by Donald Gardner, Corvallis
Many Montanans, like people across the country, have a tough time making ends meet and paying bills for essential needs. The Republican party has the political power in our state and nationally. What are these folks with Rs behind their names doing with their power and what are they doing to help the voters who gave them power? Policing the hall bathrooms? Is that helping you find affordable childcare? Slapping tariffs on our friendly neighbors, Canada and Mexico? How is that working out for Montana farmers and ranchers trying to make a living selling their products on the global market? How is that helping shoppers afford produce at the grocery store or buy a car or truck built with steel and parts from those countries? Or how does it help a contractor find affordable lumber to build needed housing? Making sure the almost nonexistent transgender boy isn’t playing on a girls’ sports team? How is that helping you find affordable health care?
Keep in mind that Republican representative, Ryan Zinke, voted for over $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid while the Republican U.S. Congress looks for a way to allocate $4.5 trillion to extend tax breaks for the wealthy. Representative Zinke is more interested in reminding anybody within earshot that he was a Navy Seal and making sure any camera within a half mile captures him wearing his cowboy hat than he is in helping Montanans in need.
The Republicans in power aren’t interested in governing and finding ways to help the voters who continue to put them in power. Culture wars and chaos aren’t helping Montanans trying to find affordable childcare, food, housing and healthcare. These are the issues that are important to families and the issues the Democratic party has always fought for. But these issues keep getting put on the shelf so that those currently in power can showboat and “own the libs.”
Bill Cavanaugh says
First off… Social Security (Nor Medicare/aid) has not and will not be effected, so you can shut that 50 year ongoing nauseating lie down. Where were you and Mary Fahnestock Thomas crying about a government shut down by republicans that will stop those programs? Oh that’s Right, the Democrats (not the Republicans) were threatening a shutdown 2 weeks ago, so that was “For the good of the nation”….. Got it. The operative in Your Food Bank bologna is “POSSIBLE” but somehow democrats always lean towards Armageddon. Gas was under $2 when Biden took office, but you cherry pick the low point which by the way, took shape because of the election results, not that morbid old man in the oval office at the end of 2024. How about when gas was $4.70 under Biden? Egg Prices were the big talking point of the Democrats 10 days into Trump’s tenure but it backfired miserably becasue they have dropped 45% on average across the U.S. Turn the Channel, Mr Borden, the fear and propaganda isn’t good for your health.
Rick Borden says
It’s obvious that you and I will not find much, if any, common ground in our views of politics. So how about we try to find something we can agree on and perhaps work together to make life better for those around us? My suggestion is persuading local and state politicians to limit not only the amount of money that can be spent on endless political campaigns and the ridiculous amount of money that goes toward ads, but also place a time limit on the length of the campaigns. And for those corporations and dark money operatives, how about a stipulation that they have to contribute a matching amount of their donation, each and every time, to a non-profit? I’m sure you would agree that fire departments, libraries, food banks, shelters for abused adults/children, homeless etc., would be thrilled to receive some of those obscene millions that pay for the television, radio, and mail box stuffers we all have to suffer through every two years or more. Shall we start with our Bitterroot legislators? We can split them up and you get to pick which ones you want to contact. Or maybe you have a better plan.
Linda R Roszkiewicz says
Unfortunately Rick I don’t think Mr. Cavanaugh cares anything about people or children who are food insecure. From the looks of many of his comments on these pages I would say he has ice water running in his veins.
Bill Cavanaugh says
Such Crap. Medicaid is not in peril, nor is social security. This argument is as old a Joe Biden. Eggs are down, gas is down, border crossings are down. maybe you need to zip it.
Rick Borden says
Mr. Cavanaugh, correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the price of gas in the $2.70/ gallon range late fall, early winter? Do you have actual numbers on the price of eggs? How much have they come down? Bird flu has had a negative impact on eggs which will likely continue due to the overall reduction in the number of chickens in an attempt to control the bird flu outbreak. Until chicken flocks recover prices are going to fluctuate and this will definitely take time. So please don’t think they will be back to affordable soon. I agree that news reports seem to indicate border crossings are down, but how about the legality of some of the deportations?
Not sure if you are social security age yet, but sounds as though you would be willing to follow the thinking of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, when he stated his 94 year old mother-in-law would not be concerned if one of her monthly SS checks was delayed or held over until the following month. Do you have a billionaire parent or in-law who can help tide you over? He also stated anyone who would “raise hell” must be a fraudster. I do collect a monthly SS check, and fortunately I would be able to survive a missed check, but consider me a fraudster because I would “raise hell”..
And I hope you are not dependent on Medicaid, but there are many folks and children who are. Yes, I’m sure some of them bend the rules to qualify, but the overwhelming majority do not.
What do you think about the possible freezing of federal programs that help support the Montana Food Bank network?