Letters to the editor Nov. 2

Polebridge circus

Polebridge residents (and a majority of North Forkers) are absolutely sickened by the circus brought to town. The protest consisted mostly of out-of-staters wanting to corrupt our small town. 

As a North Fork native, Polebridge has always been my family’s escape. My grandparents were original homesteaders there in the 70s. It hurts to see what used to be a place built on hard work, American values and community get trashed with liberal protests. 

Although Will Hammerquist is known to have more left-leaning views, I appreciate his letter regarding disassociation with the No Kings protest. The historic Mercantile has no affiliation with politics, and the protest organizer, Debo Powers, should be ashamed for involving the establishment.

— Emma Upton, Columbia Falls

Be like Mike

Of course Michael Jordan doesn’t believe in load management. Anyone who ever watched him play already knew that. He didn’t have to say it; he lived it. People can argue forever about who’s the greatest to play the game, but when it comes to who we love, who understands us, there is no debate. It’s MJ.

He’s everyman in a legend’s body. He may be one of the wealthiest men on the planet, but at his core burns some of the same values that burn in all of us: the quiet belief that showing up matters.

He recognizes the teacher who walks into her classroom with the sniffles, because “if she can, she will.” He knows the plowman pushing through snow, the doctor on call, the soldier in the field. He knows that whisper inside that says, Someone might need me today. So if I can do it, I should.

Somewhere along the way, the world decided it was old-fashioned to care about a job well done, that effort itself was somehow quaint and not expected. But not to Jordan. For him, there’s grace in the grind. There’s beauty in the sweat. There’s elegance in showing up.

So go ahead, modern millionaires and billionaires, manage your loads. MJ will always have this on you: the understanding that greatness is not just about the big win, but about obligation: to the work, to the fans, to the soul of the everyday game. And that’s why we’ll always love Michael Jordan best. Because he gets it. For all his money and fame, he gets us.

— Shannon Lea, Bigfork

SNAP canceled

Over 40 million Americans could lose their SNAP benefits. This is 1 in 8 Americans. These include children, seniors and the disabled, as well as those who’s wages do not cover the needs of their family. Americans all.  

Illegal immigrants are not eligible for SNAP benefits. In Montana, 77,000 people receive SNAP benefits, 48,500 of them are children.  

Republicans are blaming this on Democrats who will not sign off on the “One Big Beautiful Bill” because 17 million Americans will see their health care insurance payments double or even triple in 2026.  

Democrats are in Washington, D.C., waiting to negotiate while Republicans are using food as a weapon. On top of that, while Republicans are laying off federal workers and stating that they will not receive back pay if/when the government re-opens, our Republican congressmen Ryan Zinke, Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, along with all the others, are nowhere near Washington but are enjoying a paid extended vacation. 

Even in the midst of a shutdown, Republicans could dispense SNAP benefits because they have the money. They just choose not to.

In a July 4, 1861 speech Abraham Lincoln said that the role of the government is “to elevate the condition of men, to lift artificial burdens from all shoulders and to give everyone an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.” 

I call on all of us during this time to help uplift our neighbors by giving to our local food banks, homeless shelters and other charity organizations.  

Using food as a weapon is what terrorists do.  Let them know that we will not negotiate with terrorists.

— Susan Cahill, Kalispell

Tax bill

Not that it caught me off guard, but the new property tax bill just arrived and as expected, is a piece of work.

Year after year, our protests are denied. The apples and oranges comparisons of property values that the county property tax people offer are absolutely ridiculous. The property tax rebate offered by our governor is minuscule.

 I wish there was a solution, but I don’t see one.

— Skeeter Johnston, Whitefish