When the republic strays
Five years ago I wrote this article on the seeming disconnect between voters and powerful politicians in Montana and elsewhere. The new airport I mentioned in the article has, fortunately, vanished into thin air. But the debate on cyanide mining continues.
Voters said "no" to cyanide mining. Legislators refused to believe them. Now another referendum will try to undo the old one. Here the Missoulian tries to put a positive spin on it, but I find the whole process much more discouraging.
Here's a question, though. Canyon Resources Corporation has decided to bypass the legislature and completely self-fund the new attempt to override the cyanide ban. So will politicians be upset that their gravy train has been halted? Will that lead them to rediscover that they should support what their constituents support? Or has Canyon pavloved them into permanent submission?
Join the discussion at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/johnclaytonoutreach/
Voters said "no" to cyanide mining. Legislators refused to believe them. Now another referendum will try to undo the old one. Here the Missoulian tries to put a positive spin on it, but I find the whole process much more discouraging.
Here's a question, though. Canyon Resources Corporation has decided to bypass the legislature and completely self-fund the new attempt to override the cyanide ban. So will politicians be upset that their gravy train has been halted? Will that lead them to rediscover that they should support what their constituents support? Or has Canyon pavloved them into permanent submission?
Join the discussion at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/johnclaytonoutreach/
