The drive for energy independence is rooted in three concerns. First, we are vulnerable to oil disruptions. Second, our energy demands generate national security entanglements. And third, we face rising emissions of climate-altering carbon dioxide. Politicians have been calling for American energy independence for over thirty years. In 1973 U.S. foreign oil imports were at […]

Every major university claims to celebrate diversity. And they are clearly sincere if we restrict the term to race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. However, if we include philosophical orientation and political party identification, such claims are decidedly disingenuous. Conservatives and classical liberals are rarely welcome — and Republicans are scarce. “The jury on Marxism […]

Montana’s experiment with electricity restructuring didn’t deliver its promises of lower costs. NorthWestern Energy’s residential customers currently pay some of the highest electricity rates in the region. And prices are likely headed higher. This has important consequences for policymakers concerned about Montana’s poor and elderly citizens. Is there a fix? A group called Montana Public […]

Jerry Johnson’s column last week reminds us of those in our community struggling to makes ends meet. Bozeman is an organic community. It’s very different from many other Rocky Mountain towns, for example Sun Valley, created out of thin air by Averell Harriman, the railroad and banking magnate. And unlike Sun Valley or Aspen, Bozeman […]

The Gallatin Valley is truly a great place to build a life. As John Baden recently observed, the community is growing richer in civic culture, and access to high-quality amenities is easy. But might it also be an “ecological trap”? If it is, let’s understand it in hopes of helping folks avoid it. Here are […]

My wife and I are taking our honeymoon in February. Since we’ll be gone for three weeks but still want to travel light, I was in the market for a new suitcase. The last time I actually bought a piece of luggage was probably 20 years ago — an internal-frame backpack with shoulder straps and […]

I find travel a mixed blessing, with the best part returning home. I always gain renewed appreciation of qualities we take for granted. I also again understand why our region is so appealing. No wonder we’re a magnet for migrants. Our most recent trip to Washington, DC reminds me that simply living here inures us […]

America needs a well-educated citizenry. Along with good character and discipline, a quality education is required to succeed in today’s economy. Most suburban schools, like those in Bozeman, perform well. Bozeman High boasts SAT scores well above the national average, regularly produces National Merit Scholars, and sends graduates to top-flight colleges. I occasionally guest lecture […]

This is not a review of P. J. O’Rourke’s delightful 1987 book. Instead, I’ll explain some Bush administration pathologies. Here’s the sorry context of these failures. In 1964, folks of classical liberal (libertarian) and politically conservative persuasions were attracted to the Republican presidential campaign of Arizona senator Barry Goldwater. While he received only 42 electoral […]

“We do not need to despoil the pristine wilderness of the Arctic Refuge,” said John Flicker, President, National Audubon Society. I strongly agree. The Audubon Society long accepted carefully controlled exploration on its Rainey Sanctuary, a 26,800-acre wildlife preserve in southern Louisiana. Audubon was a pioneer when it permitted carefully regulated gas and oil drilling […]