Page 30 - Flathead Beacon // 10.5.16

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK 32 AMERICAN RURAL 32 DRAWING BOARD 33 Viewpoints
LETTERS
Staring Down the Barrel
I hear it again and again when a dis- cussion turns to the sordid question of the presidential election. “I can’t stand either Trump or Clinton,” so many peo- ple say, “but what are you going to do? You gotta pick one.”
This presidential election feels like a hold-up. Like we’ve been run into a boxed canyon, held at gunpoint, told to put our hands up, and choose: Your money or your life.
We are righteously angry at being forced to make a decision between two such bad options, while at the same time, we know it isn’t true. We know there is another option in Libertarian Gary Johnson. We know the gun isn’t loaded, the canyon isn’t boxed. But we keep insisting we’re trapped.
Why?
I think at the heart of this boxed-in thinking is that we have been con- ditioned, trained to accept a logical fallacy.
It goes like this: I can’t vote third party because that would be throwing my vote away. Why? Because nobody else is voting third party. Why? Because that would be throwing their votes away.
The entire hold-up is built on circu- lar reasoning. On being conditioned to believe in an imaginary box and, per- haps, distrust in the mental acuity of others to see that the box is imaginary.
It was perhaps with this expecta- tion of conditioning that John Quincy Adams warned us to, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest re ection that your vote is never lost.”
Gary Johnson will be on the ballot in all 50 states. Every single voter will have the power to choose him. There is no boxed canyon. The gun is not loaded. We are as free to vote our conscience as we choose to be.
Cindy Dyson-McGlenn White sh
Lowery Has Integrity
This November voters will be voting for a Flathead County commissioner. I have read that Pam Holmquist is a real conservative. Eileen Lowery is a real person, who has the integrity to actu- ally live in the district that she will be representing.
Eileen was co-founder of Manza- nita Mental Health Services in Ukiah, California, was executive director of Mental Health Recovery Centers in northern California, and an educator
in Judith Gap and Deer Lodge, Mon- tana. She is vice president of Friends of the Library and board member of the Sunburst Foundation supporting Men- tal Health Services. Eileen was instru- mental in bringing crisis intervention training for rst responders and men- tal health rst aid for educators to Flat- head County.
Instead of spending taxpayers’ money on building jails, why not ask who and why are people going to jail. Eileen would fund mental health courts and jail diversion programs, increase the use of home arrests, ankle brace- lets, community service programs, and rehabilitation services for addic- tion and domestic violence. She also believes in strengthening our com- munity by investing in our youth and expanding and supporting our schools and libraries.
Eileen is a real Montanan, who will spend taxpayers’ money wisely ( scally responsible), is a team player, depend- able, problem solver and dedicated to providing e cient county government that works to bring quality services to all citizens of Flathead county.
I ask you to vote for Eileen Lowery – I am.
Rodrik Brosten Bigfork
Greg Gianforte the Best Choice
I’m voting for Greg Gianforte for our next governor of Montana. I’m tired of the same old stu that has been going on in Helena. We need new leadership. Leadership that will craft good policies. Policies that will promote Montanans rather than national social agendas. Policies that will promote good jobs, good growth, good education, good conservation and good government. Policies that will encourage self-gov- ernment, local government, dynamic business, creative trade, sound health- care, scal responsibility, state’s rights and less interfering and burdensome regulation. We need a governor who is not beholden to special interests. We need a governor of sterling character. We need Greg Gianforte. Please vote for Greg Gianforte for the next governor of this great state of Montana.
P.S. Also, for the sake of our children and because of her principles and expe- rience, please vote for Elsie Arntzen for Montana superintendent of public instruction.
Mark Rice Kalispell
Regier a Thoughtful Conservative
The residents of Senate District 3 are fortunate to have Keith Regier as their candidate for state senator. As House Majority Leader in the 2015 session, Keith exhibited a strong work ethic and the leadership skills that will serve him well as a state senator. He is a thoughtful conservative that Montana needs. I found him to be approachable and willing to discuss the issues. He has the discernment to know the signi - cant issues that are important to those he represents and his integrity is above reproach. He does his homework and provides logical clear reasons for his positions on the issues. Keith possesses a characteristic that is so rare in today’s political atmosphere – common sense!
Keith Regier stands rmly rooted to conservative principles and believes in the rule of law. The Constitution guides him, not party politics. We must return the rule of law to our state and ultimately our nation. Our elected leg- islators are not dukes and princes, but rather meant to be representatives of the people. Remember “We, the Peo- ple...”? Keith truly has a servant’s heart and is the best-quali ed candidate for the position. I would urge the voters of Senate District 3 to vote for Keith Regier as their state senator.
Jerry Laskody Saint Ignatius
Choose Your Governor Wisely
As everyone prepares to head to the polls to choose our next governor, take a minute to ponder these thoughts. The last Republican governor, of any merit, gave us deregulation. How has that worked out for you and thousands of Montana Power employees?
The current Republican candidate promises 500 high-paying jobs for Bozeman; what becomes of the rest of the 500,000 men and women in the workforce?
Let’s consider voting for our current governor and his scal prudence and think twice on the pipe dreams. There is nothing wrong with money in the bank.
Jon Seaman Great Falls
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OCTOBER 5, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
LETTERS
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