Consent of the governed

To the Editor:

Recently a metaphor was used to demonstrate that asking questions and proposing a new direction for Wyoming’s political future would not be prudent. It was relayed that the good people of Wyoming should just stay the course, not deviate from the policies that have been in place for several election cycles. We were told to stay between the rumble strips.  

Our state economy is not healthy, growing at a 1% rate. Agriculture and mining have decreased by 23% in recent years. Government (tax supported) jobs account for nearly 25% of our work force, creating a labor shortage for private business. More than half of Wyoming kids, born and raised here, leave the state for career opportunities. The per student cost of K-12 education is one of the highest in the nation but produces student scores near the middle of state comparisons. 

It seems staying between the rumble strips is not taking us to a good place. The governors of the last 20 years have not protected Wyoming from expensive and destructive investments in green energy. Wyoming’s pristine landscape is being destroyed. 

Gov. Mark Gordon has now blessed the data center industry. Do we even know if this is a good idea, or are we just jumping on one more short-sighted, make-someone-rich-quick scheme? The state has invested millions through the Wyoming Business Council to bring businesses to Wyoming, but has failed to invest in an infrastructure that would sustain them.

Keeping it between the rumble strips is a great idea if you are headed to prosperity, but we are not. Investments in wind, solar, CO2 capture and data centers are trashing Wyoming. 

Legacy industries of agriculture and extraction build the rural infrastructure that follow the Wyoming Code of West. We are going the wrong way, and we need an off ramp.