Opinion
Editor, When debating legislation, legislators are always looking for unintended consequences. If you are prolife or prochoice, CI 128 must be a major concern. Hidden in the text of the initiative is language that gives blanket immunity to abortion providers for malpractice, incompetence or outright criminal behavior. In the complete text of CI 128 it says, “The government shall not penalize, prosecute, or otherwise take adverse action against a person for aiding or assisting another in exercising their right to make and carry out decisions about their pregnancy”. This means that no matter how inept a provider preforms, there will be no recourse for those that have been damag...
The Montana Newspaper Association surveyed candidates for the state legislature, Public Service Commission and statewide offices about their positions on government accountability, transparency and the right to know. Of 281 candidates receiving survey, 111 responded, or about 40%. Among respondents &mdash...
Editor, Deviating from my usual style of letters, here’s one that simply offers some inspiring thoughts. Hope you find them meaningful and even perhaps helpful in these present very “trying times” for us all. Offered by Dr. Debasish Mridha of Saginaw, Michigan, a physician, philosophe...
“The truth will set you free.” We’ve all heard this iconic sentence, but what does it mean, really? More importantly, what exactly is the truth? That depends on whom you are asking. Because I’ve come to believe that each of us has our own truth. What is my truth, with a capit...
Editor, In November, Montanans will vote on two constitutional initiatives that will improve how elections are conducted. CI126 creates an open primary system. All qualified candidates regardless of party will appear on one ballot, and voters choose a single candidate from that ballot. This system does no...
Editor, Recently a relative of mine was rushed to the ER in Polson, stabilized, then transported to Missoula a few hours later. Having worked 30 years as an RN, I am well aware how critical, literally, the initial care in our local hospital mattered in terms of outcome. One third of Montana’s pop...
U.S. women now live in a country where they’ve been relegated to second-class citizens courtesy of the Supreme Court, whose conservative majority ignored 50 years of precedent and overturned the constitutional right to abortion nationwide. Abortion policy now falls to individual states, and now nearly ...
As a nurse practitioner in Missoula, prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), I was initially surprised that so many patients came from rural areas - especially Lake County. Some had very little money, and could be late because they had hitchhiked or waited on a ride from a friend. Ours was a specialty practi...
Editor, What I love about where we live is our community of people. We are friends and neighbors, sometimes with varying views, but always there for each other in times of need. This election, I encourage all of us to vote for candidates that are not divisive and hateful. For candidates looking for soluti...
Editor, I have known Shirley Azzopardi for over 25 years - as a coworker, a hiking companion, and a friend. Shirley is the best choice for HD 13. She works hard, spending time after work knocking on doors and talking to people about the issues important to them. As a teacher, Shirley believes in a strong ...
