Now that Democrat Kendall Van Dyk has bested Republican incumbent Roy Brown by four votes in Montana’s spendiest State Senate race ever ($234,000 for 6,208 ballots cast), the Republicans hold the state Senate 28-21 and the House by a whomping 68-32 majority. So what does this “mandate” call for? Many observers, including Flathead Democrats, have […]

I’m writing in response to Wilma Beck’s letter (Dec. 1 Beacon: “Marijuana, Nut No ‘Happy Meals’”). If our government can criminalize a natural herb that has never killed anybody in the 5,000-year history of its use, it can criminalize any food. What could be more pro nanny-state than marijuana prohibition? Beyond the fact that marijuana […]

On Nov. 18, Montana Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg sent a letter to the state’s Democratic U.S. senators urging them to “heed the will of Montanans” and join the GOP in swearing off earmarks for three years. Less than a week later, Sen. Max Baucus responded in writing, describing the move as a “political stunt.” It’s […]

I would like to thank Plum Creek Timber Co. for allowing public access during hunting season. Although I got skunked this year, I enjoyed my hunting opportunities, including on Plum Creek ground near Ashley Lake. Secondly, I would like to scold the thoughtless rider on an ATV who went around the gate on the Plum […]

“The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.” – Plato Today, we stand on the shoulders of our predecessors. This aptly applies to education. Those who have tirelessly worked on the many aspects of educating our children have allowed us to now recognize their importance and the importance of […]

Much noise has been made of the mess that has become airport security. The recent introduction of TSA’s high resolution body scanners and the “pat downs” (formerly known as “getting to second base”) have stirred up a hornet’s nest of grass roots discontent. As you might expect, there has been much hand-wringing in political circles […]

I’m offering my “two cents” on the controversy over “earmarking” by members of Congress of domestic project funds, as a former federal political appointee (at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in the Clinton Administration). Unelected and unknown like hundreds of others like me, for six years I was part of a small group annually able […]

Gov. Brian Schweitzer released his state budget last week, and during its public unveiling he preempted many Republican ideas and chided them for others he didn’t agree with. The performance left one GOP lawmaker complaining that the governor had already “started waging war between the legislative and executive branches.” If a political “war” is coming […]

In San Francisco, a city board of supervisors voted 8-3 to prohibit fast food restaurants from including toys in “happy meals” that have more than 600 calories. Well, the price of a happy meal is decent and some families can’t afford a $7 hamburger. When a state allows a group of health food nuts to […]

A recent opinion has been making the rounds in Montana newspapers, claiming that wind energy is too expensive and would somehow result in higher energy prices in our state. That’s what I call junk science. You don’t have to look very far to see the jobs and economic development that come with a renewable energy […]

Jobs. Politicians talk about them. Some own businesses that created jobs. The trouble is, it’s not just any-old-job that needs creating. According to author Richard Florida, 45% of US jobs today are service-sector jobs. In other words, often low-paying jobs as retail sales clerks, customer service staff, food prep workers, personal health aides, and so […]

With the election guttersniping over (for a few days anyhow) I took some time to read and ponder an item from the library: “Rules for Radicals, A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals,” written by Saul David Alinsky, published in 1971 by Random House. Now, why would I, an upstanding capitalist pig, read an old book […]

America isn’t necessarily a place, but an idea that each one of us should have the freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These liberties are what have drawn countless immigrants to our shores for 200 years. Each passing day these liberties are under siege by an over-reaching federal government. The founders understood […]

Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg held a conference call with reporters last week in what was billed as an opportunity to discuss priorities in the upcoming lame-duck session. The Republican, who trounced his Democratic opponent Dennis McDonald with more than 60 percent of the vote, mostly stuck to three main issues: budgets, taxes and wolves. Meanwhile, […]

The Bush administration inherited a budget surplus from the Clinton Administration. What happened? Costly and unfunded programs, such as the prescription drug bill, post 9/11 security spending and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were undertaken at the same time tax cuts were implemented. Congress knew those tax cuts were unaffordable at the time and so […]