“The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.” -F.A. Hayek, The Fatal Conceit On a family trip to Nicaragua we saw workers digging a multi-mile ditch in preparation for laying communication lines. The workers were using picks and shovels; we saw […]

As Montana legislators begin another session, they’ll no doubt consider energy policy. Rather than trying to pick an energy winner, e.g., wind power, they should focus on a far simpler task: crafting policies that promote energy conservation. This will be easy—but only if consumers know the true cost of their energy use. Today’s energy regulations […]

We will soon celebrate the selection, election, inauguration, and for some the coronation, of America’s 44th president, Barack Obama. These events mark quite amazing progress in achieving ideals articulated in our Declaration of Independence, in several of Lincoln’s addresses, and by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. America has suffered a political analogue to the doctrine […]

I have a hockey-playing buddy who is converting an old Honda Civic into an electric car. His goals are modest; he’d like it to be able to make the round trip from Bozeman to Bridger Bowl. I wish him well with this fun and constructive project, but I expect it will be some time before […]