Democracy requires participation…
Bouquets: • A Bouquet goes out to the Sandpoint Lions Club for their efforts putting on festivities for the Fourth of July, including the parade and fireworks show. The Lions have made Independence Day one of their missions for more than 70 years and we thank them for it. • Another Bouquet goes to the city of Sandpoint staff members who take care of the hanging flower baskets around downtown. The baskets are hard to miss — they’re so beautiful and healthy. Thanks for keeping them watered and blooming! GUEST SUBMISSION: • “Thanks to Bonner County Road and Bridge Department and trimmer operator Matt for a timely and excellent job of mowing the tall grasses along the roadsides on the Hope peninsula before the massive influx of campers and tourists descend upon the area. With summer, the roads will again become congested with vehicles, joggers, bikers, dog walkers and deer lookers. Tall grasses along the roadways create dangerous conditions for the deer and their newborn fawns on this game preserve, as well as for the visitors who are often so absorbed in their activities, they aren’t aware of their surroundings. Thank you for helping to create a safer atmosphere for all.” — Jane Holzer Barbs: • Be considerate to your neighbors when lighting off fireworks. Clean up after yourselves, don’t be a jerk and please don’t burn down our forests. We’re quite fond of them. 8 / R / July 3, 2024
Dear editor, First let us congratulate the 27% of registered voters who cast ballots in May. They performed the most important duty of citizens in our republic. The primary is the most critical part of our election process. Primary elections determine which candidates go forward to the general election. Those candidates selected should represent the majority views of their constituencies, but seldom do. Now let’s talk about the 73% of registered voters who didn’t go to the polls. Because of this inaction, it is certain that some unsuitable candidates were allowed to go forward to November — those candidates who want to decide what all of us are allowed to do, read and learn. Candidates that want to force their biased and/or narrow views on all of us. Now, let’s talk about the real problem. That is the difference between the number of age-eligible population and number of registered voters. Individual circumstances related to criminal conviction notwithstanding, every Idahoan is eligible to vote if they are 18 years old or more, a U.S. citizen and a resident of Idaho for more than 30 days. In the 2022 general election, the number of ballots cast was 599,493 — just shy of 44% of the total number of age-eligible voters in the state (based on 2020 census data). It is your duty as a citizen to become knowledgeable about the issues involved, the views and positions of each candidate, and vote! Without active participation by all we do not have a democracy. By not voting we are getting exactly what we deserve — denial of our constitutional rights through minority rule. Regardless which way you lean, register, learn and vote! Plato said it almost 2,400 years ago, “The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men.” Boy was he ever right. Gil Beyer Sandpoint
‘Is this what “conservative” means?’… Dear editor, Even if Lauren Necochea’s short column in “Perspectives” last week was only partially accurate, is this what “conservative” means? [“Republican party bosses double down on extreme agenda,” June 27, 2024.]
If so, it serves to illustrate the total absurdity of the political philosophy as being for family and faith. Without repeating every point, what it basically tells the average person is that if you’re with child you have to carry the pregnancy to full term, no matter the consequences. And then once you’re born, well, you’re completely on your own. No help at all from anyone else except your family, no ability to read what you want, no life out of constant work just to make it. Giving your money to private well-off persons or entities to do with what they please (privatized Social Security). Then in old age or economic distress, no Medicaid or Medicare. You’re just cast to the wolves. Is this what conservatives and their religion stands for? Well, you can have it because it just appears to be a way for the well off, well connected and the influential to have a master/slave relationship with the average citizen. Lawrence Fury Sandpoint
‘Quit your bitchin’’... Dear editor, Thank you for the quote/observation in the June 20 issue, “A Gentle Reminder” about our history [“Junk Drawer”]. We have always been a nation of doers, roll up your sleeves, pitch in and help solve the problem. Now it is just protests and grumping. Come on America, quit your bitchin’ and start stitching. Betty Faletto Sandpoint
‘Birthing option’... Dear editor, Ben Olson’s mention of the town’s choice public toilet [“Junk Drawer,” June 27, 2024] being the second-floor bathroom in the Cedar Street Bridge sparked a memory. In light of our extremely oppressive state abortion laws that have scattered our baby birthing doctors away, I offer a helpful suggestion to pregnant women to avoid the time, cost and stress of traveling to Spokane for delivery. I don’t call that room on the Bridge a bathroom; to me it is a shrine. My daughter was born in that room in 1987, and I think she turned out reasonably well. My pregnant and overdue wife and I were strolling downtown with
our midwife. Outside the Panida Theater her water broke. The girls walked to the bridge to “check things out” and suggested I fetch the “birth pack” and meet them on the second floor. I found them in the empty — and clean — handicap stall of the women’s bathroom. The stall came equipped with handy rails for good leverage. Twenty minutes from the Panida incident, I caught the child before it went down the drain. For a brief time, that bathroom became a warm and holy place. We went downstairs and had a cold beer before heading home. Note: You might have to walk a couple hundred feet to get that beer today. At that time, she was truly a modern child: She came in a can. Chris White Sandpoint
Whose jobs?... Dear editor, In the presidential debateThursday night, Trump said Biden was allowing thousands of immigrants through the southern border and they were taking away “Black jobs” and “Hispanic jobs” and putting them out of work. The ex-president may have been trying to gain votes, but I do not believe that there are jobs in America today which, by definition, call only for Black workers or Hispanic workers to fill the positions. I thought anyone could apply. James Richard Johnson Clark Fork
Treating librarians like babysitters… Dear editor, Regarding H.B. 710, here’s an idea: Since those parents who feel it’s fair to fine librarians for doing your job, perhaps you as parents should be charged “babysitting” fees, since apparently you don’t want to take the time visiting the library with your children; so, in all fairness, you should be paying them! That’s no more ridiculous than this stinking bill! Thank you! Jo Reitan Sandpoint
‘Cheap seats’... Dear editor, Magnificent concerts at the Gorge and exquisite plays on Broadway. Cultural events that create joy and lifelong memories. I encourage you to attend as many as you possibly can.
I also realize the difficulties of finances and travel. So I oftentimes decide on a different venue. I refer to it as “the cheap seats”: the homemade picnic table in our front yard where my granddaughter re-enacts the joyous experience of shelling peas that my daughter delighted in just a few short years ago; my sweetheart’s contented, subtle smile as we turn the pages of the photo album; the local sages’ morning coffee banter at Connie’s Cafe about last night’s storm and new fishing rods; the large excited eyes of the brother and sister draped in red, white and blue as they rearrange the flags on their wagon. The parade of life’s beauty. I’ll take the cheap seats. Steve Johnson Sagle
Consider the Constitution… Dear editor, The U.S. Constitution preamble begins, “We the People,” a philosophy that has inspired my many years of military, state law enforcement, BoCo Republican Central Committee and the Pend Oreille Hospital Taxing District duty and public service. On this Independence Day, my prayer to all is for safety and conviction of this year’s 248th celebration. I read the U.S. and Idaho constitutions with strict interpretation. I encourage everyone who celebrates Independence Day to read and contemplate a portion of the Idaho Constitution. I suggest, Article III, Section 24, Promotion of Temperance and Morality: “The first concern for all good government is the virtue and sobriety of the people, and purity of the home.” In consideration of the above, “We” must take act prudently on various matters, including: presidential incapacitation, U.S. reserve currency challenge, genocide and more war, statewide library and water use restrictions, grocery tax repeal or modification, accountable education funding, and lastly a November election and its aftermath. Fortunately, “We” in North Idaho understand and value our common interests of morality, independence, liberty and that freedoms need not be negatively impacted by an overreaching and untrustworthy government and its representatives. Learn more at roseforidaho.com. Dan Rose Samuels