Letters to the Editor, Missoula News

New questions

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

It is really alarming to me that the focus of the recent mass shootings has been on gun control instead of the broader and more relevant subject of “What the hell is wrong with people?” And I don’t mean the people pulling the triggers. I mean the people arguing about what to do and holding everyone and everything, including inanimate objects, responsible while not removing the beams from their own eyes.…

Hardly legendary

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

I must take exception to Gabriel Furshong’s stunt to paint Montana Sen. Max Baucus as an unrelenting conservationist (see “Lasting impression,” May 2). It might be true that Baucus used some back door sway to protect Montana’s wild areas, such as his creation of the Montana Legacy Project.…

Appalling testimony

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

This letter responds to Alex Sakariassen’s article about the physician who admitted during a legislative hearing to assisting three suicides (see “Cowardice to courage,” April 11). I was at that hearing and I was appalled with the doctor’s testimony and his goal to legalize assisted suicide.…

Circus act

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:29:00 -0600

"Those PETA people come out every year and beat up on us. But they don't seem to make any difference.…

Know your food

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:28:00 -0600

Restaurants: Congratulations on the mini-boom of new eateries. I hope you all enjoy a long and successful run in this city of hungry, adventurous souls.…

Not rolling with it

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:27:00 -0600

To start, I did enjoy your recent article about new Missoula restaurants (see "All you can eat," May 4). In fact, your article inspired me to try some new places.…

Oregon’s mistake

Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

I was disturbed by Alex Sakariassen’s article about the Montana doctor who claims to have assisted three patient suicides, euphemistically termed “aid in dying” (see “Cowardice to courage,” April 11). I am a cancer doctor with more than 40 years experience in Oregon, where physician-assisted suicide is legal.…

Ensure safety

Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

I take great umbrage at the characterization of the doctor from Missoula as “courageous” for opening the door to overt assisted suicide and euthanasia (“aid in dying”) in our great state. I am the widow of a respected Great Falls surgeon, James E. Mungas.…

It’s not legal

Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

I am the President of Montanans Against Assisted Suicide. I disagree with the quote of Emily Bentley that assisted suicide is legal under the Montana Supreme Court case, Baxter v. Montana.…

Unlikely reader

Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Seeing as how Duane Ankney has a lesbian daughter and progressives shunned gays how does he get the label “unlikely”? (see “Unlikely ally,” April 18) He was never quoted as thinking that way.…

Two problems

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

I am a general medical practitioner with 30 years experience. I work in Emergency Medicine and with nursing home residents and incarcerated persons.…

Opinion wanted

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Much hubbub has been made recently in the press about the Public Service Commission’s decision to consider repealing what has come to be called the “PSC Executive Pay Rule” (see “Salary secrets,” April 11). Much of the commentary has been misleading, even downright inaccurate.…

Gunned down

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Sen. Max Baucus responded to a constituent’s concern about gun violence as follows: “I oppose the assault weapons ban, and I will oppose any effort that would negatively affect our Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms.”

When a society suffers a seemingly unending series of gun related mass murders—62 since August 1982—and when those mass murders include innocent men, women and children—Texas District Attorney Mike McLelland, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and 20 Sandy Hook Elementary School students—it would seem inconceivable that anyone would stand in the way of taking steps to control this senseless killing.

It is interesting to note that a Wikipedia list of countries by firearm-related deaths ranks the U.S. at 57 out of 75 countries and dependencies.…

Maclay matters to all

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Many Missoula residents wonder how the Maclay Bridge controversy matters to them. If they don’t live in the Target Range, Blue Mountain or Big Flat areas or haven’t attended any of the 2012-13 public meetings, it seems irrelevant.…

Coal’s curse

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

I have just read Rep. Jonathan McNiven’s editorial in the Missoula Independent regarding the benefits of coal extraction and export to Asian markets (see “Coal is key,” in Letters, April 11). I am in utter disbelief of his globally selfish point of view.…

Veto SB 125

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

The Montana Legislature is continuing its naive campaign to undermine the development of new renewable energy resources in Montana. Montana’s Renewable Portfolio Standard has been the standard bearer over the last eight years that has compelled renewable energy development from a mere 2 megawatts before 2005 to over 600 megawatts today.…

No need for coal

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Recently in the news was this fact: In 2010, 1.2 million people died in China from air pollution alone. The question is: Could that happen here in this country?…

Coal is the key

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

As the coal debate heats up on the West Coast, our state is left hoping and waiting for the approval of five proposed coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest. Our state economy is closely connected with the coal industry—keenly feeling the ups and downs of this industry.…

Fix SB 375

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

We agree that elections should be about candidates, ideas and voters. And we agree that the amount and sources of money funding elections should be visible to all, not hidden or “dark” without disclosure or identification.…

Higher standards

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Anyone concerned with increased train traffic, expanded West Coast ports or the industrialization of eastern Montana should cross their fingers and hope that the Department of Environmental Quality decides not to permit the mining of Otter Creek coal.

The Otter Creek mine is the largest proposed coal mine in the lower 48 states.…

Reconsider SB 295

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0600

It’s disappointing that the legislature tabled Senate Bill 295, the bill to repeal the oil and gas tax holiday. Had it passed, the bill would have provided millions in new revenue to communities in eastern Montana that are facing major infrastructure expenses due to the oil boom.…

Healthy choice

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:45:00 -0600

As the daughter of an engineer at a coal-fired power plant, I've lived most of my life near coal plants and was glad I could attend a lecture last week by Dr. Alan Lockwood, author of the book The Silent Epidemic: Coal and the Hidden Threat to Health.

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Letter vs. letter

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:45:00 -0600

I was upset in reading the letter to the editor concerning House Bill 505 (see "Yes on HB 505" in Letters, March 21). In calling the bill, "the assisted suicide bill," it totally changes the connotation.…

Analyzing the analysis

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:44:00 -0600

A March 14 piece regarding Dr. Alan Lockwood's book tour repeats incorrect information Lockwood uses to buttress his claims (see "Black cloud" in Letters). Clearly, a clarification is needed.…

Under attack

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 04:00:00 -0600

Your wildlife refuge is under attack from a Wyoming developer. A development with 639 residential units and 20 commercial units will be placed within 100 feet of the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge in Stevensville if the Wyoming developer sways our public servants.…