Letters to the editor
Positive recognition
The purpose of this letter is to commend the administration and staff of Mission Mountain Enterprises. Our son has been in the day program for five years and a residential client for the past two-and-a-half years. We have become acquainted with many clients and most of the staff. The client population encompasses a wide variety of disabilities, including mobility challenges, personal hygiene, general health issues and mental health dilemmas.
It has been our experience that the administration and staff of Mission Mountain Enterprises works very hard to meet the needs of what at times can be a very challenging clientele. These needs are met through work activities, socialization and enrichment experiences and field trips. The staff handles their duties in a firm and fair manner. Empathy is present as well as encouragement and modeling. We believe the administration and staff at MME provide a great service in a difficult field, which often goes without positive recognition.
We’d especially like to thank those who work directly with our son. Thanks to MME.
Dennis and Linda Hewitt
Polson
Corporate personhood
Polls show that an overwhelming number of U.S. and Montana citizens oppose the recent Supreme Court decision granting corporate personhood. This decision which allows unlimited, and mostly unaccountable, contributions to political campaigns was also judged by the Montana Supreme Court as going contrary to the Montana Constitution. In view of that, one wonders why the Lake County Republican Central Committee recently joined forces with the Virginia-based American Tradition Partnership and several other groups to try and overturn the Montana Supreme Court decision.
In the 2010 election cycle, the American Tradition Partnership, formerly known as the Western Tradition Partnership, financed cynical and misleading ads against Democratic candidates running in Lake County. I think it’s fair to assume they plan similar action in 2012.
It is disheartening to think that Lake County Republicans cannot conduct local campaigns without imploring the assistance of out-of-state money and influence. If you resent these actions and their impact on our local politics, you might want to let your Republican representatives know about it.
Kirwin Werner
Ronan
Tyranny of the majority
The “public survey” has become a way of life here in Lake County, Montana. A tool used by various organizations, foundations, community development corporations, or NGOs (non-governmental private corporations), to establish values sets and demographics county wide. The results are then used to develop a “vision” or “master plan,” which is used by these same organizations to influence and guide the municipal laws and ordinances enacted through our local city and county governments.
Public input and public opinions are very important elements to the principles of a free and civilized society. However, allowing for “popular opinion” alone to be the guiding influence and principle in the creation of our laws and ordinances has a significant impact on us all. Popular opinion, or “tyranny of the majority” over the minority and individual, puts at risk rights, which are unalienable. So says the U.S. Constitution.
A republican form of government, which is legally binding on our elected officials through their sworn oath of office, is a form of government that is designed to limit the majority in order to protect the minority and the individual. The U.S. Constitution and our Montana State Constitution are the documents to which these sworn officials are limited in their law making powers.
A democracy is what you have when the majority has no limits placed upon their power and where the minority and individual are left unprotected by constitutional limitations. Or, you could say that a democracy is run by popular opinion developed through surveys without limitations. As an example let us all take a “survey” here in Lake County. Let us choose on the issue of where people can live and where they can not live. By popular opinion through a “survey,” or vote, it will be decided. This form of government is a democracy because there is no limit placed on the power of popular opinion to create law.
When city and county officials use these surveys as their sole guide for creating master plans, laws, and ordinances and neglect to consult our Republic’s limiting documents known as constitutions they have put at risk the unalienable rights of the minority and the individual while supporting tyranny of the majority. This creates an opportunity for our form of government, which these officials have bound themselves to uphold and defend, to be subverted, corrupted and transformed. This new form of government is called a democracy, whereby rights and freedoms are reserved by the majority for whomever they choose.
John Swenson
Ronan
Agenda 21
The disappointment and frustration by the Ronan Parks Board is understandable. It is disheartening to devote long hours, days, weeks and years formulating a plan with the best interest of the community at heart only to have the door repeatedly closed to its implementation. The cautionary vote taken by the city council denying the plan at the last review was likely prompted by Mr. Swenson’s letter warning of the potential danger of Agenda 21. Representative Janna Taylor’s article “Agenda 21” shed light on the reason for concern. The council is wise to look carefully at the influence, if any, that Agenda 21 might have on our community.
Although it is prudent that both parties investigate the impact Agenda 21 would have, if any, at this stage of planning, it is important that the council not throw the baby out with the bath. Having a plan for the future of green spaces in Ronan is necessary. Five years from now will the present council and new council members rue the day if this plan is not accepted?
The park board is composed of intelligent, sensible, community-minded people dedicated to providing for the future of our youth. The city council is composed of intelligent, sensible, community-minded people dedicated to solving the challenges brought before them to the best of their ability.
Surely these two entities will have open dialog and will come to an agreement satisfactory to both. An agreement not forged by fear or hamstrung by political agendas, rather, one that represents the mutual concern of both groups to prepare wisely for the future. Yes, streets need repair and water and sewer issues are perennial. But, if the reason for not adopting the plan has anything to do with housing developments having priority over parks, that is a sad commentary on the value of life of our kids and seniors (people who most need and use parks). Opting for short term economic gains over long term quality of life for our citizens would reflect short sightedness on the part of the city planners. To not have a plan for the future of Ronan parks and recreation seems the height of folly.
As a resident living on the new Back Road highway, I urge the council and concerned citizens of Ronan to take seriously the impact that the U.S. Highway 93 southbound lane will have on the edge of the existing park. Having a plan in place is not only prudent, it is essential. Choose wisely.
Frances Abbey
Ronan
Zoning concern
My property recently came under the jurisdiction of the Board of Adjustments. A variance was requested for a commercial building to be placed above the shooting range along Kerr Dam Road just outside of Polson. The property is currently owned by the county. This property is currently Rural/Residential Zoning District. Obviously, that zoning does not allow a commercial building to be placed within that district.
The BOA duties expressly state that to authorize a variance the provisions of that zoning result in unnecessary hardship so that the spirit of the resolution shall be observed and substantial justice done. It also states it should not be contrary to public interest. Now, my understanding would be of the first statement that the RRZD zoning created a hardship for the county — how? The second statement could be directed at my property. I own the residential property directly across from this. After the construction of the commercial building, my property value will surely decrease.
Currently, the property is able to see the lake and only residential homes. The new building will be very close to the road and is over 130 feet long, which does not include parking. No concern was directed at my comments, and my concerns did not seem to be taken into consideration. Letters received late regarding the variance request are to be read at the meeting, and this was not done.
The commercial building is for the Lake County Search and Rescue and therefore given extra consideration. I find it funny that they were unable to find any other locations to put this building. With over 80 percent of their calls being on the Lake having the building three-and-a-half miles from the lake should be a deterrent. A board member even stated that he was sure that they had done due diligence in their search for property. How was he sure?
It seems from my perspective that the decision was made prior to any comments from the public. I am of course in support of Lake County Search and Rescue, but sincerely doubt that any other commercial building would be allowed this variance. The decision should be based on it being a commercial building, not on who resides in it. I hope that when I come back to the county and request that my property be allowed a zoning variance I will be given the same special consideration. How am I to sell a residential property with a view of a 130-foot commercial building with parking for 40? Anybody want 20 acres with a lake view, for now?
Julie Smith
Polson
Barbershop conversation
When I was a boy, my mom cut my hair with manual clippers, the old kind that required her to squeeze and release the handles which made the cutters move back and forth cutting my hair as she maneuvered around my ears and up the back of my neck. I often said ‘ouch!’ Thinking back to those days, I’m very glad for all of the technical advancements that our barbers have at their disposal today.
With Easter just around the corner, our Lake County barbers will be busy helping people look their very best, which reminds me of a barbershop conversation that I read not too long ago.
A fellow went to get his haircut and he and the barber began discussing some world problems as barbershop conversations sometimes do. In the course of the discussion, the barber said that he didn’t believe in the existence of God. “If God existed, there wouldn’t be so much greed, hostility and anger in the world; there would not be so much sin in the world and what about all the sick people?” No, I don’t believe that God exists.”
The haircut completed, the customer left the shop and was immediately confronted by a rather filthy man with long greasy, matted hair. He quickly opened the door to the barbershop and said, “I don’t believe that barbers exist,” to which the barber replied, “I just cut your hair.” “No” said the customer, “barbers don’t exist; if barbers existed there wouldn’t be people in this world with long, greasy, dirty hair.” To which the barber replied, “I cannot help people with long, dirty, greasy hair if they won’t come to me;” the man with the fresh haircut replied, “Neither can God.”
As Easter approaches, we’re reminded that Jesus came to save us from our sins. All are welcome, but he can only save those who come to him. “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty...all that the Father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me I will never drive away...everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.’” John 6:35-40 NIV.
Harvey A. Town
Polson
American man
I am only one man. But, I am an American man. A man who is very concerned about his country and its future hanging on the precipice of utter destruction. How much difference can one man make?
“How often has public calamity been arrested on the very brink of ruin, by the seasonable energy of a single man? Have we no such man among us?
I am as sure as I am of my being, that one vigorous mind without office, without situation, public functions of any kind, (at a time when the want of such a thing is felt, as I am sure it is) I say one such man, confiding in the aid of God, and full of just reliance in his own fortitude, vigor, enterprise, and perseverance, would first draw to him some few like himself, and then that multitudes, hardly thought to be in existence, would appear and troop about him!” {Edmund Burke, works 5:124}
I say, “Let the naysayers say what they will. We’ve always had them, always will!” We are in need of more men and women of God and with the Spirit of “76” in their patriotic blood to fear God more than man. To have the courage in the face of adversity and scorn to stand up boldly and declare “We will not comply!” To call evil, evil, and stand for truth no matter who it flies in the face of and exposes them for who they really are.
“Doctrine leads the church into problems of man’s physical, mental, moral, economic, social, and political well-being, into his every need. It does not hesitate, because of individual prejudices or the danger of making enemies, to speak frankly and fully about any and every phase of human life. To cower in some one corner of human need is held in contempt by the church; and certainly such a church should be held in contempt.”
I say serve God or be destroyed. William Penn said, “Men will either be governed by God, or ruled by tyrants.” The Bible says, “When the wicked rule the people mourn.”
Thank you to all you good people who have called and encouraged. When we win, we all win!
James Pettit
Ronan