by Joseph G. Gallagher Jr., Stevensville
Jared Diamond is the author of “Guns, Germs and Steel” and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize. He wrote another book called “Collapse” which is a must read for anyone that lives in the Bitterroot Valley. The first chapter in the book is “Modern Montana” and is about the Bitterroot Valley. This is a must read and a wakeup call to people in this valley and, again, a must read. Oh, and by the way, the copyright on this book is 2002. Yes, folks, 2002 and this is 2024.
When you read this book you will discover that nothing has really changed in 22 years except the people born here can no longer afford to live here with land prices sky high and homes being built in the $300k-$500k range. After reading this chapter, you may want to ask yourself what are the politicians we elect really doing for the people of this valley.
We need a $17-$20 million waste treatment plant in this valley with all the home building with septics being built. Are our County Commissioners and politicians elected to the Legislature in Helena doing anything about this? How about our Governor who is giving back our $2 billion surplus to property tax owners to get re-elected again?
This waste treatment plant for the Bitterroot Valley is important to treat our human waste with the number of homes increasing year by year.
Somebody needs to wake up in the valley since everything is not about public lands, hunting, fishing and hiking, and people have to work one or more service jobs just to make ends meet.
Alan says
Why should local government spend any funds to increase growth? It’s not governments responsibility or mission to provide builders and real estate agents with jobs. We don’t need any more growth in the valley, at what point is too many?
Tracy says
Whats your solution?