The Bobcat Nation

This is a really interesting op-ed piece. The content is interesting on its own, but what I find particularly interesting is that it is written by a president of a local bank, who presumably could lose business if he upsets too many locals. For a person in his position, he takes a pretty aggressive contrarian position:



http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articl ... column.txt

Lipson, Siebel and Blixseth:

Clearing their conscience 1 million dollars at a time.

They don't let those pesky regulations stand in their way - so sir!

Royer makes a couple of good points but missed the big picture. For the most part, Montanan's have gotten used to the money pouring into the state. But when the money creates only a few disproportionate low paying jobs while increasing property taxes (cost of living) significantly then the end result is negative for everyone else. My biggest frustration is that each person moving into the state should count as one voice and one vote. The people mentioned in the article expect more for their money. Do the newcomers really love the state or just the life style it affords them?

I think they just want to be left alone to do whatever the he!! they want - generally.

I also think that they think that Montanans are backassward cusses, and are when they actually have to follow some 'pesky' rule that was designed to protect our greatest asset - the environment.

Generally, our regulations are based on pretty much common sense. I don't think that they're that hard to comply with.

[However, I would say that our regulations are decidedly and wholey against resource extraction - period]

I really don't have any empathy (or sympathy) for the millionaires and billionaires who come here and buy their piece of wilderness. They seem to come here in order to get away from their celebrity life, and I don't blame them for that. If they wish to be treated as an ordinary Montanan, though, then they shouldn't cry about having to follow the same rules we do. And they certainly shouldn't be surprised if they get smacked when they blatantly violate the rules.

A rebuttal letter to the Chronicle:

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articl ... -royer.txt