It's about more than water
Clarice Ryan | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 11 months AGO
People on the reservation are well aware of the mind-set and objectives of certain tribal council members, water compact commissioners and key group of supporters. This same attitude, if extended beyond reservation boundaries, constitutes a real threat emanating basically from a small group of perpetrators seeking power and control.
The bulk of our population is oblivious to how the impact of this Salish and Kootenai water compact could extend significantly to off-reservation non-agricultural urban dwellers. City water supply systems are basically the same concept as an irrigation well and distribution system... only larger. In spite of documented and proven unique abundance, this “water grab” constitutes a massive “land” grab.
Limiting water allocation reduces productivity with decline in profitability and land value. Meanwhile taxes are ongoing and even increase until landowners with declining income desperately attempt to sell out often to non-taxpaying buyers. As private property is sold off, overall economy declines leaving fewer tax-paying landowners to support schools, highways and community services.
It all comes around to the fact that we simply must pay close attention to current water compact legislation developing in Helena, being pressured to quickly force through a FOREVER document with scant chance EVER of controversial corrections or modifications, very likely leading to lengthy, costly litigation.
Increasing environmental restrictions on agriculture are already handicapping food production industries. Meanwhile the bulk of the population and voters should become aware of how declining property values and general economy cannot help but ultimately impact ALL CITIZENS. Wake up Montana! Urge our state legislators to vote against this very threatening, deliberately planned, massive piece of legislation.
Instead an alternative simple straight-forward plan could provide proper (and fair) allocation of essential water for the reservation where citizens (native and non-native alike) are already constitutionally assured of water. Under the Montana Constitution, the state owns the water and is responsible for distribution and use. Let’s retain proper, already established, procedure and accountabilities by our own state officials.
Why force through total upheaval switching complete control by a very small, unaccountable group claiming their own separate, untouchable form of government to fix a problem that doesn’t even exist ... YET! —Clarice Ryan, Bigfork
ARTICLES BY CLARICE RYAN
Protecting the environment through capitalism
Mineral, lumber or plastic. It’s all about use and handling of materials found in nature.
'Million-woman mob scene' is symptom of deeper woes
A lot was going on behind the elaborate presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile an undercurrent and display of public reaction was churning. We are now witnessing the preliminary scenario of the upcoming Trump administration. Unfortunately strength draws arrows and stimulates animosity. Increasing divisiveness is fomenting under a pervasive wave of persecution complex. The follow-up million-woman march was an outgrowth of women’s causes and emotions. But also on display were “poverty” concerns and “racial” sensitivity shared by slave and Indian descendants, as well as current immigrants.
National-monument decrees are way to control public lands
We should all respect and treasure history. We must preserve our past and the artifacts from historic times. The Antiquities Act established by President Theodore Roosevelt simply requires presidential signature to declare national monuments as opposed to congressional action required for a national park. In more recent years such locations as historic buildings or battlefields have expanded to protections of entire scenic landscapes of federally held lands. There is now question of original intent.