I have always been a fiscal conservative and a social progressive looking for the candidates from either party that best fit the type of leadership needed at any time. As a social progressive, I believe in investing in the continuous improvement of civilization and, as a fiscal conservative, I believe that the ensuing bills should […]

Everyone just loves performance evaluations – whether they have to give or receive them. Employees tend to find them annoying because they’re often a useless exercise of “well, you’re doing ok, see you in 6 months or a year or whatever”. Sometimes you’ll hear that you need to improve something, but more often than not […]

Wolves Hunters are literally lining up for their wolf tags. While bad-state Wyoming won’t get a season, Idaho has set a quota of 220 tags, Montana 75, pretty timid limits. Such a small take from hunting might “educate” wolves regarding humans and livestock, but it won’t slow the eating down of game by wolves. The […]

Whatever your view of the so-called “castle doctrine” bill passed by the 2009 Montana Legislature, the fact remains that a Billings man who shot his Wal-Mart co-worker in the head at point-blank range has still not been charged with a crime. And the county attorney there blames the recently enacted self-defense law. To be sure, […]

In less than a month and a half, the Badger-Two Medicine Area will be closed for good to all ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles. It’s amazing how a handful of environmentalists and outfitters can get the Forest Service to shut down an area that has been open for years. We the users need to contact our […]

With each passing day, public confidence in President Obama’s proposed government-run health care experiment erodes even further. Over the last few months, he has crisscrossed this nation in a desperate attempt to shore up support, only to find hardworking Americans becoming increasingly skeptical. And so it should come as no surprise that President Obama recently […]

In 1960 Montana and the other states of the Rocky Mountains were the campaign stomping grounds for Ted Kennedy. That summer and fall the 28-year-old Ted was out here working for his brother Jack’s presidential campaign. The youngest Kennedy was travelling, most often by car, up and down the Rockies going door to door, working […]

It was the early spring of 1945 and we had four, 2,500-horsepower, radial engines working hard to gradually overcome the drag of San Francisco Bay. We lumbered along for what seemed like forever, until the 200-foot wingspan provided enough lift so we could leave the choppy bay south of San Francisco. Once airborne, we turned […]

In order to truly understand the health care debate, one must grasp the core of the statist’s argument. The issue is not that some don’t have access to medical treatment. From the statist’s viewpoint, the crisis is that some Americans do. Like the two women standing before Solomon’s throne fighting for custody of the child […]

Recently an acquaintance who advises “creative professionals” (graphic artists, web designers, print designers and similar folks) asked me to contribute some wisdom to a collection of business advice he was putting together for his clients. The rules were firm: Offer two sentences of advice that I would give to struggling business owners. Two sentences. No […]

As President Barack Obama landed at Gallatin Field airport in Belgrade last week, both Fox News and MSNBC were, for once, in agreement: the president was expecting a more confrontational town hall and perhaps even welcomed one after the yawner in New Hampshire a few days prior that prompted speculation that the audience was hand-picked. […]

Whether one believes in global warming, climate change and our nation’s energy policies are merging. Rising global temperatures have become a divisive issue; many believe them to be a part of the natural cycle, while others point to the diminishing polar ice shields as proof that our emissions are killing our planet. Unfortunately, the issue […]

Despite the fact that Blondie (our golden retriever) gets credit card applications in the mail, identity theft is not a concern for her. First off, you’d probably be suspicious if she came in and plopped her Mastercard down on the counter and ordered the prime rib, despite those sad Golden Retriever eyes that the ladies […]

Because Plum Creek is Montana’s largest forest products company and largest private landowner, whatever the company does matters greatly to Montana. Because Plum Creek is also one of America’s largest forest Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT), perhaps it is time for a discussion on how REITs “think.” For starters, I recommend two good source items […]

There are two very visible sides to this debate over whether and how the U.S. health care system should be improved. On the left end are those who argue that a public option (or government-run insurance plan) must be part of any final legislation, and on the right end are those who oppose any form […]