Page 30 - Flathead Beacon // 9.28.16

LIKE I WAS SAYIN’
TWO FOR THOUGHT SAME TOPIC, DIFFERENT VIEWS BULLOCK AND GIANFORTE
KELLYN BROWN
ACADEMIC PATHS
OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, WITH LITTLE IDEA OF what I wanted to be, I turned to a small school in the middle of nowhere, Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming. I’m glad I went.
As many of my classmates chose four-year universi- ties, I opted for a more a ordable junior college, where I would earn an Associate of Arts in photography and, more importantly in the long run, a lot of general stud- ies credits.
I graduated with a degree I would rarely use but transferred most of my credits to the University of Mon- tana to study print journalism. Luckily, the rest fell into place.
The importance of an option to attend a junior, or community, college cannot be overstated. For every high school student who knows they want to be an engi- neer when they graduate, there are the rest of us who know they want to do something — they just don’t know what it is.
I was reminded of the value of my rst years of col- lege when I read Dillon Tabish’s story last week on the rst 50 years of Flathead Valley Community College. Despite the nation’s economy rebounding from a reces- sion, which sent many people back to school to learn a new trade, our local college’s student body numbers have remained strong and rose to 2,263 full-time and part-time students this semester, up 4.3 percent from a year ago.
FVCC was born from a basic concern shared by a few determined locals: Not enough area high school grad- uates were going to college, and those who were had to relocate someplace else. According to research con- ducted before FVCC’s creation 50 years ago, just 20 per- cent of Kalispell’s high school seniors planned on con- tinuing their schooling. To change that, those locals believed, the valley should have college of its own. And now it does.
Now there is another option for those who only want a two-year degree, or to save money before they transfer, or who nd a community or junior college a better place to gure out what they want to be.
At Northwest College, I tried my hand at everything. Along with photography, I studied creative writing, graphic design, and mathematics. I learned a little about a lot and worked at nearby Yellowstone National Park in the summer to help pay for the classes.
When I entered the University of Montana, I had little debt and enough credits that I was able to earn a Bachelor’s Degree two-and-a-half years later.
Today, community college students represent 45 per- cent of all U.S. undergraduates, according to the Amer- ican Association of Community Colleges. Of those, 36 percent are the rst generation from their families to attend college. And the annual average tuition at a com- munity college nationwide is $3,430 compared to $9,410 at a four-year public college.
Our state universities are still relatively a ordable, and those students who choose to attend them or oth- ers can earn great educations. I’m proud of my degree from UM and stay involved in the school whenever I can. I’m also glad I had another option out of high school, to earn an education at a two-year school before making the jump to a larger university.
During this political season, candidates for higher o ce have campaigned on the importance of commu- nity college and even advocated that it, and even four- year public universities, should be tuition free. I doubt that will happen, but for high school seniors and non- traditional students alike looking to nd a rst or new career path, there’s a great option right in our backyard.
BY TIM BALDWIN
Montana will have another opportunity to elect its
governor this November. Bullock is the incumbent, who is being challenged by businessman Greg Gianforte.
Steve Bullock is an attorney and former attorney gen- eral for Montana. Bullock has worked in government a signi cant period of his career. Bullock barely defeated GOP candidate Rick Hill in 2012 for governor, skim- ming only 1.5 percent more votes than Hill. By contrast, Gianforte proudly claims that he “is not a government insider” and prides himself as a job creator. This elec- tion is not unlike the presidential election: the “estab- lishment v. non-establishment” choice.
Republics are notably a continuing experiment in human nature. What perpetuates the experiment is limited o ce terms and people’s ability to periodically choose di erent o ce holders. Meanwhile, the system remains relatively stable. This stability protects the peo- ple from would-be drastic change induced by revolution- ary politicians.
Gianforte has not advocated revolutionary ideas in his campaign. His platform rests primarily on creating better jobs in Montana and other mainstream GOP plat- forms. His political inexperience suggests he will rely on people already familiar and experienced in government policy and practice.
What Gianforte would do on the myriad of issues no one really knows because there is no political history to consider. But like many of Trump’s supporters, people are willing to take a risk on an “unknown” candidate in hopes of improving our political and economic condi- tions. In short, they will continue the Republican exper- iment and hope for the best.
BY JOE CARBONARI
Greg Gianforte has some private sector skills that
have served him well. Those skills can best be used to bene t the whole state by his staying where he is and doing what he knows best. He has brought Montana a ways down the technological path, and he could bring us further. He has much to o er in that eld.
Government, however, calls for a di erent skill set ... a special sensitivity to people being prime among them. Steve Bullock clearly has that sensitivity as well as the practical experience to recognize where government can help and where it needs to get out of the way. Both Gianforte and Bullock are problem solvers. Gianforte does better with technology; Bull- ock with people. Social inclusiveness is not a Gian- forte strongpoint. It should be.
Gianforte would make it easier to do business in Montana. Coal, oil, gas, timber, and minerals would likely see increased investment and attention. This is good providing that it serves the advancement of the changes necessary for Montana to ourish in the future. Let’s use what we have, yes, but let’s error on the side of long-run, not short-run, pro t.
Infrastructure spending will spur the economy and create local jobs. Where necessary, schools should be included. Mr. Gianforte proposes an infra- structure e ort without including our public schools. He does, however, favor assisting private education with public assistance. Bullock does not.
If they both keep their jobs, it’s a win-win for Mon- tana. Let’s keep them where they are.
AMERICAN RURAL DIANE SMITH GOING TO A GUNFIGHT
A
of ideas might go. I suspect, though, it’s going to be a gun ght. And you know the saying, “Don’t bring a knife to a gun ght?” Well, the advice I’d give to the candidates in this and other debates this season would be, “Don’t bring a fact checker to a gun ght.”
I’ve heard this presidential contest described as a race between the tin man and the scarecrow; one can- didate has no brain; the other has no heart (I’ll leave it to you to gure out who’s who.) It’s an interesting char- acterization. What’s a nation to do if one of our pres- idential candidates is cut o from the fears and reali- ties of everyday Americans while the other one lacks the ability to actually address these fears and realities?
Just when I think there’s no hope, though, I see a political ad that gets it. In Missouri, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jason Kander is running against Republican incumbent Roy Blunt. When the NRA pro- duced an ad questioning Kander’s support of the sec- ond amendment, Kander responded with his own ad. It’s exceptional. The ad opens with Kander wearing a blindfold in a big empty warehouse. In front of him on
a table is a collection of gun parts. As he describes his military experience in Afghanistan, he deftly assem- bles an AR-15. He’s still blindfolded when he closes, “I ... believe in background checks so that terrorists can’t get their hands on one of these.” Then as he removes his blindfold, Kander says, “I approve this message because I’d like to see Sen. Blunt do this.”
I haven’t paid much attention to the Missouri Sen- ate race, but this ad got me. It was a clear combination of heart, brains, and courage. I believe that’s the com- bination so many of us are hoping for in our leaders. Otherwise, why would the story of the Wizard of Oz still touch so many of us?
If I could make a plea to all of our political hope- fuls this election season, please show us your heart, brains, and courage. Let us in on what you’ve over- come, how you’ve loved, and how much you’ve learned. In the most unexpected way, with only a few words while blindly assembling an AR-15, Jason Kander let us see all of that. Maybe he’ll win; maybe not. But he’s a good example for candidates to follow. After all, he loves America enough to serve, is courageous enough to sacri ce, and he’s smart enough to bring a gun to a gun ght.
S I WRITE THIS, THE FIRST 2016 PRESIDEN- tial debate has yet to happen. So I don’t have
any idea how this upcoming so-called exchange
Diane Smith is the founder and CEO of American Rural where she works to create greater awareness of the growing opportunities for those who choose to live, work and prosper in rural and small town America. Learn more about Diane by following her column here or visit American Rural at AmericanRural.org.
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SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM