Dealing with our common problem Public Comment from Larry Lautaret Aimee Brunckhorst
From: Larry Lautaret <Illautaret@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2024 9:17 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Dealing with our common problem
Dear City Council Member,
Thank you for being willing to serve in challenging times and take heat from every
direction. Governing is never easy, but someone must do it to maintain societal order. But SOMEONE MUST
do it!
I want to address a problem that is causing MUCH controversy and even lawsuits, as I believe there is a
relatively "simple,"though not necessarily "easy" answer for some of our"Warming Center," "homeless," etc.,
crisis.
You as the Civil authorities are the only ones with the authority to deal with this issue. Two
fundamental elements of human nature are somewhat in conflict ... and yet must be synchronized.
The first is compassion! To simply turn our backs on those among us that either CAN not ... or even
WILL not behave properly is not acceptable for any society, particularly "Christian"people. Compassion is not
an option, or we devalue every aspect of life and degrade our entire culture. The Warming Center, various
churches, shelters, treatment centers, etc. deal with this aspect. But compassion alone can ONLY deal with
voluntary compliance. We can help those willing and available to us.
The second fundamental element is PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Clearly some among us
CANNOT care for themselves. Clearly others WILL NOT take personal responsibility. BOTH need us,
society, the civil authorities, to care for them AND to demand responsible behavior. This requires involuntary
compliance until they are ready and able to voluntarily behave to fit in with society.
Currently our only option is jail! However, this is expensive, and not appropriate for many, although
MANY need to be restrained for the rest of us to be free to live life apart from evil doers running rampant.
We can never build enough jails to deal with the irresponsible among us!
What is needed is BOTH compassion AND a demand for PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. This could
be accomplished by an inexpensive housing situation, short of jail, yet supervised, so that those needing this
could be kept safe from others, their own inabilities and addictions, AND could be put to work doing something
they are capable of, under supervision, to develop skills, habits, attitudes to cope with life.
Obviously, many details are involved, and there will never be a perfect system, as the whole world is in
a fallen and messed up state! BUT there ARE ways to ameliorate the problem of irresponsible people among
us, whatever causes their irresponsibility. It requires WILL and LEADERSHIP!
I would volunteer my time and energy with others that want an actual solution rather than an attempt to
deal with heart surgery with a hatchet! I suggest and plead with you to have the courage to LEAD, and I
believe we could lead the nation, with some honest thought about how we as a community can BOTH have
compassion, AND demand personal responsibility. To miss either side of this is to provide further chaos.
We as a community are spending the money, one way or another! We are just not getting either order
... or help to those in need for our investment. We CAN do better.
I suggest a study team, with some authority, composed of some law enforcement, clergy, mental health
professionals, those operating shelters, etc. that honestly desire solutions, not mere rhetoric or knee jerk
reactions to real life problems. It should NOT be an unwieldy large group or one heavily laden with those
wanting to be elected, but a few knowledgeable and concerned people that understand the need for BOTH
compassion AND personal accountability. It will require those able to think outside the current"box" of"how
we do things," ... but there ARE answers from both history and scripture that deal with these very problems.
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Sincerely,
Larry L. Lautaret, Pastor of Flathead Ekklesia(Church), and Whitefish PD Senior Chaplain.
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