Jore case result worse than density code

Editor,

Of all the political actions that occurred in Lake County during the last 11 months, the travesty that is the election results of House District 12 stands out as being an issue of long lasting impact.

I believe it ranks ahead of the County's assault on personal property rights with their density allocation code. At least proper owners can and should sue the Lake County commissioners for "taking of their land values" without just compensation (Montana Constitutional Law), but in the case of Rick Jore vs. the Democratic Party, Jeanne Windham, Anita Big Spring and the retired Supreme Court Justice who is heading the assault on Rick Jore, along with the election process of Montana, enough is enough.

Rick Jore ran for House District 12. The election board who included members of the same county commission who is giving us density zoning, certified the election results. Our duly elected Judge Kim Christopher upheld their findings. Anita Big Spring, on Jeanne Windham's behalf — Jeanne apparently could not defend herself — backed by the Democratic party whose goal was to ensure a Legislative House majority, carried the events on to the Supreme Court. You all know the rest of the story.

Well, folks, how about these thoughts? Why is the election board, headed by the county commissioners who started this mess being excused of their responsibility? Why does any candidate have to defend themselves from the findings of a government-appointed election board? Why was the law firm of Terry Trieweiller employed by the plaintiffs to pursue a case that any informed person knew could end up before the Supreme Court, whose members for the most part, are former colleagues of a partner whose law firm is presenting before them an election case that could establish long reaching precedents?

I won't even bring up the issue of how the Supreme Court could make such a positive finding of error in the ballot counting over the ability of those trained and appointed to make the initial determination and count? Conflict of interest perhaps? Politics as usual, what do you think?

You know we are all guilty of being disinterested in events that do not directly affect us, but should we all be alarmed by the actions or inactions of our elected officials and those who are appointed to ensure that the basic laws of our land are upheld?

Rick Jore did not break any law, nor did property owners affected by the new zoning law. Why are we willing to let their rights be assaulted by a political system that can be manipulated by money, personal greed, or any agenda that claims public good as the uncompensated expense of a few? Who knows, maybe a right that is dear to you will be the next acceptable privilege to lose.

Why don't you ask yourselves the question, is it acceptable for my neighbor to experience an injustice as long as it doesn't affect my vision of what is right? Please start paying attention, people. Our rights are God-given, our responsibility is to protect them.

Joe Brooks

Ronan