Opinions Worth Roping - Don't Fence Us In!

Don’t Fence Us In!
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For Governor, we now have a Democrat who ran as a fiscally conservative businessman who beat a Republican who ran as a career party line politician. Whoa Nelly! Could this be a true Flip Flop? So waddsup?

This was a no-brainer. Much to Brian Schweitzer’s credit, he smartly and wisely figured out the message over four years ago and combined it with his authentic sunny persona.

Turns out Montanans, at least on the state level, were way ahead of the curve or so behind the eight ball that the choice was clear. Take your pick, but the choice in November in our state turned out to be a choice between hope for the future versus more of the same. It was a choice between leadership and being stuck in the ditch spinning our wheels. Clearly it was time to UPGRADE THE MACINERY! For too long, as Brian said, large out-of-state corporations and industries were at the “head of the line” and have gotten the most attention and their lobbyists have been the big dogs in Helena . It was time for small businesses to take the lead and KEEP THE MONEY IN MONTANA! Now that’s a message and that’s leadership.

We all know government can’t solve all our problems, but it can make sure that opportunity is not restricted. Nothing is equal in life, but we should strive for an equal playing field. Whether it is our tried and true established farms, ranches and Mom and Pop stores or new startup companies like printingforless.com in Livingston, CalGraff Designs in Big Timber, our emerging film business; these businesses can use equal attention from the state in the form of tax incentives, healthcare cost relief, venture capital, and getting rid of bureaucratic red tape. We had to remind our representatives on Election Day that they work for us and it was

about time that small business which is the largest business in Montana, moved to front of that line. For Montanans that got that message, choices across the state were clear.

Diane Kamp Clayton

Big Timber, MT