This Jesus statue business is such a shame. An outside group from Wisconsin is creating hoopla over a memorial to our Montana WWII veterans? What business do they have coming to Montana and telling us what to do? Thank God we have a congressman with a backbone who will stand up and fight for our […]

It is that time of year again, when millions of Americans are on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. Some trek into the woods seeking the tree and outdoor experience. Others make their selection from a local Christmas tree farmer and some simply unpack the Christmas tree storage box from the attic or garage. […]

Every year, in fact – every month, I have some formal solo time set aside for putting thought into where my business is, where it’s going and what adjustments it needs to zig-zag its way to where it belongs. Ultimately all of that relates to where it leads you, how it changes your business and […]

Am I the only one who gets just a bit humbugged when I hear someone chirp “Season’s Greetings” or see “Happy Holidays” banners strung across Main Street or Central? Or feels like a dinosaur on learning that “Merry Christmas” generates 110 million Google hits, while “Happy Holidays” scores 296 million? How come people who have […]

Much of the problem with the U.S. economy is that the Federal government has too much power. It has the ability to choose the winners and losers in the market place, and as we witnessed in Libya, in the international arena as well. This is the reason corporations and other special interest groups, like unions, […]

With 15 million Americans out of work, record home foreclosures, the largest number on food stamps and 25 percent of our school children living below poverty level, one might think it’s a good time to end foreign aid and instead concern ourselves with our own country. But no, foreign aid has become such an ingrained […]

In the waning days of 2011, Congress is doing its best to reaffirm the perception that it is wholly incapable doing anything, at all. The debate over whether to extend the payroll tax cut no longer just involves the merits of its extension (the economy is awful and increasing taxes is a bad idea), but […]

I read with interest Tom Crimmins’ guest column (Nov. 16 Beacon: “Release Inventoried Roadless Lands”) and would like to commend him for 32 years of service with the U.S. government (Forest Service). But he has several opinions that are unsettling to me. The Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE) and RARE II were good for […]

“Our clients are so stupid!” Is that your company’s vibe? If you aren’t sure, ask the people who staff your front desk, sales department and/or customer support/service positions. At one time, the majority of my software customers were studio photographers. Their industry was making the massive shift from film to digital. Prior to that, many […]

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer is nationally recognized for his plain talk and good ideas. The Democrat selected a Republican running mate by allowing Montanans to mail in their nominees. He used the same strategy to trim the state budget and to select the design for the state quarter. Schweitzer is frugal with the Montana budget, […]

Jesus of Nazareth is recognized worldwide among scholars, historians, archaeologists, even Muslims, Hindus, and Jews. His existence is indisputable, even by Dan Brown. So, one might ask, “What ‘religious law’ is established by a statue of this historical man resting on public property?” What about the memory of this man needs so desperately to be […]

The new ruling by the Montana Public Service Commission purportedly clarifies how “nonprofit” taxi services must operate and these new regulations will affect the services provided, free of charge, by the Ride Guy in Whitefish. The Ride Guy is a group of dedicated volunteers that seek to reduce to zero the number of people driving […]

Two years ago, following an especially nasty local election season, I sat on a panel in Whitefish with then Political Practices Commissioner Dennis Unsworth. I was a bit out of my element, but I did learn something about the agency responsible for refereeing state campaigns: It lacks any sort of teeth. In the audience that […]

I support Whitefish’s goal of having strong, positive and vigorously enforced land use policies and its vision of a city where urban sprawl is limited and growth is controlled. I have supported the Dark Skies Initiative for years. One of my reasons for coming to the Flathead 20 years ago was the environment here that […]

As I look back over time, I’m convinced that Scott Dinsmore is exactly right. None of us have a clue what we can really do. Not the faintest idea. On the contrary, we’re all fairly sure what we can’t do. But the whole “can’t” thing is really way too easy. It’s the can that hard. “Can […]