to streamline and automate current systems as much as possible. If these systems run well, then certain positions can be cut or reduced. The second is to start charging user fees and more consistent collection of existing fees. Resources are better taken care of when the people using them share some of the cost. I’ve seen first-hand how closed toll booths in Glacier National Park miss thousands of visitors in May and September. 

— Matt Harrington, Browning

The future

Don’t stop now. DOGE, President Trump and Elon Musk, we have to finish this job. We’ve got them. Fifty million non-college, white, male workers eagerly rushed into our trap, and they are still waving their red caps. 

It’s been a 50-year long game that we started in 1980 with a Hollywood-created cowboy act, culminating with a Hollywood-created business mogul act. We now own the White House, both chambers of Congress and the Supreme Court. This is an exciting time to be a GOP donor because our dream has come true.

But again, do not hesitate during this critical moment. Do not be distracted by squeals from a few drowning rats who noticed that Rep. Mike Johnson’s House just strapped Medicaid onto the chopping block. Yes, you will hear screams from the drowning rats but 22 months from now the House will flip back to Nancy Pelosi’s losers. We have 22 months to finish this job. As soon as Medicaid is cut then we move on to the big fish — Medicare and Social Security.

The American white working class is done. One Asian robotics engineer can build more cars than 100 American welders. Automated Asian factories achieve speed, quality, consistency and precision that was impossible with American workers. The future belongs to billionaires and Asian AI engineers. 

It’s time to snuff out those quaint and obsolete democracies and move on to the future.

— Doug Bonham, Essex

Tax cuts

On Feb. 25, Rep. Ryan Zinke voted yes on the proposed budget that would extend tax cuts for the rich while cutting funding for Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP benefits, programs which benefit thousands of elderly, disabled and low-income Montanans.

Zinke’s voting record shows that he consistently votes in favor of big business and the wealthy. We need someone in Washington, D.C. who will consider the  needs of all Montanans, not just a few. 

Mr. Zinke was elected to do that, and if he’s not going to do his job, then it’s time to fire him and elect someone who will.

— John Dunwoody, Gallatin Gateway