Letters to the editor May 18

Made in China

I live in Dillon, population 4,000. In years past, we had a large department store. That store closed a decade ago. Now all we have is Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. Family Dollar filed for bankruptcy a few years ago. Dollar Tree bought Family Dollar, then in 2024, Dollar Tree filed for bankruptcy.

Recently, I went into Dollar Tree and checked labels on clothing and toys and other items. Many of the items come from China. In rural communities, these are the types of stores available locally. Many Dillon residents rely heavily on goods, including food, from these stores.

Our nearest Walmart is in Butte, 65 miles away. And our nearest Target is in Bozeman, 120 miles away. Many items in Walmart and Target are also manufactured in China. I’ve been waiting for four months from some clothing I ordered online from Walmart. It was from China. It has apparently reached a New York port of entry. It has been sitting there for four months.

It is clear that tariffs on China will quickly result in increased prices and long delays, assuming that China will even send us these items anymore.

If the White House really wants to bring manufacturing back to the United States, the way to do it is to build manufacturing infrastructure throughout the USA. That is what the Inflation Reduction Act was aimed at. And even with local manufacturing, we will still need to import many items from China and other countries for years to come.

— Delena Norris-Tull, Dillon

Empower entrepreneurs

May is Small Business Month, a time to recognize the entrepreneurs, shop owners and builders who keep Montana’s communities thriving. Small businesses are not just storefronts; they represent family legacies, job creators and the heartbeat of our towns.

Private equity is behind many of these businesses, acting as a vital driver of local growth. In communities across Montana, it helps entrepreneurs transform ideas into thriving companies. These investments not only support bottom lines; they empower employees with strong benefits, career-building opportunities  and even ownership, giving them a real shot at long-term financial stability. We should encourage more of this kind of investment, not less.

Private equity has contributed $4 billion to our state’s GDP, and its impact is growing. This is largely due to carried interest, which rewards investors only when a business succeeds. Taxing it as ordinary income would deter the long-term investments that fuel innovation and job creation.

It’s concerning that Washington is considering raising taxes on carried interest, penalizing the very risk-taking that fuels growth. The current structure, preserved in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, strikes a critical balance. Congress should protect it.

Let’s not undermine what’s working. This Small Business Month, we should celebrate the tools that empower local entrepreneurs and oppose policies that threaten their future. Congress should maintain smart tax policy and allow Montana’s small businesses to keep doing what they do best: grow.

­— Trevor Roesch, Marion

Bribed by planes

A $400 million plane for the president of the United States of Arabia?  

Are all politicians and judges going to be bribed by planes, fancy trips and cars from foreign countries and wealthy donors? How is this different from the mafia bribing officials? 

I may never see the inside of a private jet, let alone ride in one, but it seems to me that Air Force One, paid for by taxpayers, would be quite an honor to see and ride on. But now that’s not good enough and we’re going to be bribed. Then that plane is to be transferred to a private foundation? This is a conflict on the biggest order. Beholden to whom? 

Morals and character do count as we count on our elected officials to make the right decisions for those who you are supposed to serve — Americans, not their own pocketbooks or a foreign country.

— Laura White, Whitefish