Term limits are for a reason

Power is addictive! So much so that the longer a person stays in a position where they can exert power over others, the stronger the addiction gets. Jim Elliott has been in such a position for a decade and a half and from a Jan. 17 newspaper article, it sounds like he's beginning to like that power too much.

The people in this state passed a law limiting the number of terms served by an individual so we wouldn't have to put up with entrenched politicians that have learned how to play the system. What has he actually done for this district anyway? Since he has been in office, the standard of living has dropped considerably until now the government is Sanders County's largest employer. It used to be private industry, and the area actually had a diverse middle class, made up of small business owners, car dealers, working ranches, forest and mill workers, contractors, etc. most making a decent living for their families. Now it seems Elliott has chosen to push aside the natives who made this one of the last best places, just to represent a select few, those in the environmental movement.

He said he'd like to see more forest restoration completed. What's that, except closing more roads to ensure timber sales are blocked, and to lock a larger portion of the population out of hunting and fishing areas? That means mostly the elderly and disabled. I hunt from a wheelchair and can't get to a fourth of the places I could 15 years ago. I guess I could do like one person, the owner of a hostel and greasy spoon on the west end suggested, hunt elk from the highway in September.

He talks about the cost of fighting wildfires. That's one cost that could go up dramatically, since the environmental groups have sued to stop fire retardant drops until an environmental assessment has been done.

U.S District Judge Don Molloy has threatened to hold the Forest Service in contempt over the issue.

So where's the money going to come from? Will it come from salvaging burned "brush," that's to say small trees with butts under 20 inches, from areas like Chippy Creek?

No more roads will require using helicopters to remove it, and trucks hauling round-trip up to 300 or more miles, loads to be processed.

Now there's an energy policy for you — close down generating plants that emit gases, but use plenty of diesel to haul "brush" out of the woods!

Years ago, after finishing four terms in the State House, Elliott wrote in a column something to the effect that he was taking a break from the political arena because he was beginning to enjoy the power. He's there again. After being in office too long, politicians begin to think they can rule rather than represent.

John Gallaher

Thompson Falls