Encourage healthy habits on spending
Why do D.C. politicians object to athletes using performance-enhancing drugs, and then decide to give our economy a quick-fix shot in the arm?Real health is built by making good choices day by day. Yet we feed our economy on junk food bonds, subprime mortgages, war profiteering, corporate welfare, tax cuts for the rich and mindless consumption. And when the economy shows predictable signs of sickness, D.C. politicians vote for more tax cuts, more deficits, more mindless consumption. This is supposed to build confidence in the economy.
I’d have more confidence if our leaders encouraged personal savings instead of spending, invested our tax dollars in future savings and started shrinking the deficit. Instead of more tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy, how about investing our tax dollars in renewable energy, like wind power, that will save us all money? Instead of tax rebates for mindless consumption, how about tax rebates for home insulation, energy-efficient appliances and vehicles, solar panels and using mass transit? Instead of extending unemployment compensation, how about hiring unemployed workers into a new Civilian Conservation Corps that trains and employs workers to weatherize homes, grow and process food locally, restore our public lands?
Vicki Watson, Missoula
Motorized recreation
ATVs no less intrusive than horses
Over the last weeks there have been several columns and editorials in regard to the proper management of our public lands. It seems, however, that George Wuerthner (guest column, Jan. 27) is on a rampage to eliminate any and all motorized usage on public lands. But has he forgotten the saying “public lands for public usage”?He speaks of “thrillcraft”: Just ask anyone who has spent any time on a horse if he hasn’t had the crap scared out of him. At least I always have control of what he refers to as my “thrillcraft,” something that is not always possible with horses. Oh, and speaking of crap, when was the last time you saw a person picking up what the horse left on the trail? How is that for pollution?
We have hiking trails, we have bicycle trails, we have horse trails that cannot be used by motorized vehicles, but could Wuerthner please show me anywhere in Montana on public land that we have ATC- or Jeeps-only trails. Talk about discrimination.
He seems to be very one-sided when it comes to motorized recreation. Everyone has different stimuli, and yes some do involve motor sports, and some don’t. Perhaps he likes catch-and-release fishing. My guess is that the fish don’t like it at all. Perhaps we should ban all fishing in favor of the trout. Sure that sounds idiotic, but not any more than what he is implying. I guess that means that we should close all the roads leading into and out of public lands.
Wuerthner, and all those who think the way he does, please join us on a trail ride and let us show you there is more to off-highway travel than just a “thrill ride.”
Willie Worthy, president, Montana Back Roads 4x4 Club Inc., Missoula
Health
Push prevention before cure
Why are there so many races for the “cure,” but no races for prevention? From my perspective, the race appears to be toward extinction of life as we know it, including us. The past 15 years there has been an increasing epidemic of cancer, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung damage (including asthma and COPD), rheumatoid arthritis and too many other auto-immune disorders to list. Apparently, races for the “cure” have not even slowed down the epidemic.Lots of studies (just look on the net) have shown that the above health problems, including diabetes, are the result of being exposed in the womb to thyroid hormone-disrupting chemicals that predispose the fetus to have those health problems if it survives past birth. The best way to prevent cancer, diabetes and the other listed health problems is to prevent fetuses from suffering from congenital fetal hypothyroidism.
Diabetes, which has increased alarmingly in children and young people, is one of the most often mentioned diseases caused by fetal hypothyroidism in both human and animal studies. According to recent news, the diabetes epidemic has 4,000 new cases per day and costs $116 billion a year. Diabetes takes 250,000 lives a year. If another country killed that many U.S. citizens each year, we would do something. We are doing this to ourselves, so why don’t we do something? We need to prevent congenital fetal hypothyroidism by decreasing exposure to the factors that cause it, rather than running around hoping for a “cure.”
Judy Hoy, Stevensville
Presidential election
Ron Paul offers chance for real change
Are you still having a conflict for who you want to vote for to be the next president of the United States? Then you must please check out RonPaul2008.com.
Dr. Paul is the only man who cares about America and the people of America. He wants to make a change and help the people. Please check out his voting record. He is a 10-term congressman. He is the only candidate who has always told the truth from the beginning.
Please do not pick your candidate from the debates; all candidates do not get equal time. They never let Ron Paul talk because of his message to help America. If you are tired of what the government does, we have someone who wants to make a change, a man that wants to help America. Let’s give him the chance to do it. There is still hope for America!
Don’t forget to register to vote!
Kelly Bailey, Polson
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