Letters to the editor Dec. 4

Election administrator

The creation of a new nonpartisan election administrator for Flathead County will need some thoughtful decisions. 

The definition, job description and duties of this position will touch every registered voter now and in the future. It will require a review of past, present and future requirements for a truly transparent and equal process for our voting citizens.

Years ago, I worked at election polls and for years I have voted on mail-in ballots. I believe each system is secure and provides equal access to our democratic process. The mail-in ballots allow me to study the candidates and issues as they appear on the ballot, and I have no need to stand in line on Election Day.

The potential of increased public scrutiny and the necessity of publication and explanation of new laws — the job ahead has to be done with absolute correctness. This must be acceptable by all registered voters, no cutting corners to save money.

Nonpartisan or bipartisan, how will that be done? We all know that this county is heavily populated with one political party. How will this position be created and accepted if the entire process is done with only one party represented?

— Jo Lynn Yenne, Kalispell

A free country

I took a class at the college this past season, a class taught by Bruce Guthrie. Excellent class, filled with copies of speeches and other writings by many out of the time we have all studied. He had one that stuck with me, words by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1861:

“All this is not the result of accident. It has a philosophical cause. Without the Constitution and the Union, we could not have attained the result, but even these are not the primary cause of our great prosperity. There is something back of these, entwining itself more closely about the human heart. That something is the principle that clears the path for all — gives hope to all — and, by consequence, enterprise and industry to all.”

The expression of that principle, in our Declaration of Independence, was most happy and fortunate. Without this, as well as with, we could have declared our independence of Great Britain; but without it, we could not have secured our free government and consequent prosperity. No oppressed people will fight and endure, as our fathers did, without the promise of something better than a mere change of masters.

The assertion of that principle, at that time, was the word “fitly spoken.”

Now, I have watched the program, produced on NPR and shown every night this week, speaking so incredibly well how our fathers fought to make us a free country. Watch it. Now is the time to make us free once again.

— Daniel King, Bigfork