(LETTERS) Convenient politics and careful voting
Oil City News publishes letters, cartoons and opinions as a public service. The content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Oil City News or its employees. Letters to the editor can be submitted by. . .
Oil City News publishes letters, cartoons and opinions as a public service. The content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Oil City News or its employees. Letters to the editor can be submitted by following thelink at our opinion section. Politicians who check which way the wind blowsDear Casper,Politicians are very good at checking which way the wind blows and changing their political philosophy to say what they think people will like to hear. One such local politician is Lisa Engebretsen. When she was on Casper City Council, she was a big spending liberal. As a current candidate for state Senate, she now claims to be “…proudly pro-life, pro-2nd amendment, pro-business…” She now claims to be a limited-government conservative. I bet her political consultants told her that, in Natrona County, she has to say that she is pro-life. Let’s not be fooled. On council, she did not support our resolution signed by more than 300 Natrona County citizens asking the council to condemn the establishment of an out-of-state abortion business that came to Casper to kill our children. As recorded during a council session and reported in the press, she even equated our Casper citizens from faith communities to hate groups for praying for an end to the brutal murder of pre-born human babies and she spoke about creating a “buffer zone” around the abortion business on our public sidewalks in violation of our First Amendment rights. She has never joined with us in prayer to end this evil in our community and she has never testified in support of pro-life legislation or laws protection women’s health and safety and their rights to informed consent related to abortion. At all the numerous hearings I have attended, she has never appeared before any legislative committee to present support for conservative, limited-government legislation. She never testified in support of banning dangerous gun-free zones, residential property tax reform, or protecting women and girls’ sports and protecting their private spaces. Do we really think that now she will suddenly be a conservative upholding our Wyoming values and our God-given rights? I think not. The true conservative in our Senate District 29 contest is Bob Ide, who not only courageously stands up for our values, but is an outspoken advocate and participant. Judge candidates by what they do, not what they say when convenient in their attempt to get elected. Ross SchriftmanCasperLook past party loyalty to the person you’re voting forDear Casper,As I contemplate my mother’s impending passing, I find myself reflecting not only on the life she lived, but on the values she instilled in me and demonstrated throughout her life. My mother believed every person deserved dignity, opportunity and acceptance. As a school administrator, she understood the lasting impact educators have on students and valued not only professional qualifications, but also character, compassion, and the unique experiences people bring to a community. She believed diversity strengthened society rather than weakened it. I was raised in a home where prejudice was not tolerated and where people were welcomed for who they were and who they might become. My mother’s closest friendships crossed racial, cultural, economic, and national boundaries. Those friendships endured because they were built on mutual respect, shared humanity, and genuine affection. As her life draws to a close, I cannot separate my grief from my concern about the direction of our country. I am troubled by actions and rhetoric from President Donald Trump, Rep. Harriet Hageman, and others that, in my view, deepen division, diminish respect for others, and place political loyalty above compassion, constitutional principles and basic decency. My mother taught me that silence in the face of mistreatment is not neutrality. She believed that people should be judged by their character, that those who help others deserve recognition and that everyone deserves a fair opportunity. I ask others to evaluate public officials not through party loyalty, but through the enduring values of truth, fairness, dignity, constitutional government, and concern for others. Hold every leader accountable and make political choices consistent with your deepest principles. My mother’s legacy will not be measured by wealth or influence, but by the lives she touched, the opportunities she created, and the kindness she shared. As I prepare to lose her, I intend to honor that legacy by refusing to accept cruelty, prejudice, dishonesty, or the misuse of power as normal or inevitable. The goal should not be to make one place great, but to make the world better for everyone. Jim YatesCheyenne