Hello faithful readers! Today is Monday, July 17, and here are the topics for my commentary today:

• Misguided Power
• Drugs in Great Falls

MISGUIDED POWER:

As many of you know, I am an Air Force veteran who served almost twelve years in the military and spent the last three years of my career at Malmstrom AFB where I worked as a Security Forces member in the missile complex. I dealt with the missile launch officers daily.

With all that is wrong in the world and with the power that members of Congress have to help make life better for the citizens of this great country, it’s amazing what they chose to do.

The case in point is U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT02). Rosendale is worried that a transgender person might push a button and launch a missile at Malmstrom AFB which is near Great Falls, Montana, and is in Rosendale’s district.

Rosendale made headlines with remarks like:

“We have drag shows taking place at Malmstrom Air Force Base, there are 150 ICBM missiles that are being controlled by that Air Force Base and by these individuals,” Rosendale said. “I don’t want someone who doesn’t know if they are a man or a woman with their hand on a missile button.”

While his remarks peg the meter for craziness over on in the batshit crazy area, it also shows that while Rosendale knows that Malmstrom AFB has 150 missiles, he does not know about the checks and balances in the system that would prevent one person from launching a nuclear missile because they are having a bad hair day.

I suggest that Rosendale tour the base and learn about the mission and the checks and balances that are in place. He should ask people at Malmstrom what he can do for them to make their jobs easier and what he can do for their families. I doubt anyone at the base is worried about a transgender person pushing a button.

Not to be outdone, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) plans to introduce an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would prohibit Cabaret Performances (ban drag shows) on U.S. military bases. (Source)

While neither Daines nor Rosendale has much clout in the Senate or House, they could use what clout they do have for much better things.

DRUGS IN GREAT FALLS:

The Great Falls City Commission put a Public Safety Levy on the ballot this November that will significantly raise taxes on the citizens of Great Falls. Last month they voted to send a $21.17 million public safety infrastructure bond to the November ballot (Source). If one or both of these pass, taxes on your home could increase by several hundred dollars, depending on the value.

I said a few weeks ago to watch out for the publicizing of crime more in Great Falls and for there to be a push to get information out to help promote the levy. The commission voted to use up to $150,000 of our money to promote the levy.

One of the biggest proponents of the Safety Levy is first-term commissioner Rick Tryon. Tryon is also on the ballot this November as he is running for reelection.

A faithful reader pointed out that Tryon went on a little rant over the weekend about the drug problem in Great Falls writing, “The drug trade is the diving [sic] force and root cause of crime in Great Falls.”

I’m not sure that Great Falls/Cascade County has any worse drug problems than other places with a population of 85k, but maybe someone has some stats to prove me wrong. Tryon goes on to write two points about this and his second point is what I found interesting:

Second, this shit is as real as it gets, Great Falls, and I can’t believe I have to say this but anyone who imagines that recent GF crime incidents are ‘made up’ or exaggerated in order to boost a safety levy needs to ask the person in the mirror, “What happened to you?”

I don’t think they are “made up” but I do believe they are and will be publicized more to help get the levy passed – kind of what Tryon just did in his little rant.

I think the bottom line is the voters of Great Falls are being taxed to death these days and it is time we say NO to the Public Safety Levy and “NO” to the separate Public Safety Infrastructure Bond. Just say NO!

By the way, the city has a new website called “Safety in the Falls” to promote the passage of the levy. Check it out HERE.

## HAVE A GREAT WEEK ##