“The ranchers that infest government are so anti-growth that they cratered the economy.”
Don’t know if it’s the ranchers so much as the greenies with big money settlers who move in then block all other development - NIMBY.
But SW Montana is different - lots of growth in the Bozeman area.
Do you mean Bozangeles? LOL.
Too much of the growth in SW Montana is tourism related and the majority of the work does not pay well. The Big money came in and helped drive away well paying jobs in mining, logging, and manufacturing and they drove up the costs of land and housing. The bicoastal twits drop in for the scenery and the quaint locals that they secretly look down on or outright despise.
The only thing that the Californicator invasion improved is the food. When I was growing up there in the 70s and 80s the food was bland and monotonous.