Thanks to schools

In response to Robert Graham's editorial about Whitefish High School in the June 25 Whitefish Pilot, I would like to add my thoughts.

My long and varied involvement with the public school system in Whitefish has always been a positive experience. For many years, I was a substitute teacher in the high school, junior high and the elementary schools.

My four children graduated from Whitefish High School and had no trouble competing for colleges and top grades at many different schools in the U.S. They had been well prepared by the excellent teachers from K to 12.

This past school year, I found myself the full-time "mom" to two high school seniors, and I was once again personally involved in Whitefish High School. The care, commitment and quality education provided by the entire staff had not changed since my last child graduated many years ago.

As a 14-year veteran trustee at Flathead Valley Community College, I am aware that there are sometimes problems with school staff, but those problems are carefully evaluated and solved in the proper manner. They are not ignored.

In her letter to the editor, Cathy Relf said to the staff at Whitefish High School, "Thank you for making a difference in my daughter's life."

As I watched my two seniors excel and become fine young men this year, I know it was the combined effort of Kent Paulson and all the dedicated teachers and staff who helped guide the graduating class of 2009 to a dazzling finish.

Thanks to all of you for making a difference in our children's lives.

Jeanne Tallman

Whitefish

Great show

My wife and I have been coming to Whitefish for several years to visit our daughter and son-in-law. Our visits have often coincided with the Fourth of July fireworks display. It has always been a spectacular show, especially to see the fireworks reflection in the lake.

We felt that the 2009 display, although understandably shorter, was the finest we've seen. The displays were colorful, well coordinated and visually well designed.

Our thanks to those who gave us such a treat.

Dale and Mary Engquist

Saguache, Colo.

Healthcare subplot

Sen. Max Baucus holds key responsibility for health care 'reform." Based on his proposals, government-run healthcare in other countries and failures of Medicaid/Medicare, his program will be a disaster. Is he living in a Twilight Zone reality or does he have a self-serving agenda?

The U.S. has state-of-the-art medical care, unsurpassed in the world. Government-managed healthcare will undoubtedly result in higher costs (higher taxes), limited choice of coverage and physicians, lower quality of care, including rationing 'squeezing out the elderly and chronically ill), delayed diagnoses and surgeries, further physician shortages, and broadened government control over our lives.

Besides that, we can't afford it. If folks are troubled by the cost of health insurance which are optional, imagine when essentials like a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk costs $10-20 or more. That is what will happen if the government continues to spend money it doesn't have — astronomical inflation.

The Obama administration's mode of operation has been to write a massive piece of legislation in secret, tell Congress to hurry up and pass it (before they've had a chance to read it) or the sky will fall. Just what part of "we can't afford it" do they not understand?

Since we can't afford national healthcare and it has always produced a product inferior to free-enterprise, why are the Democrats pushing for this?

As with the unions, illegal aliens given amnesty, welfare recipients and so on — expand the entitlement welfare state and you expand the power and electability of the Democratic Party that support these monstrosities.

Sen. Baucus will do whatever it takes to expand his power, embracing programs that will sell us out. He does not represent Montanans and needs to be voted out of office.

Roland Horst

Bigfork