Dear Editor,

As a former long-time resident of Sanders County, I recently subscribed to the Ledger to see what was going on in my hometown of Thompson Falls. Frankly, I have been disheartened to see that the Sanders County I once knew is not quite the same as it used to be.  Although there have been several pieces published by the Ledger that stir me to the quick, the recent article regarding the tobacco use ban at several recreational areas has prompted this letter. 

The rule of law in this country is intended to apply equally to everyone.  However, in this case, a minority population (the tobacco user) is being discriminated against by the majority.  This is not anything new.  It is happening all over the country.  Apparently, we have lost our understanding of individual liberty.  In its place, we have substituted democracy, a form of government despised by our founding fathers.  And in this specific situation, we have a group of people in elected, or unelected, positions who feel that their opinion is important enough to dictate arbitrary law and rules and regulations for everyone else to observe.  I guess they feel safe, as long as they believe their position is politically correct and will not upset anyone worthy of their respect.  Now consider if the rule of law were to be actually applied to this situation.   The end result would simply be a ban on littering, in any form, and a general expectation of respect for others.  This would apply equally to all people. 

This is the sad state of our country.  People of Sanders County, we are not a democracy, in spite of the fact that the word is fancied about like it was the be all and end all.  Abuse of individual liberty by the majority is not something to embrace because it is politically correct.  It something to fear, because it never stops until we are all burdened by those who rule over us.   What might be the next step for the Sanders County Park Board or other deep state actors?  I would suspect anything they feel a need to control.  We are a representative republic and the purpose of our form of government is to defend individual liberty and restrain undue oppression of those who happen to be in the minority.

When I subscribed to the Ledger, I did not expect to see how entrenched the politically correct movement has become in my hometown.   I am truly disappointed.  I expected more.  By the way, I for one appreciate Blaine Blackstone’s letters.   I see a lot of common sense in his articles and he is not deserving of some of the personal attacks he has received.  We all have opinions and they should be respected.  

Bruce Hietala,

Belgrade, Montana