Letters to the editor for March 27

Due process

It was, I thought, something we all agreed on by this time in history as Americans: Before we consign someone to horrible punishment, we should at least check to see if they’re guilty. 

The government’s word that they are guilty is not enough in America. No one person should have that much power over another’s life. 

Rather evidence must be presented in court, the person allowed to present a defense, and then a determination made as to whether the accusation is true. 

I thought this to be the most basic of American understandings. 

But apparently, we’ve decided to throw it overboard. Now one person can decide if you are the member of a gang, without due process, and then throw you in a terrifying prison in El Salvador or a camp in Guantanamo. If it turns out to be someone who was a victim not a member of a gang, "Oopsie!" 

I’m done being gaslit by those who claim that if we object to this tyranny, it means we support gangs and violence! I’m offended by that accusation. It's offered in incredible bad faith. We want to make sure people receive due process before irrevocable harm. We don’t support gangs; we support fair due process. 

Because a false accusation by a government hostile to us could happen to ANY of us. We'd all want our day in court.

— Rebecca Miller, Kalispell 

Necessary pain

The letter March 18 “This is what we stand to lose” by Frank Vitale is very well written and makes good points. The changes and cuts that are happening to our government are drastic and uncomfortable. We are all going to feel some pain.  

The reason for these changes is to reduce our spending and to pay down the debt. If we do not do that then these cuts we are facing now will seem mild to what may come when we default on our debt. If that happens then everything will be cut, drastically. Our debt has gotten out of control over the past 40 years. We are just now addressing it as the previous administrations have failed to do so.  

President Donald Trump is making the tough decisions that should have been made many years ago. This is not to destroy our public lands or to destroy our programs. These actions are to ensure we have a future. Everything must be on the table to reduce spending, even your most cherished programs. These cuts may seem cruel now, but as we recover from the spiraling debt we can recover and rebuild. 

From a 30,000-foot view we have to pay our debt, or we will be in very bad shape. Action must be taken now. 

— William Fry, Kalispell