Worried about Montana’s future

[Billinsd]

If you want to get an idea of rural, watch some Andy Griffith shows about Mayberry. Yeah, I know it's corny, but there is a lot of truth to it.

 

[lyle_destroys]

It is crazy how that happens, they continue voting for politicians that raise taxes, then leave because taxes are so high, then vote again to raise taxes. There is definitely to much "education" today, and not enough common sense. Many people vote on feelings now, not on facts.

Yeah it is unfortunate and it concerns me as well. I moved here to hunt, fish and be left alone after getting out of the military. Having dealt with west coasters ideology for a long time I am not sure how to combat it because they seem to never be wiling to try understand it from anyone else's perspective (they're right you're wrong). Luckily the capitol is in Helena and not Bozeman or Missoula. I think because the universities tend to attract way more liberal leaning people now. Just look at a presidential election map by county. It is literally all red except for Missoula, Gallatin county and the reservations. I find it interesting that the policies that a lot of the west coasters voted for and wanted are the same ones causing them to leave the state in mass exodus so they can go somewhere that is affordable. Now with the ability to work remotely people can live in "pretty" areas and try to change the areas to the way they want them. I hope that this would never become a state issue but if it did then I guess I would pick up and move on to somewhere else. And if your moving to somewhere you should be moving there to be part of the culture not trying to change it.

Sent from my LG-M327 using Tapatalk

 

[lyle_destroys]

I agree with you to a point, but the biggest minority is America is the 49%, and this could be on any issue. So when hunters/outdoorsman/conservationists are already outnumbered by people who dont know any facts behind the issues or politicians we vote on, how do we change that? Vote harder?

America can only be (and is) defeated from within. Voting, even at the lowest levels of office, is the only way to combat for our future. Not just in Montana, but all across our Country. It's not enough to just vote in the BIG elections anymore. It all starts at the lowest levels and grows upward...

Sent from my LG-M327 using Tapatalk

 

[Huntindog45]

So here's a question that goes along with this topic kind of I guess.

I'm a stepdad to 2 girls in there mid to late 20 that have 3 boys between them. The oldest grandson is 10 and shows little interest in hunting, middle grandson is 6 and youngest is 2. 2 of the kids have a father that does a little water fowling, very little and the middle kid has no father in his life. From the birth of the first grandson I had plans of getting them into the outdoors and hunting, I've taken them all shooting, camping and ATVing, had the first grandson on a couple turkey hunts when he was 6 and 7.

I now wonder if it would be best just to leave hunting out of the picture unless the kids show a lot of interest in it? We have these wacko's running around trying to take away our guns, hunting and public land. Every other day I read something negative about the things I love to do or someone doing something bad that sheds another bad light on my hobbies. The numbers say that the number of hunters is falling but around my parts it seems to be getting more crowded every year with dumber and dumber people running around the outdoors with guns. Sometimes I think it would be much easier on them if they didn't have the hunting and gun nut desires that I do. Who knows what the next 20 years will bring. Most days I'm glad I'm as old as I am and just hope i'm dead before things get much worse and I have to take up fishing more.

So whats your opinion?

NO NO NO! Hunt harder, and longer with them. Spend more time. Take their friends too. We need young people embracing hunting now more than ever

 

[lyle_destroys]

Ya even little things like taking them spotting for deer at night. The boys especially will love that. And sometimes its small stuff and some quality time that makes a difference.

NO NO NO! Hunt harder, and longer with them. Spend more time. Take their friends too. We need young people embracing hunting now more than ever

Sent from my LG-M327 using Tapatalk

 

[WV Mountaineer]

There ate so many people here that say liberals offer no threat to your way of life. I shake my head when I hear it. As stated above, look at Colorado for an idea of where you are headed in Montana

 

[sneaky]

Rural people are famous for being nosey and gossiping of other locals. They also don't interact with other people. I was reading something about the highline area of Montana. When I first heard of it, it was a body shop called high line collision. I thought, hmmmmmm, to me highline means to bypass a water or sewer line. I thought highline was some petroleum line, lol. It's a lonely highway. I read that there are people with the same last name that live in tiny towns along the highline that are related but pronounce their name differently.

You need to get out more in Montana. Lots of towns along the hi line, and it's nothing like what you just described.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[realunlucky]

You can't tell him anything - he is a Californian so he naturally knows everything!

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[full choke]

If you want to get an idea of rural, watch some Andy Griffith shows about Mayberry. Yeah, I know it's corny, but there is a lot of truth to it.

Did you know that NO ONE on the Andy Griffith show was married? Well, except for Otis- but he got drunk every night and slept in the jail...

 

[MuleyFever]

Did you know that NO ONE on the Andy Griffith show was married? Well, except for Otis- but he got drunk every night and slept in the jail...

This made me smile.

 

[Billinsd]

You need to get out more in Montana. Lots of towns along the hi line, and it's nothing like what you just described.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

You missunderstand, I was paraphrasing something I read. I love those towns, they are very nice. The people are fantastic.

 

[Billinsd]

It is crazy how that happens, they continue voting for politicians that raise taxes, then leave because taxes are so high, then vote again to raise taxes. There is definitely to much "education" today, and not enough common sense. Many people vote on feelings now, not on facts.

Sent from my LG-M327 using Tapatalk

Most Californians that are moving to Montana don't mind California's liberal politics and culture. They leave because Montana is cheaper to live and/or they like the outdoors and to get away from rat race. They get to Montana and settle in and realize the culture is different and want to change it. They want to look at the mountains from their house or condo, go on a hike once in a while. I remember spending time, hunting and fishing in the late 70s in and around Jackson, Wyoming and the guides and locals said 90% of visitors don't go more than 50 feet off the paved road. These are your new neighbors.

 

[Billinsd]

Gotta love Cape air in Montana. Subsidized critical local travel. Great prices, great way to get around. I ain't going back to California. Montana's on my short list!!!

 

[nodakian]

I grew up in western MT, spent plenty of time in Missoula, college in Bozeman, then a few years in CO Springs. After that I lived in Great Falls, MT, and discovered the "other" Montana: sunshine in the winter, friendly folks, lots of bird and big game hunting, and I could actually see more than 100 yards...then back to Bozeman because work was available. I spent the next 11 years looking for an opportunity to get out of there.

I moved here to western ND over seven years ago. We simply don't deal with the goofy stuff here. The environmental non-profits have almost no presence or influence here. I can't imagine anyone having the guts to be vocally anti-hunting; they'd be run out of town. It's a conservative, ag and energy culture--much more like eastern MT. From my perspective, the only drawbacks are lack of available big game opportunities, not many breweries (that situation is improving though), and no mountain snowmobiling.

Eastern and western MT have different cultures, and I prefer the east. My brother lives in Plentywood, MT, and we can't imagine ever living in the west again. We could go as far as Great Falls, but that's about it.

 

[aaro9991]

Legal and especially illegal immigration is fueling the Montana problem. Why are so many Californians moving to Montana? To get out of California. Why? Because, California is overcrowed, has high taxes, high crime, etc. Why is that? A big part is the illegals flooding in. If Republicans and Democrats wouldn't have let so many undesirable, people into the country we wouldn't be in this mess. The country isn't growing, because it's citizens are having too many kids, nope it's illegals, refuges, etc. That is the core problem. Republicans want cheap labor, Democrats want votes. We all suffer.

I strongly urge you to be careful how you talk about letting “undesirable people” in the States.

Signed,

A bowhunter and son of an immigrant from Mexico.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bigsky2]

I'll be even more worried about Montana's future if Rosendale wins the Senate race.

 

[Billinsd]

I strongly urge you to be careful how you talk about letting “undesirable people” in the States.

Signed,

A bowhunter and son of an immigrant from Mexico.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't take strongly to threats!!!! Many of the legal and illegals that are in America are not undesirable, however some are. The problem is we are letting too many legal aliens in too fast and should not be letting any illegals in, or give them benefits, because it's causing chaos and is ruining the country. We need to stop the anchor baby debacle as well. Children born to illegals should not be citizens, that's an abomination. The 14th Amendment is and has been exploited. America is full, we can't afford immigrants that are going to bring us down. My stance on immigration is extreme, however it is NOT racially based. Let immigrants come who can benefit our country. God Bless America!!

 

[juan trueno]

Oh boy. It’s getting lively now.

 

[Bigsteak]

I don't take strongly to threats!!!! Many of the legal and illegals that are in America are not undesirable, however some are. The problem is we are letting too many legal aliens in too fast and should not be letting any illegals in, or give them benefits, because it's causing chaos and is ruining the country. We need to stop the anchor baby debacle as well. Children born to illegals should not be citizens, that's an abomination. The 14th Amendment is and has been exploited. America is full, we can't afford immigrants that are going to bring us down. My stance on immigration is extreme, however it is NOT racially based. Let immigrants come who can benefit our country. God Bless America!!

I am sure you were joking about the threats but I took his comment to be more of a plea than a threat. I would ask that you reconsider your position a little bit too. When you lump illegal and legal immigration together, some people will perceive this to come from hate rather than policy critique. While I believe you when you say that it's not racially based, the left and particular the media would just say that "that's what any racist would say." Refugees aside, legal immigrants have to wait a long time, jump through several hoops AND demonstrate that they are a benefit to the U.S. before they are allowed to immigrate so I think it is unfair to compare these people to those that illegally cross the border or intentionally stay after their visa expires. Legal immigration has made this country the incredible place that it is. 99% of us have ancestors other than the original English colonists. This would be a pretty boring and uninspiring place if that weren't true and it would probably look a lot more like socialist Europe. I completely agree we need to control our border though. Illegal immigration is just that, illegal and a nation of laws should not allow it. You are also spot on about the 14th amendment. It was never intended to allow anchor babies. If I drive my wife over the border into Mexico and she gives birth, Mexico wouldn't just make my child a citizen of Mexico. The fact that border security and the 14th amendment are even remotely controversial is asinine. Legal immigrants should be encouraged and wholeheartedly welcomed on the other hand.

 

[Billinsd]

There are negative consequences of our broken immigration system and illegal immigration. There are undesirable people coming both ways. Illegal immigration is bad, because there is no control of who gets in. Our legal immigrstion system is broken and chain immigration and refugee immigration is a problem. Another consequence of illegal immigration is that illegals and their offspring tend to be in favor of more illegal immigration. We don't want to stop legal immigration, just slow it down and base it on merit, then only desirable people will get in. We want people to assimilate too. Some of my best friends are foreign born assimilated, conservatives. Many of my friends are foreign born. I really like cubans like Ted Cruz for instance, his dad is from Cuba. Liberals call this racist, but it's how immigration used to be until Teddy Kennedy screwed it all up in 1965. Just my opinions too. I'm not right about everything, just ask my wife. I'm chiming in here on this Montana thread, because a core reason Californians are getting liberalized, over crowded and some moving to Montana is because of our broken immigration system. That's a core issue. I'm a born and raised Californian and California used to be a great place. Best place to live in US, Reagan was governor and it was conservative. Now the place is unrecognizable.