Letters to the editor
June 11
Thanks to a great effort
After touring the Lake County Building Association “Student Built House” in Polson last week, we had to comment on what an incredible house the students have built. The Building Trades is a Running Start program affiliated with the Flathead Valley Community College. It allows the opportunity for young men and women to learn Building Trades and obtain college credit. What is so amazing is the fact that this house is built from foundation to finish work in the course of a school year with the guidance of one instructor, Russ Barber. Russ has taken these young men and women and has taught them something that each can carry through life.
This is an extraordinary opportunity that has been given to these students through the generous support of a great community. There are so many businesses and individuals to thank, Lake County Building Association, Glacier Bank, Flathead Valley Community College, Polson High School, Western Building Center, Mission Valley Power, the great instructor, Russ Barber, and so many others who have given to this worthwhile cause. Please know how much your donations have been appreciated. When I see this house, it reminds me of the quote, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” This is exactly what is happening at Polson High School in the Building Trades Course.
We thank each of you for the great opportunities given to our sons and daughters. Great job students, congratulations! Great job, Russ!
Karen Bach, Rollins
Time to clean house
Years ago, the American industrialist, Henry Ford, said the American people do not understand the workings of their own government, for if they did, I believe there would be a march on Washington before morning.
Thousands of Americans are waking up to the fact that something terribly wrong is going on today, but not quite sure what it is. Those who do know are reluctant to speak out for fear of being labeled as anti-American and/or anti-Semitic, which in both cases means absolutely nothing.
It is a mistake of the first magnitude to think and believe that Israel is our friend. The fact is that if it were not for Israel’s dictating both foreign and domestic policy in this country, American troops would not be in Iraq or Afghanistan today. More than four thousand Americans would not be dead today, having given their lives for absolutely nothing, based on a total fabrication.
Honor the troops yes, but dishonor those who caused it to happen, and that means a wholesale house cleaning in Washington, and replacing them with grassroots American Patriots who owe their allegiance to this country and its Constitution before anything else.
American Patriots can be found all over the country, but they are not to be found among the cadre of politicians who are only interested in getting re-elected and maintaining the status quo. There is only about a year and a half to get this done, and it’s already past time for it to have already been done.
For those who might take offense at that idea, may you live long enough to find out the truth of it.
Don Basta, Polson
What a caring community
Recently my husband and I passed through your town on vacation. I had occasion to seek medical help while there. I can’t say enough about the wonderful care I received at the Western Montana Medical Clinic from Dr. Kelly Bagnell, her nurse Ginny and the rest of the staff. You are fortunate indeed to have such caring professionals.
Leslie Talley, Titusville, Fla.
SB 343: A vital bill
During this past legislative session, the Aquatic Invasive Species bill was passed into law. The bill will enable the state of Montana, watershed groups and others to address the threats associated with the introduction of zebra and quagga mussels, and Eurasian water milfoil, in a more proactive way. Given the economic and ecological impacts associated with the introduction of such invasive species, the importance of this bill cannot be understated. Therefore, the Flathead Basin Commission would like to thank the Flathead delegation for supporting this critically needed piece of legislation. We would also like to offer special thanks to Verdell Jackson for sponsoring the bill, and to Janna Taylor for carrying the bill in the house. Preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species can be both challenging and complex, but we now have the tools at our disposal to better address this issue.
Caryn Miske, executive director, Flathead Basin Commission
Single payer is the answer
In August 2008, Barack Obama said, “If I were designing a system from scratch, I would probably go ahead with a single-payer system.”
That begs the question, why is this particular issue not up for consideration, discussion and at least defined in terms we can understand? More than 60 percent of physicians and more than 60 percent of the general public want to see a single-payer health plan. More than 60 percent of bankruptcies are created by medical bills.
Senator Bernie Sanders was quoted yesterday on Huffingtonpost.com in response to Senator (Max) Baucus’ attempts to “kill” single-payer saying, “I find it somewhat incomprehensible that if we are serious about getting health care reform, if we are serious about tackling the outrageously high cost of health care, that we are not engaging serious discussion about a single-payer health care system.”
Senator Max Baucus is quoted, “Public opinion, in all its variations, is on the table and I’ll fight tooth and nail,” he said, then paused and added “for a version that works, if we can get it passed.”
Single payer health care means that one entity handles all the billing and payments for health care services. Under any plans discussed, care would be privately delivered and patients would have a choice of doctors and other providers .
According to Physicians for a National Health Program: “Currently, about 60 percent of our health care system is financed by public money: federal and state taxes, property taxes and tax subsidies.” And yet, “47 million people have no insurance.” “Over 31 percent of every health care dollar goes to paperwork, overhead, CEO salaries, profits, etc.” A single-payer system would reduce that overhead cost to us. For example, single payer programs already in place are Medicare and VA. “The Medicare program operates with just 3 percent overhead, compared to 15 percent to 25 percent overhead at a typical HMO. Provincial single-payer plans in Canada have an overhead of about 1 percent.”
Contact: Senator Baucus: 1-800-332-6106 and the White House 202-456-1111.
Lynn Peters, Polson
Bread Basket thanks
In this time of financial concerns for our country, the members of the Bread Basket are extremely grateful for the continued support of our generous community. It is through supporting one another that we get through the tough times and we are blessed to live where people acknowledge the importance of feeding our community members. Our appreciation extends not only to the many businesses, churches, schools and the Tribe, which includes Citgo Energy Grant out of Venezuela, the post offices of Charlo and Ronan, the many clubs and sports organizations, plus the faithful individuals that financially help us keep going, but to our wonderful volunteers who put in countless hours working toward helping our neighbors. Thank you one and all.
The Bread Basket is currently serving more than 120 families per month. We have had sufficient food to give out for 3-4 days supply once a month. Many of our families find that working at minimum wage or on a part-time basis they find it difficult to stretch the money far enough to feed their families for an entire month. Your support given toward the end of the last year has enabled the BB to keep the families fed, but we still need your help as times get tougher.
Those of you who are interested in volunteering your time, please call Barbara at 676-3699 or Cheryl at 676-8014.
If any of your employees would like to gather canned and/or dry foods for the BB, they can be dropped off at our center at 10 6th Ave. SW in Ronan. The BB is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and our phone number is 676-4357. Here is a sample list of items given to clients: Eggs, flour, cereal, pasta, rice, beans, milk, bread, canned fruit and vegetables, margarine, peanut butter, soup, tuna and other meat. We appreciate any offerings.
We have designated June and July as our fundraising months. A special one of appreciation to the Ronan Telephone Company, who prints and encloses the donation envelopes in their billing every year for us. Would you consider giving the Bread Basket as financial contributions at this time? There is no time like the present to give. Our new address is P.O. Box 346, Ronan.
Thank you again for your kind generosity in helping the needy people in the community.
Chris Schrider, secretary
Dogs walkers need boundaries
Every morning I drive to work and see a woman walking her black lab dogs and white dog on the middle school grounds, never picking up the poop after them.
Last week, I said to her, “I can’t believe you are letting your dogs poop on the school grounds without picking it up.”
She said, “I pay my taxes.”
I said, “Kids walk through here, you could at least pick it up. I wish that some day you have a child that will slip and fall in the poop and see how you like it all over their clothes.”
You know who you are, please take a bag and pick it up.
After talking to Mr. (Rick) Rafter about the situation, he has said he also has talked to this women. This is plain ignorance.
Wanda Blankenhorn, Polson