Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Opinion & Editorial

Montanans have a chance to vote in the presidential primaries every four years and help select the candidates for our nation’s highest office. But due to the late date of our primary elections and the relatively low population of our state the result of the Montana primaries can generally be summed up, no matter what the outcome, as ‘too little and too late’.

Not so this time! At least as far as the Democratic race for President is concerned. Although the Republican primaries in the state are already a moot point, the Democratic race is not only not over, it is coming down to a finish so close that even the Montana state primaries could possibly be a determining factor.

This unusual fact has not gone unnoticed by either of the Democratic hopefuls. As a result, both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama, either one of whom might be the next President of the United States, showed up in Missoula Montana last weekend to make their pitch.

For those western Montanans aiming to vote in the Democratic primaries it presents the chance of a lifetime. No wonder so many Bitterrooters flocked to Missoula last weekend. Not only do they get a chance to cast a vote that may determine who runs for the highest office in the land, they get to cast a vote that may even count!

I love Hillary Clinton, for all the right reasons

Dear Editor,

I found the hanger by following the stream of cars. I’m not sure anyone knew where to go see Hillary Clinton speak. We found her. Someone asked how many people were there. I have no idea how to count a crowd in an airplane hanger…there were lots of us, as many standing as sitting. We were in a controlled crowd who couldn’t wait to see Hillary Clinton speak. She came out and she spoke just like I had expected, actually, maybe even better. The crowd was serious, subdued, and listening intently. I have been a fan of hers for a long time. She is so powerful, well-spoken, casual, in her nice suit, and a little hoarse. I want her to be our next President. I want her to fix us, as in US. She can do it, how do I know? Perhaps, because she has done what she says so many times? Plus, she did something else, she asked for questions from the audience. Then she took the time to answer then respectfully and thoughtfully. The issues that got people to their feet were the war, the economy, education and health care.

She had a humorous line about the last Clinton having to clean up after a Bush, and now she was here to clean up after another. She pulled no punches about what we are in for as far as economic depression and international diplomacy. Then she laid out her step by step plans on turning these very tough issues around. I love her ‘let’s get to work’ attitude. It’s something I relate to. I own my own business and I work hard. I want someone who can show up repeatedly, doing the hard nitty-gritty work in front of her. I love how she digs in, fearlessly, putting one foot in front of the other. She’s a decisive leader and a good thinker.

Hillary Clinton has a plan, several in fact. She laid out paths to get education back on the front burner, with education credits for work. She asked for a show of hands about school debt. It’s astounding how much debt our young people are in. She has a plan for an actual graduated tax system that doesn’t let big business pay less than the middle class. She has an immediate plan for ending our involvement in Iraq. She has a well thought out plan for universal healthcare, where everyone gets medical care. (She was the first, if anyone remembers). She talked of plans for equalizing trade with China and pulling them into line with fair justice. She spoke of putting Americans back to work in high tech environmental jobs. She has some terrific ideas and the ways to implements them. This woman is terribly smart, we need a great negotiator. Her best plan is to put this country back into the place it belongs among the leaders of the free world.

She asks the crowd to think of the primaries as a job interview. A very practical approach, I like it. She asks us to look at her record of service, her stability, her accountability… I have to admit, I am there, I get her. I want her to run this country. I also think she deserves it. She has worked hard for many, many years to get where she is, through thick and thin. She can and has been good for our country. She has met with international leaders, she is good at debate, and she presents bills that really matter. She shows up for voting on the Senate floor. Her choices of issues to get behind have been consistent throughout her public life. She believes in universal health care, period. She believes in education, women’s equality, economic stability, the use of government for the betterment of all of us, taxation that is fair and graduated. This woman has ideals! She is “tried and true.” She is fearless in pursuing her health, education, and welfare ideals, and in stating her plans for pursuing her goals. In essence, she has always put her energy where her heart is.

During the question answer thing, some guy asked her, in not such a kind way, what are you going to do about the illegal immigrants here. She had a very astute answer about fining them for being here illegally, then making them register as immigrants, then encouraging them to learn English. It was such a detailed answer it pleasantly surprised me. No more surprised than the bigoted tone with which the question was asked. We are all immigrants here, aren’t we? She also fielded another not so nice question about Obama, and she took a high road of not answering in a negative way, choosing to answer about her abilities instead.

I have made peace with her sticking by her husband after he almost brought the free world to a standing halt because of his sexual indiscretion and subsequent lie. None of which was quite, however, in the same league as the more harmful consequences of the Republican party: Enron, war crimes, dismantling our great government including our civil liberties, wrecking our balanced economy and past prosperity, and international disgrace and shame, and perhaps the electoral process. Ah, I digress… easily, so bear with me.

I had the pleasure of standing next to this nice young girl in the airport hanger and chatting as we waited for Hillary Clinton to come speak to us. She was texting a friend who was keeping us abreast of Clinton’s arrival time. She was attending another speaking engagement in Missoula. So we knew we had time to kill. I asked her if she minded my talking with her about feminism and the election. I am older, 56, she was about 26. Had she seen Obama? Yes, she did. She said she wasn’t that impressed, it was like a rock show and everyone had a good time. She didn’t think Obama said much of substance. She lived with a few roommates, went to school, worked at the YWCA, and had a lot of school debt. Her roommates and she discussed the candidates regularly. She was amazed at how they felt so strongly for Obama and so strongly against Hillary. And she didn’t really get it. Me neither, I said. Hillary Clinton has worked so hard to be where she is; she has the experience, the knowledge, a powerful position in our government; has done an exemplary job in NY as a Senator; she has determination; she is intelligent; she has a track record and she has credentials! What gives? What has changed from just a short 6 months ago when she was leading the polls by 80%? Why do people not get her? You be sure to ask, ok? It’s important to question our reasons. We don’t want to mess this up.

I half suspect that people attack Hillary Clinton just because they can. She says stuff that elicits reactions. She has strong opinions and isn’t shy about stating them. She doesn’t think to run away to run on ideals, she runs on answers to tough questions.

Elections are funny business in our country. Hillary Clinton has laid out the Democratic platform from the very beginning, now everyone, including McCain, has been hijacking her words for their own platform. My core question is, really, why can’t Obama be Hillary Clinton’s Vice President? We would get the best of both, Obama would get some much needed experience, and the Democratic ticket would be unbeatable, not to mention historic. Then we will see if our electoral process has been hijacked forever by those evil war mongering Republicans who have completely trashed our government, infrastructure, environment, civil rights, international credibility, and taxation system.

They say a marriage is a good one if you can honestly say that you like your partner 80% of the time… that’s how I feel about Hillary Clinton, only my percentage is about 95%. That’s a good match to me. She’s the President I want to partner with. I hope you all agree.

Celia Grohmann
Stevensville

Not just any scientist

Dear Editor,

The recent letter to the editor titled, "He's a senator, not a scientist" by Jon Garvin certainly identified a subject that needs further discussion. Mr. Garvin seems to think that it is a subject for discussion by scientists. I agree; however, l would limit it to Atmospheric Scientists and Meteorologists, and maybe some Geologists. Webster's New World Dictionary defines Meteorology as the science of the atmosphere and its phenomena. Therefore, l do not think Physicists, Biologists, Chemists or people trained in Forestry are qualified to address the causes of climate change. I do have some qualifications to talk global warming. I am a retired Meteorologist with 33 plus years experience. Twenty years as an Air Force Weather Officer and 9 years as civilian Meteorologist for the Department of the Army and 4 years as a Meteorologist for NOAA. I have a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Physics and Mathematics, a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and a Master of Science in Meteorology. I am also unhappy about who is addressing the topic of global warming and how if you don't support Al Gore's version you receive no media coverage and are even attacked personally. Just one side of the story is being told to the public. The information coming from the media and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is pure propaganda intended to achieve a specific goal. Global warming theory is no longer based in physical science but in political science. You need to see the comments by some of the current and past members of the IPCC on how unscientific and distorted the process has become.

However, after re-reading Mr. Garvin's letter, I find it is just an attempt to limit free speech. He never said where Senator Shockley was scientifically incorrect, he just implied that there is a scientific consensus on global warming which differs from Senator Shockley's. This consensus is not real and would be meaningless even if it was. Unfortunately, too many people believe in free speech only if it fits their position on a subject.

Well, guess what? There are hundreds if not thousands of real scientists that don't buy into Al Gore's theory of global warming. Scientists like Dr. Richard Lindzen, the Alford P. Sloan Professor of Atmospheric Science at MIT, maybe the most prestigious position in the Atmospheric Science community. Another is Dr. William Gray, Colorado State University, world's leading expert on hurricanes. John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel, calls global warming a “scam.” The list goes on and on, Dr. John Christy and Dr. Roy Spencer from the University of Alabama at Huntsville. Drs. Christy and Spencer developed the microwave sensor system that is used to measure atmospheric temperature from space.

This could go on, l could mention Dr. Vincent Gray from New Zealand or Dr. Zbigniew Jaworowski, Senior Advisor at the Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection in Warsaw: look up these names and see what they say about the IPCC.

Yes, we have seen a warming trend over the last 100 or so years and, as Senator Shockley said, C02 levels have also increased. Does that mean C02 has caused this warming? No. Carbon dioxide is not a pollutant, but one of the life bloods of this planet. At its current level of 385 parts per million, C02 makes up only 0.04 of a percent of the atmosphere. Before the industrial revolution C02 made up 0.03 of a percent of the atmosphere. Therefore, the composition of the atmosphere has changed by only 0.01 percent, not nearly enough to drive atmospheric temperatures. Further, 97 percent of the C02 in the atmosphere is there as a result of natural causes: ocean atmosphere interface, volcanic activity, earthquakes and plant and animal decay and let's not leave out breathing. The total amount of C02 in the atmosphere due to human activity is 12 parts per million or 0.001 of a percent of the atmosphere. To top this off, C02 is not a strong absorber of infrared radiation (heat). Clouds and water vapor trap ninety-eight percent of all long wave radiation trapped by the atmosphere. These facts can be found in R.M. Goody's book “Atmospheric Radiation” and verified in Kuo-Nan Liou's book, “An Introduction to Atmospheric Radiation.” The first book was one of my textbooks that I used at the University of Utah during my work on my Master's degree.

The earth is still recovering from the little ice age, according to Dr. Syun-lchi Akasofu, founding director of the International Arctic Research Center of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The temperatures we are observing today are cooler by I to 2 degrees C than those found during the Medieval Climate Optimum from 900 to 1300 AD. Geologically, we are in what is called an interglacial period - between ice ages. And in fact, temperature and C02 curves developed from the Vostok ice core samples show this current interglacial period to be cooler than most. In David Alt's book, “Glacial Lake Missoula and its Humongous Floods,” Alt states on page 179: "We tend to forget about ice ages amid all the public anxiety over emissions of greenhouse gases and the prospect of the global warming they might cause. What about ice ages?"

Next, let’s take a look at why our legislators need to talk about global warming. The Governor, "a real scientist," has proposed 54 pieces of legislation to address global warming. I went to Helena on March 10th and gave public comment on this issue. We need informed people in the legislature or as sure as the next cold snap is coming we will be left in the dark with no electricity to heat our homes and no gasoline to drive to a warmer climate.

Allen E. Barr
Stevensville

Education - seize the day!

Dear Editor,

After reviewing the various letters to the editor, and articles in the news about funding for education, it has become clear that neither side of the aisle is focusing on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for education. To begin with, I’m not speaking for my caucus, but only laying out a plan that I personally believe represents the most prudent approach to investing in education. Let’s stop throwing stones, blaming the other side, worrying about the MQEC (Montana Quality Education Committee) lawsuit and focus on what is best for the kids. What a concept!

How much is enough for education? No one knows, since neither the administrators, the legislature or the Board of Education can agree on how much is enough. I remember during my first session, after many hours of debate on education funding, I asked the question “How much do we need?”  The answer “we don’t know, but we need more!”  The state has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on trying to figure out a funding formula, based on educationally relevant factors, as required by a recent court decision, but we still don’t have anything other than the current dysfunctional system.

So, what is the answer? The Legislature has no control over how the money is spent on K-12 education. That responsibility lies with the Board of Education. The Legislature must provide adequate funding for a quality educational system. Our state is blessed with some of the best teachers in the country, so we’ve got the quality aspect covered, and we have the brightest kids, which is why nationally we test in the top ten of all the states. We must provide the resources so that our teachers and children can excel.

To begin with, let’s stop addressing education funding as a liability, and start thinking of education funding as an investment in our children, our Montana families and our Montana businesses.

The Legislature needs to fund education, but let’s tie the additional funding to a funding formula, that will be phased in over 4 years to work out the issues. Our goals should be to craft the formula so that more money goes into the classroom. The funds still have to be administered by the Board of Education, but at least the Legislature has funded education based on educationally relevant factors. No formula, no more money into K-12!  

Once we’ve funded education with a formula, let’s address the best way to further our investment in our new work force. Wyoming is implementing a scholarship program not just based on merit, or need, but for all graduating high school students.  This plan provides a scholarship to every student based on taking required high school courses, and the student’s college admission scores.  Any student who has a 2.5 grade point average or higher would be eligible for a full or partial scholarship to any Montana four year or two year college. In essence, even kids whose parents don’t have the economic means necessary could have the opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge. This is what we mean by investing in education and the future of this state.

As for the University system, the Board of Regents is considering the separation of the two-year system, with a Deputy Commissioner, and the four years system into two autonomous entities, with separate budgets that report directly to the Board of Regents. This new strategic plan for the Montana University System will give both the four-year college system and the two-year college system the flexibility to guide their campuses in a way that encourages growth in the skill and knowledge of our citizens. Our Montana Board of Regents has done an excellent job of managing the University System, and I believe that they will consider this strategic plan as an investment in our Montana families.

There may be some who say that during this current economic downturn we can’t afford to spend more money for education, when in fact we can’t afford not to invest in education! When the economy slows down, businesses invest in newer equipment, more training for their people in order to compete, so why shouldn’t the state do the same thing?  Our kids, our young people, and our workers are the key to the economic development for this state. What better way to develop our economy, increase job growth, and improve the vitality of our state than to provide skilled workers for the expanding needs required. This vision doesn’t just focus on educating our young people, but about the retraining of those workers left behind. If we have a skilled work force, businesses will come here and grow here.

I believe we can accomplish all of the above without raising taxes!  

Let’s seize the day!

Sen. Rick Laible, Chairman, Interim Education and Local Government
SD-44, Darby

Majors should rethink candidate choices

Dear Editor,

I would like to respond to Max Majors’ letter to the editor in the April 2, 2008 publication of the Bitterroot Star. Max, who is a resident of Austin, Texas, has really bought into antiquated stereotypes about women and blacks.

Max asked what the world’s terrorists would think of the U.S. if we elect a woman for president. Max insinuated that a woman would not be perceived as strong enough to handle the job.

I suggest that we look at the female species in the animal kingdom, of which we are part. Let me ask you, Max, would you want to be standing between a sow bear and her cub; how about a lioness and her brood; or a woman whose children are in danger? Have no fear, if Hillary Clinton is elected president the terrorists will wake up to a world where the leader of the United States will protect and defend us, just as its predecessors have.

Max wrote that Senator Clinton probably didn’t sit idle during the Clinton presidential administration. I agree that she did not.

Let’s look at some of Senator Hilary Clinton’s history and experience. As first lady of Arkansas she founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families, chaired the Arkansas Education Standards Committee to improve testing of new teachers, and was named one of the 100 most influential attorneys in America. As our country’s First Lady she initiated the Children’s Health Insurance Program, helped to increase research funding for prostate cancer & childhood asthma, and initiated the Adoption and Safe Families Act. She received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service and received the National Association of Elementary School Principal’s Distinguished Service Award.

As a two term Senator, Clinton serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and is a member of the Airland, Emerging Threats, and Readiness sub-committees. She is also a member of the Health Education and Labor Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Special Committee on Aging. Clinton has sponsored and assured passage of 54 bills one of which is the “Heroes at Home Act” improving services and support for Armed Services personnel with Traumatic Brain Injury and for their families. Senator Clinton has also introduced legislation to increase broadband technology to rural areas, and to lower the cost of prescription drug costs for adults and children. In total, she has sponsored 635 bills. Clinton’s political history demonstrates effective leadership.

Max, in discounting women as National American leaders, you apparently are unaware that during Franklin Roosevelt’s administration, Eleanor effectively ran the government while FDR was recovering from a bout of polio, and I might add that Nancy Reagan was a powerful force in Ronald Reagan’s administration. I suspect though, that you are too young or uninformed to remember either administration. That’s why I suggest you familiarize yourself with your country’s history.

You comment that Senator Obama has accomplished nothing of value in the Senate,

yet we now have a man (Bush) who initiated war for oil, and lost, insults world leaders, and dances like a buffoon on the west portico of the White House. His vice-president makes the comment: “So?” when told by a reporter that the majority of Americans are against the Iraq war. The current administration has deliberately lied to US citizens and the world. We currently have a President that has knowingly broken the law and signed bills into law with the caveat that he will ignore them if he so chooses. Yet, this administration wants to know what books you are taking out of your public library, for fear that you may be an enemy of the state. How outrageous! The president’s party has so divided this country that we can’t even have a civil conversation about our differences.

Let’s look at the accomplishments of this administration: Recovery from Katrina…umm, no; a better economy… umm, no; cleaner environment… umm, no; increase in jobs… umm, no; capture of Osama bin Laden… umm, no; lower fuel prices… umm, no; a more secure country… umm, no; a balanced budget… umm, no. I could go on.

Are the citizens of the United States ready for a sea change in government? Yes. We have been manipulated and frightened too long. Clearly, America needs the leadership of man or woman who will listen to the people and facilitate an open progressive agenda.

Barbara Goral
Victor

Our Last Best Bitterroot

Dear Editor,

Never be so open-minded to fast bucks that your brains fall out! We must support planning as foreseen by 2006 Bitterroot voters and by over 4,000 hand-gathered petitioners who left their names at Lolo Peak above clawing ski scars. These were delivered to Missoula U.S. Forest Service office and then by Jack and me to Stevensville and Hamilton.

Montana DOT counted up to 4,000 vehicles in an hour north of Florence (Mile Posts 74-91). High congestion prohibits smooth flow and access to U.S. 93—the only road that completely serves the Bitterroot’s approximate 100 mile long, 3-15 mile wide valley beneath 9,000’ incredible peaks. Montana may never financially afford commuter lanes or an eastside bypass; we have yet to finish U.S. 93 South expansion or necessary features as pullouts or Florence Bridge pedestrian and bicycle lanes. Accidents and foul weather already toll deaths, hardship, and substantial delays. Safety is paramount.

Proposed Aspen Springs, Bitterroot Resort, Flat Iron, Legacy or other mega-divisions would detrimentally affect safety, attributes, and our heavily-burdened and/or voluntary infrastructure. Brain fallout also against wildlife, air, water, and earth critically impinges on Montana signature sustainability obvious in 140 consecutive years of our family alone from Darby to Missoula. We survive wars; depressions; and apple, sugar beet, and timber busts. We can picnic, horseback, hike, boat, fish, hunt, or cross-country ski at little or no-cost in our federal and state lands. Why unduly injure rather than enhance vital agricultural, educational, medical, recreational, tourist, road transport, log-home building, outfitting, and other industries that serve natural, historical and cultural Bitterroot communities and Missoula’s hub?  

Each of us is gloriously blessed with an unassuming, nearly self-sufficient Last Best Bitterroot Resort as it thrives from Bitterroot River headwaters near Lost Trail Ski Area & School to the river’s mouth near Snowbowl Ski & Summer Resort.  Let’s plan to keep it.

Jack and Cheryl (Holden) Rice
Stevensville

All image, no content

Dear Editor,

Have you ever purchased a product because the packaging was so glossy and cool looking, only to open it and be disappointed?  That is what we have in Barack Obama, I fear. The concern about Barack Obama and his lack of judgment when staying in the pew of a church that spews hate about America is central to who Obama is and what he and his family really think about our country. When his wife made the statement about “for the first time I felt proud of my country” I thought well, that must have been taken out of context. Now I understand she truly meant exactly what she said as it reflects the tenants of her church. You can go to HYPERLINK "http://www.tucc.org/home.htm" http://www.tucc.org/home.htm to learn more about Trinity Church of Christ.  It is interesting to note that there have been significant changes to the website within the past three weeks. Go to the About Us to learn what this church is dedicated to. Can Obama truly heal our country with a belief system like he has or will he take us back 40 years and start the blame game all over again? There is NO WAY he did not know what his church professes, it is impossible as it is in your face.

Every citizen in the United States of America has a choice on how they choose to live each day. They can choose to take advantage of the opportunities of our great nation or they can sit on their behinds and whine and blame others for their own lack of determination. It is a choice that millions of people of all races, ethnic backgrounds, religions and economics make every day and they succeed in whatever their endeavor, not because of a hand out or a free ride but because of the strength of their character.  

Yes, there are problems. However, in this day in America it is time for us to recognize what many, many black and Hispanic leaders are saying… Do not blame white people or this country for what you do not have but instead look to yourself and your choices as the blame lays squarely on your shoulders.  It is a choice should you not speak English well and therefore not have good job opportunity, a choice should you choose not to take advantage of the opportunity for education, it is on your shoulders should you not respect yourself, your family and your community. It is a choice to be a contributing person with good moral values, to show leadership by a good work ethic.  It is a personal choice to have a desire to learn all one can and it is a choice to take on a sense of dignity that is admirable to all around you. Humans were blessed with free will choice and it is a choice on how we live our lives regardless of our background. Every top executive will tell you that attitude is the difference between success and failure. Barack Obama certainly proves that by his own personal success.

White guilt and the billions of dollars poured out trying to say we are sorry for a past that we had absolutely no part or control of is not making America a better place for anyone. Instead it has encouraged entire groups of people to wallow in self pity and anger which is what happens when you remove incentive and personal responsibility. Our hope in all of our affirmative action programs was for each and every person in America to praise God for this land of true opportunity and grab the bull by the horns and go for all that is available to us via hard work and a determination to succeed. Far too many people have done just that from the day we became a nation for anyone to say it is not possible, that some people have it too tough. Some of our greatest leaders in business, education and government have risen from beginnings where the odds looked overwhelming yet succeed they did while others born with a silver spoon have been lost in their own laziness and done nothing of value with their lives.  It is a matter of choice.

Suzy Foss
Hamilton

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