I really liked the letter below because it speaks to people like me who are not so much political but more concerned with the general aspects of living and functioning in what we call a democracy.

Like the television sitcom, with the exception of a few issues from time to time, we sit and think "In the Middle. "

I sincerely believe that it's time for all of us to work our way a little bit more toward the middle, even if it's just an inch or two.

If that could happen, I think we'd start finding some common ground and moving forward on what's good for the masses as opposed to satisfying simply extreme segments of our population.

Thank you, Barb, for submitting this letter to the Bonner Daily Bee.

It's time to look past political labels, scorecards

March 12, 2026 1:00 AM

When I moved to Sandpoint almost 25 years ago, my aunt visited and asked my friend, “So, what do you do?” She meant her job, but that’s not what people here care about.

In Sandpoint, the question is more like, “Do you hike, ski, have kids, horses, fish, hunt?” It’s about finding connection through how we live, not what we do for work — and that’s what made this place feel like home.

I’ve been a Republican since the 1990s, and for a long time here, that was beside the point. We were a conservative community in the best sense: fiscally responsible, committed to strong families, and grounded in the idea that neighbors look out for each other.

We invested carefully in good schools, decent roads, and public institutions because we understood they were tools that helped us build the kind of life we want.

Over the past decade, many people have moved to Idaho to escape what they see as failed liberal policies elsewhere. I understand that impulse.

But in the rush to be the “opposite” of where they came from, some now look at longtime Idaho Republicans as “RINOs” or even closet liberals, simply because we still believe in funding schools, protecting public land, supporting emergency services, keeping hospitals open, or maintaining basic services.

Wanting functional public institutions is not liberalism; it’s basic conservative stewardship.

Since the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s “index” became a kind of shadow party platform, too many legislators seem more focused on protecting their score than protecting their constituents.

If a Republican supports a school levy, a fire levy, or a practical compromise, they’re branded suspect. That’s how we end up with politicians who chase perfect scores and viral headlines instead of doing the unglamorous work of governing.

When voters get pulled into this purity test mindset and constant culture‑war outrage, we start voting against our own best interests.

We’re told to obsess over “RINOs,” books, bathrooms, and slogans about “freedom,” while we ignore whether our kids’ classrooms are overcrowded, if there are adequate police and fire personnel, whether the local ER can stay open, or whether our roads and property values are being protected.

None of those real life fights look flashy on a postcard.

We’re already seeing the cost. Idaho has the fewest doctors per capita, 47th for overall public school quality, and dead last for 3-5-year-olds' early learning skills.

Young people leave because wages, housing, and services can’t keep up with growth. If we keep treating any Republican who believes in basic investment as a traitor, we will hollow out the communities we moved here to enjoy.

That is not the Idaho conservatism I found in 2002, and it’s not the Idaho that drew so many of us here. We can be conservative without being self‑destructive.

We can demand accountability without sabotaging our schools and hospitals.

I hope newer and older Idahoans alike will take a step back, look past the scorecards and labels, and start voting for the people who actually protect the communities we all chose to call home.

BARBARA SCHRIBER

Sandpoint

With St. Patrick's Day soon approaching, I thought readers would enjoy a couple this nugget from a story listing the best Irish pubs in each state.

Enjoy

Idaho: The Harp

If an Irish pub that's serving dishes made from family recipes and soda bread that's scratch-made fresh every day sounds like the place to be, you'll love The Harp in Meridian.

It's also taking pride in the number of beers on tap at any given time, and that soda bread gets rave reviews, as you might expect. The Guinness lamb stew does, too, just save room for Bailey's mousse for dessert.

theharppub.com

(208) 297-2856

1435 N Eagle Rd, Suite 110, Meridian, ID 83642

Top Irish pubs in neighboring states of Washington and Montana, respectively: Mulleady's in Seattle and The Celtic Cowboy in Great Falls.

For other states:

https://www.tastingtable.com/2121434/best-irish-pub-every-state/

It's Friday the 13th in America.

For God's sake. Nobody. Move.

Why does it seem like it's been Friday the 13th in America for some time?

Instead of the "deer are watching you," Miss Bridie is watching the deer from the comfort of her warm home.

We haven't heard if power has been restored at my sisters' farm. That includes two houses of family members---Barbara and Laure; Willie and Debbie.

Yesterday when our power went out in the middle of the night, Bill followed his usual routine for power outages. He lit some candles and then climbed in his pickup and went on a fact-finding mission around the neighborhood.

Bill always likes to initially see that the next-door neighbors' power is out too; then we know it's not just us.

He drives up and down the neighboring roads and then comes home so he can report to me when I get up.

A day after the power went out, we're hoping the Colburn crew has their back after an entire day without electricity.

Bill was concerned about the cell phones at Colburn. To which I said, they can always charge them in their cars.

To which he said that he, on his fact-finding mission (at 3:30 or so in the morning) had observed two cars in driveways with their motors running and lights on. We both agreed that someone was on their cell phone.

Which brings to mind, the following, which was inspired by something I read in the New York Times.

Netaholism

Are you a netaholic?

Should there be a group for people like you that meets at churches or maybe even libraries called NA for Netaholics Anonymous?

With their addiction, though, would they be able to remain anonymous?

If you are reading this, maybe you could use some help or follow some of the strategies people are using to escape their cell phones.

How many of us fall into this group?

People are repairing to the woods, building full-scale replicas of Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond — no plumbing, no electricity, definitely no Wi-Fi.

One modern transcendentalist’s dwelling has just a kerosene lamp, a desk and research materials to keep him from using Google.

“It naturally makes me not want to check email impulsively,” he told The Times.

Sometimes it feels as if our phones are our captors, and we’re in perpetual search for a device or a detox that will release us.

We’re constantly negotiating: I’ll keep my devices out of the bedroom. I’ll wait 15 minutes after waking before checking social media.

📱📱📱📱📱📱

And, with that, Happy Friday.