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Reality & school bond election

I attended both meetings regarding the Smith Valley bond proposal and took away the same disconnect that others felt as well. I also read letters to the editor both for and against this bond that will greatly impact the taxpayers of Smith Valley, a district that is by no means wealthy here in the Flathead.

In reading the letters, I believe Jann Tonjum, the proponent for this bond, missed the point entirely concerning Mary Anne Lavelle’s letter to the editor. This isn’t about lovely ladies in the office and the principal — it’s about economics. Mary Ann was spot on when she speaks of hardworking, underpaid, retired, seniors, empty nesters and jobless folks who pay the bills. That is a fact. Tonjum equates education with the fact that if the jobless would have had a nice school and a caring community, they would not be underpaid and jobless when in reality students coming out of colleges are having a difficult time of finding a job so what does that have to do with how elaborate a school is in a community. This is pointless rhetoric. Success is measured by hard work and perseverance. That is well understood.

In reading the proponent’s letter, one would think that no one cared in our community when the school known as the Boorman School taught children for many years also paid for by the taxpayers became derelict under the watchful eyes of administrations past and present, so what happened? We are now the proud owners of a piece of property that was deeded for a school with a building that is no longer viable, and believe me the taxpayer cares. We don’t have Costco or Lowe’s in our district to help pay for school bonds, it leaves only us to carries that load. This $6 million bond, along with the total estimated interest over life of the bond, an additional $3,703,500, a total of almost $10 million, which is not mentioned in all this, nor is the last bond of 2004 of which we are still paying along with special district fees, forest land, landfill services and whatever else the county decides to pass along. After all, we are an open checkbook, right?

We are being told that the state has an economic scale that they use to determine the amount of money that a district can afford so apparently the state of Montana can look into taxpayers’ pockets and tell them they can pay this amount according to their scale. How ridiculous is that? I have recently been told that a voter’s name was missing from the register even though he voted in the general election, so I hope and pray that the registration is accurate, up to date and correct in this election. Perhaps we should reduce the number of out-of-district students coming into Smith Valley School and accommodate the students currently in our own district. And where is the tuition these students should be paying? AMB money doesn’t cover the cost. Check it out. Student exchanges only work when the district can accommodate the exchanges. That’s called reality. —Gina Klempel, Kalispell

Jerry Bygren will do good job

The timing seems to be relevant to obtaining and sustaining leadership in positions of importance to all who are aligned with the Flathead Electric Co-op.

As such, this letter is an easy one since we have the opportunity to vote for and elect Mr. Jerry Bygren to its board.

We have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Bygren for almost 40 years. Each of those years was an opportunity to see him in action at the Flathead Bank of Bigfork. When we first met him, he was a loan officer at the bank. Next he was promoted to vice president and finally to the role of president.

His manner, intellect and professionalism was always evident in every transaction we were involved with, whether a car loan, home loan, personal loan or simply a place of trust to keep our banking needs safe and relevant.

Our relationship outside the bank is just as important, and the personal friendship and bond we have enjoyed over these many years has never changed.

We proudly submit our endorsement of Jerry and are open to discuss this issue with any and all who would like to know more about this fine and well-qualified individual. Join us in electing a man who will be there for all of us in this very important position. —Pat and Jerry Molen, Bigfork

Trump ought not try to fix Obamacare ‘abomination’

I retired as a division president for HCA, the largest investor owned hospital company in the country. I’ve consistently told friends and foes that Trump should not tackle heath-care reform first. It is too damn complicated. Well, what now?

Just let it collapse or repeal — it doesn’t matter. Health-care costs can never be controlled with Beltway solutions. It has been tried and has never gotten traction. Stop digging! To all those who preach gloom and doom, remind them that the uninsured were able to get care at any ER since the inception of Medicare in 1965. The nation didn’t collapse during the ensuing 45 years because we didn’t have understandable universal health insurance. Obamacare has only been in place for six years, which is actually a stretch. It is nowhere near 30 million enrollees and the number who like it is far less. The left will wail ad nauseam under any circumstance. It is their mess. President Trump’s election does not mandate that he be the savior of the abomination. Some other talk-show hosts apparently have bought into that narrative, but they are wrong.

President Trump, move on to tax reform, building a wall and any more tractable political goal. Health care is the Gordian knot. If you want ideas on how to reduce health-care costs and deliver care more effectively, ask the experienced folks who have done it in the real world of competition, not those who are cruise directors in Washington. But the underlying principle must be that free markets foster creativity and inventiveness. We need to just stop trying to build yet another doomed plan. There are health-care emergencies, but there are no administrative emergencies. —Ron Phelps, Columbia Falls

Bygren’s service shows he is right for co-op board

I would urge a vote to elect Jerry Bygren to the open position on the Flathead Electric Co-op board.

As a member of the co-op’s Roundup for Safety board when Jerry presided over it, and as I became president of the board, I have gained a multi-year perspective of Jerry. His work ethic, his intelligence, and his high moral standards were on constant display. I really do not know his opponent and therefore will not say anything negative regarding him.

It is very easy for me to urge you to vote for Jerry. I am confident he will be a positive force in our co-op’s direction in the future. —Rex Harris, Whitefish, Roundup for Safety president