Letters to the Editor

Feb. 5, 2009

Spit tobacco kills

Spit tobacco use is a serious health problem in Montana. Compared to the national average, more than twice as many Montana men use spit tobacco. Even more disturbing, the prevalence of spit tobacco use among Montana high school boys is approximately 40 percent higher than that of high school boys nationally. It is not surprising that the tobacco industry is marketing spit tobacco as a harmless alternative to smoking. These are the same folks who lied about secondhand smoke. But using spit tobacco can be a lethal addiction, with spit tobacco users being 50 times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-users. Lately, we have seen the tobacco industry begin to promote a new line of so-called “smokeless” products. These products do nothing more than support nicotine addiction.

Local tobacco prevention programs across Montana, in partnership with the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program, are coordinating a statewide campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of spit tobacco use. “Through the Chew Week,” is Feb. 15-21, with Tougher than Tobacco events taking place across the state. You can join these activities, or stage your own. It’s time for Montanans to stand up against spit tobacco, just like we have against secondhand smoke.

If you know who uses any commercial tobacco product, tell them about the Montana Tobacco Quit Line, a free service for all tobacco users that provides coaching, helps develop individual quit plans and offers a four-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy. Calls to the Quit Line are toll-free at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669).

Cristen Morigeau, tobacco prevention specialist, CKST Tribal Health and Human Services

All politicians should step up

After eight years of Republican dictatorship, we are experiencing the worst economy in 26 years. Remember 1982 and Ronald Reagan’s “trickle down” voodoo economics? Heaping money on the already wealthy never bodes well for real Americans.

As Will Rogers pointed out, money always flows uphill.

“You can drop a bag of gold in Death Valley, which is below sea level, and before Saturday it will be home to papa J.P.”

When money is already at the top, it ain’t trickling down to you and me. Let’s prime the pump at the bottom and let regular citizens spend until it gushes back up to Exxon.

Republicans, you can either sit back like Rush Limbaugh and hope America fails or you can pitch in and be useful. We’ll eventually clean up Bush’s messes and I’m sure in a few decades ignorant loudmouths will attempt to revise history by burying how we escaped another deep hole dug by greedy elitists. At least we know it won’t be Limbaugh. I’m not saying I hope he dies or anything. I don’t have to. His huge, red faced, fat head says enough.

It’s time to stop heeding gluttonous, gilded-age goons and get smart. When Progressives govern the country our economy flourishes. Rightwingers just gild their own cages and crap on everyone else. How many times must this cycle repeat before we wise up?

I wonder how many of the Dittoheads who echo the “socialist” charge have their very own maid to obtain illicit Oxycontin for them?

Wanda LaCroix, Arlee

Potato feed thanks

I would like to thank the seventh grade honor pass students and parents that helped make our Baked Potato Feed such a success during the Ronan/Whitefish basketball game on Friday evening.

What a wonderful community we live in. The potatoes were donated by Kim and Jason Starkel and Jack and Susan Lake. Thank you to all the individuals that supported us by stopping by and eating baked potatoes with us. I would especially like to thank seventh grade teachers Shawn Harris and Tera Flink for all the time they dedicated to this endeavor. The students were totally hands on from start to finish with the scrubbing of the spuds and the baking of the cakes. Job well done!

 I was so impressed by this group of seventh-grade ladies and gentlemen. They were all exceptionally polite and eager to help in any way that could. It truly was my pleasure to spend the evening with these fine young students.

Linda Madsen, RMS parent, Ronan

Property tax system broken

 The Montana Constitution establishes that, “The state shall appraise, assess, and equalize the valuation of all property which is to be taxed in the manner provided by law” (Article VIII: Sec. 3). The legislature has established “by law” that a reappraisal take place every six years. November 2009 property tax bills will reflect this reappraised value, and hopefully, enactment of lower multipliers by the current legislature to “mitigate” the effects of significant increases in valuation.

While this reappraisal is on the minds of many property taxpayers, they may be interested in numbers from the (Montana) Department of Revenue regarding how much we pay for the “privilege” of having our property appraised and taxed.

Currently, DOR is authorized 647.78 full-time equivalent employees. DOR has 310.10 FTE’s who are authorized to one division within DOR, the Property Assessment Division. DOR’s budget for fiscal year 2009 is $54,348,016 ($108,341,011 for the 2009 biennium). Of that total budget, the Property Assessment Division is $19,494,310 for fiscal year 2009 ($38,434,393 for the 2009 biennium). In other words, it costs more than $54 million a year and around 650 employees to collect the taxes to fund our state government, of which almost $20 million a year and just under half of those employees are required to appraise and assess property. 

  I understand that many folks do not agree with my strong philosophical objections to a property tax, which include the fact that it makes the state a de facto owner of all taxed property while the deed holders become mere renters. Also, to me, it is morally wrong and illogical that taxes should be based on the value of property as that by no means indicates the value of government services received or a correspondingly adequate ability to pay. 

 However, apart from any philosophical considerations, we should at least question the appropriateness of a property tax based on the simple mechanics of complication, intrusiveness and cost of collection. 

 Funding government for proper constitutionally prescribed functions is necessary. It shouldn’t be as complicated, intrusive and expensive as we have made it.

 Rick Jore, Ronan