Why are lawmakers wasting time on flags when there’s work to be done? | Opinion

Lawmakers wasting taxpayer dollars

​In Idaho, our public buildings — our schools, courthouses, libraries — are funded by hard-earned tax dollars of every citizen. They are meant to be symbols of service and civic stability. Yet, our current legislative focus seems less interested in the upkeep of these institutions and more interested in using them as a stage for expensive political theater.

​We are seeing a push for legislation that specifically bans symbolic expressions (rainbow flags) from government property. Regardless of one’s personal politics, we must ask: Is this a necessary use of taxpayer resources? When the state spends time and money drafting, debating and defending laws that could be handled by a simple administrative memo, it is a waste of our investment. It suggests that our leaders are more interested in codifying their own prejudices than in governing efficiently.

​For a state that often cites faith as a guiding principle, these exclusionary measures feel remarkably hollow. They ignore the fundamental call to offer refuge to the “weary and burdened” (Matthew 11:28), opting instead to put up “keep out” signs.

​Idaho deserves a government that prioritizes the needs of its people over symbolic bans that serve only to divide us.

Pamela Nordby, Coeur d’Alene

Zamora’s ouster unjust

Gov. Brad Little has in effect handed Idaho Human Rights Commissioner Estella Zamora a pink slip after her decades of service on the Idaho Human Rights Commission at the suggestion of Idaho Sen. Kelly Anthon.

Anthon implied that Zamora was not “committed to a position that enforcement of the law must be blind — no matter what”. Hogwash!

In the 30+ years that I have known Zamora she has volunteered hours upon hours of her time, energy, and work ethic to the betterment of Idaho. As a patriotic American she has worked to enforce Idaho law, add to Idaho law, and modify Idaho law to benefit all Idaho citizens — no matter who. Millions of Americans are protesting the outrageous tactics of ICE in Minnesota.

All law-abiding citizens should be outraged and protesting ICE’s tactics. Estella posted information about those protests on her social media account without Little’s consent. She is not of the same political party as Anthon and Little. Anthon must have been all giddy to learn of her social media post without Little’s consent — justification to make her go. That is raw, naked politics at its worst. Anthon and Little should hang their heads in shame.

Tom Newton, Caldwell

Disabled people have equal rights

Rep. Steve Miller,

My name is Cal Sheridan. I am a comedian, an entertainer and a writer, though today I carry on my mother’s legacy as an activist. Someone speaking for those who would be in danger.

I have cerebral palsy from kernicterus and was a student at Boise High School. Though that was my first foray into the public school system, I was successful. I took classes with all students and received accommodations to aide with my studies. Through the school, I entered a playwriting competition and won, setting my life’s course.

Had I not received such an education, I would not have gotten the opportunity. So when I read of your proposal to solve the education budget by removing disabled students from school entirely, I was incredibly disturbed. Such a thing would isolate disabled folk, stigmatize disability, and remove the agency of disabled people to fully realize who they can be. My mother, patient safety advocate Susan Sheridan, would often incorporate into her speeches her favorite line from our favorite children’s book, Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who. That line? “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

A person,

Cal Sheridan, Boise

Immigration raids feed authoritarianism

The acting head of the national police for otherwise known as ICE defended the actions of agency before Congress and stated they were just getting started.

As we have recently seen in Boise, unmarked SUVs cruise certain neighborhoods in true KGB fashion. Agents bearing assault weapons drag unarmed residents from cars in front of preschool children. At a peaceful demonstration In Wilder they zip tied a 14-year-old and allegedly grabbed a 10-year-old girl by the neck with guns drawn.

Elsewhere in the country, people have their homes invaded in the middle of the night, the residents dragged into the streets barely clothed in winter weather. Adults, children and the elderly are subject to verbal and physical abuse without justification.

A few weeks ago in Minneapolis, non-violent protesters were gassed, as well as gunned down in the streets and branded domestic terrorists. Perhaps the real domestic terrorists are those administering and implementing the current immigration raids.

Nationally, are nearly half million men women and children in overcrowded detention facilities, the majority of who have no criminal records or convictions based on government records.

As the nation enters its 250th year we are heading toward authoritarianism.

Pete Friedman, Boise

Big lies seem familiar

There are lots of lies about the truth, but what’s the truth about lies?

In the words of one of history’s most accomplished liars: “Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around.”

He also wrote, “The size of the lie is a definite factor in causing it to be believed, for the vast masses of the nation are in their hearts more easily deceived than they are consciously or intentionally bad. The primitive simplicity of their minds renders them a more easy prey to a big lie than a small one, for they themselves often tell little lies but would be ashamed to tell a big one.”

Isn’t it comforting to know that in the century since Adolf Hitler wrote those words in “Mein Kampf” this world’s modern societies have evolved beyond “primitive simplicity” and would never again elect a known liar to lead a major nation?

Mike Ruskovich, Grangeville

This story was originally published February 15, 2026 at 4:00 AM.