Montana’s economic prosperity is no longer tied to extracting natural resources. It is simply not our strong suit. The best strategy for our prosperity lies in policy innovations that retain and attract human capital, the ultimate key to progress. In part this requires protecting the environment and reducing the state’s income taxes while simultaneously stressing […]
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Bozeman is an attractive place to live. Its natural beauty and community character foster rapid growth. Increased traffic is one unpleasant consequence. In response, some have proposed a public bus system. Is this really the best solution to our traffic woes? How many people travel only from home to work and back home on a […]
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Poverty is the worst form of violence; this is from the pacifist philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. The U.N. estimates that to avoid famine some 13 million of the poorest of the poor in countries across southern Africa will soon need 1.2 million tons of food aid. Drought, corruption, dysfunctional political institutions, and war are contributing […]
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A question for the reader: Does the development of land inherently degrade our shared social and environmental values? If you answer yes, I would agree that it typically does. But, does it have to? I believe not. It is possible to harness development as a tool to serve and protect those same values. This question […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Animals and Christmas go together. Sheep around the manger, turkey or Hutterite goose for dinner. My message builds upon holiday trips to my grandfather Baden’s farm and the comments of a friend, Bob Cindrich, a federal judge in Pittsburgh. They would agree on many important things including treatment of animals. My family’s heritage in America […]
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