Introduction by John Baden: Ramona and I often are out of town on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, Election Day. Since we are likely to be gone, we are registered to receive “absentee ballots.” How easy they are; mark, sign, stuff into envelopes, put on a stamp, and we’ve done a small portion of […]
Read MoreBozeman, Montana was the birthplace of The New Resource Economics, aka “Free Market Environmentalism.” Having lived in its midst for decades, I recently began thinking of the historical context of this movement, and the causes of its unlikely success. The take-home message is clear; over the long run ideas have consequences. A victory implies contesting […]
Read MoreBozeman is nationally recognized for being first on many dimensions, best retirement town for active people, best ski town, exemplar of civic culture, and more. It’s also the founding epicenter of “Free Market Environmentalism” (FME). This disciplined, analytic approach to conservation and environmental management has captured the intellectual high ground. However, despite its success […]
Read MoreExactly five years ago I wrote a column “Let’s Resolve to Reward Our Wounded Warriors.” This appeal developed from discussions with Volney Steele. Vol is a retired physician who volunteered when Eagle Mount brought children to our place to fish. Volney proposed that people in Bozeman develop a fly-fishing program for severely injured American troops. He helped make the original […]
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There are three basic types of entrepreneurship, for-profit, intellectual, and social. Google exemplifies the first, The Copenhagen Consensus the second, and Warriors and Quiet Waters the third. All require a good organization and good management to be effective. Organizations are created to achieve some purpose. The motivation may be a good cause, for example healing […]
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The American Prairie Foundation (APF) may be America’s most ambitious conservation organization. I’ve long admired it from afar, provided modest support, and hope to visit the area again. Getting there, however, is quite the trek. Here’s how the Spokesman Review described the reserve’s location: “To reach the refuge, tourists are going to have to travel […]
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Ralph Waldo Emerson observed, “Success is a journey, not a destination.” Given that my journey landed me here in Bozeman working with the Foundation for Research on Economics & the Environment (FREE), I consider both my journey and destination to be wildly successful. During the upcoming months it will be my pleasure to work with […]
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Despite April snows, I find spring a fine time to be here. I know it’s spring for the Sand Hill cranes have returned to our place. One pair has long claimed an island on one of our ponds. The hen began nesting on Easter—after driving off trespassing geese. The male has less luck when fighting […]
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Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of Christ, is indeed a joyous time. Ironically, it began as an exercise in political extortion. The Roman rulers of the time are best understood as sedentary bandits. They provided order and some security from roving bandits in exchange for taxes levied and collected. A census was required to […]
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Organizations are created to achieve some purpose. The motivation may be a good cause, for example a conservation or health improvement goal. Many others are in the commercial marketplace. However, few new organizations, whether created for cause or for cash, are successful in their mission and remain viable over the long run. Those that sell […]
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