Page 30 - Flathead Beacon // 4.2.14

30 | APRIL 2, 2014 OPINION FLATHEADBEACON.COM

LIKE I WAS SAYIN’ Kellyn Brown
TWO THOUGHT
FOR Same Topics,
Opposing Views
Road to 100,000
Impractical Politics or Defending Liberty?

T
HE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU RELEASED ALL By Joe Carbonari
By Tim Baldwin
sorts of statistics last week that, if you’re like me,

make for fascinating reading. I pay especially close It seems to me there are people towards the No reasonable person would deny that we
attention to population numbers across the state and try to wings of both conservatism and liberalism that need courage, intelligence, wisdom and street
glean trends that may predict what Montana will look like in tend to fasten on some widely accepted “good” smarts in our leaders. But obviously, people in-
ive, or 10, years from now.
and carry it to an impractical extreme. When terpret leaders’ characteristics relative to those
Of course, trends can reverse course, but the latest stats it is done knowingly, for one’s own beneit, it is qualities diferently based on their philosophy,
at least tell us a little bit about potential growth in North- reprehensible. Ted Cruz comes to mind. I may perspective and goals. What some may consider
west Montana and elsewhere in the state. And reading pop- be wrong, but my experience has been that men an “impractical extreme” others may consider

ulation estimates in Flathead County, a question quickly that look, act, and talk like he does are generally necessary to defend liberty. Such is the nature of
arises: How long until we crack 100,000 residents.
scammers.
politics, especially as the nation’s situation push-
Between July 2012 and July 2013, Flathead County add- Putin stands as an extreme example of lead- es the edges of economic and cultural norms.
ed 1,408 people, for a total population of 93,068, according ership run amok. Deinitely from the fringe. Def- Calling Ted Cruz dangerous is not helpful
to the Census Bureau. At 1.5 percent, that is the 15th-highest initely willing to inlict pain. His justifying mis- to understanding political dynamics. How is he
growth rate among the state’s 56 counties. But compared sion appears to be the restoration of the great- dangerous, and how does he compare to Putin?
to larger counties (those with more than 25,000 residents), ness of Russia. There are, have been, and will Clearly some in America disagree with Cruz on
Flathead ranks second, behind only Gallatin, which grew at always be, others.
policies and tactics. So what? We live in a Repub-

a rate of 2.2 percent.
We need leaders who can deal on a personal lic where the majority prevails over the minor-
At its current pace, Flathead should reach 100,000 resi- basis with strong, dangerous men, and women, ity. Cruz can do nothing in Congress without the
dents in about ive years. What does this mean? Not much, like these. Those that we seek are rare. Think support of the majority. However, if Cruz can ac-
except that we will be joining Gallatin (which should cross about it. Which of our current “presidential men- complish much in Congress alone, does this not
that mark before us), Missoula and Yellowstone as the only tions” would you most like to see sitting across a suggest that he possesses exemplary leadership?
counties in the state with that many people. Many locals table from Putin?
Does that suggest he possesses, then, presiden-
won’t be celebrating the rather inconsequential milestone. For me, I’d like to see someone who has a tial qualities and can stand against Putin?

It will provide more evidence that the area is losing its rural strong base of “common sense,” of self-assur- Speaking of dangerous, what about Sen. Di-
character.
ance, and one who knows how to ask the hard ane Feinstein (D-Calif.) who advocates extreme
I remember in 2012, when Montana surpassed 1 million questions, and one who after asking, listens, even gun control laws and supports unwarranted NSA
people, hearing from several disappointed residents. But to answers unwelcome.
spying on Americans but becomes outraged to
there’s no going back now – the latest data pegs our state Courage, intelligence, wisdom, and street ind that NSA is spying on her? If getting along
population at 1,015,165. And that trend is likely the case in smarts – an unusual mix. We must look for it.
with Sen. Feinstein and her like is “impractical,”
regard to Flathead’s growth, considering we have continued I suppose millions of Americans prefer that over
to add residents as our economy has improved at a relatively losing liberty.

sluggish pace. What happens if it begins booming again?
GUESTCOLUMN | PatWilliams
For better or worse, this area is attractive and will con-
tinue to draw new residents. Wide-open spaces, hospitals, Russia a ‘Regional Power’
afordability – people are coming for diferent reasons. But
they’re coming. And how this valley changes as the popula-
tion increases is already being debated and will continue for President Barack Obama seriously rattled at When President Kennedy announced, “I am a
years.
least one cage with his recent reference to Russia as Berliner,” he was expressing the belief that Ameri-
Do we keep stacking more businesses on the north side of a “regional power.”
cans are citizens of the world – just as surely as were

Kalispell? What about Whiteish and its residential market Following the recent Summit on National Secu- the ancient Romans. Ours is the benevolent voice
that is creeping toward unafordable? Will Columbia Falls rity in the Netherlands, the president, responding of benign empire. Unlike either the Roman or Brit-
and the canyon area see an inlux of people? It’s essential to to a press conference question, said, “Russia is a re- ish empires ours encourages law above power. We
consider these scenarios if you live in and love this place.
gional power that is threatening some of its imme- are engaged not in consumption or the adjustment
To be sure, the rate at which Northwest Montana is diate neighbors, not out of strength but out of weak- of national borders but rather with civil mission.
growing is more manageable than in some counties to the ness.” Although the boldness of that remark seemed “Watchmen on the walls of freedom,” President
east. Three of the ive fastest-growing counties in the state out of character for the president, he is correct.
Kennedy called it. America accepts the obligation of

(Wibaux, Richland and Sheridan) border North Dakota and Russia’s authority is limited both economically a powerful and free people to assist others around
are near the booming oil ields. Those municipalities have and politically. Its military presence is obvious but the world with purity of purpose and without the
scrambled to provide infrastructure for the inlux of work- so are its economic and political weaknesses. This is constant calculation of self-interest.
ers.
not the old Soviet Union nor can it ever be so again. There are those few occasions when the essen-
In Fairview, a town in Richland County that hugs the Far from the empire of Peter the Great or Cath- tial deinition of America’s place in the world be-
border, the mayor told Bloomberg News late last year that erine I, today’s Russia is a very large but very poor comes less shrouded and more understandable.
the city’s needs are far outpacing its cash on hand. He said land-locked country with a failed government and a Russia’s violation of Crimea and Obama’s descrip-
a much-needed new water tank and improvements to a sew- leader sufering from an inferiority complex. Obama tion of them as a “regional power” is a teaching mo-

age treatment plant could cost $14.4 million, while the city’s describes Putin as having “that kind of slouch like a ment that has clariied the great diference between
budget is $2.7 million.
bored kid in the back of the classroom.” Of course, Russia and the United States.
“A town of 1,100 people just doesn’t run down to the bank Russia is a force but it is no longer an empire and we A few days ago Obama noted that we and the
and write a check for that kind of money,” Mayor Bryan should stop considering them as one.
world “have an interest in a strong and responsible
Cummins said.
That word “empire” applies to only one nation, Russia.” However, that long-ago superpower must
Meanwhile, other areas of the state have seen their the United States. We reject it, of course, because it learn the lesson of this young century. Responsibil-
growth slow or begin losing people. Missoula County added smacks of imperialism with which we are entirely ity is gained not by redrawing national boundar-

just 704 new residents over the year measured by the Cen- uncomfortable. Our destiny, as Americans see it, is ies through intimidation and force but rather it re-
sus. Sanders and Lincoln counties, home to the top two job- to be a welcoming beacon of freedom.
quires cooperation, civility, generosity and wisdom.
less rates in the state, saw population declines of 0.3 and 0.2 The United States has, with far too many obvi- Perhaps, just perhaps, the nations of the world
percent, respectively. In all, 16 mostly rural Montana coun- ous and tragic exceptions, tried to avoid unjustiied will adopt responsibility and respect toward neigh-
ties lost residents, according to the latest igures.
interference in the afairs of other nations, although bors with the understanding that watchful UN,
In comparison, Flathead continued to grow despite there has always been an assertive minority of sa- NATO, and US military forces are ever present just
bearing the brunt of the recession. And as we march toward ber-rattlers among our citizenry and we have too over the horizon.
100,000 residents, I’m optimistic about where we go from often elected presidents who have been quick to the Pat Williams served nine terms as a U.S. represen-

here.
trigger. But in the end we have made our mistakes tative from Montana.
trying to defend and not dampen freedom.