Letters to the Editor

RISCH: Will he oppose tariffs?

Now that the Supreme Court has ruled Trump's tariffs unconstitutional, where will you stand, Senator Risch, when Trump's tariff proposals come before the Senate?  Will you risk Trump's wrath, or will you stand up for Idaho farmers?

DENNIS CHILBERG
Kendrick

TRUMP: Tale of two opposites

When I was nine years old, I learned to appreciate Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I remember my dad glued to the radio his "Fireside Chats." FDR, as he was termed, discussed the state of the nation, his feelings and understandings, his hopes for the country. At that time, most people appreciated the good things like, Grand Coulee Dam, Social Security, Civilian Conservation Corps, WPA and PWA work projects. Forest Service Blister Rust Eradication, many things for the good of the country's economy in an unprecedented depression. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor were blatantly in love with this country and its citizens. They made it obvious.

Compare that with today. Donald Trump is blatantly in love with himself. His followers want to build monuments and tributes to him. He's added his name to the Kennedy Center. His followers want to build an arch, to add him to the Black Hills of South Dakota. They have ideas to put him alongside the greats like Lincoln, Washington, two Roosevelts. To me, it's sacrilege. I remember as a boy a president interested in the People. Now I see a president interested in himself. 

RON BOOTHE
Kingston

MARIJUANA: Don't legalize it, Idaho

I’m strongly opposed to legalizing “medical” marijuana. I care deeply about those with serious health problems. I simply do not believe that legalizing a crude street drug is the right way to help them. 

Voters should read the actual language of the petition now being circulated. It is very different from the way it’s being described by its sponsors and the people gathering signatures. If this initiative passes, state agencies would be required to create and oversee both the manufacturing and sale of marijuana, with up to 16 dispensaries operating across Idaho. In addition, marijuana could be purchased online and delivered in person. That amounts to a statewide, on-demand marijuana marketplace. 

The initiative also allows virtually anyone to obtain a “medical” marijuana card. The list of “substantial health conditions” is so broad that it includes common issues such as anxiety and insomnia. This proposal would not require any medical recommendation from a doctor to use marijuana. 

In other states, broadly written laws and the normalization that followed have effectively created recreational use under the banner of medicine.  Talk to people who have moved here from those states. Many will tell you what they’ve seen and why they came to this beautiful place. Idaho should not follow the path of Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and California, where expanded drug use has coincided with increased crime, reduced public safety, and greater youth access. 

Again, don’t rely on slogans or campaign talking points. Read the initiative carefully. Then look across the border and decide whether life is better with marijuana available everywhere. This proposal is recreational drug use disguised as medicine. For a better Idaho, do not sign this petition.

MICHAEL ACKLEY
Hayden

DEMS: Report from Democracy Dinner

We The People gathered at the Coeur d' Alene Inn tonight to be inspired by our local leaders, Sara Martin and Evan Koch.  Also, Kayee Peterson was the first guest speaker. She is running for Russ Fulcher's seat in Congress — she's a fifth generation Idahoan who is very respectful and has firsthand knowledge of Idaho citizens' needs because of her travels to every county in the state. 

Terri Pickens, candidate for governor, gave us a sample of her patriotism and knowledge of current events and problems that our present governor and legislature have put this great state into. She emphasized how "We the People" can take back our state from the current administration — which has taken away fundamental women's rights, put our public schools and rural health care in jeopardy by giving tax cuts that over the last five years have reduced revenue by $4 billion and have created our state's first deficit of $58.3 million (and the future looks worse because there are more cuts coming to the state from the Big Beautiful Bill). 

Last up was Dr. David Adler, a renowned historian, lecturer, professor who has given over 700 lectures worldwide. He began his talk with an inspirational talk about Abraham Lincoln's 1838 address to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield Illinois. (A speech that would ring clear in today's world.)  Dr. Adler concluded that our Constitution and the Republic are in jeopardy now and the people must protect the vote and our free press to save our country. 

All in all, the dinner was good and patriotism was fueled.

GORDON SANDERS
Coeur d'Alene

COURT: Trump and Biden disappoint

I was very disappointed with Biden when he aggressively disparaged the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v Wade. I was concerned that any responsible leader attacking a foundation of our democracy and the critical system checks and balances would encourage others to hold our Institutions in diminished regard.

Trump’s attack on the Supreme Court and its members went farther than Biden by more aggressively attempting to diminish his followers' respect for our national rule of law and somehow further empower himself through his attacks on the Supreme Court, its decision, and its members. 

Trump joined Biden in not directing his followers to look to the system that provides relief for many who lose in the Court; but rather made it a personal loss and continued his subtle attempt to establish a foundation for his supporters to look past constitutional and legal remedies. 

Trump sees the overturning of the “Trump” tariffs as a personal affront against Trump, as disloyal to Trump and not the illegal actions that the tariffs were found to be. 

Both decisions share one thing in common: principled jurists made a decision loyal to their oath and the Constitution. The verbal attacks on the court and the judge’s decision reveals what is in the heart of the attacker, and that revelation is why we should be so concerned about the Trump presidency.

JIM MANNING
Hayden

IMMIGRATION: Blame Biden

I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around protests and violence against ICE in Minnesota and other sanctuary states. Why are illegals even here?! Because on Biden’s first day in office he told the world that our borders were wide open. Come one, Come all! Up to 20 million came. For four years we were the melting pot for many bad actors in the world, unvetted and welcomed with free credit cards, four-star hotels and priority access to every social program in America. 

And get this! Biden’s henchmen (women) continued to tell the American public that the border was closed — and not one democrat disagreed. As usual, they were in lockstep. Seventy-seven million people voted to close our borders and send illegals back home. But there’s a slight glitch — democrats want illegals to assimilate into America. Why?! Because without illegals voting and illegal voting, the whole world knows that democrats could never again win an election! 

Now, the democrats and fake news are doing their darndest to make ICE the bad guys and make the illegals the good guys — and it is working — well kinda. There are still 77 million voting Americans who want the 20 million illegals gone — every last one. 

Democrats are alwayts on the wrong side of policy that makes common sense. But on second thought, “just maybe” the Biden presidency was the most productive in our history — 20 million illegal potential democrat voters and no way to get them gone. They will soon be 60 million and up. Maybe Joe was not as sleepy and demented as we thought — “just maybe” he was pretending to be asleep! Goodbye America?

MARVIN GEORGE MILLER
Coeur d'Alene