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Thanks for kind gesture to family

An open letter to Al and Lisa Stinson:

I am an 86-year-old widower living in Columbia Falls. I just want you to know how I admire your wonderful generosity in making life a little better for the Rhoades family by helping their daughter acquire a diabetes service dog.

When I read the original article, it was front page alongside two articles about the huge amounts of money two politicians had amassed for upcoming campaigns.

It made me sick to think of the struggle some people endure through no fault of their own, and the money that goes to political campaigns that could be used for so many good causes.

You have made me feel very good about humanity. Thank you. —Howard Piper, Columbia Falls

Is GOP against these programs?

Yes, this is Dan King. The one that Sen. Keith Regier noted in his letter to this section, who got his fanny handed to him by Bob Keenan in the last senatorial election.

I want to thank Sen. Regier for the history lesson of pointing out that presidents Lincoln and T. Roosevelt were Republicans. I have just never thought of them as such when compared to modern Republicans. These two wonderful leaders would be amazed to learn that modern Republicans are doing their best to suppress the voting rights of the young and people of color, and are gerrymandering electoral districts to eliminate the relevancy of their vote. And one of President Teddy’s greatest creations was the National Parks System. This system is under attack by one of Montana’s own. He seeks to close some, reduce the size of some, and increase the entrance fees to all. The Lands Council in Utah is behind these actions, as well as selling off a great deal of federal lands to private parties.

Perhaps I should have made my challenge to come up with common good measures supported by modern Republicans, say in the last 50 years. I am quite sure we will find a great deal to argue about concerning the myths of the contributions to the common good by President Reagan. This is not the time, nor place for such an argument.

In the meantime, my thanks to Sen. Regier, and my new challenge. For your information, here is an incomplete list of “common good” issues that have become an integral part of American society through the combination of union activity and Democratic legislation: weekends, breaks at work, paid vacations, FMLA, sick leave, Social Security, minimum wage, Civil Rights Act, eight-hour work day, overtime pay, child labor laws, OSHA, 40-hour work week, workers’ cornp, unemployment insurance, collective bargaining rights, age discrimination protection, whistleblower protection, pensions, workplace safety, employee health insurance, wrongful termination laws, veterans’ employment, sexual harassment laws, Americans with Disability Act, holiday pay, employee dental coverage, privacy rights, pregnancy leave and military leave.

I am sure this list is incomplete, but I would like to know which of these you believe should be eliminated? I do know they have been opposed by the modern Republican Party. —Dan King, Bigfork

Sen. Dee Brown needs to take responsibility

Sen. Dee Brown’s fact-twisted and mean-spirited letter about sitting out the “dance” for solving the state’s financial crisis is typical of the GOP ideology of not supporting Montana’s citizens.

She, of all people, knows that the shortfall was created not by the governor as she claims, but by her own party when they overestimated the revenue side of the budget. The governor has presented a good solution to solving the financial problem, but she and her right-wing cohorts seem to just want to be editorial “cute,” attack governmental agencies, refuse reasonable revenue possibilities, leave Montana’s neediest citizens wanting, and walk away from solid solutions People of Senate District 2, tell her she needs to represent you truthfully. —Pat Bradley, Twin Bridges

Sperry Chalet should be more than a B&B

I am writing this letter because I am concerned about the fundraising going on for the Sherry Chalet.

A little history. I am a longtime Flathead Valley wood worker and artist who had the chance to be part of a team doing historic restoration in Glacier Park. We worked on Sperry for months in the summer of 1996, from the rat-infested crawl space to replacing rotten log rafters. We were all over that building. We put sweat, blood and very long days on that building. When it was finally finished, it was handed over to a company to use as a glorified “bed and breakfast” for those that could afford it.

And then it burned down. I truly felt like I had lost a friend. But the more I thought about it, the more I could see the good here. I do not understand the idea of donating to something that will only be used by a very few. When did the Glacier Park Conservancy become a fundraising tool of a concession company so they can profit from it.

This is my private fantasy plan for the Sperry Chalet rebuild. I would like to see it rebuilt all with private donations; the park has no money.

The Flathead Valley is blessed with very talented craftsman — from stone masons to timber framers to log workers and too many to mention. I am sure some would love to volunteer and leave their mark on a new Sperry. Think of all the local construction companies that would love to have their name mentioned with the Sperry rebuilding.

And when done, it should be used as a backcountry museum honoring the early park trail builders, a place for education field trips, a rest stop. Anything except a B&B. It’s a great opportunity. —Edd Kuropat, Whitefish