'Recyclegate' a non-issue, but everyone should play by the same rules

Editor:

While reviewing the state of Montana campaign rules in August of this year, I realized that I had made a rookie mistake. It turns out that the candidate for office cannot make bank deposits unless said candidate has designated himself a deputy treasurer on the C-1-A candidate form. This rule is counter-intuitive. But, alas, the rules are the rules. Immediately, I filed the first of two amended C-1-As in the Havre City Council race.

It was during this self-review process that I noted the inconsistency in Bob Kaul's paperwork. It turns out that simply suggesting that everyone play by the same rules elicits a cacophony of partisan attacks. Do we as a society have one set of rules for those in elected office and another set of rules for the citizens who dare to seek those public offices? Do we want one set of rules or not? Recently our country has become accustomed to waivers from laws such as Obamacare and "No Child Left Behind" — written by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Life is simpler and more just when we don't pass onerous laws in the first place.

Of all of the opinions expressed about this non-issue I found John Musgrove's coining of "recyclegate" the most interesting. The suffix "-gate" is usually added to give the root word a negative connotation. (The origin is the Watergate Hotel fiasco that brought down President Nixon.) But, there is nothing bad about recycling that I can see, as long as it is voluntary.

Finally, it seemed impolitic to remind the citizens of Havre about the inappropriate response of some city council members when Havre experienced its own "Water-gate" at the June 20, 2011, Havre City Council meeting.

Rick Dow

Havre