It is Nice To Have Someone to Blame

When filling up your car at the pump costs more than it used to, and the price of a gallon of milk soars, it’s nice to have someone to blame.

Whoever is in office at the time typically catches the heat. But it’s not just D.C. politicians who bear the brunt of the criticism. It trickles down.

Way down.

John Demarais is the mayor of Malta, a town of about 1,800 people on Montana’s Hi-line. A genuinely good guy who sincerely cares about his neighbors, Demarais catches a lot of flack for things out of his control. You’d think he’s hiding Hunter Biden’s laptop.

During last year’s brutal winter, he was criticized for not clearing snow off city streets quickly enough. He’s in the middle of a row between a group of residents who want to clean up Malta and another who feels it’s their right to park junk cars in the yard. He caught heat for not letting squatters stay in the city park.

He’s been blamed for the mosquito problem in Malta, and the bad smell wafting through town when the lake at the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge went dry.

Now he’s apparently to blame for the increasingly aggressive mule deer that have been terrorizing residents in recent weeks.

A young mule deer buck charged me today on my morning walk. I didn’t see it happen. I was watching my feet. A nice lady in a minivan explained that she pulled in front of the buck as it charged, possibly saving me from bodily harm.

I thanked her as I watched the deer mosey down the street.

Although I’m sure if I called John and complained he would respond the best he could, but I’m sure he’s got bigger fish to fry. Next time out I’ll just carry a sling shot.

After years of hunting and killing mule deer, I can understand their animosity toward me. I’ve also lived in towns in Montana where bears were a concern so it’s hard to take too seriously the threat of a deer.

I’m not much of a complainer. I solve most of my own problems one way or another, and that hasn’t yet involved calling city hall. But I do miss the old days when the remedy to a lot of problems was simply shoot, shovel and shut up.

I’m sure the mayor does, too.

Parker Heinlein is at [email protected]