Are you wasting those carefully planned advertising investments? The most expensive investment we can make is one that’s wasted. You’ve studied, sifted and listened intently to figure out the perfect message for a certain group of people interested in what you make or do. As you hoped, it resonates with just the right people at […]

Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer joined Republican Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger and 93-year-old former Republican Secretary of State Verner Bertelsen in signing a citizens’ initiative to place on the November ballot a policy that states, “corporations are not entitled to constitutional rights because they are not human beings.” The ballot initiative seeks Montana policy that charges […]

I recently arrived at my parents’ Spokane home. Before grabbing my suitcase, Mom was already standing on her front porch waving at me. It’s the same scene every time I visit. And it never gets old. Yes, this mother of three is still eager to see me after all those years of torture. As a […]

How many congressmen does it take to connect two dots? A historic oil boom is underway in North Dakota. Unemployed Montanans are moving there for jobs. New businesses are booming in Williston yet the same massive Bakken oil formation lies in Montana, just 20 miles away. What is wrong with Montana oil? Ask yourself this […]

Most of us do not like it when one person controls things, controls our actions, blocks us, and holds power over our heads. But an interesting psychological phenomenon takes place even in such rather blatant abuses of our freedom to make our own choices. Case in point: Grover Norquist’s hold over the Republican members of […]

Few Americans would disagree that our nation’s flag is a symbol of great importance, especially to those of us who have served and fought under its stars and stripes, or who have known a member of our military who has given his or her life for our country. Sadly, there are some who have taken […]

On April 24, Nick Gevock of the Montana Standard reported the city of Butte is pumping water out of Basin Creek Reservoir to make up a shortfall from its main filtration plant on the Big Hole River. As the Big Hole mucks up with runoff, the main plant can filter less water per day. Big […]

In part two of this series, we figured out that the buying signals customers (and prospects) send us are sometimes subtle, if not almost invisible. One good example is the sometimes joyous, sometimes annoying as all get out process of buying a car. Question: How does the salesperson know when their prospect has gotten past […]

Do you know how much the secretary of defense makes per year? It is just a hair under $200,000. Now I want you to guess how much the postmaster general makes per year. Until lately he made almost twice what the secretary of defense makes. Sen. Jon Tester got a bill passed to reduce the […]

As contractors, we rely on predictability and certainty to grow our businesses, especially as construction season gets underway in Montana. Without a long-term plan to rebuild our infrastructure, contractors like us won’t be able to put more Montanans to work upgrading our roads and bridges. Without a long-term extension, we can’t sign new contracts, hire […]

The governor of Montana has made quite a bit of news the last few weeks – from his comments on polygamy to his proposed pension fix to scenes of him passing out beef jerky in Times Square – once again raising the question of what Brian Schweitzer’s intentions are after he leaves office. For his […]

The staff of Kalispell Public Schools has provided a high level of instruction that has increased student proficiency in math, science and reading every year for the last seven years. Our students rank among the top in the state. However, we are currently facing the challenge of maintaining these achievement levels because of a significant […]

For nearly three decades Montana has banned the practice of basing insurance premiums upon a person’s gender. Last year, a new brand of lawmaker nearly repealed Montana’s unisex insurance laws. Unisex laws are gender-blind. In 2005, Senate Bill 351 by Duane Grimes, R-Clancy, was tabled by a Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee. In 2008, when running […]

The rhetoric and misinformation produced by the Democrats to fool the public in their expanding efforts to divide our society and win votes through class warfare, racial dissension, and now its war against women are appalling! The latest falsehood is that Republicans are opposed to the Violence Against Women Act. Passed in 1994 with bipartisan […]

The conservative organization ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) has seen a rapid exodus of many of its business members. Recently the following companies have severed ties with ALEC: Mars, Inc., the Arizona Public Service Company, Kraft, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Coco-Cola, Pepsi Co, Intuit and the Gates Foundation. It will be interesting to see if any of […]