However, when you start taking shots at people like Charlie Nipp (pictured), you are taking shots at his company and his partner. The truth is that those folks have been, directly and indirectly, responsible for putting literally thousands of people to work in CdA and food on their tables. Tables of middle class born and raised Kootenai County citizens. The people taking fire are fine businessmen and visionaries who deserve more respect. I’m not asking that they not be asked hard questions, I’m simply saying that as a conservative, I have no axe to grind for people making a successes of themselves and it’s tough to many of your board member’s stances when most of their blog entries consist of comments that include “greedy developers”, “fatcats, etc./JimmyMAC. More below.

Question: Why do individuals like Charlie Nipp and Steve Meyer, who have meant much to the progressive development of this community, receive criticism from individuals who support business?

To: Jeff Ward ... Good post. I don’t necessarily vote with all of the folks that you have promoted but do consider myself a conservative and admirer of Ronald Reagan. I’ve openly supported Mike Kennedy and Mayor Bloem because I think that many of the landmark decisions that have been made under their watch have been a benifit:
a. to the everyday Kootenai County resident
and
b. have come at a great value (getting a great bang for the buck for the good for of the majority of citizens) Value is a conservative principal in my mind.

At least from the surface, it appears that the biggest thorn in the side of the RR’s is LCDC. Here is where I see value in them: Yes, taxes are shifted away from the kitty that they would normally flow into. In the meantime, a majority of those dollars go toward investing into areas where they can have a multiplier effect down the road ie our kids and grandkids. In the meantime, the initial investment brings about improvements that put shovels in the ground and food on the tables for many citizens of Kootenai County. It promotes private enterprise to get involved as well. I know that the counter to this is that the investment should start with and end with private enterprise but in many instances the fact is that LCDC has been the catalyst to provide the momentum. Do I agree withe very decision made by LCDC? Absolutely not.

However, when you start taking shots at people like Charlie Nipp, you are taking shots at his company and his partner. The truth is that those folks have been, directly and indirectly, responsible for putting literally thousands of people to work in CdA and food on their tables. Tables of middle class born and raised Kootenai County citizens. The people taking fire are fine businessmen and visionaries who deserve more respect. I’m not asking that they not be asked hard questions, I’m simply saying that as a conservative, I have no axe to grind for people making a successes of themselves and it’s tough to many of your board member’s stances when most of their blog entries consist of comments that include “greedy developers”, “fatcats, etc.

“Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States” - Ronald Reagan

In my last point, and I can only see the board members, but I don’t see a lot of young faces on the RR website. I run with a lot of younger men and women who I would wholeheartedly classify as Republicans. I, myself, had figured that I would go to school and enter the job force in an area like Seattle, Denver, Boise, Phoenix, etc. Not for the politics, but for the job climate. I made the decision that I wanted to stay put here in North Idaho, where I grew up, and decided to earn my living and raise my family here.

The government does not exist to serve as my nanny or my provider. With that said, I firmly believe that investment into our community is a valuable vehicle when attracting a more diverse employer and employee pool. There are plenty of risks involved but without any risk comes no reward. The greedy capitalist in me enjoys knowing that more money will funnel in from outside enterprise and the young parent in me sees more viability in my 5 month old daughter wanting to stay in North Idaho and be a contributor to the community which my wife and I are so blessed to be a part of.

“Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we’ve ever known” - Ronald Reagan

Take care Jeff, from a 30 something Republican that may disagree with some of your stances but agrees with you more than enough to share a toast in November 2012 ;)

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