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With the election of our new president, I hope that this country returns to some degree of normalcy. We still have freedoms worth fighting for and, if need be, dying for. I hope that Americans can realize and appreciate this fact.

I believe that one of our most important freedoms is the right to bear arms. Without this freedom, our government could do anything that it can conceive to us. There are so many countries in the world where people are under enormous oppression by their governments. We would only join their pitiful plight, were it not for our right to bear arms. The first two battles of the American Revolutionary War with the British were over gun rights. The battle of the Alamo was partly due to gun confiscation. Even Jesus, at one point, told his disciples to sell their cloak and buy a sword. I sincerely believe that in telling them this, he was trying to emphasize a point, that point being, that you have a right to protect and defend yourself.

The police can only protect the public at large and the police usually arrive after a crime has been committed. This particular freedom to bear arms is currently being attacked by the UN. I pray that Americans understand that if there is the formation of a one-world government in our future, its inception would begin primarily because we have lost our right to bear arms. We must not lose this freedom to bear arms! —Sinowa Cruz, Kalispell

National parks must be priority

In a divided country, our national parks continue to serve as common ground. Unfortunately, that ground is unsteady under the impacts of a $12 billion infrastructure repair backlog. With the recent confirmation of Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, hope remains that repairing our national parks will become a national priority.

During his recent address to Congress and the American public, President Trump called on Congress to pass an infrastructure bill. There is no better place to start rebuilding our infrastructure than fixing our parks. In Secretary Zinke’s confirmation hearing, he stated that addressing the National Park Service backlog was one of his three top priorities. And Sen. Steve Daines, who recently became chairman of the subcommittee on national parks, has echoed the need to address the backlog.

The infrastructure repair backlog affects nearly every national park site. In contrast to the record-setting visitation that Glacier welcomed in 2016, the park faces a repair backlog nearing $180 million. This includes over $120 million in paved road projects and $11 million in trail repair needs.

National Parks Conservation Association calls on President Trump, Interior Secretary Zinke, Sens. Daines and Tester and all of our members of Congress to put their words into action. It is time for national parks to become a national priority again. —Sarah Lundstrum, Whitefish

Thanks to all who come to aid of abandoned or abused animals

I would like to add to Brenda Anderson’s letter of thanks in the March 7 edition. Ms. Anderson was thanking the person or persons involved in helping find and rescue the dogs and mini-horses from the Creston area. Thanks should also go the Kalispell Police Department’s animal warden, who acted on a tip from a passer-by noticing multiple dogs in a car in Kalispell. That investigation led to a joint effort with Flathead County sheriff’s animal control officers. Those officers had to wear breathing apparatuses while they removed the distressed dogs from the horrific house prior to delivering them to the Flathead County Animal Shelter.

The amazing, hard-working care staff at the shelter, along with the county’s veterinarian, has been caring for these dogs since their arrival, getting the healthiest few adopted out to loving homes, supported by the fundraising efforts of Flathead Shelter Friends Inc. These heroes deserve recognition as well. But the real heroes are the supportive citizens of Flathead County (and other parts of Montana) who have generously sent donations to be used for the care and rehabilitation of those animals as they make their way back to recovery.

Sometimes we may forget that along with the beautiful scenery that we are graced with in this valley, we are also graced with some of the most beautiful people found anywhere on this planet.

Thank you to all of the area heroes who time and again come together to overcome adversity. —Cliff Bennett, Lakeside

Affordable Care Act was never the answer to health needs

I read with great interest Dr. Jason Cohen’s recent letter to the editor: “Discussion Points of the Future of the Affordable Care Act.” One of the most damaging forces in the universe is the illusion that expensive things can be had if we just want them bad enough. People often buy college educations, automobiles, and homes that the rational person can see are outside the realm of financial possibility, but the excitement of owning the shiny new thing often short circuits the brain just long enough for a family to destroy its financial future for a generation. That is exactly what we are witnessing with the ironically named “Affordable Care Act.”

Like the ski boat salesman encouraging an excited family to buy with funds they don’t have, Dr. Cohen is selling us a health care policy we can’t afford. I concede many of the things the Affordable Care Act intended to accomplish are admirable (unlimited lifetime coverages for everyone, no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, low or no cost to the poor, increased medical coverage in sparsely populated areas, required coverage of health screenings, free birth control, substance abuse counseling); unfortunately, they are not economically possible from a centrally planned bureaucracy.

Good people like Dr. Cohen are claiming the law is a resounding success. They state that millions of people who once were denied health insurance because of pre-existing conditions or expensive premiums now have access to it. What the Affordable Care Act’s supporters don’t admit is that millions of other Americans are rapidly finding health insurance so unaffordable they and/or their employers are dropping coverages due to its unaffordability. Because of the problem of adverse selection, insurance programs don’t survive when unhealthy, expensive people sign up by the millions at the same time millions of healthy, inexpensive people stop paying their premiums.

While it is true the American health care system is in need of a complete overhaul, the Affordable Care Act is not the answer. Due to the immutable economic laws of adverse selection and supply and demand, the Affordable Care Act, is failing financially. When the program does fail, I hope we learn from our mistakes and consider using free market solutions — such as those provided by health-care sharing ministries and cash-only surgical clinics — that have reduced prices and increased quality and access wherever free markets have been allowed to operate. The private insurance/government partnership model is incapable of delivering on its promises, and it is now time to let the Affordable Care Act die with dignity before it financially cripples us. —Joseph D. Coco Jr., Whitefish

We must not lose the right to bear arms

With the election of our new president, I hope that this country returns to some degree of normalcy. We still have freedoms worth fighting for and, if need be, dying for. I hope that Americans can realize and appreciate this fact.

I believe that one of our most important freedoms is the right to bear arms. Without this freedom, our government could do anything that it can conceive to us. There are so many countries in the world where people are under enormous oppression by their governments. We would only join their pitiful plight, were it not for our right to bear arms. The first two battles of the American Revolutionary War with the British were over gun rights. The battle of the Alamo was partly due to gun confiscation. Even Jesus, at one point, told his disciples to sell their cloak and buy a sword. I sincerely believe that in telling them this, he was trying to emphasize a point, that point being, that you have a right to protect and defend yourself.

The police can only protect the public at large and the police usually arrive after a crime has been committed. This particular freedom to bear arms is currently being attacked by the UN. I pray that Americans understand that if there is the formation of a one-world government in our future, its inception would begin primarily because we have lost our right to bear arms. We must not lose this freedom to bear arms! —Sinowa Cruz, Kalispell

National parks must be priority

In a divided country, our national parks continue to serve as common ground. Unfortunately, that ground is unsteady under the impacts of a $12 billion infrastructure repair backlog. With the recent confirmation of Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, hope remains that repairing our national parks will become a national priority.

During his recent address to Congress and the American public, President Trump called on Congress to pass an infrastructure bill. There is no better place to start rebuilding our infrastructure than fixing our parks. In Secretary Zinke’s confirmation hearing, he stated that addressing the National Park Service backlog was one of his three top priorities. And Sen. Steve Daines, who recently became chairman of the subcommittee on national parks, has echoed the need to address the backlog.

The infrastructure repair backlog affects nearly every national park site. In contrast to the record-setting visitation that Glacier welcomed in 2016, the park faces a repair backlog nearing $180 million. This includes over $120 million in paved road projects and $11 million in trail repair needs.

National Parks Conservation Association calls on President Trump, Interior Secretary Zinke, Sens. Daines and Tester and all of our members of Congress to put their words into action. It is time for national parks to become a national priority again. —Sarah Lundstrum, Whitefish

Thanks to all who come to aid of abandoned or abused animals

I would like to add to Brenda Anderson’s letter of thanks in the March 7 edition. Ms. Anderson was thanking the person or persons involved in helping find and rescue the dogs and mini-horses from the Creston area. Thanks should also go the Kalispell Police Department’s animal warden, who acted on a tip from a passer-by noticing multiple dogs in a car in Kalispell. That investigation led to a joint effort with Flathead County sheriff’s animal control officers. Those officers had to wear breathing apparatuses while they removed the distressed dogs from the horrific house prior to delivering them to the Flathead County Animal Shelter.

The amazing, hard-working care staff at the shelter, along with the county’s veterinarian, has been caring for these dogs since their arrival, getting the healthiest few adopted out to loving homes, supported by the fundraising efforts of Flathead Shelter Friends Inc. These heroes deserve recognition as well. But the real heroes are the supportive citizens of Flathead County (and other parts of Montana) who have generously sent donations to be used for the care and rehabilitation of those animals as they make their way back to recovery.

Sometimes we may forget that along with the beautiful scenery that we are graced with in this valley, we are also graced with some of the most beautiful people found anywhere on this planet.

Thank you to all of the area heroes who time and again come together to overcome adversity. —Cliff Bennett, Lakeside

Affordable Care Act was never the answer to health needs

I read with great interest Dr. Jason Cohen’s recent letter to the editor: “Discussion Points of the Future of the Affordable Care Act.” One of the most damaging forces in the universe is the illusion that expensive things can be had if we just want them bad enough. People often buy college educations, automobiles, and homes that the rational person can see are outside the realm of financial possibility, but the excitement of owning the shiny new thing often short circuits the brain just long enough for a family to destroy its financial future for a generation. That is exactly what we are witnessing with the ironically named “Affordable Care Act.”

Like the ski boat salesman encouraging an excited family to buy with funds they don’t have, Dr. Cohen is selling us a health care policy we can’t afford. I concede many of the things the Affordable Care Act intended to accomplish are admirable (unlimited lifetime coverages for everyone, no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, low or no cost to the poor, increased medical coverage in sparsely populated areas, required coverage of health screenings, free birth control, substance abuse counseling); unfortunately, they are not economically possible from a centrally planned bureaucracy.

Good people like Dr. Cohen are claiming the law is a resounding success. They state that millions of people who once were denied health insurance because of pre-existing conditions or expensive premiums now have access to it. What the Affordable Care Act’s supporters don’t admit is that millions of other Americans are rapidly finding health insurance so unaffordable they and/or their employers are dropping coverages due to its unaffordability. Because of the problem of adverse selection, insurance programs don’t survive when unhealthy, expensive people sign up by the millions at the same time millions of healthy, inexpensive people stop paying their premiums.

While it is true the American health care system is in need of a complete overhaul, the Affordable Care Act is not the answer. Due to the immutable economic laws of adverse selection and supply and demand, the Affordable Care Act, is failing financially. When the program does fail, I hope we learn from our mistakes and consider using free market solutions — such as those provided by health-care sharing ministries and cash-only surgical clinics — that have reduced prices and increased quality and access wherever free markets have been allowed to operate. The private insurance/government partnership model is incapable of delivering on its promises, and it is now time to let the Affordable Care Act die with dignity before it financially cripples us. —Joseph D. Coco Jr., Whitefish