Editor:

Twenty days from today, you and I will have a chance to practice a gift of democracy.

Voting is not a privilege to be taken lightly. I recently had a talk with my very tuned-in 91-year-old dad, who is quite irate at some of the claims being made by those running for office who say they represent a large number of Montana residents. 

Dad told me of the many businesses started in the state with practically all taxes waived for the honor of starting a business, reaping the profits and then going away when it was time to pay taxes.

Many of our jobs have been sent overseas so the large corporations can pay very few wages and of course, no taxes so they may perpetuate the huge outcry of too much government regulation (e.g. not starving your labor force, building buildings that won’t fall down when an earthquake comes to cause chaos as in Haiti), and taxes to provide roads, education, police and fire protection, public health, clean drinking water, and mail service to name just a few of the things I am proud to have a government involved in.

     Dad remembers when it was an honor to pay taxes because it meant you were successful to some degree and felt obliged to contribute back to a strong nation.

Those were the days when the ugliness was not foremost and honest people worked for compromise.

Before people would send out a flyer like I received the other day actually accusing one Dana Sapp Seidel of things completely untrue (how do you know what she thinks, you obviously haven’t listened to her or her supporters.)

I have some different interpretations of some phases of Christianity than a certain pastor, but I do respect him as a pastor of a Christian church, I think the prying the gun from my fingers is a far cry from what most Christians would use, and I think it somehow doesn’t belong in an advertisement for a Christian. 

That is of course my opinion, and I can’t say what most Montana residents think. I grew up on a farm and ranch where we might have starved without hunting, and I support gun rights. But if you have heard the less-than-civil phone solicitations from the NRA, I’m not sure it is something I want to be linked with. 

My plea to you then is to vote — please vote — for Dana Sapp Seidel who thinks it is an honor to serve and will request your input when she is your representative. She isn’t for telling you what you think but asking!  And then be civil. The winner must represent Montana residents and not just the too many taxes, too much government rhetoric!  

Karen S. Sloan

Havre