The Ethanol Producers and Consumers met this week in Whitefish. If you had attended you would have seen the political equivalent to the law of gravity at work. Here it is: Well-off, well-organized groups use government to transfer wealth and opportunities from the poorly organized and less well off to themselves. Both Republicans and Democrats […]
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PBS recently aired a fascinating documentary, “The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy.” Part of the series focused on the sorry economic performance of countries in the developing world. Instead of blaming the usual suspects, e.g., colonialism and insufficient foreign aid, the series explored more fundamental and subtle barriers to progress. Economic progress […]
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All my friends in Bozeman get the Patagonia catalogue and I love their products. For when it comes to design, quality, and satisfaction guaranteed, Patagonia sets the standard. Patagonia displays a strong environmental commitment. Since 1985, it has donated 10 percent of annual profits (or 1 percent of sales, whichever is greater) to hundreds of […]
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Earth Day’s slogan, “Think globally, act locally,” has two implications, one physical, one mental. The easy physical stuff may ease guilt and give a sense of superiority, e.g., planting a tree, riding a bike to work or buying organic food. These are largely symbolic acts that make little difference unless they presage massive behavioral shifts. […]
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I have a friend whose job is to attract high-tech businesses to Montana. He knows that folks with integrity, intelligence, and a strong work ethic-people with high human capital-are the key to success. He’s trying to develop the financial and physical resources to lure these scientists and entrepreneurs. He’s got a big stake in the […]
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I’m a life-long conservationist. On the first Earth Day I was in the fourth grade. With the help of my mom I crafted a letter to President Nixon urging increased protection for our nation’s air and water. In college I studied geology. In the years before graduate school, I worked as a teacher and later […]
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A man works in a Gary, Indiana steel factory. His high school son contemplates his future. The factory may close due to competition from cheaper imports. If so, jobs will be lost and people hurt. Should we let the factory go under or protect it with tariffs or quotas? The answer doesn’t come from tallying […]
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Forestry, one of Montana’s traditional industries faces rough times. With continued demands for environmental quality and rejection of the negative consequences of resource extraction, what is the future of our state’s timber economy and the communities which rely upon it? Unfortunately for this industry, the future ain’t what it was. Here are six reasons why. […]
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Does our energy future imply only a set of dismal choices? The risks of nuclear power or air pollution from new power plants? The risk to wildlife from oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refugee or the Rocky Mountain Front? While it’s irresponsible to ignore trade-offs, these are not the important questions we face. […]
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I just got a pair of running shoes. They’re great-lightweight and reasonably priced. A buddy commented, “Bet they’re made in some third world sweatshop. You shouldn’t have bought them”. I’m concerned about people making products under conditions I deplore. But will boycotting the company help anyone? I believe not. Here’s why: Reacting to millions of […]
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