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Trump voter regrets that vote

I should not watch the news as it really gets to my peace of mind. Yes I know, just turn it off, but I am not that strong.

I think our president (who I voted for) is an embarrassment to every American. His childish name-calling is so immature — “little rocket man,” “little Marco,” “my button is bigger than yours” and “something Bannon.” I fully expect him to say someone’s mother wears combat boots not to mention what he said about what he got away with with women.

How can one not feel for his young son being exposed to what is going on? How many remember his MANY claims to build a Southern border wall and just as many times said Mexico would pay for it. Now he is asking our Congress to give him billions of our money to build his Big Beautiful Wall.

If ANYONE out there can show me reasonable proof that Mexico contributes one dollar to building the wall, as long as I am alive I will give $100 to your favorite charity and I wish it could be more. A lie might get by me once but not twice, and by the way tell me how your tax break worked out for you in 2019 when you file. —Glen Hook, Kalispell

Laffer Curve does not work

I read the Dec. 27 guest opinion on “Trump tax cut is an ode to the Laffer Curve” and I am appalled at the misinformation. The author is very fond of the economy that we had in the 1980s under Ronald Reagan, but anyone associated with agriculture during that period of time knows the economy of the 1980s was a disaster for producers.

More producers were forced out of business than at any other time but the Great Depression. Our national debt during this period of time doubled what had been accumulated by all past administrations. The Laffer Curve, supply side economics, or trickle-down economics, does not work for the middle class.

Supply does not create demand. If it did then, excess supply during the Great Depression would have led us to a better economy. It did not. The economy did not recover until demand was created with WWII expenditures — Keynesian demand-side economics.

Currently it is estimated that corporations are sitting on $2.3 trillion in cash, a huge supply of cash for investment to fulfill the needs of supply-side economics, but that cash is waiting for demand from the middle class. Giving the rich another $1.5 trillion won’t change that. Rather than attempting to increase the disparity of wealth between the very wealthy and the middle class to record levels in the hope that some of it might trickle down, we should invest in the middle class directly with an investment in infrastructure.

That would have the added benefit of changing our national debt very little instead of increasing it by $1.5 trillion with Trump’s terrible tax scam for the rich. —Ron de Yong, Kalispell

Single-payer is not the answer, and about that national debt ...

Two things stood out in the Jan. 7 letters.

One was about single-payer health care. England and Canada both have single payer (along with many socialistic countries) and all have long waiting lists for things we consider normal care such as MRI’s, X-rays and many surgeries. Some services are not available at all in many nations. Insurance without medical service is not medical care. This is a problem with many rural areas of our nation with the Affordable Care Act.

Then there was the complaint about the so-called GOP tax scam.

Those who have watched the “U.S. debt clock” know when Mr. Obama took office the national debt was just over $9 trillion and when he left office it was $20.6 trillion, an increase of more than $11 trillion in 8 years which averages to about $1,375 trillion a year. This is more than all presidents combined prior to Mr. O. In Mr. Trumps first year it increased $6.48 billion.

What is the big problem? Many large companies are already planning expansions and pay increases which will increase tax revenues, due to the tax plan. —Dexter Hamilton, Kalispell

Too much light

On our way in from West Valley, you can see the Aurora Borealis in Kalispell — oh wait, it’s the new Ford dealership lights reflecting off the clouds!

The light pollution in the valley is getting ridiculous with multimedia signs like the one at West Valley School on all night which is ridiculous, and parking lot lights on at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Reserve as well with no cars in the lots? Thank you, Daily Inter Lake, for printing the article about the light pollution. Something has to be done. I know I’m speaking for many residents of the valley.

Here is the simple obvious solution: Turn the lights off after 9 p.m. —Russ Gerard, Kalispell

Pleased with Senator Tester

We should all be pleased to see that Montana’s senior senator, Sen. Jon Tester, is willing to make time to listen to any Montanans he represents — even if they’re not yet old enough to vote.

This month, Tester sat down with almost 150 high school students at Glacier High School for a town hall to listen to their concerns. The students got to ask questions on anything they wanted, and despite their young age, they were not to be underestimated.

Some of the topics they raised were political issues that affect Montana: including voting rights, veterans affairs, sexual harassment, and working across the aisle. Sen. Tester met their questions head-on. Many of the students expressed how rare it is for high schoolers like them to have a face-to-face with a United States senator. What a learning opportunity.

We’re living in a time when Americans across the country are losing faith in government, and many of us are wondering how to hold our elected officials accountable. It is tremendous that Sen. Tester is so willing to be accessible to the public and to the families in the communities that he represents.

Thank you, Jon, for making it a priority to be as honest and open with your constituents as possible. Your commitment to listening to the people of Montana is a testament to how well you represent the Big Sky State back in Washington. —Alan Peura, Polebridge

Shipping tree back to Montana is an idea to skip

This will be short and to the point. No need for lengthy debate.

Regarding transporting the Capitol Christmas tree BACK to Montana to be used to rebuild the Sperry Chalet; has our country lost its senses?

Financing that would be used to transport this tree back to Montana should be used to PURCHASE lumber in OUR state which will provide EMPLOYMENT to our Montana citizens.

And, cut back on transportation emissions, fuel usage, etc.

Surely Washington, D.C., can find a good use locally for the lumber. Perhaps they would consider donating to charity to help those less fortunate.

Just thoughts that had to be shared. —Kim Jones, Bigfork