By Skip Kowalski, Stevensville
I am responding to Dee Gibney’s September 2nd op-ed titled: “Response to ‘political parties’.” I am a Democrat and appalled that anyone would label all Democrats socialists, communists, murderers, thieves and fundamentally evil.
Democrats are a highly diverse group and Will Rogers described it best when he declared, “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat”. Montana Democrats are no exception and it is rare that anyone’s priorities are perfectly aligned with the party. It is up to each one of us to decide what party, if any, best represents our personal values and priorities.
Diversity and tension within and between parties are good things. It’s when bias, ignorance and disrespect replace constructive criticism that the benefits of diverse views fall apart and stubborn ideology replaces common sense.
Sadly, Ms. Gibney’s op-ed paints all Democrats as inherently bad. Does she mean that, despite believing in entrepreneurship and free enterprise, I must really be a socialist because I think some regulation is necessary to help hold businesses accountable for any pollution and environmental degradation caused by their actions? Am I a communist because I believe in private property rights, but am grateful to those who set aside some of our public domain to be managed by federal agencies for the use and enjoyment of future generations? Am I a gun-owning hypocrite because I think background checks may be a small price to pay for one less school shooting? Lastly, am I evil just because I am a Democrat?
Ms. Gibney’s use of hot button words serves no useful purpose and promoting unfounded partisan claims does nothing to resolve the complex problems facing Montanans. This is not the first time that she has made outlandish allegations against Democrats, but, for me, it is one time too many. Hopefully, she will soften her rhetoric in the future. If we are to make progress, we need to mend fences, work together and end the polarity and divisiveness.
I am grateful to know that all Republicans do not share the views expressed in the op-ed. In the final analysis, it’s the person and not the party that is most important anyway.