Opinion
I had a passing moment of wonder the other day – as I read about the latest . . . you know, mass shootings. Troubled souls with guns. Big problem. My thought was simply this: What if . . .? And then I lapsed into uncertainty. What if . . . violence were not the simplistic and obvious – and only – solution to so many problems? Violence presents itself, in our imaginations (and in our games, in our movies, in our defense budget), as consequence-free, instantaneous and, for God’s sake, necessary. It’s the essence – it’s the definition – of empowerment. And then the headlines scream about crazy guys grabbing hold of that empo...
What is more ubiquitous at parties than balloons? For generations, balloons have been a fun and colorful pop added to all kinds of festive celebrations, particularly birthdays. While balloons have been around since the 1800s, the last decade has seen a fascinating shift in the age-old tradition: enter foil b...
Timber is at the top of the natural resource world for Northwest Montana’s lifestyle and economic health. I learned that many decades ago. Late in the day, Dad would unload his crosscut saw from the work panel. I got to carry his lunch bucket to the house. My younger sister and I shared the ha...
How often do we consider how differently we all view the world? Our views aren’t only formed by our own life experiences, but by the way our brains work at a fundamental level. They work so differently, and yet we tend to assume they all work the same. A good friend recently asked me if I think in v...
Editor, The Montana legislature is considering SB 72, sponsored by Sen. Fitzpatrick. The bill would make significant changes pertaining to “the powers, duties, terms, designations, appointments, operations, and jurisdiction of the Montana Water Court.” It amends MCA 85-2-114, entitled “J...
I went to many birthday parties when I was a kid. I don’t remember most of them. One I do remember, vividly, however, is the party to which I didn’t receive an invitation. It was in celebration of one of my good friend’s tenth birthdays. I was unaware of the occurrence of such a mega event,...
What do hunting, huckleberries, honoring our veterans, and accountability for taxpayer money have in common? Two things. The first is that they’re all strongly supported by Montanans. The second is that we’re already well on our way to putting big wins on the board this legislative session that i...
Affordable housing shortages. Rising food and childcare costs. Protecting our state constitution. There are a number of pressing issues facing Montanans that our representatives could (and should) be addressing during the 68th Legislative Session, issues that we elected them to handle. Instead, we’re l...
Editor, Our present lives as humans on earth are filled with increasing chaos, confusion, and the development of advanced methods of killing each other. This can surely threaten our continuing human existence on planet earth. There is a clear and empowering answer to all this. It involves the ‘power...
Editor, A recent public relations piece from the ever-ready opportunist Senator Tester announced he introduced legislation to strengthen the border. I want to point out to Senator Tester and his constituents he just voted for the massive Omnibus Bill that set spending records. In that Bill, on Page 753, t...
