Montana(?) Viewpoint

I’ve always found Mr. Jim Elliott’s articles in the “Montana Viewpoint” section interesting, though not for the reasons one might expect. It’s not because he offers any particularly insightful perspective on Montana or shares any meaningful wisdom from Sanders County-Trout Creek. In fact, Mr. Elliott’s viewpoints rarely, if ever, align with the views held by most of the Trout Creek community—about three-quarters of whom would likely disagree with him. What’s clear is that his commentary is consistently slanted and partisan. Given his background as the former chair of the Montana Democratic Party (2001-2009) and his involvement in fundraising for the party, this comes as no surprise. I do wonder, though, how much donor money ended up in the pockets of celebrities like Beyoncé or Oprah? Wouldn’t it have been better spent supporting local initiatives, like the Trout Creek School Archery Team?

His most recent article on "narcissistic behavior disorder" reads like something straight out of Seattle or California, echoing the talking points often found in left-leaning urban newspapers. It even made me double-check, as I thought I was reading a piece by Rachel Maddow. Mr. Elliott tries to present himself as the moral, reasonable voice, but his passive-aggressive tone is aimed at demeaning and belittling anyone with an opposing viewpoint. For example, his suggestion that readers “may have voted for someone with this disorder” is a classic tactic used by the left to build a narrative from an elevated position of moral superiority. Ironically, it's this kind of virtue-signaling commentary that has turned so many Americans against this style of discourse.

Jim, how about writing an introspective article that reflects the real and current viewpoints of Montana and/or Sanders County as a whole? Why your viewpoint "may" be off base? Maybe a piece that offers a broader perspective beyond your own biases? The readers who support this newspaper—both financially and as a community resource—expect balanced viewpoints, not just the perspective of a retired Democrat who, in my humble opinion, uses this platform for political purposes.

Lastly, as a “transplant” who has lived in Illinois, Hawaii, California, Indiana, and Washington State, I’ve witnessed firsthand the sharp decline of once-beautiful places. It’s one of the reasons I’ve come to appreciate Montana, love Sanders County and the Trout Creek community — because they have made it abundantly clear by resisting the trends of mass manipulation that have affected other parts of the country.

Keep up the good work, neighbors.

Dave Brabo,

Trout Creek