Ahead, Call Us Cowboys: A visit to the Alaska-Canada border brings home the differences.

The Wall Street Journal Opinion Journal ^ | July 19, 2004 | Andrew Kleinfeld and Judith Kleinfeld

[RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS]

ping

[kAcknor]

Two prominent books on the Tombstone legend repeat the same negative connotation of "cowboy" at that time.

This may be true, I have no reason to doubt it. On the other hand, in the fine tradition of western movie based cultural identity: "When truth meets legend, print the legend!"

Most of history is like this, legend over truth. Those that force us to face the stark truth of history have no soul or vision and are destined to live stark lives without hope for better things.

-- Waxing philosophical on the Monday morning.

[ryanjb2]

"Hyder, on the other hand, with about one-seventh the population and no straight or paved roads at all, had 23 business and community enterprises."

I don't think this is a good thing. I have an extreme aversion to any kind of disorder. A lot of people simply don't care about disorder.

Roads should be paved. A business owner business should keep up with his businesses appearance. If they refuse then some entity should use force to make them comply. The free-market fails in this regard because most businesses will receive enough customers to maintain profitability, even if the business looks like trash. The Alaskan town seems to be doing well economically, so there is no incentive to improve appearance and institute order.

Disorder is inherent to libertarianism, not conservatism.

[untenured]

In America, rugged individuals discovered and tamed the frontier through their own initiative. In Canada, the government imposed law and order on the frontier through the Royal Mounties and then brought people to settle the land.

I have not heard that contrast made before. Can you recommend any reading?

[Veloxherc]

Some army units still wear cowboy hats. Air Cav.

[Black Powder]

Hyder, on the other hand, with about one-seventh the population and no straight or paved roads at all, had 23 business and community enterprises.

That are all exclusively related to tourism and nothing else, while most people in Stewart rely on regional industry.

Hyder's most visible business (aside from the bar) was the "Border Bandit Discount Store." Between two giant American flags, this emporium expressed the town's style on its sign:

Hyder Alaska--a town of about a hundred happy people and a few old s---heads.

Discount tobacco

Tax free bed & breakfast

Tax free storeboat rental

Custom importing

Pawn, buy, sell, gold

Sporting goods guns & ammo

Marine supplies

Industrial materials

Almost anything else

The last line is nonsense. There are no schools, no banks, and no medical services in Hyder. The people from Hyder go to Stewart for these. Also, because there are no banks in Hyder, the main currency is the Canadian dollar. The only US dollars in Hyder come from tourists.