Environmental issues are vexing for three reasons: they carry heavy emotional baggage, they are scientifically and technically complex, and often they are important to our health and well-being. No other policy arena is so burdened. These attributes foster disingenuous arguments and even dishonesty. Consider Stephen Schneider, a Stanford biologist and global warming alarmist, who argued […]

This Christmas I got a great gift from my mom. “Longitudes and Attitudes,” by Thomas Friedman. This is a collection of his foreign affairs columns in the New York Times. He debunks the argument that Arab-Muslim hatred of America is the result of our wealth, power, and material success. He sees anti-Americanism overtaking soccer as […]

At our ski hill I recently overheard one of my friends, Duke Brown, tell a refugee couple from Denver that “this is the perfect place to live.” Mr. Brown holds a good position, lives the good life, skis, mountain bikes, and guides fly-fishing clients. My friend is an excellent ambassador-in-residence. I’m glad he is here […]

In 1985 we founded Gallatin Writers to explore pressing Western issues. Gallatin is sponsoring a writing contest for college students. The three prizes are modest, $1500, $1000, and $500; the challenge huge. The Stegner contest solicits essays to help our decision makers and opinion leaders understand and wrestle with the implications of demographic, cultural, and […]

Even the saints among us practice economics. Miracles aside, they must make choices among competing alternatives. Mother Teresa had to decide how, when, and where to allocate her time and other resources dedicated to the sick. People deliberately or subconsciously weigh the benefits and costs of alternatives. Do we go to church or ski on […]