Letters to the editor

Great recipes

A quick thank you for Mariela Petroski’s recipe column. I’ve been clipping and preparing the recipes for the past two months or so, and not one has disappointed my wife or me. The “Rustic Ragu” is wonderful! Please keep Mariela happy so she’ll continue to share her recipes!

George Ryan

801 Knight Street

Security outrage

Did you know? Condoleeza Rice, as the president’s National Security Advisor, was caught removing sensitive classified information from the National Archives, not once, but twice. Video images of papers being stuffed down her nylons and dress left her with no choice but to confess to her “innocent mistake.” The documents contained evidence of the administration’s failures in the war on terror, which had to be kept from the 9-11 commission. She then told investigators she couldn’t remember where the documents were anymore, perhaps being tossed out with the trash. Her punishment? She received a monetary slap on the wrist and lost her access to classified information for a couple of years. To update the story, just a couple of days ago it was revealed that she hid the papers in a construction zone for later retrieval. However, no further action is planned.

Are you outraged at the leniency? I encourage you to write to your congressman and express your demand that justice needs to be pursued. Oh, I need to correct one thing. The above incident was actually perpetrated by Clinton’s national security advisor, Sandy Bergler. Still outraged? Or is it just another “who cares” from most Democrats?

Bruce Supalla

20 Sweetgrass Road

Use the U.N.

I believe the administration cannot continue as it is in Iraq without irretrievably damaging our relations with other nations. I also believe that the only honorable thing the U.S. can do is to ask for help, and the place to do that is where the Bush administration should have done it before they decided to “bring light” to the Middle East.

The only way the Bush administration can have any chance of salvaging its own reputation and that of the United States of America is to go to the United Nations, whose business it is to resolve international conflicts. The administration should admit that they fouled up by not leaving the supposed WMD situation in Iraq to the U.N. to begin with, apologize sincerely, and beg for help. This is the only way of involving the rest of the nations in the Middle East in resolving the Iraq mess. Asking the U.N. to step in stands a better chance than anything else the administration has tried.

Mr. Bush could reduce the stress in his life, and in the lives of most Americans, by resigning as General Manager of the World.

Maret F. Hutchinson

10 Harrison

Verone praised

Lewis and Clark County has indeed been fortunate for the past 6 years to have had Anita Varone serve us as a county commissioner. I have come to know and respect Anita very much as she served this county. She has done her job with honesty, integrity and courtesy at all times.

We have all grumbled from time to time about the way our politicians seem to be so negative and nasty getting their message across, it’s been very refreshing to see how Anita has conducted herself and treated other citizens, even those who may have disagreed with her.

Anita, you will be missed! You brought civility and common sense to county government; you were a good listener and have served the taxpayers well. Thank you for being a wonderful example of what it means to be a leader and show grace under fire.

I hope you will continue to find ways to involve yourself in issues that affect us here in Lewis and Clark County. Your knowledge and experience are far too valuable to be “retired.” Thank you so much for giving of your time, your talent and your treasure to Helena; we are a richer community for it.

Judy Rolfe

2008 Highland

Not a dinosaur

I am responding to a letter published in the Friday edition of the Helena IR written by Mr. Albert Wareham. Mr. Wareham claims that the carcass of a plesiosaur was found in 1977. The incident to which he is referring happened aboard the Zuiyo Maru and was indeed photographed and chronicled by the crew. Although the carcass was dumped, samples were collected and analyzed.

However, the common concensus among scientists is that the carcass was that of a decomposed basking shark and not a plesiosaur. The closest thing to a “living dinosaur” being found was the discovery of the coelacanth, a fish long thought to be extinct. I for one, believe that it is naive to think that there are not species out there that have never been found, however, there has never been any concrete proof of a “living dinosaur.”

Jaysin Arthurs

814 Cole

A cruel theft

As you’ve probably heard, the Raymond family put many days (several weeks actually), lots of effort, resources and heart into getting the Gardners into a new home by Christmas. They didn’t do it for gratitude, they did it because that’s just the kind of people they are. On Friday, while their car was parked at Wal-Mart someone broke in and stole bags of Christmas presents they had just purchased for their friends and family. As they said, it’s not the money, although that hurts. What really hurts is that someone would do that, especially at this time of year. If that person had asked, they would gladly have given them money to buy their own gifts — but they didn’t do that. So now, Saturday, instead of finally spending some time at home, decorating and enjoying the day getting ready for Christmas, they are back in town buying gifts. I just hope whoever stole those gifts needed them very badly. That act is in stark contrast to the warm and loving feelings experienced at the Gardner home build.

Dan and Rain Williams

Clancy

A stupid war

President and General of the Armies Dwight David Eisenhower is quoted in 1953 as saying, “The world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.” He was referring to the arms race taking place in the world. He went on to “urge nations — and the incoming Kennedy administration — to guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.” We can also go back to President Washington’s final address to the nation wherein he warned against getting overly involved in foreign wars and affairs. More recently, former Secretary of State Colin Powell opposed military action in Iraq. But Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush conspired to take this nation into a foolish war.

We can only speculate as to why this current administration was so intent on creating the existing war, but many believe it may well have been due to the strength of the military-industrial combine. As investigative committees begin work in the new Democrat controlled Congress, we may secure some answers. I hope so. I have read enough about young American being mained and killed in this stupid war.

Ray Peck, Ed.D.

2412 Columbia Avenue

Strange appointment

We all have read with wonderment about the appointment to the Education Committee of a representative who hates schools and teachers. Sounds like a real winner!

Here is a list of some of the other appointments for 2007 committees. A vegetarian appointed to the Beef and Cattle Committee. An undertaker appointed to the Senior Citizen Committee.

A person allergic to wool appointed to the Sheep and Wool Committee, a nudist appointed to the Clothing Committee, an ancestor of Custer appointed to the Native American Committee, an illiterate appointed to the Library Committee and a pedophile appointed to the Child Welfare Committee.

They are still fighting over the War Committee, many want to be chairperson of this committee.

They have abandoned the Peace Committee, said it was of no value. They could not find one person to be on the Intelligence Committee.

What a surprise, more committee chairpersons will be named after the holidays, when everyone is sober.

Have a good holiday and best of luck to the citizens of Montana. They are going to need it.

LaVon D. Brillhart

228 W. Morse Street

Dillon

Gifts for soldiers

I am writing this letter with pride but also sadness. My oldest daughter is serving in Iraq this Christmas. She was able to call us on Christmas and she was doing fine. She is a very lucky girl who has numerous relatives and friends (not to mention MT Supporting Soldiers) who care very much about her.

So she got a lot of things for Christmas. I asked how she liked the St. Christopher’s medal I had sent her.

It turns out one of her best friends parents had also given her one. So she gave one to a young solider who had got NOTHING for Christmas.

He told her it was the nicest thing anyone had ever given him.

I am proud of my daughter, but I am saddened that this young man had no one care enough to send him anything during Christmas.

We all need to remember that our Armed Forces need our support still. Even if you don’t agree with the war, they are doing a duty. I am sure the MT Supporting Soldiers could use any help they can get. They are at Montana Supporting Soldiers, P.O. Box 4964, Helena, MT 59602.

Mary Cole

Proud Mom of Airman Maranda Broadbrooks-Bricker

4446 Red Fox Drive

Income tax fairness?

There have been several recent articles regarding the State of Montana income tax cuts. I strongly disagree with Sen. Joe Balyeat, R-Bozeman, when he says “We’ve got lower, more reasonable tax rates for everybody.” For everybody? The income tax cuts enacted by the 2005 Legislature benefited only the rich. The average Montanan saw virtually no change, yet millionaires were put in the same tax bracket as people earning $13,900 per year. If (in some fantasy world, certainly not Montana) income taxes were fair and were based on the ability to pay, how can Sen. Balyeat think that someone living at the poverty level can afford to pay any tax, let alone pay at the same rate as someone earning $500,000 per year? The new tax laws resulted in a 32 percent decrease in income taxes for a person who has $200,000 taxable income. Hopefully Jim Elliot will stick to his guns and try to get those corrupt politicians on the hill to correct some of the income tax inequities in our state.

Jeff Holm

1811 5th Avenue

Access disappearing

Prior to the November election there were a number of ads about gun control and its supporters.

One very subtle form of gun control wasn’t discussed and it affects all hunters and outdoor recreationists. Those of us who have had access to and used public lands for 30 or more years have seen accessibility to these lands erode since about 1980 when former President Reagan proposed his “Sagebrush Revolution” to sell public lands. Fortunately Congress didn’t agree with that idea.

A few years later land developers and speculators started buying private property adjacent to public lands and we began to see our access over old wagon roads and trails locked up. Today there is a huge market for private property adjacent to public lands with prices that appear to exceed the productive values.

Our current president, George Bush, also advocates the sale of public lands. We need to remind all elected officials — local, state and national — that public lands need to be protected and public access preserved. They all have a lot of issues to address and this should be one.

I have not heard or seen any NRA ads supporting public access even for hunters.

Allen Tompkins

1307 9th Avenue