Letters to the editor

Brenneman understands big picture

There are alot of discussions right now about state and national political contests. The truth is that the race that will have the most immediate impact on our day to day lives is right here in the Flathead. Joe Brenneman is running for county commissioner. Joe is a 4th generation farmer and firefighter. He sits on a variety of agricultural and business boards but most importantly he is a consensus builder. He understands the challenges that the Flathead is facing and believes that we are all county citizens whether we live in Bigfork, Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, or the country.

It is rumored that Joe's challenger would like to bring Dale Williams on as county administrator if she wins the post. She fought hard to get Dale reelected in 2002. Now the favor is being reversed. Previously with Dale, the city/county cooperative planning office of Kalispell was dismantled. Recently, after asking the city of Whitefish if they wanted to increase their zoning jurisdiction -although a larger planning area was lost - two of the current commissioners simply pulled the plan off the table after Whitefish finally agreed. I want to see the county get out of the dark ages of territorial wars. We need a commission that won't make residents feel like we're playing football with Lucy from the Peanuts comic strip.

A recent think tank hosted by county-wide Chambers of Commerce overwhelmingly listed a need for elected officials who can bring a cooperative spirit to issues we face. Someone who can work on the big picture of planning, traffic, and health and protective services. That person is Joe Brenneman.

Karen Reeves, Whitefish

Beck's insurance

incentives are sound

According to insurance industry statistics, health insurance premiums rose almost 500% faster than wages in 2002. As we approach the 2004 elections, there is going to be much discussion on the perceived health care crisis. Montanans must look deeper to find the real reasons why health care costs are spiraling out of control.

The health care dilemma in our state is a result of poor economic policy. Currently, there are incentives in place to charge more and more from the people who pay the most and take the least. There is currently little incentive for the abusers of our health care system to modify their behavior. As I am often found of saying: "People do things because they can."

In Montana, people who don,t take responsibility for their own health still have access to health care. If they have insurance, the cost of their preventable care is covered by the premiums paid by the others in the insurance pool. If they don,t have health insurance, doctors and hospitals charge insured patients more than is necessary to cover their losses. Insurance companies are more than comfortable with this arrangement because they just pass on their losses to their policyholders. As users of health insurance submit claims, the insurance companies raise premiums to insure their financial success. There are currently no incentives for health insurance companies to be advocates for the responsible, insured policyholder.

Bill Beck understands that the solution to the rising cost of health care in Montana is changing the incentives. If elected, Bill will fight to ensure there are incentives in place for Montanans to own health insurance and to be responsible for living healthy lifestyles. He will also work with churches and other local humanitarian organizations to ensure that all Montanans, regardless of income, are equipped with the skills and access necessary for healthy living.

For too long politicians have favored a health care system that takes from the responsible and gives to the irresponsible. Bill Beck will bring common sense ideas to Helena that will reverse this trend. I urge you to vote for Bill Beck.

Joe Coco, Whitefish

"Fire Next Time"

demonized Stokes

I was appalled at the biased presentation in the PBS film "The Fire Next Time" public screening at the Liberty Theater in Kalispell.

The number one message in the film was obviously to demonize John Stokes, owner of KGEZ radio, his talk show, and his supportors because that portrayal got more time than anything else in the movie.

Secondly, professional preservation activists such as Keith Hammer and Caesar Hernandez were presented as reasonable people trying to reach reasonable solutions to natural resource issues. Nothing could be further from the truth, as anyone knowledgeable about these issues in the Flathead for the past 20 years knows. There is not a shred of evidence anywhere in Keith Hammer's record that I know of to back up his own portrayal of himself (and as adopted by the movie) as a person interested in reaching reasonable solutions.

The movie made no disclosure of the fact that Keith Hammer's history of non-stop appeals and litigation supported by out of state foundation money has been a primary cause of the unacceptable condition of our National Forest. His actions have been a major cause of adverse effects on our local economy and quality of life we have experienced in the Flathead. Anyone who has enjoyed the multiple use benefits of the Flathead National Forest in past is frustrated and understandably angry about the current situation.

It is very naive for the filmmakers to suggest that if only local people will "collaborate" the problems on Federal Forests can be solved. What can and must be done for everyone who is frustrated with the current National Forest situation is to demand change in Federal Laws (such as the Equal Access to Justice Act and Endangered Species Act) which permit Keith Hammer and his cohorts to abuse those laws through litigation and impose their will over professional resource managers and general public desires.

The film portrayed the professional activists and their supporters as victims of hate rather than the cause of anger that has resulted from their actions. I believe the film unfairly portrays hate as a pervasive part of life in the Flathead that is simply not true. The despicable acts of a few individuals can and do happen in most any community, but I believe these individual acts are less frequent here than other places. This film and others that the "Working Group" has produced appear to market hate as their commodity. I was hoping this production was going to be more fair and balanced regarding the fire issue as the producer tried to market it prior to the release. I was disappointed.

"The Fire Next Time "is a finely honed propaganda film that is a product of The Working Group sponsor's hate for John Stokes and KGEZ radio.

Fred Hodgeboom, Bigfork