Opinion

Ever heard the common superlative that something can be “The best thing since sliced bread?” While, I will admit to using this phrase on occasion, my opinion has begun to change since moving to Europe. Perhaps this commonly held wisdom isn’t so accurate. Let me explain. Bread is one of the oldest human foods, having been prepared across the world for many thousands of years. While the actual form bread takes varies widely from culture to culture, the basic idea is essentially the same. Wheat or other cultivated grains are milled into flour. That flour is then mixed with water and a couple of other simple ingredients into a dough. The dough then gets cooked over a heat s...

Editor, I want to thank the two gentleman employees of Salish and Kootanai Housing Sewer division for their prompt response to my concern of a drainage problem. I appreciated their professional and friendly manner.  They assisted me in locating the problem even though it was not the fault of S&K ...

Editor, When I was a boy back in the 1930s and ‘40s, my brother and my way of responding to the adults telling us what to do or what not to do was to speak in Pig Latin. The words “Pig Latin” become “igpay atinlay.” They would often hear “Easeplay ebay iotquay,” o...

As primaries roll out around the country, we’re tracking voter turnout. Raised on Schoolhouse Rock’s cartoon civics lessons, I know that being a good American means voting. Those 1970’s cartoons weren’t wrong. Voting is the most fundamental act of democratic citizenship. That&rsquo...

Editor, If you’re not yet familiar with Montana Western District Congressional Candidate Monica Tranel, prepare to be impressed. I’ve seen her several times on the campaign trail and each time I’m struck by her integrity, grit, and tenacious work ethic. Raised on a ranch in eastern Monta...

During the 2021 Legislature, we set a budget to adequately fund state government operations. It turns out that the State Treasury received a lot more tax revenue than we projected. In almost every area, tax receipts have exceeded our expectations. The cause of that can be debated, but it does not change the ...

One of the first lessons I learned on becoming a state legislator was to make it as easy as possible for other legislators to agree with me. I saw how those who demonstrated both competence and good will were taken seriously and achieved the greatest success in accomplishing their goals. Several decades a...

Editor, We are fortunate to have Monica Tranel as a candidate for our new Western District for the House. She lives in Montana, gets out to talk to people, and is a strong supporter of veterans. These are her words: “I’ve talked with veterans from Columbia Falls to Victor, and heard their need...

Editor, What is one to do when one discovers your rights are being violated by the one who oversees that the Tribal Laws of the Flathead Indian Reservation are to be abided by, and has the power to prosecute you in the court of law if you were to violate the Tribal Laws? Judge refused to let me present...

Commonplace items and their history have nearly an unmatched grip on my curiosity. What I find most striking are the accidental and unexpected origins that make me say “Wait, what?” Hopefully, this spark of curiosity will inspire you, too. I hope the wordplay is not more than you can “candl...