ImmigrationIllegal immigrants drive down wages
I read with disbelief the article about the so-called “May Day protest” march in Missoula held on May 1. It was reported that one of the signs being carried by a protesters read, “Living wages for Montanans.”I have heard from some incredibly uninformed people during my tenure in the state Legislature, but this takes the cake.
Just last week, I was told by a Montana carpenter who works in the Flathead Basin that he showed up to a construction site recently looking to be hired for a project. He was told there was plenty of work, but the usual wage was $6 an hour - not the normal $15 an hour.
Now, I'm no genius, but if someone wants to advocate for “Living wages for Montanans” by justifying illegal immigration, they have just wandered off into the land of make-believe.
Illegal immigration has and will continue to cause legal American residents to lose their jobs, their livelihoods, their businesses, and, indeed, lose what little “living wage” there actually is. Worse yet, illegal immigrants don't care if you are a legal immigrant wanting so-called “diversity.”
Illegal immigration is not about “diversity.” It is about protecting the ability of American citizens to make a decent living.
In short, the protester in Missoula with the “living wage” sign should have been carrying a sign that boldly proclaimed, “Less pay for Montanans - support illegal immigration.”
I would suggest the next Legislature enact incredibly stiff fines and criminal penalties against any employer in Montana who knowingly hires an illegal immigrant.
Rick Maedje, state representative, House District 2,Fortine
Letter writer should be deported
This letter is in response to David Rice from Superior (Missoulian, April 26). Colonization? New Mexico?One wonders if Rice has ever read a history book.
Also, if he realizes that the word “Montana” is Spanish for “mountain.” Or that the Spanish colonized the West before whites.
Speaking of criminals, I'd say Rice has displayed his own murderous tendencies by suggesting the use of “land mines, machine gun nests and giant bug zappers.” The only pests I see are racists.
Illegal aliens? Consider this: White Americans used biological warfare and broken treaties to steal this land from the Natives.
I guess Rice needs to be deported.
David Emmett Alford, Victor
Gasoline pricesCost of extracting oil forever rising The high price of petroleum products, particularly automotive fuels, is affecting a large part of our population. Along with it comes the general complaint of price-gouging. Gasoline at $3 per gallon today costs about 15 times its price in 1940. At that time one could buy a nice Chevy for about $1,000. Today a nice Chevy costs 25 times that much. So who's gouging whom?We hear the popular complaint about the exorbitant earnings the oil companies are enjoying. Where do those earnings go? The shareholders are paid a modest dividend and the rest is spent on exploration and production worldwide in evermore difficult sites, climates and political environments. Capital expenditures pay for projects to make existing refineries more efficient and productive. For example, ExxonMobil creates the equivalent of a 150,000-barrel-per-day refinery every three years using this cost-efficient approach. Other profits are spent on investments in research, equipment and a myriad of other items required to stay in business.
The search for crude petroleum as it becomes increasingly scarce must continue in order to satisfy growing demand. Without this activity by the world's oil companies, we'll all be back in the horse-and-buggy and kerosene-lamp age.
Ted R. Burton, Missoula
Military casualtiesSoldiers head and shoulders above us all
In response to David Werner's letter to the editor of April 20, you are right - the Democrats were in power during World War II. And that makes them directly responsible for the 963,409 soldiers that were either killed or wounded in World War II. I can only assume this because the Democrats are stupid enough to think that the Republicans are responsible for the loss of our brave soldiers in Iraq.Keep in mind that your Democratic government drafted 61 percent of the soldiers who died in World War II. Today's Army is all-volunteer. They have lost their lives fighting to make the world a better place to live. They are not just soldiers, they are not just heroes - they are all head and shoulders above the rest of us. They have found a place in my heart and in God's hands.
Larry Dillree, Ovando
Universal health careIt's a question of how and when, not if
I would like to reply to the April 13 Missoulian editorial on health care. The real question regarding universal health care is not should we have the program, but rather how can we have it. It is beyond reason that we should have people in our country who cannot have full health care, from preventive medicine such as immunizations, mammograms, various screening measures, to complete care for illness. This must be provided in a rational, dignified manner.There are many places in the world where this is possible. There is now no one plan that is clearly the best. We must agree on the goals and craft a plan that fulfills these goals. This will not arrive fully developed but will evolve over a period of years.
The argument that people will abuse a system is probably not true in that most of us do not want to be ill and waste the time that this takes. There are ways to handle those who seek care because of anxiety.
There is not a plan that will reduce the basic cost of providing care. There will be savings in improving the efficiency of delivery of care. There will also be increased utilization because people will be getting care that they have previously been denied. Medical care is a big expense and there is no plan that reduces their expenses, including doing nothing.
Currently the number of groups interested in full health care is large - from big business to labor unions to medical groups in addition to the large of numbers that have recognized the need for a long time.
The Missoula Central Labor Council is sponsoring a rally for Universal Health Care on May 20 at noon at the Jeannette Rankin Peace Park located at the university side of the Madison Street Bridge. There will be short program of speeches. Everyone is requested to wear a blue shirt to show solidarity with the message.
John L. Brown, M.D., Missoula
HungerCongress has power to do the right thing
Hunger in America has been on the rise for five straight years with more than 38 million Americans - 130,000 Montanans - living on the brink of hunger.Congress is currently considering a tax bill that would provide unprecedented tax incentives for all business taxpayers - both large and small - to make charitable donations that would generate millions of additional meals for low-income Americans.
The Senate version of the bill includes the critical tax incentives. However, the House version (H. 4297, section 203) does not. A Conference Committee is currently considering both versions and is expected to reach an agreement in the coming weeks, and our own Sen. Max Baucus is on the committee.
In order for the Montana Food Bank Network to continue meeting increased demands from the 154 hunger relief agencies we serve, the charitable emergency food distribution system in this country must access more food. Baucus has been a longtime strong supporter of this provision and we commend him for his efforts to make certain that section 203 of S. 2020 is incorporated into the final legislation with the enhanced tax deductions included. The Republican controlled Conference Committee, however, has put priority on extending capital gains and dividends tax cuts, which overwhelmingly benefit the very rich.
Where are our priorities? Now is the time for Congress to cast a vote for low-income Americans and help us ensure that none of our neighbors go to bed hungry at night.
Peggy Grimes, Montana Food Bank Network, Missoula
U.S. Senate raceTester has mind, talent to represent state
I met Jon Tester out on his farm in Big Sandy a few years ago on a hot summer day. My students and I sat down in his shed, and for a few hours we engaged in a wide-ranging discussion of organic agriculture, politics, local history, conservation philosophy - and his hobby of restoring old cars with his son.We were greatly impressed with Tester's connection to the place he lives and his understanding of the issues we face as Montanans and as Westerners. At that time Tester was a plain member of the Legislature, but I thought then that he was just the kind of person who should be representing Montana on the national level.
Since then Tester has done excellent work in the state Senate on health care, agricultural issues and sustainable energy. Montana is moving back toward a reasonable and responsible course in state politics, and that is due in part to Tester's fine leadership in the Legislature. He has the mind and talents to match our formidable governor, and together they could do great things to improve the livability and sustainability of our state.
Too rarely do people with Tester's integrity and genuine connection to place offer to serve in the crazed world of national politics. We are fortunate that Tester has the desire to work for us in Washington, and he certainly deserves our support.
Dave Morris, Missoula
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