Page 28 - Flathead Beacon // 9.24.14

28 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 OPINION LIKE I WAS SAYIN’ Kellyn Brown
FLATHEADBEACON.COM
TWO FOR THOUGHT
Local Topics, Opposing Views
Scotland and Secession
By Tim Baldwin
Scotland considered secession from the United Kingdom, but decided last week, through popular vote, to remain in the union — for now. Scotland demon- strated how states and nations can choose their political destinies by choice and re- flection, not force and coercion. Unfortu- nately, many Americans think that politi- cal separation is an inherent moral evil. This approach to politics, however, looks more like religious dogma than political science.
Abraham Lincoln acknowledged in his first Inaugural Address that our states could lawfully secede as long as they leave the same way they entered the union: i.e. through a constitutional con- vention. Lincoln’s contention was this: in- dividual states could not choose to leave the union unilaterally. Dr. Edwin Vieira, constitutional scholar, noted too that Ar- ticle V, USC may permit three-fourths of the states to change our union’s parties (states) through the amendment process.
While Americans have learned the lesson of states not seceding individually again, the truth is, we have the constitu- tional and democratic power to readdress the composition of our union. Exercising this power is a matter of prudence, not right. In fact, our exercising this right is how the United States Constitution was created in the first place, an event we just celebrated on Sept. 17 – Constitution Day.
By Joe Carbonari
The Scottish people voted to stay in a union with England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is, and has been for over 300 years, called Great Britain. At times it has been great, and at times less so. These are less-so times. Many Scots felt that this is due to poor, British leadership, leading to poor political decisions, especially as re- lated to the state of the economy.
Other people in other places seem to feel the same. It is a lack of results. The goods aren’t being delivered. There is a disquieting amount of disorder afoot in the world, and the global economy is any- thing but robust. We have been rather slow recovering from the Great Recession.
This has been due, at least in part, to a lack of cooperation among our political leaders, a failure to focus on the delivery of results, or so goes the thinking of many. The secession movement in Scotland, the rise of some nationalistic, right-wing par- ties in the Euro Zone, and the Tea Party movement in the U.S. have a common base in discontent with the current product of their political class.
We have entrusted our rights and our well-being to those that have chosen to take part in the political process. It is our right and our responsibility to be in- formed, stay engaged, and to ride herd on them.
Maintaining Momentum
IN A BLOW TO KALISPELL’S PLANS TO BUILD A rail yard and spur development downtown by replac- ing railroad tracks with a linear park, the city, once again, missed out on the TIGER grant it was seeking.
City officials broke the news last week and struck a positive tone, saying they would continue to pursue the core area redevelopment plan; they would likely reapply for the grant again next year; and this will slow down the process, but not stop it.
But to be sure, this was bad news.
Just about everyone I talked to involved with the planned project, and even our reporter who has covered it, expressed cautious optimism that the $10 million federal transportation grant would be awarded to Kalispell. It would have provided funding and expedited the construc- tion of a long-sought rail yard. That project, in turn, would have allowed the city to replace the tracks cutting through downtown — the first phase of a plan that is estimated to cost roughly $22 million.
Instead, when U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the combined $600 million in grants, just one Montana project made the list. A former airport site on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was awarded $692,829.
Foxx’s agency should have included Kalispell, but I am, of course, biased in this case.
This is the second year in a row the city has missed out on the grant. In 2013, a proposed bike path in Missoula County was awarded $4.58 million.
Nothing against Missoula, but parts of downtown Ka- lispell don’t even have sidewalks, much less bike paths.
What’s important now, community leaders stress, is that Kalispell maintains its momentum and focus on downtown. And they’re right. Despite the setback, it shouldn’t deter attention from the area of the city that needs it most. And the core area redevelopment plan, which was several years in the making, should remain at the forefront of any plans to improve the city’s walkability.
If completed, the tracks would be replaced by a path- way connecting the east and west sides of town and recon- nect streets that currently dead-end at those tracks. But that is contingent on moving the current rail-served oper- ations to a new rail yard, and that is contingent on money.
“This was just one option for funding the rail park and redevelopment plan and we will continue to work on solv- ing that puzzle piece,” Katharine Thompson, community development manager for Kalispell. “We lost the battle but we didn’t lose the war.”
There is a lot to like about the direction Kalispell is going. And there are still plenty of whispers about retail- ers potentially opening up or relocating in the downtown area. Those business owners are more likely to invest in the city when its elected officials and community leaders remain focused on improvements. And it’s encouraging that they appear to be.
The next step is to at once look for alternative ways to fund the project while preparing to reapply for the TIGER grant again next year. With the completion of the U.S. 93 bypass in sight, and the discussion beginning in earnest about redeveloping the area around the courthouse, city officials still have plenty to keep them busy in steering the direction of growth downtown.
Despite the setback, this is an opportunity to regroup and continue to pursue the thoughtful vision set forth by the city administration. Like they have already stressed, this is no time to lose momentum.
GUESTCOLUMN | ClarenceTaber It’s Time to Consider
Transferring Public Lands
As a U.S. Forest Service retiree, I know the ben- efits of a well-managed forest. Over the last 20 plus years, I have seen the federal government’s “on the ground” forest management deteriorate. Lack of timber sales and excessive access closures have not served the public or the resource well.
Many years ago I helped found Montanans for Multiple Use (MFMU) as a way to involve the pub- lic in the decision making process of forest plan- ning. We opposed the Forest Service spending pub- lic funds to rip out dozens upon dozens of perfectly good access routes. We won’t accept the Forest Ser- vice’s reduced timber harvest and bad land man- agement practices. We have lost our access and have overgrowth that causes unstoppable wildfires. That day is upon us and it is time for change.
Montanans For Multiple Use advocates respon- sible, balanced use of public land. he Forest Service has destroyed multiple use roads, restricted access reserving our public lands for a select few. Today’s Forest Service is controlled by out-of-touch Wash- ington D.C. bureaucrats, liberal judges, and envi- ronmentalists who don’t care about balance or have a clue how to achieve healthy forests.
For many years MFMU has tried working with the Forest Service in good faith to protect access and achieve a forest managed for all citizens, a showcase of forest health, and a healthy economy. But still they keep destroying access, making it harder to manage the land, fight fires, hunt, recre- ate, or gather firewood and berries. Today the For- est Service sells only 15 percent of the merchant- able timber as specified in the approved forest plan.
The solution is change. It’s time to give serious consideration to turning federal public land over to the State of Montana so people in Montana are accountable to the citizens for management of our public land, our access and our economy.
This fall, Montanans for Multiple Use plans to sponsor an open, professionally moderated de- bate to air out both sides of the Transfer of Public Lands issue. As soon as the date is set everyone will be invited.
Clarence Taber is president of Montanans for Multiple Use. He lives in Kalispell.