The tragedy of the commons: Why we can’t have nice things

The tragedy of the commons: Why we can’t have nice things

Years ago, a California friend of some means sought a ranch in Montana where he could raise buffalo and enjoy the wide-open spaces far from strangers. Late one night, he found himself in a cowboy bar with his realtor mulling over the properties they had seen and the ones lined up for the next day. Out of the blue, the realtor, a Montana native, brought up the Montana Stream Access Law, which prohibits owners from excluding anyone seeking to recr…