Of White Bread and Coal

If yesterday was the shortest day it sure didn't feel like it. I was up at 3:00 am to get to the Montana state capitol ( on icy ,foggy roads) for a little lobbying of the Land Board. You know how much I believe the "democratic process" actually exists or influences capitalist government? A Spectacular amount! In truth, it varies at the local level and this is not just sour grapes, although in the interest of full disclosure, I admit almost every bill or effort I have supported has been defeated.ANYWAY, I knew this was going down in flames because it involved large energy corporations and lots of money but I went in solidarity with my new comrades the Northern Rockies Rising Tide.

The five member land board, whose mandate is to sustainably manage state lands for enhancing school trust funds,was to decide whether to lease many sections on Otter Creek for a huge, dirty coal development.Mining would require a railroad down the pristine Tongue River valley.The coal is so full of sodium it might have to be shipped to China to burn to kill us all slowly.The Board heard many impassioned moral and ethical pleas concerning social, aesthetic and ecological impacts ( Students for Social,Environmental and Economic Justice really piled it on) but in the end it came down to easy money. Remember, this is capitalism. One member, a native American, voted to protect ranching, wildlife, water and air and four others went for the cash. ( two of those I helped endorse as a board member of Montana Conservation Voters, a long story for another day)The officials never mentioned justice.They spoke of the coal "serving" certain Markets. Bids and revenue and royalties.

Our rancher governor, known for his advocacy on "Clean Coal Technology", explained his vote thusly: "I am a believer in the free-market and the state will not subsidize building a railroad." He can, like our President, make this statement in the Age of Irony with a straight face even though he manages STATE LANDS! He went on to say : "If Montana, which only produces a small fraction of the planets coal, were to stop because it is 'bad for you', would we also have to stop producing wheat because white bread is 'bad for you'? Sugar beets? Red meat?"

These are all Democrats remember, using the "slippery slope" logic to justify their grotesque obedience to the logic of capital. "Why should I have to sacrifice?" "How do I know I am not giving up more than my share?" "This is for jobs and schools!" It is Kyoto and Copenhagen and the G20 and World Bank all synthesized into it's purest essence and I hope it wasn't lost on the young students yesterday. The big Environmental Groups, Sierra Club, MEIC, Northern Plains, Conservation Voters etc..will never say the word capitalism but I truly hope Rising Tide understands this on a tactical and strategic level.It's not about a White Bread Governor or a 4 to 1 vote. This is about human survival and emancipation.