Letter to the Editor: Circus revisited

A recent issue of the Valley Press had an interesting letter by Carl Haywood: Circus back in Town. As a self-appointed circus Ringmaster, Haywood held forth on some things he obviously knows nothing about. While he did rightfully challenge one of two candidates for office for lack of knowledge of the Democratic Party platform, he neglected to note that many of the party faithful share that same lack.

I recall hearing from one such Democrat that she is a democrat and so was her daddy. “So then, you believe in abortion and same sex marriage?”

“No, I do not!”

“Well the Democrats do.”

“You can’t say that about them!”

“I don’t have to because they say it for themselves on their platform.”

Haywood claims that the Founders saw no party lines as black and white. He is partly right because at that time, there were no parties in America, like they had in jolly old England. Washington, in his farewell address, warned about forming political Factions (parties) because instead of taking care of the country’s business, they would spend their time pointing to each other’s faults. He was right on, that is exactly what we suffer today.

Haywood faults the “right wing” Tea Party Patriots and Militia of Montana (never known for destroying anything of value) for destroying the opportunity for the voters “to work together when threats to freedom and liberty are at risk.” Why would any of the voters, regardless of party affiliation, care when threats are at risk? Now, if either ‘freedom’ or ‘liberty’ [sic] were at risk, all bets are off (providing one’s own party is not the one placing them at risk, to wit: the ‘Affordable Care Act’ and gun control bills, etc.).

The Ringmaster concluded with an attack on Mark French for having shared his desire to find a replacement for the Justice of the Peace and then filed for that office in the coming election. Only someone who had never attempted to persuade a qualified and worthy candidate for public office could not possibly understand why Mark decided to step up as a candidate. There are many people among us who for their suitability, would be asked to serve, but few who are willing for reasons of their own, whether for lack of time or interest, and to say nothing of the economic impact on their personal affairs.

Welcome to real world of politics Mr. Ringmaster.

Sincerely,

Dick Wells,

Thompson Falls