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28 | MAY 28, 2014
OPINION FLATHEADBEACON.COM



LIKE I WAS SAYIN’ Kellyn Brown
TWO THOUGHT
FOR Local Topics, 
Opposing Views
Summertime

Constitutional Conventions
Madness
I

By Tim Baldwin
By Joe Carbonari
F YOU’RE LIKE ME, YOU’VE ALREADY 
planned most of your summer. You’ve marked each 

Montana’s Constitution provides that we con- Having the invitation to review the how and weekend on your calendar from now until the middle 
sider amending the Constitution at least once ev- why we govern ourselves is a big deal – freedom in of September. There are festivals, camping trips and 
ery 20 years (Art. 9, Sec. 3) and review the local practice. Let’s not pass up the opportunity to look weddings that must be squeezed into the leeting sunny 
forms once every 10 years (Art. 6, Sec. 9). This at ways that what we are currently doing might be months. It lies by, but luckily has only begun.
year, we must consider reviewing our form of local ill-itted, un-suitable or insuicient to the task – The beginning of the summer and winter seasons are 
governments.
taking care not to let a few people’s zeal for change the best of each. The possibilities seem, even if they aren’t, 
Unlike Montana’s Constitution, the United overwhelm the more common good.
endless. Jamming it all in is impossible. Something always 

States Constitution makes it very diicult (some That being said, I’d support local review but interferes, like rain, sunburns and unexpected visitors. 
say impossible) for the states to amend the consti- oppose a national constitutional convention.
You must have a plan, then a backup plan.
tution under Article V. This is why Patrick Henry It is not that I disagree on basic values with I habitually write lists. Each weekday morning I jot 
opposed the Constitution. He argued the Consti- those who do support a national convention; it’s down what needs to be accomplished within the next 10 
tution would empower the federal government, that I don’t agree that many of their suggestions hours and I cross the items of as I complete them. I ap- 
and the states would have no way to correct what for change would work out well. I value diferently proach the summer the same way. I tape race schedules to 
experience proved needed ixing.
the pluses and minus of the risks and rewards to my wall and scribble checkmarks next to those in which I 
Thomas Jeferson also said people should re- the common good. That’s to be expected and re- expect to compete. Inevitably, I fail to attend at least half 

view their Constitution for amendments every 20 spected. People will always difer when they are of them.
years; otherwise, it would be like a “man wearing free.
At least the days are long, which helps when you need to 
still the coat that itted him when a boy.” Jeferson Consideration, not fear, moves me to oppose catch up on your to-dos. If you missed your planned huck- 
scorned people who “look at constitutions with the Article V movement to call for a U.S. consti- leberry-picking jaunt and a scheduled loat down the Mid- 
sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the tutional convention. I feel that the need does not dle Fork, no worries. It stays light until 10 p.m. – squeeze 
ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched.”
warrant it. It has not been convincingly shown.
them both into one day.
America’s political stresses are largely caused Too many votes are cast, and in a time of pas- These lists can be daunting and no one wants to waste 

by focusing exclusively on parties and candidates sion, many more could be cast, by uninformed, a sunny weekend. That’s why we began publishing this an- 
and ignoring the responsibility people have rela- under-informed, and ill-informed voters. That’s nual summer guide. We’re here to help you make the most 
tive to constitutional amendments. Some people risky and too vulnerable to a range of unexpected, of the season. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, or just 
are afraid of this responsibility; but I say, if we fear uncontrollable national or international events want to soak up the sun on an outdoor patio, tape the sug- 
basic principles of self-government, then ignoring and too likely to heighten our current national dis- gestions in our current issue to a bulletin board and mark 
our political responsibilities will only worsen our ease and gridlock.
the ones you ind appealing. Then make good on half of 
condition.
Our Constitution, while not sacrosanct, has  them and don’t feel bad about it.
Self-government is a good thing. Thankfully, served us well. We should protect it from both Left
There’s a number of places I’ve failed to visit and expe- 

Montana’s Constitution provides well for it.
and Right.
ditions I’ve failed to complete over the last several years 
that I’m almost embarrassed to acknowledge. But I will 
here, so you can collectively gasp.
First, I’ve never been to the Polebridge Mercantile GUESTCOLUMN | JohnMuhlfeld
– yes, the same place we featured on our front page two 
weeks ago. I enter Glacier National Park more than a dozen Pass the North Fork Watershed Protection Act
times a year and have not, since moving here several years 
ago, traveled north to Polebridge.

I’ve never explored the Yaak or visited the Dirty Shame Ever since the Great Northern Railway laid reason. In a recent poll in the Missoulian, 73 per- 
Saloon, which is in itself a dirty shame. On the rare occa- tracks through Whiteish in 1904, tourism has been cent said they support permanent protection of the 
sions I head that direction, I traditionally end my trip near the backbone of our local economy, creating good North Fork Flathead River.
Marion, at Little Bitterroot Lake. There would be so much paying jobs and sustaining thousands of families If passed, the North Fork Watershed Protection 
more to see if I just kept driving.
over the years to put their kids through college, Act would withdraw federal land from energy de- 
Last but not least, I’ve never loated the Swan River. I’ve start small businesses, buy a home and retire in one velopment in the north and middle fork watersheds 
spent several days on the Middle Fork and Flathead River, of the most beautiful small towns in America.
just west of Glacier National Park while allowing 

but never the Swan. I’ve been invited multiple times, but Hard-working Americans from all over the traditional uses on which our economy has his- 
those expeditions always interfered with something else.
country come to Whiteish year round. They torically depended, such as logging, hunting, live- 
Each of these will be added to my list this year, but if I spend their hard-earned money locally to buy ho- stock grazing and gravel mining. It also coincides 
mark of two out of three, I’ll consider it a success. This re- tel rooms, ill up gas tanks, eat out and support our with a 2010 agreement with the Canadian Province 
gion is vast and, in many ways, we’re lucky it takes so long local businesses – all because they are called to of British Columbia and Montana to protect the 
to explore – often adventuring two days at a time on the our amazing wild and scenic areas, access to pub- trans-boundary Flathead River from energy devel- 
weekends and during late summer evenings.
lic lands and clean water, and special places such opment.
Summer is about to begin, and many of the days of as Glacier National Park and the fresh powder of In order for a bill to even reach Congress, com- 

are already spoken for. Life is about to speed up a bit as we Whiteish Mountain Resort. In 2013 alone, White- munity leaders hold numerous public meetings, 
head to the lake, the mountains and the farmers markets. ish welcomed over 558,000 out-of-state visitors; study the scientiic, social and economic impacts 
My list keeps growing and discussions among friends and 65,000 traveled to Whiteish on Amtrak’s Empire of a new designation, spend hours with lawyers and 
family are veering toward whatever events and expedi- Builder. Resort tax and bed tax revenues in White- legislators to draft the legislation, and work to gen- 
tions rise to the surface. Which ones can we just not miss?
ish increased 10 percent and 16 percent respective- erate broad public support within the surrounding 
It takes a plan to soak in as much summer as possible. ly that same year.
communities as well as with local, state and nation- 
Northwest Montana can pull you in several directions. My In early April, three senators from Texas, Okla- al leaders. The North Fork Watershed Protection 

marker is out. I’m making a list. I hope to see you all out homa and Pennsylvania blocked bipartisan legis- Act has met every benchmark of a local stakehold- 
there.
lation supported by Montana Sens. Jon Tester and er-driven law. Clearly, this is a commonsense bill 
John Walsh and Rep. Steve Daines – Montana’s full that deserves a vote in the Senate.
congressional delegation – to permanently protect Let our congressional delegation know you sup- 
the North Fork Flathead River from future energy port their collective eforts to end the partisan grid- 
development. The bill even has backing from major lock by passing the North Fork Watershed Protec- 
energy companies, like ConocoPhillips and local tion Act.
businesses, including F.H. Stoltze Land and Lum- 

ber Company. But it has stalled for no apparent
John Muhlfeld is the mayor of Whiteish.




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