Two thumbs up to the Boulder Monitor for educating me to Jefferson County residents’ abundance of “can do” attitude.
Though I am puzzled by the recent column by Rep. Greg DeVries that confuses “constituents” with “flock,” I do agree that families, churches and communities used to have the capacity to deal with crises (medical, job lost, crop failure, etc.) facing its members.
For a variety of reasons — societal, economic, shifting population, etc. — government has been called upon, yes, called upon, to lend a much needed and appreciated helping hand.
My parents and grandparents lived through the Great Depression and were thankful to President Roosevelt, whose New Deal provided a “sense of hope” and short-term stability.
Occasionally I grumble about taxes until my bride reminds me of the benefits those taxes offer us all. For example, would you want to cut Social Security or FDIC, which has insured bank deposits since the Bank Act of 1933? I think not.
Is government perfect? Hardly, but neither are people, civic groups or churches. And I’m all for efficient and effective government, but “smaller” does not guarantee either.
Little in life is achieved by the “nattering nabobs of negativism,” to quote V.P. Spiro Agnew.
Three cheers for the community spirit of Jefferson county residents and the informative Boulder Monitor. – John Ilgenfritz, Helena
