Opinion
Editor, I give Senator Jon Tester a hearty Montana thank you for sponsoring and pushing the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with bipartisan support. The Act will create jobs for Montana men and women across the state and will build roads, bridges, airports, and critical water projects. Also, there are investments to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements, including three settlements in Montana. The Act supports our tourism industry funding wildfire risk abatement, and rehabilitation of burned areas. Good for Jon Tester. That is the bright side of the coin. The dark side, however, is where Senator Daines and Representative Rosendal...
Celebrate “Grinchmas” with us on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. in the library meeting room. A ticket to Whoville is required for anyone older than little Cindy Lou Who (who was no more than two) and can be picked up at the library, or call or email us to reserve spots. We will have hot cocoa and c...
Ever feel lost? Welcome to my life. Quite literally. Ever since I can remember, I’ve had trouble with directions and all things spatial. I described myself as geographically challenged. I can’t find my way out of a paper bag. I used to routinely get lost in a familiar mall. I thought it was no...
As a farmer, I know firsthand that good things take time. Every year, I plant my fields with crops like wheat, barley, peas, and saffron, and in July, August, and September, I harvest those crops and reap what I’ve sown. Writing laws is much the same – and this fall, after a long spring and...
Microchips surround us: essential components of everything from our cell phones to dishwashers to automobiles and nearly all of life’s amenities. An unparalleled level of convenience and ease to various aspects of our lives depends on microchips. Just consider all the devices you interact with on...
Editor, As I write this letter, Catholic doctrine is “front and center” right now with the controversial draft document the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is expected to vote on. This has to do with President Joe Biden and other Catholic politicians who publicly support abortion rights, a...
Editor, I recently read a paper titled Intellectual Arrogance, by Allesandra Tanesini (Aristotlean Society, Volume 90, Issue 1, June 2016. Page 71-92). To paraphrase: Intellectual arrogance may foster timidity (fear of voicing differing ideas) and servility (going along to get along) for those who do not ...
Editor, I am addressing my efforts to have the Ronan Volunteer Fire Dept. (RVFD) air raid siren use discontinued. I have been very clear to Ronan officials that I’m not anti-RVFD. I have been on two volunteer departments myself and greatly appreciate/understand their need. The issue is the unnecessa...
When you’re losing the game, summon the commies. And conservative white America has been losing for quite some time — losing control of the future, that is. The good old days of unabated white supremacy aren’t coming back; racism can only maintain a public forum, and political relevance,...
Editor, Last month’s numbers for Covid deaths show an alarming trend along political party lines. Nationwide, in counties that voted for Trump in 2020, there were three times the number of Covid deaths (25 per 100,000) as there were in counties that voted for Biden (7.8 per 100,000). The death tally...