Letters to the editor

Thank you to Bigfork Fire

Dear Chief [Wayne] Loeffler and members of Bigfork Fire,

Thank you, thank you and thank you from all the members of Friends of Bigfork Fire and the community of Bigfork for putting on the dedication ceremony for the live fire training building. We want to let you all know how very impressed and pleased we are.

The dedication and commitment to excellence by your members was so very evident at the event. We appreciate how much effort went into making this day happen, so that our community could get to see first hand how some of the training at the new facility takes place.

The lunch was tasty and the music was a nice touch as well. We are thrilled to have been a part of raising the funds for this worthy cause and will continue, so that the exterior part of the building can be completed as soon as possible.

We are proud to be your fundraising organization.

A very special thank you to each and every one of you!

Jim Sticka

President of Friends of the Bigfork Fire Department

Many complaints, few voters

Who is responsible for the dissatisfaction of our 'system" of government? Whenever a conversation includes a discussion of government, it seems that an endless number of complaints come forth.

"Our taxes are too high," "The national debt is way out of hand," "Why haven't they paved our road?," "We can't afford health insurance," "They are destroying the Constitution!" and "All politicians are corrupt!" seem to be among the statements that are commonly bantered about.

Obviously, the fact that these expressions of dissatisfaction are so often voiced must give some credence to the existence of problems with our 'system."

I have to wonder if the fact that only a little over one-third of the eligible voters turned out to vote in the recent primary election may have a great deal to do with how our 'system" is being run. When you figure that a simple majority (approximately one-sixth of those voting, plus one vote) determines which person will hold a particular office, and take action on a specific law, it's not hard to understand why there is a strong chance that the other two-thirds of those affected may be unhappy. There is a very good possibility that the persons getting elected are not really representing the wishes of the majority of citizens.

My reason for making this observation is to encourage everyone to become more responsible for how our 'system" functions. Individually we need to be an active part of "We the People." We need to stop spreading misinformation, calling names and yelling from the sidelines. If there is ever going to be a positive change to the 'system," a true majority of citizens will have to work together in a civil way to craft reform and meet the challenges of the 21st century. Why not join me in November and elect some individuals who will really work for the betterment of our system?

Edd Blackler

Bigfork

Candidate for Senate District 5