Don’t let talking heads influence you
I am writing in response to Ray Berry’s letter on March 20.Personally, when I write a letter to the Opinion page I at least write my own opinion, not that of the likes of the talk radio hosts who made millions of dollars on people who don’t take the time to research the facts.
First, to put Al Gore in the same context as Stalin and Marx is ignorant. Our founding fathers wrote the Constitution as a living document that evolves and changes as the world we live in evolves and changes, and thank God it is not influenced by one person, like Gore or the people Berry’s opinion came from (Michael Savage, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, etc.).
I would hope that when you get in your vehicle, that you stop and think about how most of the money that we put in the tank goes to the very people that we, as a nation, are at war with. And that the choice (and yes, it is still your choice) of vehicle does matter. Personally, I wish that America would spend the billion dollars a day that we send overseas and the
$3 trillion that we have spent in Iraq (not to mention 4,000 of the best American lives) toward making us independent from overseas countries and less of the world’s police.
Ted Arensmeyer, Missoula
Why not mention party affiliation?
I find it amusing that, in the article written by Los Angeles Times reporter Stephen Braun regarding Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s embarrassing tryst with a staffer (Missoulian, March 25), no mention was made as to the mayor’s political affiliation.If Kilpatrick were, say, a Republican, what would the headline have said? Perhaps something like “Disgraced Republican mayor faces charges in affair with staffer.”
Eliot Spitzer got the same kind of treatment from the press. I think Katie Couric is the only media person other than Fox News to utter the word Democrat when referring to Spitzer. If you think I’m wrong remember the smear campaign against Conrad Burns. It seems Democrats can do no wrong.
Bud Gee, Missoula
Writer made great example in getaway
This is in response to the article by Michael Moore regarding his trip to Paws Up (“I really don’t mind Paws Up at all - promise,” March 14).Kudos to Moore for having the wonderful idea of taking his girlfriend to Paws Up for her birthday. He gets mega points for that in our book. His explanation of the facilities, his room and especially the bathroom did the place justice and may entice other men to take their respective wives, girlfriends or significant others to this place of personal decadence. They should not only treat their partners to this luxury, but it gives them a good excuse to try out all the cool stuff Moore described without appearing wimpy or fluffy.
We think all men should treat themselves to a nice getaway with the ruse of doing it for their girlfriend. And ladies should take note that placing the article in a place that their men are sure to see it as a big hint would not be a bad idea either. Thanks again, Michael Moore.
Amy Anderson and Sher Loberg, Hot Springs
Letter went too far on gun ownership
I feel compelled to respond to Norm Johnson’s letter (“Time to roll back gun regulations,” March 21).Let me first preface my response with: I am a gun owner and a hunter. I believe that we should be allowed to own guns. I do however, believe there should be limitations on gun ownership.
In his letter, Johnson wrote about “the old axiom” that “an armed society is a polite society.” This axiom makes the assumption that in order to get others to be polite, one must be armed and, perhaps, even willing to force politeness from others through the threat (real or perceived) of violence.
I don’t find it necessary to carry a gun in order to get others to be polite to me. Nor am I willing to be bullied into being polite. If this is the case, politeness is not the proper term - Johnson is talking about fear. If this is the real America, we have bigger issues to worry about than guns in national parks.
Matt Radlowski, E. Missoula
Slow down to conserve fuel
I sure was happy to see the article about the truck drivers slowing down to save fuel (March 23). Good job, Missoulian.Now, if someone would write about personal vehicles doing the same to save fuel that would be nice. I am driving slow to save fuel and money, but I will guess 98 percent of drivers all go by me at 70-plus miles per hour - and way over. So much for trying to save energy. A few crummy, low-light, funny light bulbs to save electricity is peanuts compared to the extra fuel being used.
Drop miles per hour down to what we had to do in 1973 and see just how much fuel you save. It’s a bunch at the lower speeds. A little extra time added to a short trip won’t make that much difference.
I have been wondering how high the price of fuel will have to go before drivers say, gee, maybe I best see if I can save a few bucks. Oh well. Its a free country.
Garth C. Good, Greenough
Stopping Hamilton store a mistake
When I read that Wal-Mart would discontinue its efforts to build in Hamilton (Missoulian, March 15), I was devastated.I think it’s pathetic that local business owners have so much play on the opinions of city planners. The worry may be that Wal-Mart would take money from the local economy. Perhaps in a sense that their central offices are not located in Hamilton, yes; but what about the loss of employment for all of those who are looking for a better life for their families? What about all of the single parents or couples who aren’t educated enough to secure a job at one of the laboratories in the valley? What about all of those people who don’t fit into the scheme of locally owned family-type businesses, which cannot employ more than a few people? What about all of those standing in line at Haven House every month, waiting for their box of food?
Stopping so-called “big box” stores from coming into the valley isn’t going to stop growth. Look around! The valley is growing. The highway is expanding. People are coming here in droves and the building continues. Perhaps the better question would be, “exactly whose interests are the local store owners protecting?” If you’re worried that people won’t spend money in your stores, you can worry now. Even with gas prices through the roof, it’s cheaper to drive to Missoula to shop at the Good Food Store.
I am from the Bitterroot Valley. My family goes back here for generations. Worried about expansion? Worried about people and special interests moving into the Bitterroot Valley? Look around you and see just how many of these locally owned stores are owned by locals - Bitterroot Valley residents or even Montanans. Then the picture will become clear.
Luci Golden-Moxley, Hamilton
Consider end to procedure
For us humans, clinical death is the absence of a heartbeat and brain waves. This is when life support is often removed and the person is allowed to go in peace.For the unborn human, a heartbeat and brain waves are detected at about 25 days after conception. Through abortion, supported life is removed and the child is allowed to go in pieces.
The above are documented facts, for those of you who believe the unborn is void of feeling pain, trauma or anxiety.
Life is taken from every fifth conceived baby by an abortionist. Nearly 100 percent of babies were healthy at the moment of abortion. One form of abortion is called “selective abortion.” This means you can “select” which baby you want to live and which one you want to die. Of these, 95 percent are girls.
These are facts to consider as we try to figure out who to vote for in the 2008 election. These are things to consider the next time you see idle swings and teeter-totters in playgrounds.
The pro-choice crowd has, since January 1973 (Roe v. Wade), overseen the abortion of more than 50 million babies - about 30 million of which would be voting Demo-crat had they been given the chance. They have aborted their own base.
Norma McCorvey is the Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in the U.S. McCorvey never actually had an abor-tion, and she was tricked into signing on as the plaintiff in the case by two pro-choice lawyers and two pro-choice women. Afterward, McCorvey had a change of heart. In 1997, she founded Roe No More Ministry, now known as Crossing Over Ministry. Her life’s purpose now is to spread the truth about pro-life.
Norma McCorvey has had a change of heart. Can you?
Joel Olinghouse, Hamilton
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