Letters to the editor for March 26
Make that call
If you feel President Donald Trump has forgotten his promise to the people, you aren't alone.
Many expected him to reduce the cost of living, decrease inflation, improve the economy and help with immigration. His promise of decreasing government waste by reducing the federal job force seemed necessary. Many felt the federal government was bloated. People were optimistic Elon Musk would assist Trump to reduce government waste in a thoughtful, systematic manner to identify waste in a logical manner.
The current method of decreasing government waste feels chaotic and thoughtless. Experienced people fired, leaving programs dismantled or without proper leadership. Lies spread of 150-year-old people receiving benefits. Millions spent on advertising, praising Trump’s wonderful immigration policies. In reality, millions were spent flying large military planes for the deportation of immigrants, now returned to the states. Empty tents were guarded by the military at Guantanamo Bay. Only a couple of mismanaged operations that have cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars. This doesn't feel like an effective way to reduce government waste.
Montana congressional representatives typically support the large number of veterans who live in Montana, yet didn't speak up to support Veterans Affairs programs and benefits. Montana farmers have lost contracts with tariffs already imposed and the dismantling of U.S. Agency for International Development. Canadians are boycotting America — reducing tourism, eliminating American made products in stores — with the threat of tariffs. Canadian and Mexican citizens are activated to rally against tariffs and stand up to America. For decades, free trade has helped America prosper. The stock market is no longer stable, causing unnecessary stress on Americans worried about their investments and future.
If you're concerned about the future of our country, call your representatives and tell them to do their job and stand up against this craziness.
— Laura Gebhart, Kalispell
Never again, again
In our travels around Western states, we have visited former internment camps where United States citizens were imprisoned, without due process, during World War II. They are always in desolate areas and each one of them has a huge sign over the entrance that says in big black letters never again.
But here we are, again, with this president, even in peacetime, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. He is authorizing the deportation of those who have had no opportunity to have their case heard in court.
We Americans pride ourselves on our justice system which advocates innocent before proven guilty. But now we are seeing young men with bowed, shaven heads and in shackles being deported to shadow prisons outside the U.S. — without a court hearing or due process.
Please join us in demanding that those in power return our democratic country to rule of law.
— Linda deKort, Kalispell
Blow back
What is a demagogue? Wikipedia says this: A demagogue is a power-seeking individual who uses many of the following techniques: Scapegoating, fear mongering, lying, emotional oratory and personal charisma, accusing opponents of weakness and disloyalty, promising the impossible, violence and intimidation, personal insults and ridicule, vulgarity and outrageous behavior, folksy posturing, gross oversimplification, attacking the news media
Humans are easily seduced by oratory and promises, such as, "I'll love you forever, swim every river, and bring you (the moon or wealth or security) … if you will just do XYZ for me." Promising honey is a con artist's stock-in-trade. Remember P. T. Barnum's, "A sucker is born every minute."
It's clear that people are harmed when intimidated by insults, ridicule, demonization and threats of violence. These de-humanizing techniques serve to silence both the target person and other observers who don't want to get the same treatment. Silencing all potential opponents is the goal.
Demagoguery seems to work. How unfortunate. Demagoguery is bad because it distorts real true knowledge; it promotes emotional fetishes and overpowers rational thinking; and it corrodes the values and lives of those who become intimidated.
Can demagoguery have a silver lining? Yes. Each lie, misinformation or irrational attack exhibits an obvious crack in the demagogue's distortion of reality. This gives opportunities for others to aggressively expose each lie and intimidation. This requires having a commitment to knowledge to be better informed, plus the courage to speak truth-to-power.
Storm clouds eventually move away and are replaced by sunlight and fresh air, but only if the wind blows. Be the wind.
— Gene Johnson, Polson
Mutual respect
This is in response to Jill Williams’ letter “Message to Democrats” in the Sunday edition of the Daily Inter Lake. I hold a different point of view and would like to challenge some of her descriptions and opinions.
I am an American who values patriotism, peace, opportunity and a commonsense government that serves we the people. To imply that the Democratic party is opposed to those values is, I believe, disingenuous. Going down a rabbit hole to accuse Democrats of only being focused on cultural issues doesn’t make sense to me.
Ms. Williams, you have asked for a rational conversation. A rational conversation begins with mutual respect and an agreement on facts. I can have a rational conversation if it involves agreement that name-calling, and stereotyping don’t occur, even though it may feel satisfying. And, I can have a rational conversation when I know the other person actually wants to solve a problem rather than just vent.
You state that there should be a divorce from the Democratic party. How do you expect political rapprochement in this country when you call members of the Democratic party lunatics, hysterical deep state bureaucrats, villainous and Marxist? I believe there is a more respectful path to civil dialogue and unity for our country.
— Charlene Duncan, Kalispell