Big Brother in Big Sky country

Friday, 6th November 2009

Not welcome in Montana. For shame.

A sad story of our times: residents of Belgrade, Montana petitioned the town council for permission to keep chickens in their yards. No-one objected to this. Except, of course, the councillors. Why? Because they could. Apparently the chickens might escape and that could be a problem for the police. Meanwhile, one ghastly councillor suggested there just wasn't enough room on a 10,000 square foot plot for half a dozen hens.

The usual bullying, domineering nonsense from jumped-up little gauleiters of the sort who infest local councils everywhere. But, as Lexington says, it's particularly depressing that such a thing happen in the American west - the very place that's supposed to embody a certain idea of freedom.

And, anyway, why on earth do you need a license to keep hens?

Over to you, Texas Crunchy Con and coop-meister Rod Dreher...

Filed under: Chicken (4 more articles) , Localism (57 more articles) , O Tempora, O Mores (181 more articles)

Previous Back to Alex Massie Next

Blogs: Martin Bright | Susan Hill | Melanie Phillips | Coffee House | Faith Based

Actions: Print this article | Email to a friend | Permalink | Comments (5)

Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Post comment

ndm

November 6th, 2009 7:34pm Report this comment

Our neighbours have three or four hens in their back yard. City regulation prevent them from having a rooster.

Noa Zrk

November 6th, 2009 11:33pm Report this comment

Why on earth do you need a licence to keep chickens?

For the same reason you need a CRB check to pick up the neighbour's kids from school. Because you're not fit to be trusted with them.

Geoff Miller

November 7th, 2009 8:09am Report this comment

You omitted to say that chickens in Montana stand 8 feet tall.

Roman Polanski

November 8th, 2009 2:56am Report this comment

You guys are so silly. If you let people have chickens, then the chickenfuckers will move to your community. Then property values will go down.

Setay

November 9th, 2009 5:24am Report this comment

Wow, this must all be part of Obama's plot. We'll just forget about Belgrade being a conservative suburb like it has for been for years or that the most liberal city in Montana (Missoula) passed an ordinance allowing chickens just a couple years ago (against conservative detractors, I might add). For God's sake, do you do any research?? Ask me, I've lived in both of those. Hey, how about I write a crazy editorial saying the opposite next and you can treat IT as gospel too. Oh wait, better get out your tinfoil hat, Glenn Beck is coming on.

Post comment