[voices]
Pass the tax
STREET TALK
by Tommy Martino
Asked Tues., June 11, on the UM campus. This week the Indy features the 2013 Muzzle Awards: the year’s worst crimes against the First Amendment. Can you give me an example of when you think your freedom of speech has been muzzled? Follow-up: Is there someone you would like to put a muzzle on?
Micah Fields: Well yes, I was in the military and you forfeit some of your rights officially and some unofficially. Especially when your speech doesn’t coincide with the speech of higher officials in command. Well said: Nobody. Freedom of speech is a universal right.
Teague Smith: I can’t say that I really have an example, I pretty much speak my mind. Love is love: Anyone who opposes same-sex marriage.
Dino Mahmod: In Egypt I have total freedom of expressing myself. Before the revolution it was not easy to talk about the government even on Facebook…it’s better now. Here, the stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs can hinder my freedom of speech. Just sayin’: I disagree with that. Someone can say whatever they want, it’s up to you how it’s perceived.
Peter VanDenBerg: Once I told a judge to look around the courtroom because there were only natives sitting in there. Police sit outside the reservations and ticket natives. She told me to be quiet or she would hold me in contempt of court. ‘Bama drama: Obama, because he is taking away everything. Gun rights, requiring healthcare, the IRS…
Joel Berger: Yeah, especially during the second invasion of Iraq. I was told how unpatriotic I was because I was protesting the war. Hush Rush: Rush Limbaugh because he speaks without ever knowing the truth.
[4] Missoula Independent • June 13 – June 20 , 2013
I recently had the opportunity to get involved with the Citizens Climate Lobby and have been exposed to many articles and videos about global warming and climate change. An article in The Guardian from May 16 by Dana Nuccitelli talked about a recent study showing that 97 percent of climate experts agree humans cause global warming. When people know scientists agree on human-caused global warming, they are more likely to support government action to curb these greenhouse gas emissions. It’s extremely important to get educated on the issues around climate change, as we need to act now. Less than 50 percent of Americans know that scientists now agree on human-caused global warming. Here in Montana, global warming is causing ranchers to sell off part of their herds because the grass is not there for them to eat and getting hay is very expensive. Trying to raft down the Gallatin or Madison is not as enjoyable as it use to be. Last time I went rafting, our raft kept hitting the bottom and I would have to get out and navigate the kids until we got to an area with a little more water. Water temperature is increasing, stressing the trout in our rivers, shortening fly-fishing season. Global warming is happening, and it’s affecting this beautiful state we live in and the livelihood of river guides, outfitters and even the ski resorts. Billions of dollars are and will be spent to fight our fires. As reported by KBZK
news on May 23, since 1999 over $1.1 billion has been spent battling wildfires just in Montana. We can expect a warmer and dryer June and July, which means our JulyAugust fire season will be worse.
“If 97 percent of the climate experts agree that humans are responsible for climate change, then I am 100 percent certain that Congress needs to pass a revenue-neutral carbon tax.” It is time to work at reducing the carbon emissions. We need a revenue-neutral carbon tax giving money back to each household. By doing this, it protects the low and middle class, holds the fossil fuel suppliers accountable for the damage they are doing and allows the free market to move towards clean energy.
Instead of spending billions putting out fires, we should be investing in jobs for solar, wind energy and other types of clean energy like earthship houses. Imagine putting people to work retrofitting houses and businesses for solar energy? Putting people to work and reducing our carbon footprint. Even China is getting on board to put a ceiling on greenhouse gas emissions by 2016. We the people are the biggest contributors to global warming and climate changes. We cannot continue to consume at our current rate, the planet cannot sustain this type of growth and consumption. May 9 marked 400 ppm of carbon in the atmosphere for the first time in 3 million years. A person may feel frozen because the task ahead is so overwhelming and they don’t know where to start. Start by calling Sen. Baucus, Sen. Tester and Rep. Daines and ask them to support a revenue-neutral carbon tax, a solution backed by conservatives like former Secretary of State George Shultz. In Bozeman, contact the local Citizens Climate Lobby through their Facebook page for more information or to get involved. There is a new group in Missoula and one starting in Billings. If 97 percent of the climate experts agree that humans are responsible for climate change, then I am 100 percent certain that Congress needs to pass a revenue-neutral carbon tax, or they can write a blank check to FEMA and divert all funds there. Jeannie Brown Citizens Climate Lobby Belgrade
[Comments from MissoulaNews.com] Backtalk from “Wolves, bag one, bag five,” June 6
Smokin’ “Go Montana! Smoke a pack a day!” Posted June 7 at 12:41 p.m.
Butchers under the Big Sky “I am so ashamed to be a Montanan. People in other states and other countries think we’re all a bunch of animal butchering sociopaths. The MT FWP and our governor apparently don’t give a darn what the majority of the people think about hunting and trapping. Our state government and corrupt FWP officials will no doubt continue to pander to the special interest groups who line their greedy pockets in this barbaric state. The eyes of the world
L
are upon Montana and what we do here regarding wolf management. Our hunting policies and these new proposals will most certainly impact tourism in a negative way. People are already boycotting our state and our products. I think it’s going to get worse as time goes on. People are outraged.” Posted June 7 at 1:32 a.m.
Back to the man cave “There never has been any fact based, current science used in the wildlife management process in the NRM. It’s all about the livestock and hunting industries which run Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Brutal, archaic, inhumane destruction of the native wildlife populations. Indiscriminately killing animals for fun does nothing to pro-
tect livestock or pets or people. It is nothing more than satisfying blood lust and the Neanderthal, man-cave tendencies of a few evil folks.” Posted June 6 at 6:44 p.m.
Maybe we’ll vacation in Hawaii this year? Montana is so backward it is sickening! Since when do you call this management? You ignore science and whore to special interests! Shameful! This is why many people will NOT vacation in Montana! It is unfortunate that you border Yellowstone—you even kill Yellowstone wolves! This is nothing but blood lust and kill crazy. The public finds you despicable! Posted June 6 at 8:59 a.m.
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