Yoga Pants, Montana Tourism and Common Sense

Op-Ed, Let’s Focus on Real Problems

By now you have heard about the Missoula lawmaker, Rep. David Moore, and his bill to strengthen Montana’s indecent exposure law. The bill was in response to a group of naked bicyclists who pedaled through Missoula last August. As a parent, I would prefer not to see naked people riding around Montana, and such a display could actually be a threat to human life if there were naked people bicycling on “Going to the Sun Road”. Seriously, that’s one place where not keeping your eyes on the road could kill you. But I digress…

Nudity in public?

Without debating our ever-eroding freedom of speech, morality or religious beliefs, I think that public nudity is something whose time has not yet come. Personally, I really couldn’t care less, but as a parent and being respectful of society’s accepted norms, I think that nudity is best shared privately. Call me old fashioned, but that’s my opinion and I am not opposed to some form of guidelines being enforced as to how much skin you can display and where you can strut your stuff in public.

Seriously, would you be comfortable having dinner at one of the best restaurants in Whitefish if the people sitting at the table beside you were all in their birthday suits? Most restaurants and retail stores already enforce “dress codes” that are not issues for most people. As we know, some swanky restaurants will not serve patrons if they are not wearing a coat and tie.

State or Federal Laws on Acceptable Dress Codes

Having shared my personal opinion, I do have a problem as to where lawmakers draw the line as to what is “acceptable dress (or undress) in public”. Full nudity? Okay I get that, but drilling down to the level that “yoga pants” and Speedos are ranked the same as full frontal nudity…I have a problem with that and I would imagine that most people share that opinion. Tourism accounts for almost four billion dollars of Montana’s revenue and eleven million people chose to visit Montana last year. I wonder how many people would choose another destination if they thought they might get arrested if they dressed in their Speedos?

Common Sense

My biggest objection is that our lawmakers are spending their time on marginal concerns when we have so many important issues that need to be addressed and solved. Seriously, what is more important, making sure Montanans are not wearing tight pants in public or doing things that permit businesses to prosper and hire new employees? Is outlawing yoga pants a priority of the day or is solving our immigration problems; or counteracting the federal government’s latest power grab to control and regulate the Internet?

Good Business Sense

Unlike Rep. David Moore, the Flathead Guide focuses on what is important to local Montana businesses. Our mission is to help Flathead Valley businesses grow by attracting new customers and improving their rank in search results. This doesn’t require new legislation and we don’t care if you are wearing yoga pants or if you sign-up in your birthday suit because adding your business to the Flathead Guide can be done in the privacy of your own home.

If you want to prepare for those millions of people who will visit the Flathead and Glacier National Park this year, make sure they can find your business. Get listed in the Flathead Guide today!