Letters to the editor
LOA members
aren't sheep
Editor,
Thank you, Pamela Repnak, for your letter that was printed in the Leader Feb. 3. It is always good when healthy dialogue is exchanged between opposing thoughts, especially when the subject is as important to the community as density allocation.
I would hope, however, that you would not call the Land Owners Alliance sheep and then dismiss them as being led by a sheepherder.
For the most part, cowmen are touchy about the slur. As for me, your comments are okay.
Someday I hope to be included in the flock that is led by the Lord.
In the meantime, I feel it is my duty and right to resist needless bureaucracy.
Since you work in the Lake County Planning office, I'm sure you cannot understand my motives.
If, however, you have the desire to understand the concerns of those affected by the efforts of your office, I cordially invite you to attend the next LOA meeting.
We will call you with the time and place. Thanks again for exercising your freedom of speech.
Joe Brooks
Ronan
We have checks and balances, don't we?
Editor,
A headline in The Independent U.K. of January 30, in an article by Mark Cliffe:
"Be Very Afraid if Bush Takes the War on Terror to Iran."
It occurs to me that this bit of advice about fearing what Bush might do, as with many other articles, speeches and opinions fearing what Bush might do, is pointing at precisely the problem we have in America today.
Everyone points at Bush, as if whatever he thinks, whatever he wants to do, whatever are his motivations and goals need to be accepted as the direction our nation is to take.
This sort of "fear of a ruler" was exactly why, back in the 1700s, we had a new birth of freedom across the water from England in the form of democracy and the name of America.
Bush should not be able to take the war on terror to Iran unless, we the people through all of our elected representatives vote for taking the war on terror to Iran. We have checks and balances, don't we? Do we? I really sometimes wonder about this in our present administration … and in many of our past administrations as well.
I truly believe that we American citizens should not take lightly a headline such as was in the Jan. 30 issue of The Independent U.K. There is this perception, worldwide and well-deserved, that whatever Bush says goes.
This is not as it should be. That is not democracy. That is not freedom. Bush says the terrorists hate our democracy and hate our freedoms. Well, let me tell you, when I see much of what is passing these days for our democracy and our freedoms, I hate them, too!
Does this make me a terrorist? I don't think so. I think it makes me a concerned and thoughtful citizen of this great country. Just food for thought.
Bob McClellan
Polson
It's fourth down, turnover time
Editor,
Football is a game of two tactics — hiding the ball and moving the ball. Agility, cunning, power and teamwork make winners.
At present one team is hiding the fact that Social Security has been raided by Congress for 50 years.
All that the trust fund, which many people rely on until 2018, has in it is government IOUs for principal and interest. We have donated the funds once. Now we will be taxed to retire the bonds and pay the interest accrued.
This debt, if payable, will be erased by 2018 and the IOUs will be gone.
This triple tax on Americans is the result of greedy politicians restricting the borrowing of the trust fund to the U.S. government.
Now we have to pay the hopeless debt. If the trust funds had been invested in industry, the fund would be bursting and the industry booming.
The first team is trying to hide the bankrupting nature of Social Security mandated by congressional policy. No longer can the old team make forward motion or fake it. They are blocked.
It's time for a turnover to a team that puts the ball in the open and can carry it through to the goal of security for all now and in the future. Privatization is a thousand times better than our greedy government debt-ridden system.
Instead of being a burdensome bankrupt curse, Social Security can — if properly administered — be a blessing enriching both retirees and industry.
Don't let them who have no forward motion fake you out. It's fourth down. Turnover time is here.
Ernest Seablom
Ronan
BB/BS gets ready for Bowl for Kids Sake
Editor,
As 2004 has ended and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lake County and the Flathead Reservation (BB/BS) continues the In-School Mentoring program in Ronan and Hot Springs, we would like to thank the many sponsors of the organization.
BB/BS expresses its gratitude to the in-school liaisons, the teachers who have agreed to let the youth out of class to attend the mentoring sessions, and the school district personnel who approved the programming and to allow the program during school hours. A special thank you goes out to the board of directors.
Other major supporters have been the Lower Flathead Valley Community Foundation, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, the Coalition for Kids, SKC-Gear Up, the Armstrong McDonald Foundation, Plum Creek Foundation and Chas and Margie Cantlon.
Although too many to name, many thanks also go out to the sponsors of the Big Productions Concert Series, local business and civic organizations, and the 2004 Bowl for Kids Sake sponsors and participants.
As BB/BS begins work on the Bowl for Kids Sake 2005 event, we again ask for your support. Today, over 140 youth are active participants of the In-School Mentoring Program. Bowl for Kids Sake is BB/BS's major fundraiser each year.
This event provides general operating funds for the organization.
Kevi Galarneau
Polson
(Ed. note — For more information on Bowl for Kids' Sake, see story on Page B-2}
Keep future
generations in mind
Editor,
I am writing in regards to the positive and negative feedback regarding the development of Cougar Ridge. I am 13 years old and attend the eighth grade at Polson Middle School.
I saw Cougar Ridge before Mike Maddy bought it and know how horrible it looked and what a waste of land. Now after Maddy bought it, Cougar Ridge has been cleaned up and is looking great. His plans are remarkable. Mike is planning on putting in a park, walkway, housing development, and possibly a public pool.
If Polson residents want their kids, grandkids, etc. to be able to live in Polson when they grow up, Polson needs to expand. As the population grows, we need homes for future Polson citizens and a good economy with a way for us to make a living.
Without more homes, jobs, etc., there is no way us kids could make a living in Polson in the future.
Instead of worrying about how it will affect adults now, worry about the next generation in the future. Why, instead of just complaining, don't people who disagree with developing Cougar Ridge, go look at Mike's plans and talk to him about it?
He's trying to make Polson a place for future generations to be able to succeed — not just this one.
Heather Howell
Polson
Social Security reform questions need answers
Editor,
The president and some Social Security reformers have focused on individual retired workers' future benefits. However, people need to be aware of the broader coverage of this social insurance contract that has evolved over nearly seven decades.
Social Security Administration statistics (12/31/04) show that 47.7 million individuals received benefit payments. Of these, only 29.9 million were retired workers. The remaining 17.8 million were spouses, children, widows/widowers, disabled workers and family members. How will individual private accounts of those who do not live to retirement age protect these 17.8 million people?
Mr. Bush's emphasis on individual investment flies in the face of the social insurance envisioned by the authors of the original legislation.
How much will the average individual be required to invest? The president recommends four percent of an individual's earned income, with a cap rumored to be $1,000 per year.
Using the National Compensation Survey (Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 2004) and the Bush recommendation of four percent, the following results represent the average worker in each example:
? For all workers the average pay earned was $17.75 per hour for an average 35.7-hour workweek; multiplied by four percent for 52 weeks equals $1,318, or $318 more than the cap.
? Service workers averaged $10.40 per hour for an average 31.5-hour workweek, an annual investment of $681.
? A part-time worker's average wage of $9.93 an hour and a 20.5-hour workweek is only $423.
The issue is how much one would have to invest to receive an average benefit of the $955 received by retired workers in December 2004, plus the amount needed to pick up payments made to the other 17.8 million people who receive payments but are not retired workers.
In what will these monies be invested? The president said they would be invested in some combination of stock funds and bonds (sounds like a mutual fund) protected from high investment fees, and by implication, very low risk — but no guarantee, unlike Social Security.
If you are smart, retire when the market is booming. But when the economy heads south, keep working if you can find a job.
Who will really gain from the Bush reform of Social Security? The answer is a work in progress. Stay tuned.
Bob Hendricks
Polson
It was a glorious
day in Iraq
Editor,
What a glorious day for Iraq. What a tremendous success story for the United States and our allies. What a victory for the U.S. troops and the Coalition.
In spite of the ongoing threats by the cowardly terrorists, 60 to 70 percent of eligible voters in Iraq went to the polls.
Does this mean that our mission is over? No. Does this mean that our troops are out of danger? Definitely not.
However, it does send a strong message to the insurgents as they witness the strong desire for freedom that the Iraqi people now possess.
What a sad day for Germany, France, the liberal American press and the liberal left wing of the Democratic party, all of whom tried to sabotage our efforts in this difficult but necessary war.
And finally, what a letdown for our local little herd of Bush haters whose ongoing bleatings do not represent mainstream America and do nothing more than give aid and comfort to the enemy.
God bless our troops and God bless America.
Martin K. Tetachuk
Rollin
Officers were
effective Special Response Team
Editor,
On Feb. 3, I had a unique opportunity to witness and participate in the investigation of last week's double homicide. My day started at 10:30 a.m., where I arrived at Tribal Law and Order. This is where the reporting party first notified Tribal police of the shootings. Within the hour, a total of 13 officers, Tribal and County, gathered in the room where they began staging. I noticed that all the officers were comfortable with each other, making it obvious that this was not their first coming together in a situation like this. This "coming together" became the Special Response Team (SRT).
One of the Tribal officers began drawing the layout of the land and home on the chalkboard. This information was described to him in his interview with the reporting party. As more information was gathered, revisions were made to these drawings to further clarify the home setting and possible obstacles they may encounter.
Once there was a clear understanding of the property it was time to start planning who would enter, how they would enter and positioning the other officers in the perimeter. This plan came together quickly and you could feel the tension grow and the rush of adrenaline begin. Of course, these officers were unsure if the suspects were in the woods, in the home, if the suspects would see the officers arrive, what weapons they may have, and most importantly, the two people who were believed shot, could still be alive. Time was critical.
While staging was taking place, the search warrant was issued and an ambulance was put on standby. Since all the resources from both Tribal and County agencies were being used for this operation, local City Police handled the Sheriff Office calls in their areas and the Highway Patrol transported County prisoners.
The SRT was ready to move and as they started to leave, the Sheriff called them back for prayer. These officers were ready and willing to put their life on the line and the Sheriff prayed for God's protection and their safe return home. The silence in the room reflected appreciation, sincerity and drive of these officers. Now it was time to go.
Approximately eight vehicles parked near Nine Pipes Lodge and the shifting of officers took place, leaving four vehicles to enter the property. No time was lost. It took only a few minutes to arrive and immediately the dynamic entry began. This was amazing, the officers were in and almost immediately out with the two suspects apprehended and taken by one County officer and one Tribal officer.
As the team continued to clear other buildings on the property, the bodies of the two victims were soon discovered. Officers taped off the area and the State Crime Lab was contacted.
I felt it important to share this experience with the community. There is a collaborative spirit that is strong throughout the county and reservation. I witnessed this, first hand.
I hope that agencies, tribal and non-tribal can see how important it is to work together for the common good. This was not Tribal and County, this was one law enforcement agency modeling exactly what all organizations in our community should strive for— unification.
Julie Berry
Polson