Opinion
Montana farmers and ranchers across this state have been waiting far too long for their elected representatives to secure their right to repair their own agricultural equipment. When a combine breaks down in the field during harvest season, a farmer needs to get it up and running as quickly as possible to avoid wasting precious time and losing money. But as the ag equipment industry has consolidated – and as equipment has grown more technologically complex – farmers and independent repair shops are increasingly blocked from making repairs to machines. Even when folks in the field are able to diagnose what’s wrong with their equipment, the big equipment manufacturers are...
Editor, The United States is leaving a 20-year debacle in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is very poor; has ISIS-K and al Qaeda to deal with; needs outside help; has a questionable future; is filled with very fear-filled, desperate people. The massive madness witnessed at the airport is a perfect demonstra...
Editor, When many opinions swirl about COVID-19 infections, looking at numbers helps me reach conclusions. Montana has a large rural population, no huge cities, and you’d expect that the relatively dispersed population would mean reduced infection transmission. Montana is the fourth largest st...
The ACLU of Montana is profoundly disturbed by the recent reports in Canada of unmarked mass gravesites at currently six of the 139 Indian boarding schools. Over 1,300 children and innumerable future generations were taken by the racist, genocidal settler-colonial project of Canada. Moreover, the Indigenous ...
Editor, Those of us old enough to remember the shout from the top of the mountain in the 70s, 80s and on: “The federal government does not have the right to tell a woman what to do with her body.” Where are the people who were shouting now? Many are now telling us what to do with our bod...
Editor, I read with interest and dismay articles in the recent (July 28 and Aug. 4) Valley Journal concerning the ongoing conflict between Lake County Commissioners and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes regarding the irrigation project and related issues. From what I can tell, the conflict is ...
The August 4th Valley Journal published an article related to the collection of irrigation fees by the Lake County Treasurer’s Office. For decades the treasurer has collected those fees and distributed them to the districts upon demand. The Lake County Commissioners are considering ending this service ...
I have a question for you: When was the last time you sat down and watched a movie? The last time you watched an episode of a show? I don’t know about you, but the frequency I indulge in one is very different from the other. More broadly, I have noticed a similar trend amongst my peers with an overwhel...
Editor, I’m writing this letter to let Walmart in Polson know that what they did by opening their store at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1, to the many residents who had evacuate their homes and property due to the Boulder 2700 fire up on Finley Point was awesome. Donating stuff to the evacuated peop...
Editor, As we approach the beginning of a new school year, many school districts in Montana are ignoring the recommendations of their local public health departments and local physicians regarding a mask mandate. I strongly believe that public schools should follow public health guidance. M...
