Letters: May 16, 2005

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As a Montanan, I found it inspiring to read Kirn's Essay. Yes, it's true, we pulled up our bootstraps and elected a Democratic Governor, got rid of saloon smoke, said "Git" to toxic-mining lobbyists and decided that drinking when driving just isn't very American after all. But lest anyone think we're going soft on personal freedoms, Montanans oppose the Patriot Act. We can smell a rat a mile away, and we don't take kindly to the government sneaking things past our good ole red-white-and-blue U.S. Constitution.

ERIC FUNK Whitefish, Mont.

Kirn's piece was more of a trip down the yellow brick road than an accurate interpretation of events. While we are delighted to have the new Governor, his election and that of the Democratic legislature had more to do with a rejection of the abysmal record of the past Governor and legislature than a drift to the left. Most Montana Democrats and Bozeman Ph.D.s still hate wolves, taxes and all forms of government, and still like to cut down trees, dig up mountains and race snowmobiles through national parks. Montana has about as much chance of turning blue as Utah!

JAY F. KIRKPATRICK Billings, Mont.

Rush to Execution?

Re your story on death-row inmates who want to hasten the date of their execution [April 25]: I can see no reason to deny them their wish to die. The expense of keeping such criminals alive in prison--with three square meals a day, medical and dental care, access to the Internet, books and television--could be better spent on intervention programs to keep young people from a life of crime.

FRANCES B. PARKER Hermosa Beach, Calif.

Why is it humane and ethical to grant a murderer the right to die but inhumane and unethical to allow a socially conscious person the same right when he or she is terminally ill?

SANDRA L. GUAY Saco, Maine