Letters to the editor
Farm friendly
John Tester is not listed as a friend of the Farm Bureau. The Farm Bureau works to protect agriculture and is one of the best advocates for farmers and ranchers in the state. When I did not see John Tester on the list of friends of Farm Bureau, I called our state Farm Bureau office to see if it was a typo. Well it wasn’t. To be on the list you must support agricultural legislation 75% of the time. Denny Rehberg has a support record of 96%. Max Baucus squeaked on the list with a 75.4 %.
John Tester, who claims to be a big supporter of agriculture, received a 56%. John Tester supports Obama 95% of the time. I think he’s got it backwards.
Agriculture is Montana’s biggest industry. I am voting for the guy who supports farmers and ranchers 96% of the time. Montana needs Denny Rehberg!
Susan Lake
Ronan
Taylor-made to serve
Janna Taylor is an outstanding candidate for the state legislature in Senate District 6. Her experience and expertise in the House of Representatives, where she served as Vice-Chair of the important Taxation and Budget Committee, will be immensely valuable in crafting the next state budget and in making needed changes to property taxes in a fiscally responsible way. She understands that jobs for Montanans are created by streamlining regulations and lowering the tax burden for the small businesses who employ 90% of the people, earning her a Business Award and “A” rating from the Montana Chamber. Janna’s dedication to preserving the beauty and quality of our environment was recognized with the Paul Williams Stewardship Award from the Flathead Basin Commission. Her conservative values have earned her the the highest rating from the Montana Family Foundation. She also has an “A” rating and is endorsed by the Montana Shooting Sports Association and the National Rifle Association as an advocate for Montana outdoor sports. Perhaps most importantly, Janna knows who she works for and listens to all her constituents. Please join me in voting for the best candidate for Senate District 6, Janna Taylor.
Philip Barney
Polson
Swenson is swell
I support John Swenson in his bid for the office of Lake County Commissioner. John will be a strong voice and vote for individual property rights while in the commissioner’s office.
The principle of property is essential to freedom. In his famous essay on “Property” in 1792, James Madison expressed the foundational view that “government is instituted to protect property of every sort;...This being the end of government, that alone is a just government, which impartially secures to every man, whatever is his own.”
Significantly, Madison stated that “man has a property very dear to him in the safety and liberty of his person.” No property can be secure when the most foundational property--our “person,” our life, including life in the womb-is not secure.
The 5th Amendment of the US Constitution and Art. II Sec. 29 of the MT Constitution institute the protection of property that Madison conveyed by prohibiting government from “taking” or “damaging” private property “for public use without just compensation.” (These are the two Constitutions, by the way, that all elected officials in Montana are required by oath or affirmation to uphold.)
When elected officials assume authority to “redistribute” or “regulate” private property, whether in the form of “real” (land) or “personal” (money) property in a fashion that “takes” it by “damaging” or diminishing its value (such as the recently passed “density map” in Lake County), “compensation” must be paid. More often than not, that does not happen. The preferred and proper option, of course, would be that our elected officials keep gov’t within its constitutional boundaries and duties and not violate property in the first place.
John Swenson will not support policies that violate property. He will uphold his oath of office and reject political expediency and pragmatism. He knows that is necessary to restore our property and freedom. That is why I support him.
Please vote for John Swenson for Lake County Commissioner.
Rick Jore
Ronan
Where’s Tester?
Senator Tester won a close race with Senator Conrad Burns back in 2006 with the typical left-wing election ethics… not about issues but distortion, distractions, and outright lies. Tester and the Democrats accused SenatorBurns of being involved with Jack Abramoff in an Indian lobbying scandal, only to be found of no wrong doing shortly after the election.
Senator Tester has been a no show on energy until he recently did a photo op in eastern Montana to make the people of our state think he has been backing natural energy production in Montana.
I am an owner of a small company doing business in eastern Montana and northwestern North Dakota, working directly in the oil extraction process and I talk with oil company officials on a daily basis. They know who’s in the game and who is not and Senator Tester and President Obama definitely are NOT.
There are some very defining numbers available from our neighbors to the east.North Dakota passed a $400 million tax relief bill in 2009, and another in 2011 for $500 million. In August, Gov. Jack Dalrymple unveiled a $545million package that would cut the average school tax levy by half.
The railway system of BNSF is investing $197 million in North Dakota and eastern Montana and hiring 560 new employees. North Dakota has increased their rail capacity some “7000” percent from 2008 to 2012. North Dakota has increased their daily oil output to 662,000 barrels and has a pipeline capacity of approximately 450,000 barrels.
Why wouldn’t Tester be out front leading the charge promoting natural energy .and benefits to all Montanans? It is not all about the oil, but the trickle down effects that make the difference.
We need to watch what Senator Tester does in Washington rather than what he says in Montana. Could it be that he is still taking his directions from his “bed partner” President Obama?
Really Senator Tester... where are you? Certainly not in Montana.
Larry Ashcraft
Polson
Janna Taylor’s record
Janna Taylor has been a Representative in the State Legislature since 2005, but just who was she representing all those years? Check her voting record.
Janna has abandoned our veterans by voting against the construction of the Southwest Montana Veteran’s Home in Butte (HB 296). She voted against out-of-state corporations paying their fair share of taxes (HB 2-8), but voted to raise taxes on small businesses providing health insurance to their employees (HB 612).
She voted to cut the Healthy Montana Kids program (HB 2-45), and prescription drug assistance for seniors (HB 2). She voted to raise tuition on Montana students (HB 2-053), to put public money into charter schools (HB 603), and voted against funding for special education (HB 2-056) and the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (HB 2-061). She also opposed heating assistance for 12,600 low-income families (HB 2-21), and approved insurance coverage discrimination based on gender (HB 283).
Janna supports government mandated ultrasounds before abortion (HB 280) and government mandated counseling before divorce (HB 438). Is this the Republican idea of “less invasive government”?
Finally, Janna doesn’t have the common sense to represent Montanans. She supported Montana’s secession from the USA (HJ 14)! She stated, at the Masumola forum on Oct 10, 2012, that the MT Dept of Revenue flies over our homes to appraise them. And, finally, she admitted to being totally unprepared when she testified before of the State Judiciary Committee on Feb. 8, 2011. She spoke against abolishing the death penalty in Montana (SB 185) by speaking of the danger of lethal spit balls in prisons.
Janna certainly doesn’t represent Montana values and we, as Montanans and residents of Lake and Flathead Counties, deserve better.
Jackie Ladner
Polson
"Left wingnut socialists"
Oh how sad it must be for a well intentioned Democrat to have to be associated with the left wingnut socialists, which have taken over their party. Example; for years we have been exposed to the babblings of Lake County locals such as Bob McClellan and Peter Daniels. These people go on and on with their fabricated and often mean - spirited criticism of anyone who does not share the big government socialist agenda that the Democratic party so proudly adheres to.
The upcoming election is the most important one in our modern times. It will decide if America comes back as the most prosperous and strongest nation in the world or continues on the path of Obama’s socialist program that invested taxpayer’s money (yes, our money) into the green energy companies who were also campaign contributors. Solyndra, Ener 1, Beacon Power, Abound Solar, Spectra Watt, Eastern Energy, Amonix Solar to name a few, who have all gone bankrupt costing the American taxpayers billions of dollars.
Compare these facts with Mitt Romney’s free market Bain Capital, that invested private money towards creating or salvaging the following American icons: AMC Entertainment, Burger King, Clear Channel Communications, Dominos Pizza, Dunkin Donuts, Guitar Center, The Sports Authority, Toys “R” Us, and Warner Music Group, to name a few. Ask the employees or in Obama’s case the former employees who they believe is best suited to lead America.
It should be mentioned that Romney’s Mexican born father was a self - made man, who at his death left son Mitt a great deal of money, which the younger Romney gave away to charity. Mitt Romney, while governor of Massachusetts, did not accept any salary nor did he when he took over and rescued the Salt Lake City Olympics from financial failure.
This is the clear choice that Americans have for the future of this country and that sadly a vote for any Democrat whether local, state or federal is a vote for the failed socialist policies of Barack Hussein Obama.
Americans, get out and vote on Nov. 6, take your country back.
Martin Tetachuk
Rollins
DeVries for Justice
As retired CEO of Security State Bank and Trust Company, I worked with Dennis DeVries for 18 years. While Dennis’ primary responsibility was agriculture and commercial loans, his insights and comments about the bank’s group health insurance and bank’s 401k Plan were useful in selecting options for employee benefits. He listens and considers available facts. He is able to weigh conflicting information, consider how results may be over time with various courses of action and come to a logical conclusion resulting in reasonable decisions. He is honest, responsible and dependable.
Dennis has also served in organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge, Lion’s Club, Soil Conservation Service and worked for 4-H market animals. He understands Lake County and its citizens’ values.
From personal experience serving on juries, I believe Dennis DeVries has the qualities to be Justice of the Peace and I support his candidacy. Please support him for this important job with your vote.
Frank Stock
Polson
For the children
It’s for the children.
We heard this at the Quarterly Meeting from Council members, Cultural representatives, and Tribal Language representatives and even 100 percenters. But where were you parents? Are you not concerned about your children and their allotment of the remainder of the Salazar settlement? Don’t you feel obligated to stand up for your own children? We’re not talking about the children five generations from now. We are talking of the present. Look right now and see into your children’s eyes. Do they not deserve hope and security when they step into adulthood.
Or perhaps you believe there will be monies left in that “General Fund” in the future. Maybe it’s possible. But has the past Tribal Government been excellent keepers of our monies? When Tribal Members were in financial woes was it easy to request assistance from your Tribal Government? Maybe you are too young to experience the procedures. Ask your parents and your grandparents, they remember.
If you want to really do something to help your children’s future, insist they take economics, bookkeeping and accounting classes in school. If it isn’t taught in high school, have them take these classes at our college while they are in high school. It can be done with your help. Teach them the power of financial freedom. Teach them that the future can be theirs if only they have the resources of a beginning.
If you’re saying to yourself, “That’s the White Man’s Way,” well, yes it is. And it works. How many independent tribal business owners do you presently know on this reservation? Everything on this reservation is locked up in Tribal Government. And I do mean “locked.” Your money is locked, you land is locked, your rights are even locked. Is this the future you want your children to experience?
It’s time to establish freedom on the reservation. When your own Tribal Government denies you the basic American freedom of signing a petition and you agree with their decision, what’s next? What will be next for your children and their children? There may be no more petitions in the future on this reservation simply because you allowed it to happen. And the word “petition” will have been omitted from our Tribal Constitution.
It IS for the children.
Revan Rogers
Polson
Roadway clean-up
It is exciting to see how some neighborhoods have turned out to make our community more beautiful by cleaning up roadways. The Community at Finley Point gathered at the Montecahto Club for coffee and pasries prior to their fall cleanup on Saturday, September 29th.
Masumola Club cleaned up Rocky Point Road on Sunday afternoon, September 30th and gathered for a barbeque supper.
Thank you, too, Wes Delaney for planting and maintaining the selection of flowering plants at the south end of the traffic island at HWY 93 and HWY 35. It is inspiring to see a spot of color in an otherwise drab area.
Dorene Parise,
Beautification committee, Envision Polson