Wasn’t the 9/11 attack an invasion?
In the Opinion section of the Missoulian on June 24, guest columnist James Park Taylor lays out his case in favor of the Supreme Court 5-4 split decision on habeas corpus.
He refers to the United States Constitution but does not point out that in Article I, Section 9 it states in part “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion ... ”
Axel Sorensen, Missoula
Cost Care shouldn’t be penalized
After returning from a few days in the mountains, I attracted a number of ticks, one of which firmly embedded itself in my scalp. It was in an impossible location for me to reach, so I hopped on my bike and pedaled down to the recently opened Cost Care Clinic in Eastgate Shopping Center.
The staff couldn’t have been nicer. After I filled out their forms, an M.D. deftly removed the offensive tick. He then told me, in a very gentle way, that under current Medicare regulations they can no longer provide services to Medicare patients. He said they were required to file a form stating that they had cared for me and that I had paid them or they would be accused of Medicare fraud.
After my anger subsided, I felt guilty for putting these people in this situation. I think the Cost Care Clinic is a great idea. Because they accept only cash - no insurance, no credit cards - they can keep their costs down and do what they set out to do - take care of minor medical problems.
Of course, I could have gone to one of the hospital emergency rooms, or Now Care or First Care, all of which accept Medicare patients. Frankly, I didn’t think of it. I knew this wasn’t an emergency. Inquiring about the cost of this minor procedure in a hospital emergency room, I learned it would have cost over $200. Most of this would have been paid by Medicare, and my insurance probably would have paid the difference. However, I paid $45, and didn’t mind to do it.
Why should the federal government penalize Cost Care so that the taxpayer can get stuck with a large bill? It simply doesn’t make sense. Is it any wonder Americans are confused about health care?
Jean Bowman, Missoula
Questions remain after meeting
I thought the meeting of the neighborhood and the Poverello Center convened by Mayor Engen went well (Missoulian, June 26). Kudos to the mayor, neighborhood liaison Lanette Diaz and Ward 2 Alderwoman Pam Walzer for making it happen.
Some of what we said may have felt harsh to Poverello Center director Ellie Hill and her board. I appreciated their patience and determination to listen, and their attempt to address the questions that were raised.
Several concerns have arisen for me as a result of, or subsequent to, the meeting:
1. Whether the Pov will be able to maintain its commitment to delay the project, in part due to what I read in the Missoulian, which suggested that it would have to spend down part of the grant ($58,000) by the end of June or risk losing it. The Pov agreed to provide a board its resolution memorializing their agreement to delay the project for the purpose of appropriate community process. Will it keep that commitment and risk losing the funds?
2. It seems like a conflict of interest for Hill to represent the Pov and the Heart of Missoula neighborhood. I would like to see someone else taking that role on behalf of the Heart of Missoula neighborhood so that Hill is free to advocate for the Pov without having to weigh her responsibility to the neighborhood as a whole.
3. It seems that service providers are speaking out more openly about how the Pov’s process failed their peer community. The Pov should recognize that its long-standing respect and credibility in the community are at risk.
4. I think the 3:16 is in fact doing the best possible to minimize client issues, but some clients will tend to create problems wherever they go. I do not believe the Pov will be able to preclude the same problems from occurring.
Leslie Jensen, Missoula
Neighbors selfish about center
The Northside neighborhood’s reaction to the proposed Poverello day center is disheartening.
The untenable position that there is no need for this service is characteristic of a group of Missoulians willing to believe anything to avoid an undesirable addition to their neighborhood.
The media seems to have an unfortunate infatuation with one aspect of the proposed drop-in center: its acceptance of intoxicated clients. It should come as no surprise that many homeless people drink; the road to homelessness is not often a dry one. Further, the path back to a productive life is not as simple as setting down the bottle and pulling one’s self up by the boot straps. To begin the process of getting back on track, community programs must accept their clients as they are, even if they’ve been drinking.
It’s unfortunate that we need homeless shelters but it’s more unfortunate that our society includes people without homes. The proposed site for this shelter is within walking distance of government service offices, health care clinics, and potential employers - all important for the population it aims to serve. The shelter’s neighbors-to-be could better spend their energies trying to end the problem of homelessness in Missoula than trying to selfishly insulate themselves from it.
Ben Kappelman, Missoula
Baseball club’s ploy laughable
This letter is in response to Matt Ellis and his apparent concern for the nesting osprey located behind the right field fence at Ogren Park.
I believe he said that he is concerned for the safety of the osprey and her babies. His plan to protect this bird is to install a fence around the post holding the nest. This fence will keep the bird in her nest so she can protect her young from the sun. Apparently the bird has been so concerned with people near the pole that she has to circle around just to see them, all the while neglecting her babies.
If Ellis doesn’t want people to hang out in the grass behind the fence watching the games for free, why doesn’t he just make the fence taller so people can’t see the game? Making up an excuse like this to keep people out of the outfield is ridiculous.
I think the Osprey really need to lighten up with their fans. This ball club is part of the community and even though they may not realize it, those folks in the outfield have every right to sit out there and enjoy some bush league baseball. Don’t cut them off using some ploy.
Tom Nighthawk, Missoula
Greens are ruining Montana
George Nickas from Wilderness Watch exposes the true arrogance of the environmental movement with his anti-Revett mine tirade (letters, June 18). He does not, nor does any other environmental group, represent the “public interest” whatsoever.
Nickas blames the Revett mine on the “antiquated” mining law simply because the mining law makes mining legal, just as the Wilderness Act makes wilderness legal. It’s puzzling why Nickas believes everybody else is “wrong” on this issue, and only he and the activist green left are “right.”
Furthermore, Nickas is grossly incorrect in stating that wilderness goes as “deep into the earth” as does the U.S. He needs to read the 1964 Wilderness Act. Section 4, Special Provisions, Paragraph 3, clearly states that mining is permitted under claims that existed at the time of the act, and the copper deposits of northwest Montana were well-known and claimed at the time of the act.
Maybe we should toss the Wilderness Act as being “antiquated” and replace it with a “politically correct” version that bans everything, everywhere, until approved by the greens!
The fact is that environmentalists are abhorrently abusing our legal system by being able to run to court every time they don’t get their way. Judges need to wake up to this fact. Senselessly allowing green groups to dictate our economy is destroying Montana’s social and economic fabric. And our refusal to “grow our own” is reflected in today’s astronomical prices, and the liberal cry to raise taxes.
The thinking, voting public needs to flush the environmental conflict industry and recognize the spurious and disingenuous nature of their actions.
Mark I. Pfau, Missoula
Fishing has changed in Montana
This letter is to the man I found along the road, covered in mosquito bites and bleeding.
Montana is a different place than you remember in 1930. I stood at the place where you should have turned right instead of taking a left. The sign is gone but the post is still there. If you would have turned there you would have gone across the footbridge some kids tried to burn down last year. That path would have taken you right back to your car and right past a good fishing hole.
Before Montana was overtaken by Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Outfitters Board, I could have shown you where to safely fish. I guess we live and learn and give away our rights, but if you ever need a free fishing buddy, someone who can tell you to wear a long-sleeve shirt and DEET, someone who packs a first aid kit with them and someone who knows the area - call me.
Leo Thrush, Lolo
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