Does anyone remember the New World Mine/Crown Butte/Yellowstone Park fiasco that dragged out in the 1990s near Cooke City? Well, here’s the rest of the story. Cooke City originated as the mining camp of Shoo Fly. In 1869, prospectors poaching on the Crow Reservation found color. The Indians duly ran them off, but the white […]

There is an effort afoot headed by congressional Republican leaders in Washington to shed the label increasingly used against them that they are members of the “party of no.” Whether fair, Democrats have effectively used the GOP’s opposition to the stimulus plan, and now the national budget, to paint the party as one devoid of […]

It’s no secret that Wall Street is motivated by greed. But when it’s left unchecked, corporate power can undermine the fundamental stability of our economy and wreak havoc on working families across the country. Working people across Montana have been living in an economic crisis for years, taking on longer hours, second jobs, credit cards […]

If you replaced your entire staff today, would anyone notice? More importantly, would anyone care? Think about the last customer to visit your store. If they walked into your business tomorrow and all your staff was different from their last visit, would they notice? Would someone notice if they’ve been coming to see you for […]

A lot has happened since March 9. It was then that the Kalispell City Council approved traffic impact fees in what council members called a compromise and developers panned as anything but. The decision was supposed to settle an issue that had been debated for two years; how much to charge developers for the added […]

Late Thursday, Senator Jim DeMint’s (R-SC) amendment to the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) came up for a vote in the Senate. The amendment appeared rather straightforward, yet Montana Senators Tester (D) and Baucus (D) both voted against it. The final tally fell almost entirely along party lines. It’s difficult to say whether Senator […]

Congressman Denny Rehberg, by his own admission, has placed various earmarks in recent legislation, including funding for the World Trade Center. The total of these earmarks is $42 million. There’s just one word for bragging about bringing federal money home for projects and then voting against the legislation that funded them: Hypocrisy. A recent editorial […]

You may remember that I’ve repeatedly suggested that you use the news in your advertising. Some days it’s just too easy. I see that some have done just that, but beware: Just because you use a good suggestion, don’t think that a great message isn’t required. For example, it seems everyone mentions the stimulus package […]

Why are $165 million in bonuses being paid to staff at American International Group Financial Products (AIGFP)? As much as I denigrate the “mainstream media,” sometimes they do stellar work. In late December, Washington Post writers Robert O’Harrow, Brady Dennis and Bob Woodward did a wonderful three-part series on AIGFP, starting with “The Beautiful Machine.” […]

I served as chief special prosecutor for the state for 21 years. During that time I was involved with the prosecution of many homicide cases, including five death penalty cases involving homicides committed by prison inmates against other inmates. I also managed the prosecution of fourteen inmates for the 1991 prison riot homicides. I believed […]

For decades, I have avoided getting involved in politics. It annoys me. For almost two years, I have (mostly) avoided getting into it here at Business is Personal and the other places where I publish business advice. But they keep on trying to drag me in, the CPSIA being the most recent evidence. Once again, […]

Congress is preparing to debate a bill that is not only anti-business, but also anti-worker. It’s ironically named the “Employee Free Choice Act,” (EFCA), and the only winners, if this bill is passed, are big labor unions. Since unions in private industries have seen their numbers dwindle over the past 20 years, they are pushing […]

Just days after the city of Kalispell announced that it had narrowed to three its list of candidates for city manager, two of them withdrew from consideration. With just one man left standing, the council opted to push back a scheduled meet and greet and widen its search. Better that, I suppose, than making a […]

It’s a perfect morning. You hit the local coffee roasters for your morning java, spending a little time with the local paper as you down your first cup. Before long, it’s time for work. You’ve got a full day planned. As you aim your rig toward downtown, your thoughts turn toward the day’s ToDo list. […]

In mid-February, news hit that dirt bikes and ATV’s intended for kids under 12 years old were banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Why? They contain lead. Where? Try maybe the crankshaft bearings, battery terminals and control-cable ends. Trust me, no brat clever enough to rip apart the engine before Dad finds out is […]