The annual three-day National Rifle Association (NRA) convention ended Sunday, May 6th in Dallas. President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence spoke on Friday. Other speakers included Texas Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. These speakers indicate the NRA’s resilient power and influence.  Attendance in Dallas reported to be about […]

  Here is a true, empirical, universal generalization: Well off people enjoy seeing big numbers of large wild animals in natural settings. This applies to the Serengeti Plains, Yellowstone Park, farms, and ranches that attract these animals in large numbers.   While topography and geology are big draws, especially in Yellowstone, animals are key attractors. […]

Ever since its creation in 1985 FREE has worked to advance responsible liberty, sustainable ecology, and modest prosperity. Achieving this trinity of values requires certain institutional arrangements. The primary ones are: the rule of law, secure property rights, and the allocation of resources through the market process.  These must operate in a legal context of […]

    Diana, a Romania friend, recently queried me about guns. She asked, “We were discussing the idea of arming school teachers and were wondering what is your take on that issue?” Here is my answer to her. Neither she nor any of her friends or relatives own or have use of firearms. Guns in […]

Several years ago Ramona and I had a remarkable dinner.  We were guests of a university couple, both from California.  They invited us to meet their friends visiting from the East Coast.  The issue of guns came up: “Doesn’t it worry you that a lot of people in Montana have guns?” “Actually no,” I responded, […]

  Here is good news for the New Year; health is contagious.  Healthy people consort with their likes and good behaviors are reinforced.  This applies to fitness, eating, and avoiding addictive attractions.  Naturally, runners don’t hang out with smokers–an increasing rare category.  Ever seen someone smoking at a triathlon, or even a 10K fun run? […]

  When the term was created, people applied “reality check”* to dreams.  The challenge was to determine if one is awake or caught up in a dream.  Far more importantly, reality checks operate while going about one’s daily life.  They force one to know if she or he is responsibly dealing with the living, constantly […]

  Surely in Bozeman, and throughout much of America, “peace and goodwill” is the Christmas theme.  The Bozeman Symphony’s wonderful Christmas program featured this goal and each year the Presbyterian Church presents Handel’s Messiah in a community concert. Our tradition is to attend with Jewish friends, join the church reception, and adjourn for a long […]

In 1989 I went to the University of Washington to found the Environmental Management MBA curriculum. It was the first such program in America and students found it an attractive option. One of my programs featured nationally prominent business leaders who met in Seattle to attend seminars on environmental economics and policy. All were impressive […]

Among locals, “Got your elk yet?” is a common November greeting.  The presumptions are clear: You know which friends hunt and that elk are the big prize. “With a shrill cry, half-ton frame, and massive rack—we’re talking about bull elk here, …nothing else approaches the intensity of the elk-hunting experience. ” Outside Bozeman, Fall, 2016. I […]