Letters to the editor Oct. 7

Daoud ready to serve

Sid Daoud, without a doubt, is the best candidate in the race for mayor of Kalispell. Sid’s motto is “Executing the will of the people.” He truly wants to serve the people of Kalispell, and he is really listening to what the people want.

For instance, Sid knows folks do not want a two-lane Main Street, which is really the biggest issue facing Kalispell at the moment.

Both of Daoud’s opponents, Kisa Davison and Ryan Hunter, want Kalispell’s downtown Main Street to be transformed into two lanes. That is a preposterous idea. Because Sid knows that the people don’t approve, he doesn’t approve either.

He believes strongly in the Constitution, and that’s why he cares about what affects the people of our city. He doesn’t want to be mayor for his own selfish agenda; he’s there to serve the people.

— Larry and Lois Eslick, Marion

End political sadism

For many Americans, the last several weeks since the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk have felt surreal. Millions around the nation and the world witnessed the brutal murder of a loving father, husband and leader of a movement that galvanized the youth of America. 

The alleged killer hoped to silence Kirk, but their actions have proven just the opposite. The death of Kirk did not end the conversation that he so passionately pursued, but placed it front and center. In the days since the assassination, it appears that more discussion than ever has been had, especially concerning free speech and its implications.

Some on the far left rejoiced at the news of Charlie’s demise, which may have come as a shock to those who are not very involved in politics. In fact, people who identify as on the left were horrified at the political sadism on full display on social media. However, this should surprise few. Political sadism is the ultimate conclusion of a worldview that holds that certain kinds of speech are violence. The term “hate speech” was and continues to be used to excuse the widespread deplatforming and silencing of those who disagree with radical woke ideology. 

What was really meant by “hate speech” was that kind of speech which contested the claims of the far left. It is from this premise that the far left could conclude that, since the very idea of disagreement with their beliefs was equivalent to physical harm, acts of violence against those with whom they disagreed were not only morally permissible, but justified and righteous. 

Following this premise, Kirk’s killer was merely exercising his right to self-defense, for Krik’s words and arguments were a direct threat to his life. This logic, or lack thereof, is twisted, sadistic and revolting. This warped instinct must be utterly condemned and rejected by society, lest that society risk self-destruction.

The right to free speech must be protected, for it is the foundation and cornerstone of a free society. Without it, all other rights are rendered useless. When the citizens of a country are no longer allowed to voice their views and opinions, many will resort to violent means to silence their opposition or amplify their own platform. This was perfectly exemplified in the assassination of Kirk, but on a much smaller scale. 

But if this political sadism is not addressed and confronted, it will spread like cancer, and both we and our children will suffer as a result. Cancer will not and cannot stop until it has achieved total victory and subjugation over the whole body. The cancerous tumor of political sadism must be destroyed completely.

— Wesley Thiessen , Kalispell

Sales tax

In his letter, Scott Matthews urges a sales tax as a way to capture a return on the state’s tourist economy. But there are several aspects that we should carefully consider.

1) Mr. Matthews’ primary point is that tourists pay “not a penny” toward the cost of Montana infrastructure and operation. But tourists do pay meals and lodging taxes. That is baked in at this point, so an accurate calculation of what additional revenue could be captured by a sales tax would first require subtraction of what is already paid by the “tourist taxes.” 

2) Much of the anger and antipathy we are experiencing in the U.S. arises from the immense disparity in wealth. The top 1% hold a third of all of the wealth in the country.  That third is about $50 trillion. So about 3 million people hold third of the wealth, while the other approximately 327 million hold the remainder. And since 1979, the top wage earners’ incomes have increased 46%, while the low wages have grown by just  17%. According to the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items were 332% higher in 2024 versus 1979. Finally, income taxes have been reduced for the wealthy again and again. A sales tax is a flat tax. That is  the low wage earner pays the same tax for a loaf of bread as does the richest American. A sales tax would add additional burdens on those already struggling to survive financially. It might be a reasonable policy to enable all Americans to be viable consumers, since the consumer economy is 70% of the GDP.

3) Americans are already paying “sales tax” as our government has placed tariffs on imported goods.  Businesses pay the tariff in order to bring the goods into the U.S., but they pass the cost on to the end consumer (us) in increased prices.

I just suggest that these are considerations to bear in mind if anyone is seriously looking at a sales tax.

— Sharon Morrison, Whitefish