All this back and forth over re-districting is a political distraction contrived by members of the phony “two-party” system, dividing up the state to lessen one group or another’s political strength. This is nothing less than disenfranchisement by design, completely defeating the strengths and values of members of our state who are not of those […]

A decision in the U.S. House of Representatives may have a disastrous impact in Montana that could result in teachers and road workers across our state losing their jobs. The House of Representatives is stalling much-needed legislation that ensures Montana’s rural communities and schools receive the support they need through the Secure Rural Schools and […]

Last week, Americans spent almost $1.5 billion on the Mega Millions lottery for a chance to win a record $656 million payout. That’s nearly $5 for every person in the country. Three people overcame the exceptional odds of one in 176 million, matched all six numbers and will share the enormous prize. The rest of […]

Back in November of 2008, a little known report entitled, “The Transition to Green” quietly emerged on to the public policy domain. The 391-page report was the work product of 28 national environmental organizations. The manifesto highlighted priority environmental recommendations and described how “the administration could resume Federal leadership on critical energy and environmental challenges […]

While the questions are different for the bakery, appliance store, law firm and butcher shop – much less a software company or SEO firm, the need is the same. These 5 questions can make your business different in the eyes of your customers – and they’re what you’d call attention to if you could do […]

In the next couple of years, middle-class Montanans are eligible for a sizable tax credit from the Affordable Care Act. It is refundable so taxpayers who have little income tax liability can still fully benefit. The credit can be paid in advance to a taxpayer’s insurance company to help cover the cost of premiums. All […]

The Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act (HR 1581/S. 1087) will be considered this week by the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Denny Rehberg is a co-sponsor of HR 1581. In the state of Montana alone this would remove federal protections from about 5.5 million acres. This would have a detrimental effect along the Rocky […]

Women are an endangered species under Republican legislators and governors. We no longer have the right to control our own bodies. We cannot decide for ourselves whether to limit the size of our families through contraception. We are having obstacles put in our way when we want to terminate a pregnancy because of rape or […]

It would seem that Mike Jopek believes any program supported by the government and paid for by you and me, is a good program (March 21 Beacon: “Out of Touch”). I beg to differ. It is ironic that a student in a Jesuit university, supported by a Catholic religion that doesn’t believe in birth control […]

After a second Libertarian candidate filed for U.S. Senate, Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch had a choice. She could hold a primary for which the cost to counties would total between $350,000 and $390,000. Or she could simply place both men on the general election ballot. She chose the latter. What this means is […]

Most American homes today are energy pigs that, as fuel prices continue to increase, become more burdensome to their owners every year. They leak warm air out of every nook and cranny, have inefficient mechanical systems (that probably need a filter change), old light bulbs and water heaters, cold windows, and not enough insulation. Compared […]

The reaction by some claiming to represent Montana’s resource industries to a recent conference entitled “power shift” at the University of Montana is both sad and short-sighted. Apparently they were offended by the fact that much of the program dealt with environmental problems associated with resource development. Thus, we read opinions bearing the titles, “Universities […]

In late February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in PPL Montana, LLC v Montana, a case which Montana seems to have lost, badly. The flap started in 2003 with a federal citizen lawsuit by two “parents of schoolchildren” (actually professional environmentalists), claiming rent was owed to Montana’s school trust on the riverbeds under 17 […]

When something is viewed as an expense, your instinct is to reduce it to the smallest possible amount. Doing this to your marketing is not unlike choking yourself. Marketing as an expense The most obvious clue that a business treats marketing as an expense is that they cut back on it when things get tight. […]

Entrepreneurs are often surprised when investors refuse to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or confidentiality agreements when offered an opportunity to read the entrepreneurs’ new business plans. After all, every new startup features secret ideas, partnerships, intellectual property and/or technology. Why won’t investors sign NDAs? Investors are pitched for funding by as many as 5,000 startup […]