By John Fuller The establishment of political parties was not an intended consequence in the creation of this Republic. But parties were the predictable result of the struggle for ratification and implementation of the new Constitution. Since that time, we have had a two-party system with a remarkable consistency of constituency. The Federalists-Whigs-Republicans have generally […]

Each year, before walking across a stage for a handshake and a diploma, graduates sit quietly as their top-performing classmates give them a pep talk. Then it’s the commencement speaker’s turn to tell the students the best way to follow their dreams, conquer their goals and live their lives to the fullest. While well intentioned, […]

News of non-approved genetically engineered wheat discovered growing in Oregon put regulators on high alert. With the bulk of Montana wheat exported and Japan and North Korea temporarily suspending orders of western white wheat, markets and farmers were shaky. All GMO wheat related questions were directed to Washington D.C. Montana grows some white wheat, but […]

During a recent trip to Oregon, our journey took us to a dockside seafood restaurant in Newport. As you can see from the photo below, this restaurant offers fresh local seafood in addition to meals made with the local catch. Print readers, see http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/images/uploads/freshlocalsalmon.jpg Take another look at the sign used to describe this salmon. […]

On behalf of the Whitefish Legacy Partners board, we would like to express our gratitude for your support of our conservation, recreation and education work. With your support this year, we plan to build 4.5 more miles as well as maintain the existing 22 miles of the Whitefish Trail. More than 40 local businesses and […]

By John Fuller In 1961, America embarked upon the social practice known as “affirmative action.” It was intended to assist minority, underclass and/or underprivileged groups based on race, gender, or age overcome “overt historical discriminations.” Despite several Supreme Court decisions limiting affirmative action implementation and a much anticipated case (Fisher v. Univ. of Texas) soon […]

Fossil fuel development is not going to develop Montana’s economy. Oil and coal companies are greatly overvalued, according to a new report by the Carbon Tracker Initiative. According to the report, if we are going to keep the Earth’s temperature from increasing more than 2 degrees Celsius, the limit which scientists have said is the […]

For many years, Montana has developed our natural resources – we can think of timber in western Montana, copper in Butte, coal throughout many parts of the state and again a resurgence of oil and gas in eastern Montana. At their economic peaks, each energy industry has created a quick demand for additional services and […]

It’s construction season in Montana and, while at times maddening, it’s at once a welcome sight. As the nation’s infrastructure continues to crumble, our state is spending $372 million building and repairing roads and bridges through the fall – a hefty and much-needed sum. With the collapse of the Interstate 5 bridge crossing the Skagit […]

It comes as no surprise that much of the budget surplus that Montana has enjoyed for the last eight years has come from energy and natural resource development. Oil and gas efforts across Montana, especially our eastern most counties, have provided opportunity across the state and revenue flows to help fund our government services on […]

Environmentalists have filed yet another lawsuit, against the Kootenai National Forest’s “Young Dodge” project on Lake Koocanusa’s west side. News? Naw … same old story. Young Dodge has been in the “paperworks” for a long time. Its first draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published clear back in February 2006. The Forest Service lost two […]

Think about the process you go through when preparing for an important business trip. You make a todo list so you’re sure you get all the bases covered. You think of every scenario that might come up at home while you are gone and every scenario that might up come while out of town. Based […]

The article headlined “Does Benghazi Matter?” (May 22 Beacon) was most enlightening. I was especially intrigued by the opinions of Joe Carbonari. He asked two questions: 1. Should a more vigorous military response have been ordered? And 2. Was a politically motivated cover-up attempted? Carbonari’s observations of the Benghazi issue seem to be in agreement […]

We have come a long way. And have a long way to go. When I was a young boy, my grandparents took me and my two sisters on a summer road trip from our hometown in northern Wisconsin to my aunt’s place in southern California. Before that trip, my family’s meager means prevented us from […]

By John Fuller Shortly after being sworn in, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called America a “nation of cowards.” Within a year, he studiously avoided prosecuting a videoed and documented case of white voter intimidation by the “New Black Panthers.” Then news surfaced that the Department of Justice was involved in a complex scheme to […]