Letters to the editor
Health matters
I don’t care what your political affiliation is, but the realities of the different views on how to handle our health care system is entirely reason enough to not change our White House occupant in this election.
As Paul Krugman, professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton University and columnist for The New York Times wrote recently: “Mitt Romney doesn’t see dead people. But that is only because he doesn’t want to see them, if he did, he’d have to acknowledge the ugly reality of what will happen if he and Paul Ryan get their way on health care.” And further: “Going to the emergency room when you’re very sick is no substitute for regular care, especially if you have chronic health problems.” And this: “And surely the fact that the United States is the only major advanced nation without some form of universal health care is at least part of the reason life expectancy is much lower in America than in Canada and Western Europe.”
Now, there are so many logical and factual reasons why the Romney/Ryan voucher plan will financially break the very people they claim will be helped, that space here does not permit me to even start.
My point is, we all must become clear on just what the facts are around this most critical part of what Romney and Ryan are saying they will put into effect for America’s health care system. It will bleed, beyond belief, the very people who need some help in getting consistently good care.
We need to know the facts. We need to be accurately informed. We need to be a nation that, above all else, is compassionately conscious of the health of its citizens and provides a system whereby everyone has the right to receive adequate and affordable health care. The voucher system is definitely not the way. We must rework our entire health care system, but do it from what we presently have, not from some new plan which only digs our hole in health care deeper and more regressive.
Bob McClellan
Polson
Vote Janna
I’m writing to ask people to vote for Janna Taylor.
Janna has been an excellent, dedicated representative for the people of our area for 8 years and she will make an excellent state senator.
One of the things that I’ve really appreciated is her efforts to keep all of us informed during the legislature. Her columns are very informative and helpful. Janna also asks for our input and opinions, provides phone and email access and encourages us to contact her at any time.
The best government is open and responsive and that is why we need to vote for Janna Taylor, State Senator, District #6.
Iris Corey
Polson
DeVries for Justice
I have known Dennis DeVries personally and professionally for over 35 years. I think Dennis is honest, intelligent and has the ability to make decisions based on facts rather than emotions. I urge you to vote for Dennis DeVries for Justice of the Peace on Election Day.
Lynn Weaver
Rollins
Open letter to Tribal Council
Concerning the recent settlement monies:
I have been carrying a petition for members to sign in regards to paying out the remaining money from the recent settlement. I just want you to know what I am seeing and hearing from an overwhelming majority of the members I talk to.
First, I’ve seen what wonderful blessings have come about from the first payout. I’ve seen and heard of people using their money to help family members, make improvements on their homes and property, clear up outstanding debts, make repairs on or replace their vehicles, stocking up on wood and groceries, and contributing to charities. The other blessing is that this money was a shot in the arm to the troubled local economy. This is important as many members have to depend on the local economy for jobs.
The following are some of the questions members seem to have for the Tribal Council:
1. Why did you refuse to put this issue up for a membership vote before you made your decision?
2. Why have you been secretive as to why you made the decision not to pay out the remaining money?
3. Why are you ignoring the input you received from the members at the meetings that were held on this subject?
4. What possible motivation would you have for not wanting your people to have further opportunities to improve their economic status?
I can tell you that the distrust and anger many members are feeling about this issue is not going to go away. The ramifications of your current position/decision are most likely just going to cost the Tribe as a whole more money with possible legal questions and your time that should be spent on other issues. Many members are now questioning your past and future decisions on other matters such as Kerr Dam and land buying. There is a sense that by your arrogance on this subject many members feel insulted that you decided that they will not or cannot make good decision regarding this money. I should also mention that I ran into members that were afraid to sign the petition for fear of retaliation from the Council or department heads. Personally, I find that the most disturbing issue.
Again, many members said to those that want to let the Tribe keep the money, give it back to the Tribe when you receive it. And many expressed that they could conclude that these people were probably those that held high paying secure Tribal or government jobs.
Joelene Frey
Polson
Dems better for women
Do you care about the women and girls in your lives? In this particular election, voting for Republican candidates will have far-reaching consequences for women of all ages.
Title X (family planning), and Planned Parenthood (preventative care for thousands of women including health screenings), the Affordable Health Care Act, and Medicare/Medicaid (the only access to health care for many of the elderly and low-income families), are all in danger from Republicans. They define rape as “legitimate” with no victim, and want to deny access to birth control for women and reproductive choice.
Republicans threaten PBS (Sesame Street and educational programs), safety nets like Head Start, aid to vulnerable women and children, welfare, and low-income housing. They malign single parenthood (about 50% of American families), tried to block reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (31 senators voted against it – all Republicans), and want to eliminate Social Security itself.
They would cut Pell Grants and access to educational loans, replace or eliminate public education, eliminate Title IX (equal opportunities in sports for girls) and Affirmative Action. They would eliminate free school lunches for poor students.
Finally, for working women, Republicans threaten to repeal the Lilly Leadbetter Act of 2009 - equal pay for equal work, and to deny equal opportunities in the work place and in the military.
Republicans in 2010 campaigned to create jobs and to improve the economy, but instead of addressing the real causes of the economic problems, they have spent the last two years waging war against the poor, the elderly and especially women. They do not recognize women’s contributions to the economy and to the society as a whole.
Democrats have consistently instituted programs that celebrate the value of all Americans, especially, women. This election, vote for the party that respects the women in your lives and embraces their needs and those of their children. Vote Democrat.
Jackie Ladner
Polson
Dear Mr. Drewry “Publisher,”
FACT: Barack Obama has passed NO anti-gun legislation during his term of office.
FACT: He has signed two pieces of legislation expanding gun rights; (1) permitting gun transport on Amtrak trains, (2) allowing guns into National Parks.
FACT: In July 2004, then-Governor Romney signed legislation into law that made Massachusetts’ assault weapons ban permanent and not reliant on a federal ban that expired at the end of 2004.
FACT: Justice Elena Kagan is going hunting with Justice Antonin Scalia. I don’t think she is going to vote to give up her gun.
FACT: Sotomayor has only voiced one ruling which involved guns and home invasion rights staying federal vs. state jurisdiction.
You, sir, do not rely on FACT; you rely on FEAR and LIES. Shame on you! Being the “publisher” does not give you license to deceive your readers. I have made my choice and it is not Mitt Romney nor Denny Rehberg. I will vote for those whom I trust and who are steady and who have always done or tried to do what they say. I will vote for BARACK OBAMA and JON TESTER. I will make a newspaper choice and it won’t be the Lake Co. Leader whose ownership chooses to lie rather than tell the truth and assumes that we are too stupid to fact check.
Now let’s see if you will publish this or continue to hide behind your rhetoric.
Jenni Fangsrud
Ronan
Hill to Helena
The commitment to run for a statewide office and follow through to fill the role is huge. It takes an incredible amount of self-sacrifice and energy. But it takes more. I’m voting for a governor with vision to chart a sensible course to more economic opportunity here in Montana. The governor I vote for has proven leadership ability that has already resulted in a better business environment. My candidate has the experience and integrity to unchain partisan deadlock and who knows how to accomplish job opportunity and permanent property tax relief.
Please join me in support of Rick Hill, Republican for Governor.
Carmine Mowbray
Montana Senate Dist. 6, Polson
End of campaign season
I would guess that most of us, other than those with masochistic tendencies, will be delighted to see Election Day come and go. We have heard all of the truths, half-truths and downright lies during this time when hyperbole reigns supreme. As we go to the polls, or vote early or absentee, it is vital that we conduct our research in a most diligent manner.
Our votes should be based on judgment of which candidates most accurately reflect our own thoughtful views. Those choices should not be based wholly on ‘name recognition.’ This is especially true with the overpopulated race for JP.
For me, that means selecting folks with whom I have had positive
personal experiences. For, example, I have learned that Denny Rehberg, Janna Taylor and Gale Decker are open to suggestions and can be counted on to respond directly to comments and questions. Beyond that, my personal experience with some of the local candidates drives my selections toward their opponents, whom I regard as more trustworthy and reflective of my more conservative fiscal views and somewhat moderate - conservative social outlook.
I do not, based on my research and attendance at forums (forae?) expect to vote a straight ticket. There are, after all, one or two state-level incumbents who I think have done a respectable job.
Bob Hanson
Dayton
Support Taylor
I’m writing to ask folks to support Janna Taylor for our Senate District 6. Our family has known Janna for over five years and in that time we’ve been impressed, time and again, with her in-depth knowledge of the important issues faced by Representatives and Senators alike. Her personable, get-to-the-heart of the matter characteristics are coupled with her considerable years’ of experience as our Legislator. These qualities make her stand out; these qualities make her our best choice as a Senator who will make a difference for all of us.
Matt Sisler
Big Arm
Museum grant
As reported in the October 25 issue of the Lake County Leader, the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana did, indeed, receive a $66,144 grant awarded by Montana Tourism. With the arrival of these monies, the purchase of the museum building and 3.5 acres of land becomes a reality -- the “Save the Museum” goal has been met.
The museum’s board of directors is very grateful to each and every person involved in this endeavor. We have received pledges, donations, major gifts and grant monies from friends and supporters across the U.S. It has been a humbling and enlighting process to hear the words of appreciation and encouragement from our supporters and visitors. The board looks forward to sharing the treasures of the museum for countless years ahead.
The board announces a Day of Thanksgiving to be held at the museum on Saturday, November 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the museum will be free. Light refreshments and, hopefully, a little musical entertainment will be available. We welcome everyone to come share with us in the good news that the deed for the museum is now held by the board. And we thank you sincerely for your efforts in making this possible.
Rod Wamsley
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Survival of Family Farms
Last week there were two important water rights meetings. One involved the three official parties to this reservation’s Compact negotiation: the CSKT, Federal and Montana governments. At the beginning of Wednesday’s negotiating session the Chairman of the Compact Commission stated that the tripartite negotiations were moving along towards a positive conclusion. But one huge area that remains wide open involves over 90% of surface water used for irrigation.
In late May, the FJBC and the CSKT released a Draft Water Use Agreement that would establish the basis for allocating water between instream flows and irrigation water under a Tribal water right. If approved, such an agreement would be incorporated into an overall water Compact agreement among the tripartite parties.
Without getting into the technical details, many farmers and ranchers have condemned the May Draft because it would significantly reduce the amount of irrigation water that would be delivered to their farms and ranches relative to what they experienced in the past. Given soil conditions and very low rainfall in many areas of Mission Valley it would be impossible for a large number of relatively small family farms to continue to grow hay, corn wheat, potatoes, fruits and a wide range of vegetables. In short many family farms and ranches - - tribal and nontribal - - would be put out of business.
Although the FJBC negotiators announced at a meeting last Monday that they had put proposals to the CSKT for modifying the May agreement, there was a lot of tension in the room. Based on what they have learned since May, many irrigators feel that the FJBC did not prepare for the negotiations and that the super secret negotiations with the CSKT were directed by a small subgroup with very little discussion of the major issues in the FJBC board. Based on this experience many irrigators question the legitimacy of the FJBC negotiating a water use agreement. The FJBC will need to change its ways if it is to regain broad irrigator confidence and also not put family farms and ranches out of business.
Dick Erb
Moiese
Fair and balanced?
After enduring all of the slanted, illogical political flyers and TV ads of the past weeks, we read Dan’s (Drewry) Column in the October 25, 2012 issue of the Leader. We figured that as the publisher of the newspaper, he would marshal the evidence and present a well reasoned endorsement of his favorite candidate. We were wrong.
He asserts as “fact” that Barack Obama is anti-gun. No evidence is cited from Mr. Obama’s time as a US senator or President.
He asserts as “fact” that John Tester votes with Mr. Obama 95% of the time. It is not established that those votes included any regarding gun rights.
He asserts as “fact” that in his opinion the two new Supreme Court justices are anti-gun.
He asserts as “fact” that Mr. Obama, having not trampled on gun rights in his first term, will surely do so in his second.
He asserts as “fact” that the NRA gives Denny Rehberg an A+ on gun related issues. On the same NRA scale, Tester receives an A-.
So, apparently it is established as “fact” that Tester voted 95% of the time with a President who has no cited record of attempting to trample gun rights. Don’t get me wrong, I (Tom) am a native Montanan who has hunted for many years and own several guns. However, the anti-gun rights arguments Dan presents provide no useful guidance on how to vote. They are as slanted and illogical as the rest of the blather that graces our mailbox and TV.
Thomas and Carol Cox
Polson