Kalispell Montana Depression

[@kantill]

I used to live in Kalispell and the two biggest problems with that area are one, if it not about whoring the place out to tourist that business doesn't survive. And two too many damn liberals killing the timber and mining industries that actually supported the state.

[@sinking5780]

when i left kalispell in 2001. none of those big stores by the college were even there. actually they were trying to keep all of the out. its a beautiful place though.

[@johnu78]

SinKing 57 I'm sure Wal-Mart and the other chain stores lobbied the county commission and city council heavily to allow them to come in. That's usually how it happens. The big chains typically do it through political action committees.

[@johnu78]

SinKing 57 Once the chain stores come in the small locally owned retail businesses begin feeling the pressure and then most of them end up closing.

[@SashaAiresse]

I fell in love with Kalispell when I was there in the 90s. Lake Flathead is beautiful and love that there is skiing. It's so sad to see the state it is in. 3 yrs later, has there been any improvement?

[@tyronegreen2412]

I'm from Canada we have a place called Newfounland which is similar to this Montana town. the people here must face reality, just like the Irish and others did in times past. At least you don't need a visa or a passport and your welcome in 49 other states. And if you got to be in Montana ,Go to school out of state and come back and get a job in your field , But face the facts a blue collar way of life is not going to happen at home. You speak english you got an SSN card go find your nich in another state for now, we will be happy to have you aboard and we would love to meet you and learn about you and your Montana.

[@johnu78]

@US772 Yes, they receive health insurance, but at what cost? What amount of stress do they have to deal with in order to receive their "benefits"?

[@Casey119838]

this makes kalispell look way worse than it was at the time. i have always had a job since i was 16. always. its not that hard to find work there. show the positive sides of the town more.

[@Jameskonigchr]

Big corporate businesses aren't responsible for mom and pop shops closing - the consumer is.. the consumer chooses to shop where they want. That is called free market

[@montanaroadapple]

I walked out of TeleTech one day and a week later, I was working in the North Dakota oil fields making $28 an hour. Quitting that crappy job was the best thing I've ever done. Nothing like working in an internment camp...

[@US772]

Stress? My kids worked there as teenagers and they did fine. Get used to it life is challenging.Your just going to have to suck it up like the rest of us until the economy gets better. If Teletec unionized it would eventually shut down due to lack of competitiveness and be outsourced to India. Then everyone there would loose their job.

[@rowdystarling1893]

In my opinion the economy is booming in kalispell right now wtf. Especially Whitefish or any business that has to do with tourism

[@johnu78]

Rowdy Starling How has the tourism economy been doing lately with all the forest fires?

[@bobburnitt1411]

Let me tell you, this guy needs to take a course in Economics. Wages are directly influenced by supply and demand. Wages always seek the real bottom. If people are WILLing to work for $5 bucks an an hour then that is what the employers will pay. When I was traveling in Montana many years ago, that is what I liked about Montana. All businesses were locally owned. For the MMOST part they were locally owned. EVERYONE should FIGHT the "Big Box Oligarchs". they RUIN every where they go. Of course if they sell a roll of UF Cable 50 Cents less than the local guy people will by it from a horrible place like Home Depot. But these stores come in, then they put 15 LOCAL MERchants out of business. People should do everything possible to keep the Oligarchs out. But HOW to do that is the question. But I have been to Kalispell and Missolua and a number of places there and on up in to Alberta and beyond. It is great country but the Oligarchs have wrecked that place too, BB

[@Clintsessentials]

John, is Kalispell doing any better.......or getting worse......I'm near Missoula, MT!

[@johnu78]

Visit the town when you get a chance.

[@TampaBayMoFo]

Hi, I enjoy your vids, got a question for you: How did come to select Kalispell as a location to move to? What motivated you to move there? Why move to an area that is (presumably) worse than Tampa Bay? Thanks.

[@johnu78]

How did you like it?

[@DOABadLuck]

You should investigate the EPA trying to destroy the lumber industry in the Flathead.

[@lasvegascollapse]

Very good video. I have documented some of the collapse here in Vegas over the last couple years. I had to go and work up in ND and you are correct, many people working in the oilfields are coming from the Montana/Idaho region. I didn't realize that Montana had been hit so hard by the coming depression. Thanks for the info!

[@COINTELPRO101]

@TattereDX So at 84 hours a week, overtime included beyond 40 hours, making 1800, so they are paying you 8 bucks an hour?

[@TattereDX]

I've been living in the Kalispell area since about 2003 and worked for Plum Creek and went to CFAC until it shut down in 2009. At 14.7% unemployment at the time we moved down south for a year and moved back to Kalispell in 2011 so our kids will have a decent childhood. Right now I am getting ready to work for BNSF who has been pushing hard for new people the last year, (400+ hired last summer) We also have CFAC which may get a 4.5 year contract to run starting this spring. Keep trying all!

[@Lucasbluecat]

How did you post this in June and there be snow on the ground?

[@johnu78]

@Sinni I'm sorry to hear that. What type of work have you been doing since you closed your store?

[@johnu78]

What's your answer for Kalispell?

[@Shaggy-fw8ou]

I think you are funny saying back then in 2012 that the cost of living pay should be 11 to 12 dollars an hour, when I work at Kalispell Regional Medical Center i made around 10 dollars an hour and was making enough money to save. The cost of living in Montana is way less than other states.

[@mattsmith9479]

What's it like at the Medical Center? Are there plenty of jobs for available jobs for doctors, or are they rarely hiring? Any information specifically on radiologist or oncologist would be awesome.

[@emanonymous]

great post john. do you live in kalispell?

[@johnu78]

How long ago did you move from Columbia Falls?

[@Ace1000ks]

She never worked at Teletech, she just told me about a Teletech near a food bank. She is actually from Bigfork, MT.

[@mja2035]

These kind of videos are what you do best John. This is why I started watching when you were back in Florida. I hope your staying warm. Mike in Denver.

[@johnu78]

@US772 Who's to say that Teletech won't shut down anyway?

[@jimbobubbadj]

@MISTY1770 Who are at the heads of the banks?

[@johnu78]

@Holmes1313 Where is the Congress going to be held?

[@RaspberryFrosty89]

Kalispell is my hometown and this is depressing. The economy up there is why I no longer live there.

[@johnu78]

@Sinni Thank you for your comment. What type of business did you have? Take care, John

[@johnu78]

@DoeBoy999 Thank you for your comment. I agree with you completely. Take care, John

[@johnu78]

Where do we move to?

[@HeartOnMySleeve77]

I'm not a fan of big corporate businesses, especially when they take from the mom&pop stores in an area. However, what on earth do you think will happen if say, Walmart in Kalispell closed that employs so many? Where do they go? So you want it to collapse. What happens to those who depend on that wage?

[@johnu78]

@HansBooBee Thank you very much. It's a clip from the Platoon movie soundtrack.

[@johnu78]

@Josephdivemontana What other points in the video do you not agree with?

[@ozlo]

@johnu78 It's called Adagio for Strings, composed by Samuel Barber.

[@johnu78]

@EconCat88 Thank you very much. I'm doing the best I can despite this damn depression! Thank you for your support and take care. Sincerely, John

[@johndeere370]

I travel through Kalispell, and throughout Montana on a regular basis. What I don't understand is -- there are literally hundreds of new and newer high-end homes in most, if not all larger towns in Montana. So, naturally, the question is -- who is buying all these houses, and where do THEY work? They obviously have tons of money. Another question is -- the video poster (and many others) seems to have the attitude that they should be handed a job. Where does this attitude come from? If you want a better job than what is available in your location, then move to another location. The poster mentioned that he had only been in Kalispell for about 6 months at the time of the video. Why would you move to a place that had a bad economy? In regard to large corporations, I think that the majority of Americans would agree that large corporations have too much power. But, one thing that everyone should understand, if they don't already, is that the ONE and ONLY source of a corporation's power is the government. Yes, I said the government. The only reason a corporation exists is because the state government gives them a charter that says they exist. Without government authorization, a corporation would not exist. Governments have the authority to put whatever conditions they want on the issuance of a corporate charter. In fact, if you do some research, you will find that in the distant past, governments DID put conditions on charters, such as, for example, that the corporation had to donate a certain part of profits of some sort of public work, or that the corp. had to build a school, or a library, etc. etc. So, the bottom line is that all corporations in America are doing what they are doing because the state government gave them a right to do it. Another thing for the poster to think about and others, is that immigrants are literally pouring into this country every day, and will continue to do so. In fact, if you look it up, you will find that the U.S. is highest on the list for a desired immigration destination in the world. Why? Because everyone in the world (except apparently most Americans) knows that America offers the best and greatest opportunity for work in the whole world. And, I don't see any immigrants complaining about not having work to do. That seems kind of weird when juxtaposed against a video like this one. So many questions, so few answers.

[@MTgrower]

Those folks with tons of money in the giant mansions are mostly from California, or some other state. Vacation mansions.

[@johnu78]

A lot of 1%ers do have vacation homes in Montana. Despite having a lot of wealthy people in the state most of the state's population are living in poverty. The poverty is going to get worse especially with low oil prices because a lot of people working in the oil fields in Williston and Sidney will be laid off. This will force them to come back to Kalispell and other towns across the state. And this will increase the state's unemployment rate which will lead to other socioeconomic problems

[@АлександрПерчов-ж9у]

A lot of them are second homes purchased by wealthy out of staters. They are what float the economy in many areas of MT.

[@nw7us]

I was finally forced to leave my Montana to come here to Nebraska, just to find work. Lost my home, my business, then a job, before I had to move. Now, I have work, at a reasonable wage, in Nebraska. I hope that I can return to Montana (my childhood home), once the economy gets stable again, in the Big Sky Country.

[@jimbobubbadj]

@flbriefboi Why not Ron Paul?

[@johnu78]

@hobo59 I agree with you that things are going to get very, very bad. Thank you for watching the video and for your comments. Please forward the video to your contacts. Take care, John

[@johnu78]

@Sinni Have you read much about primitive/sustainable living skills?

[@johnu78]

@MISTY1770 What are you talking about?

[@fishngearz]

What does everyone think about Seattle ?

[@spoicydeemer985]

I live I montana kalispell and we took a trip to seatle the only thing I didn't like was the horrid garbage smell! still a very good city

[@brysonbelangia8792]

+FancyArms9mm Unless you like cities that are overcrowded with stuck up yuppies and an exploding heroin problem, don't come here. It is horrible. I am looking at anywhere to go to get the f*** out of here. The ONLY good thing about Washington is the diverse environments. The mountains, rainforests and beautiful coastal beaches all in one place is very nice and it is beautiful. But honestly it isn't even worth it anymore since you have to spend the majority of your time in shitty and overcrowded metropolitan areas where the people are rude and easily offended. And for 7-9 months of the year the weather blows and it's raining slush anyway so it's not even fun to go out and enjoy it. I'd take dry cold over this crap any day! And, judging by your username, you probably enjoy owning firearms. I doubt that you will be able to here legally for much longer, this state is very liberal. Although that probably won't matter since they'll probably just become illegal federally soon but that's another issue entirely...Anyway, Seattle sucks. Western Washington sucks. Hope that kinda answers your question...

[@StrobeVII]

I used to live in Kalispell.

[@johnu78]

@TattereDX Thank you for your comments. Sincerely, John

[@johnu78]

@Populist1488 Thank you for your comment. I wish you the best! Sincerely, John

[@johnu78]

@planetcave You should check out the book called "Participating in Nature", it covers primitive living skills, I read it and found it to be very educational. It's on Amazon. By the way, thank you for all your comments. Take care, John

[@johnu78]

@Budguy68 Thank you for your comment. We can't agree on everything. Take care, John :o)

[@scrapper276]

We have malls that are empty here. Three of them now closed one turned into a smaller shopping center, and one being turned into a shopping outlet and another that is vacant in a slum neighborhood. The two have been closed over a decade. The one in Randall Park they are just letting sit there. Too much money to knock it down. So they are just waiting the bank that is until the city gives them the money to knock it down, or the city will claim it by eminent domain. Then they will knock it down with money they get trickled down to them from the federal government. There is also a mall out by Akron,Ohio that is vacant that also needs to be knocked down. You go to any plaza or mall here in Northeastern Ohio. Half the stores are gone. Literally. Half the small businesses and small shopping chains are gone. That means all that is left are the big box stores and about a quarter them have closed. The wages here are actually lower than Kalispell. Most people here make 8 to 8.50 an hour. Rent here is 500 to 1000 dollars, but the taxes that take out of a persons check is ridiculous. Property taxes here are the highest in the country.

[@johnu78]

@boat6868 Thank you. I had other footage of vacant commercial properties but I didn't include it because I wanted to keep the video under 10 minutes long.

[@johnu78]

@drmarthacastro Thank you very much for your support. It's greatly appreciated! Sincerely, John

[@buhner1991]

John, do you live in Kalispell?

[@johnu78]

@Josephdivemontana I appreciate the video idea. When I get down that way again I'll shoot some footage and see what I can put together.

[@johnu78]

@jimbobubbadj Thank you for your comments. Take care, John

[@johnu78]

@krl8814 Thank you very much for your comment. I was very happy with the way the video turned out as far as the editing of it. Take care, John

[@jimbobubbadj]

I wouldn't mind doing a little work in the stock room and load up on what I need for delivery but sales is out of the question. So is changing the oil and changing the radiator fluid. Some delivery companies are requiring drivers to do maintanance on their vehicles.I don't mean dropping the vehicles off at the repair shop I mean doing some of the actual work on them. Again I say would a mechanic enjoy being a courier or vice versa? There is no reason that people can't do their perspective jobs.

[@TheChuck624]

Good video. One thing to add and not trying to argue with you, but my a good old family friend who was a downtown retail business owner once told me the people like himself were responsible for the box stores taking over. His reason for saying this was because the guys like himself closed early on Saturdays, closed on Sundays and never stayed open later than 6-7 pm. The box stores stayed open all the time. Just the opinion of one old guy I know.

[@JerichoDignadice]

Thanks for the insights. I work at TeleTech and I also know people who also love their jobs there but of course, it's not for everyone. There's also the other side of the story. :)

[@johnu78]

The Depression has hit nearly every town in every state in the country. Thanks for watching and take care. Sincerely, John

[@COINTELPRO101]

Some of the things that happened to us while we lived in Montana for 3+ years. Slashed tires. Damaged windshield. Broke into our car, smashed the console. Broke into our house, even though we lived across the street from the sheriffs department (I found out much later that it was a sheriff that was breaking into our house). Dumped garbage in our driveway. Multiple neighbors took their dogs to crap in our yard at midnight. Killed our pets. And that is just the start. Do NOT move to Montana.

[@jimbobubbadj]

I thought that you had disappeared. Great that you are back.

[@johnu78]

@US772 The best thing that could happen to Teletech is for the employees to unionize there. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) would be more than happy to help the employees there with that.

[@johnu78]

@mja2035 Thank you very much for your support. Sincerely, John

[@johnu78]

@TheChuck624 Thank you for your comment.

[@scrapper276]

John, I will tell you what the problem is. Cleveland,Ohio is in the same shape. We used to have an industrial area called the flats. Businesses like the ones you talk about have killed the American Industrial occupation.

[@johnu78]

@HansBooBee Thanks for watching. Take care, John

[@badbusinessbureau]

Big box retailers did not put the smaller ones out of business. It is the customers who shop at the big box that did it. Show me any business that has no customers and yet stays in business. The people/customers made a choice to shop where they wanted. Big box didn't shove a gun to small business and say close your doors. Big Box didn't hold a gun to the customer and say, "You have to buy from us."

[@johnu78]

@alinhilde By the way, thank you for watching. Take care, John

[@johnu78]

@PowerForGood Thank you for your comment. :o)

[@johnu78]

@ryuamakusa90 Thank you for your comment. The other side of the story is that the vast majority of people there are miserable and they know they're working for a slave wage. The employees there should be getting paid $15.00 an hour for what they have to put up with.

[@HeartOnMySleeve77]

Answering my questions with a question? *sigh* I think what would help not just Kalispell, but the whole country, would be to fire every career politician in Washington for lining their own pockets and those of the lobbyists. This particular president has done NO favors for small businesses, rather punished them into bankruptcy with more and more regulations and taxes. Spending our tax dollars on such ridiculous waste is killing our country. Flat tax, no loop holes. Will you answer mine now?

[@johnu78]

@flbriefboi Thank you for your watching. Take care, John

[@johnu78]

I sincerely hope your situation improves. Take care, John

[@MtnSnowflake]

You said "not alot of job opportunities here, folks"....how does that warrant a negative video about Kalispell? Kalispell doesn't sound any different than any other city right now, in a state of depression. Why the hate?

[@johnu78]

@Holmes1313 Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Do you live in the area? Take care, John

[@jaredfontaine2002]

It is time to buy! Move to places where nobody wants to! That is why I live in WV...

[@johnu78]

This video was posted January 23, 2012. For some reason youtube put a different date on it. Thanks for watching! Sincerely, John

[@jimbobubbadj]

Many of the jobs that are available are crappy. For example I was looking through the classifieds and Napa auto had an add. It was for a courier. I read the details and they expected the couriers to be knowledgeable about autoparts and to suggest parts for repair. WTF, do they mean mechanics? They also expected the courier to pitch sales and to make note of what was in the store or place of business that they were delivering too. Shoudn't they have a sales person do that?

[@flyfish1995]

Being a former Kalispell resident I found your video interesting but truly misguided and with all due respect, downright ignorant.While I am not pro corporation, I don't blame them for driving out small business. It is the local government that issued these chain stores building permits and business liscense.Towns like Kalispell need to draw on their streangths rather than try to build a consermer based econom. Bottom line is that work in Kalispell is seasonal, therefore the economy is seasonal

[@planetcidemadness]

Good job John. I think I'm going to try and create a channel and post videos like this. If they're available.

[@johnu78]

I'm sure you'll be successful with it. The Canon VIXIA HF R500 is supposed to be a pretty decent camcorder. I would suggest you take a look at that specific one. Take care.

[@johnu78]

@HansBooBee They don't have any of those here.

[@johnu78]

@resborzage Thank you for your comment.

[@johnu78]

@shitluck7986 Thank you. I'll be uploading a new video within the next two days.

[@johnu78]

@chiliwack44 Thank you for your comment.

[@johnu78]

@Sinni That's cool. I'm glad to hear that position is going well for you. Have you ever thought of starting another business here?

[@MtnSnowflake]

I didn't say that. What I said was, my husband works in Kalispell and makes good money but it depends on your skill set. If the area doesn't offer what you need, you need to where you can work. Kalispell DOES have jobs, maybe just not what you need or want. If the job you want or need is in N Dakota, move there, that's what I said and meant. Things are tough all over, I don't enjoy being away from my husband but we do what we must.

[@Josephdivemontana]

This guy doesn't know what he is talking about. The large store at the beginning is for sale because the original people switched store locations because they were only using half the space, the payless shoe store closed because there was two others and it's montana, we don't need three. Kalispell is actually growing and expanding. It's facing problems like anywhere else but not as bad. This is Montana, less people means we live simpler lifes.

[@MtnSnowflake]

I live in SW MT and its the same here, however, my husband lives most of the year in Kalispell where he found a good job. I guess it depends on what your skill set is. By the way, $9.75 is a great starting wage. I know plenty in Bozeman who make minimum wage, WAY under $9.75. You just do what you gotta do and be grateful for a job.

[@rejco100]

John, do you see a homeless veteran problem in your new town. Here in Santa Monica, the VA says the homeless veteran population is going down, but I don't see it. It seems like every day outside my condo complex I'm giving clothes to a lot of new homeless veteran ( I ask to see their VA cards). I have a feeling the VA considers their huge prison-like human warehouses filled with mats & cot as "Housing"....IT IS NOT.

[@johnu78]

Thank you for your support. I'm hoping the Occupy Movement makes a comeback before we lose more of our freedoms.

[@TheManas1979]

Hello people, I am Russian and I living in Russia now, I have to say to you something. I feel really sorry , for the economic situation in USA now, and not only that. Intentions of America dominate on a other countries, make scary it`s own people.I had a big dream in past times to move to US , but now I have to think about this twice. People, why nobody talks about your police country?Why nobody stands up and say about injustice against people??America was like a dream for a people 20 years ago, and now, Kalispell,Detroit and so on ->, what is happend with you?You must struggle for your rights, You are billions all, and they are only crowd idiots in a white house, that steal your money and your future.If you choose Hillary Clinton, she finally will collapse your country and civil war will start. I like USA, there are a lot of nature and interesting culture, wish you to be prosperity.!!!

[@johnu78]

@RalfUriah What the hell are you talking about?

[@feldej2]

The sad thing is that kalispell has so much potential

[@johnu78]

@PreparedResistance Home Depot and Lowes have both closed stores over the last few years. And most of the closings have been done without providing any notice to the employees.

[@quinnmccully4689]

I was about to move up here, but after seeing this, and other stories about how Kalispell's economy is in the dumpster, it really makes me want to check out Utah.

[@johnu78]

@Holmes1313 After I read your last post I did a search on it. I wish I had known about it sooner I would have done a video about it. Thank you again though for bringing it to my attention. Take care, John

[@Natty121985]

so true john we need to get back to what made this country so strong small business and ma and pa stores thank you for informing the people of our area what is happening i am laid off form the Aluminum plant in cfalls along with 350 other amazingly hard workers and not even half of us make what we were making there thanks GLENCORE for beeing another worthless world leader in profit. and those of us that are making a comparable wage are in ND not helping our local economy at all

[@EconCat88]

Great work as always. Hope all is well with you there.