Letters to the editor May 12
Rent hike
My rent just went up again. I received the change of terms a few days ago, letting me know that my rent will be increasing by 15% on June 1. That’s $170 per month for me. In addition to my already substantial rent. My earnings don’t increase equally, which puts me behind.
I’ve lived in this rental for many years now, and the buildings are showing some wear and tear. The lawn is rarely mowed and is mostly weeds and dead bushes. In winter, the sidewalks are seldom shoveled. The parking lot is a mess. I don’t mind much, because the rent has been somewhat reasonable. That silver lining is fading fast.
I realized something last night, though, in the wee hours when I couldn’t sleep, when I was tallying up my assets. My role in this society (along with many others) is to profide profit for others. I imagine that, before too much longer, there will be a price tag on air.
I think it’s wrong for anyone to profit on housing. Everyone needs a place to live. I’ll pay my increased rent (I have to, don’t I?), but I’ll have less money to spend in town, on groceries, on anything. My money won’t help grease the wheels of local economy — but I guess it’ll help my landlord.
— Gerald Whitcomb, Kalispell
Public broadcasting
In our rural state, public broadcasting is extremely popular and important. Many of us make long drives and do our work to National Public Radio programming: Music, talk shows, history and science shows, a variety of podcasts, local programming, local weather, balanced and informative news, whether state, local or national. Many adults and children enjoy the excellent children’s programming.
National Public Radio and PBS connect us to the world. Our lives are richer and more interesting for these organizations. A bonus is that they create local jobs.
Many of us donate to fundraising drives, but we just don’t have enough money to support the entire venture. We must have public funding.
There are, of course, no for-profit radio stations that provide anything approaching such rich and varied programming, because it is simply not profitable.
Now an executive order has threatened to take away federal funding. We need to understand that the parent corporation, Community Public Broadcasting, was created by Congress, which forbade any department, agency, officer or employee of the United States to exercise any direction, supervision or control over Community Public Broadcasting or its member stations.
Previously, this administration considered asking Congress to approve taking back the money that had been already been appropriated for the Community Public Broadcasting, but it became clear that this would fail because many Republicans were responsive to their constituents’ liking and needing this program. It is because of this that this executive order is being tried.
If we allow action based on an inappropriate executive order, we will lose public broadcasting, and we will miss it. Please let your representatives in Congress know that you want to continue Community Public Broadcasting without government intervention, as was intended by Congress.
— Marilyn (Gail) Trenfield, St. Ignatius
Cry for help
I do not think I have ever read a letter to the editor that was such an unintentionally plaintive cry for help as Susan Cahill’s recent Easter-themed missive (Do unto others). It reflects the disturbance of a hardened soul, who has created a god in her own image, and is unable to see out of the darkness of a dungeon willingly entered.
It is truly with utmost hope I wish for grace to enlighten her on the four last things, a forgotten part of her abandoned faith, and so avoid the potential of an unimaginably horrendous self-inflicted eternal fate. Please follow the examples of Drs. Nathanson, Giebink, Bruchalski, Levatino and many others.
Also, on a personal note, I would like to thank the 91 legislators who demonstrated knowledge of human biology, only nine shy of the number needed to try to redeem the state from CI-128.
Don’t give up.
— Michael Boharski, Kalispell