As Little remembers the victims of internment, he backs Trump’s efforts to create more | Opinion

History repeats itself

Gov. Brad Little pulled a masterful sleight of hand early this week, when he used his executive power to recognize an historically marginalized group of brave and patriotic Japanese Americans, while the next day using that power to marginalize and punish a current group of hardworking Idahoans from south of the border.

Little made a proclamation where he highlighted the illegal imprisonment of American citizens of Japanese ancestry in camps in Kooskia and Minidoka and how those folks volunteered from the camps to become the most awarded unit, dubbed the Purple Heart Battalion, in U.S. military history. I was surprised and thankful for this statement.

On Tuesday, however, Little, living down to his name, signed an executive order that “proudly and unequivocally supports the efforts of President Donald Trump … in cracking down on illegal immigrants who pose the greatest danger to our citizens.” It’s difficult to see danger in these folks who do so much of our agricultural work in the Idaho dairies and potato fields and forests we’re so proud of.

You can’t rail against the wrongs of Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, governor, while perpetuating them with your own 2025-03.

Michael Rutledge Riley, Potlatch

Idaho is undefended

The silence is deafening. Where is our governor, where are our state legislators, and where are our federal representatives? Our state has suffered very real human and economic harm. If this had occurred due to a natural event or conditions beyond our control, at least they would show up and express support for our affected Idahoans. This was directly caused by the deliberate actions of the federal government. We have never been shy about expressing our support for Idahoans when the federal government has taken actions that directly harm our friends and neighbors and our economy. Demonstrate leadership, voice your empathy, and initiate action at the state level to mitigate the real financial and emotional harm to our citizens, to the local economy and to the safety of our citizens and to our visitors. As the saying goes, if you see something at least say something.

Mike Teller, Boise

What about the far left?

Is it just my imagination or does the legacy media label anyone to the right of Karl Marx as “far right?”

Something else I’ve been wondering. How long would you have to dig through the legacy media’s so-called reporting to see if they’ve ever used the term “far left?”

Ricky Rhodes, Star

Veto bad bills

I urge all Idahoans who value education to call Gov. Little and urge him to veto HB-93. Tax Credits, aka vouchers do nothing but aid wealthy people to more easily afford their child’s private school education. Regular folks still won’t be able to afford private schools even with the tax credit. Private schools are often for-profit schools that do not require teachers to have teaching credentials or background checks. They also are not required to accept students with disabilities. Vouchers funnel money away from public schools, which are open to all students, not just the rich. Let’s use that $50 million toward public schools to ensure a better education for all the children in Idaho.

I also urge Idahoans to urge Little to veto the repeal of Medicaid expansion. Medicaid helps kids with disabilities. Early intervention can help a 2-year-old learn to walk so she can lead a normal life like every other kid. It can prevent a lifetime of disability for many kids. Medicaid is not just for lazy degenerates who don’t want to work. The VAST majority of Idahoans support Medicaid expansion. Don’t let it go away.

Linda Hardee, Boise

Guns don’t make people polite

So Rep. Ted Hill, R-Eagle, thinks that Idaho teachers should be armed because Texas drivers are more polite because everyone there is armed.

In 2024 there were 456 separate road rage incidents involving firearms reported. In fact, Texas leads the nation in reported gun-related road rage incidents. I’d hate to think what it would be like if Texans weren’t “more polite” on the road. This seems like a wonderful goal to strive for in our schools.

Once again, our esteemed representatives have shown that they won’t let reality get in the way of advancing their agenda. Here’s another thought. Idaho is near the bottom in education spending per student. Our Republican legislature is determined to hobble if not outright destroy our right to do voter initiatives. They are also determined to undermine if not repeal the very popular Medicaid expansion.

It sure looks like they want us ignorant, quiet and sick.

Chris Lowe, Nampa

Betraying the people

The will of the people is being thwarted. The Idaho House voted to repeal Medicaid expansion that Idahoans voted for just a few years ago. Our legislators are to represent us, not to undo what we clearly supported.

Medicaid expansion has allowed lower-income citizens to get the healthcare they need to be contributing members of our society. They’re our neighbors, employees and friends. Repealing Medicaid expansion will eliminate $47 million in annual state tax revenue and $78 million in annual savings. It’s both undemocratic and, to put it kindly, not very smart.

Idahoans want a government that works, not one built on ideology and false information from out-of-state actors. I hope we all call our representatives and keep insisting on a functional government for the people, by the people.

Christina Smerick, Boise

Russia’s useful idiot

Trump’s own former National Security Advisor said in 2022 that Trump was Putin’s “useful idiot” for actions like undermining NATO.

Then Trump made Tulsi Gabbard his Director of National Intelligence. She had zero intelligence agency experience but is “a darling of the Kremlin’s vast state media apparatus” with “a worldview that mirrors disinformation straight out of the Kremlin’s playbook” according to the New York Times. With the Kremlin’s endorsement, who needs experience?

Now he sends his rookie team to meet the savvy Russian negotiators, without Ukraine at the table and within one day Trump says that Ukraine should have never started the war. Yes, the same war in which Russia invaded Ukraine. Absurd.

There must be some Republican with a scintilla of a spine and/or brain that can recognize the Russian disinformation that their “useful idiot” spouts. Someone who won’t let us abandon Ukraine and Europe. Perhaps the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Idaho’s Sen. Jim Risch, or Senator Mike Crapo? Unlikely.

Richard Hardy, Boise