I am a native Montanan who has recently returned home. I am pleased to see that Montana has stayed true to her roots, but also have noticed those roots are slowly being invaded. A perfect example is the Sept. 2 Beacon guest column titled, “A Fiscal Conservative Looking for Candidates.” The author states that he is a fiscal conservative and a social progressive. Let me define “progressive” for you. It sounds like “moving forward.” And yes, a progressive government will move forward; forward on redistributing your wealth and forward on controlling you by chipping away at your freedoms. It’s more left than liberal.
How can one be fiscally conservative and socially progressive at the same time? Isn’t being fiscally conservative mean being tight with taxpayer money? Doesn’t being socially “progressive” mean to tax people who have money and give it to people who don’t. Grant it, “progressives” do claim to go after only the very rich (more than $250,000 a year) and redistribute their wealth to the poor. Now, I’m all about giving a person a hand up. However, I don’t want to be forced to do so by the government. I’m also not willing to support that person forever. They need to get out there and try to make their own way.
The author of this column also condemned the past administration for wasting taxpayer money (which I agree with), but seemed to be praising the current administration for “seeking practical solutions.” Huh? Are we talking about that huge stimulus package, the takeover of a car company, cap and trade and health-care reform? If all these pass our country could be in debt for centuries.
Come on Montana, stay true to your roots. Keep government out of your life and freedoms, while giving your fellow down-and-out Montanans a “firm” hand-up.
Francis Johnson
Kalispell