Interview With Ken Miller, Part III
December 16th, 2003 | by mtpolitics |This is Part III of a continuing series.
Question:
Many people say that our economy could be greatly helped by developing our natural resources, such as coalbed methane, timber and mining. What do you see in the future for development (or lack thereof) of our natural resources?
Ken’s Reply:
Whenever special interest groups lobby lawmakers to heavily tax and excessively regulate small business owners, Montana loses. Montanans lose opportunities to sustain local economies when fundamental partnerships between independent small businesses and education are dissolved. Montanans lose jobs. Montanans lose tax revenues.
We only have to look as far as California to see how intrusive and restrictive government policies are in harming private industry.
Look at Russia. It is the richest country in terms of natural resources. Yet economically Russia remains one of the poorest nations due to decades of government control. Years of excessive financial burden on the Russian people have resulted in the current inability to develop natural resources. The only progress Russia currently enjoys comes from the oil and gas industry, and that is solely due to the involvement of private, western companies. (See: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rs.html#Econ)
With the high demands of energy throughout the nation Montana is in a unique situation to be a major player in supplying some of America’s needs. When I compare the pioneering spirit between days of yore and the entrepreneurial spirit of Montanans today, I must mention the following small businesses as exceptional examples of private development in Montana. Now, if government will keep its hands out of their small business pockets:
http://www.rightnow.com
http://www.entrepreneur-america.com
http://www.montanacoalbed.com
http://www.perc.org
The small businesses I talk with know how to apply common sense self-regulation that does not constantly change to meet the needs of some new special interest group. Small businesses want a competitive tax rate with other states that makes it economical to keep their business based in Montana as they grow. No small business owners want or need more debt. They merely want government to keep out of their pockets and they oppose government welfare for business.
We live in the treasure state. Montanans have right to wisely cultivate our natural resources in order to secure jobs for generations to come. After all, we all know that when Montanans are taxed more, Montanans will always get less.
8 Responses to “Interview With Ken Miller, Part III”
By Ghost Dog on Dec 13, 2003 | Reply
12 years of corporate welfare disguised as tax cuts sent us down the tubes.
By Wulfgar! on Dec 13, 2003 | Reply
My response is posted over at my site, mostly because it’s pretty long winded.
By Ghost Dog on Dec 13, 2003 | Reply
Just another babbling bobblehead spewing the party rhetoric.
Craig,
Why dont you ask the Boy Wonder why the New Belgium Bewing Company is located in his hometown and not in laurel….
By Chris Laslovich on Dec 15, 2003 | Reply
Montana’s extractive industries are dying. Only 4% of our population is involved in these industries (ie: logging, mining, etc). 4 percent!!! The way Republicans harp on this issue you lead one to believe that Montana’s economy lives and dies based on how many trees we harvest, or how much coal we mine.
That isn’t to say the industries have no place in Montana, they certainly do, and if properly managed, thes jobs will be around for a great while.
Regarding the matter of energy “demand”, Mr. Miller is far from understanding the reality of energy production/consumption in the state and country.
Ken, you gotta stop listening to Pat Davison. You guys must of discussed energy policy over lunch or something, because you both say the same thing.
Like Davison, Miller suggests that expanding energy production in the state will boost MT’s economy….No. There is in fact a surplus of energy in the nation…especially in Montana. The last thing we need to do is produce more energy that will be sold out of state.
Montana produces more energy than it can use, which means that our utility prices should be low. Are they? No. Deregulation is a story for another day however….
By Jim Brady on Dec 15, 2003 | Reply
“Montana’s extractive industries are dying. Only 4% of our population is involved in these industries (ie: logging, mining, etc). 4 percent!!! The way Republicans harp on this issue you lead one to believe that Montana’s economy lives and dies based on how many trees we harvest, or how much coal we mine.”
What economy?
You been to Miles City lately?, Plentywood? Wolf Point or Great Falls for that matter?
There are way too many people in Montana who define “success” as a job that pays more than minimum wage or landing a government job.
If you really want a measure of how far Montana is in the tank, extract all the people who get a tax money paycheck from the equation and rerun the numbers.
Montana extractive industries are not dying. They are dead and the ranchers and farmers are next. Thanks mainly to the group you pulled from the equation.
JMB
By Ghost Dog on Dec 15, 2003 | Reply
There have been 3 oil booms and busts in Montana. The first big boom was in the early 50’s when the Williston Basin came in. The second was in the 60’s and the third began with the 1973 Oil Embargo
and ended in 1984. My Stepfather who was in the oil business and a dyed in the wool Republican lost a home in Northwest Billings during the 1960’s bust and lost a ranch in the 1980’s bust. He died broke a few years ago after turning Democrat.
The population of Butte has been declining since 1918.
Anyone who thinks extraction is our salvation is living in a fantasy world.
As far as Eastern Montana (excluding Billings) is concerned I am not sure that ours will not be the last generation to live on the Great Plains.
By Jim Brady on Dec 17, 2003 | Reply
Yeah, Life’s a bitch.
After taking some rich draftee’s place in the Civil War, my great grandaddy died from wounds he received fighting the indians that killed Custer. The army said that wasn’t the reason and screwed his widow out of his pension. My grandaddy went belly-up on a dry land honyock in Powderville in the late teens for want of rain . My dad busted is ass for the Milwaukee Railroad and the unions and got left holding the sack. Died broke about a year after he retired.. Hell, they all died broke. I got a clue from that 40 years ago, got an education and left to where I could use it.
Your absolutely right about the last generation on the Great Plains. With the current business and political climate in the State, Montana’s future is government park rangers, tourists and the minimum wage slaves who will serve them.