Here are a couple of more legislative winners I meant to mention:
Dave Wanzenreid: After he was maneuvered out of the House speaker job, Rep. Wanzenreid, D-Missoula, could have spent the rest of the session pouting. Instead, he took the defeat with class and held Democrats together during crucial votes.
Alternative energy: Wilbur Wood, who has been writing about wind energy and other alternative energy sources, says that amendments took much of the meat out of the final version of Senate Bill 415. But renewables are on the map now, and they won't go away.
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The thing about energy production is that Montana STILL produces TWICE as much electricity as it needs. The rest goes outta state. If there were any true politicians out there with cojones as big as Montana, they would introduce a bill saying that EVERY new kilowatt of energy produced stays in Montana first to lower our bills! (at least as low as before dereg) Then the excess could be used to fill our state coffers next! So just WHY can't this be done? Why should we become the gawdammed boiler room of the nation, and even PAY for this "privilige" without reaping the benefits?! We will always get hosed on any energy bill until Montanans themselves put a stop to this crap! Hell, they're OUR rivers! It's OUR wind! It's OUR coal! (at least our coal land) Why shouldn't it be OUR profit?! It's a no brainer. And it will be as long as our politicos are no nutters!
Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers!
If we are going to insist on keeping power generated here in Montana in Montana, then how about the same for other products? Absolutely no more export of grain or cattle or timber. Why is electricity considered such a special product? Keep in mind that the land, water and air used to produce cattle, grain and timber products are "our" resources as much as rivers, land and coal are our resources so why shouldn't everyone profit from these commodities, too?
Look, maybe I didn't make it simple enough for you. Assuming that with a name like whisper you are of the female persuasion, let me ask you, do YOU give it away for free?! Get real! I get real tired of stupid arguments like yours. Hey, if you want to live in a compound somewhere, DO IT! But the rest of us belong to a community, one which realizes that some things are natural monopolies, like energy production! If you can't see the difference between energy production and ag, you're too simple to understand anything! Check my argument again. NO WHERE did I say that energy should not be exported. If I did imply that, SHOW ME WHERE! Natural monopolies must be regulated for the benefit of all! We must ALL act in concert for ALL of our benefit! In other words, the common good! Now, if YOU prefer to get hosed by the utility companies, hey that's OK! Get your power from somewhere other than public utilities! But the rest of us shouldn't have to pay for your stupidity! If YOU want to give it away for free, do so! Put out a sign in your yard proclaiming the Town Pump is open for business! The energy companies will LUV you for it! But me, personally, I see nothing wrong with returning to the days when we had the lowest rates in the nation! Tell, how was that so wrong??? Sheesh!
LK
Now Larry, what is the old saying about people who assume something? Even with your superior public education that you keep touting on these blogs you should be able to tell the difference between wssyprr and whisper! Actually wssyprr was the initials of a shortline railroad in central Montana which, I'm sure that you know about with your superior intellect and education. I have work experience as a railroad section hand, a logger, a sawmill worker, a ranchhand, a vehicle repairman in the military and over 20 years in power plants now. Hey, I've even been (for a very short time) a live-in-the-bunkhouse cowboy!
You are right, though, about not having said that every kilowatt should stay in Montana (that was one of the primary arguments against building Colstrip 3&4 though). But let's extend your argument that Montanans should have first dibs on the power generated and not have to pay market rates- then my arguments follow that we should also have first dibs on the cattle, grain and timber and only export what we have left over after we get our allotment at bargain basement prices. But don't ranchers and farmers sell for the highest price with no consideration of the buyers home state? And, of course, Texas, Oklahoma, Lousiana, and other states should only let go of oil and gasoline after their state citizens get what they want at these same bargain basement prices. By the way, wasn't it your high quality, publicly educated people that voted to throw out the regulated utilities (by voting for the legisture that did it) and then voted again to NOT buy the dams in order to have that lower price? As an insider, I think that deregulation was a huge and terrible mistake.
Whether you like it or not, Montana is part of the rest of the country and we need to interact, commercially, with the rest of the country as you noted. And power generators, along with ranching and farming, timber and mining are all environmently extractive industries - different scales for sure - and have different effects on the natural resource base but all are businesses that use natural resources and sell the products to make a profit.
Okay - your turn. Rant and rave on.
Yeah, OK. Now I see it. Your point that is. Logging, ranching, cattle production, grain, ALL THE SAME! Sheesh! I don't really think I can simplify my argument to fit into your very simple cosmology. Simply put, so that even a simpleton could understand, energy, AGAIN, is a natural monoply! It is UNLIKE all the other "commodities" that you have mentioned. It is something distinct from those. Now, let me reiterate. If you content being the Town Pump, THAT'S YOUR BUSINESS! But for God's sake, don't try to place YOUR "values" on the rest of us! And so sorry to hear that your "background" didn't include much in the way of education!
LK
P.S.
And the really remarkable thing about your argument, whisper, is that to the delight of the corporations, the only thing more appealing than your lack of education is the alacrity with which you're willing to PAY for the privlige to be the corporate Town Pump! Only your logo is not golden arches, rather golden legs spreak wide!
LK
P.S.
And the really remarkable thing about your argument, whisper, is that to the delight of the corporations, the only thing more appealing than your lack of education is the alacrity with which you're willing to PAY for the privlige to be the corporate Town Pump! Only your logo is not golden arches, rather golden legs spreak wide!
LK
It sure would be nice to have a civilized conservation, even if we have to agree to disagree. But that's impossible with good 'ole name-calling Larry. So, I'll hold my mouth, lest I get a volley of spit from him.
Apparently you missed the legislature when the Pubies where in control. Wasn't a whole lot civil about it, pal! The only time nazis start talkin' about bein' civil is when they're gettin' their arses whipped! Guess that's why the Missoulian opined that they're girlie men! And now we have Roy Brown whining about how he was subjected to a "torrid assault" on homeschooling. When hyperbole passes into goofiness, it's time. Time for the girlie men to go home and cool off before they make even judy mars and cornhole burns look intelligent!
LK
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