Bullish On AI
Bullish On AI
"Montana has every reason to be bullish on AI, but without leaders doing more to champion these innovations, we may have our incoming productivity boom prematurely thwarted."
The Legislature, the Courts, and the Constitution – Part I
The Legislature, the Courts, and the Constitution – Part I
Montana Blockchain Innovator: Leigh Drogen
Montana Blockchain Innovator: Leigh Drogen
"The implication of crypto is that Americans will end up saving a tremendous amount of money on the cost of every economic transaction they do – whether it's a lower interest rate you have to pay when you take out a loan, or a lower fee associated with buying that cup of coffee."
On Earth Day, Thank A Logger
On Earth Day, Thank A Logger
"More active forest management is great news for those who love Montana’s “clean and healthful” environment and want to improve the global climate."
Public Comment To DEQ MEPA Working Group 4.15.24
Public Comment To DEQ MEPA Working Group 4.15.24
"If this really is a climate emergency, like some suggest, then we should be doing everything in our power to streamline our permitting process, NOT implementing more red tape on projects that will ultimately benefit the climate."
Public Comment On PSC Petition For Rulemaking 4.8.24
Public Comment On PSC Petition For Rulemaking 4.8.24
"If the petitioners would like the PSC to implement a carbon tax on Montana utility customers through ratemaking, they should pursue future legislation which would direct the PSC to do so, rather than attempting to run it through the back door via administrative rulemaking."
Montana 2050: Artificial Intelligence
Montana 2050: Artificial Intelligence
"We have been presented with a transformative opportunity, one in which we can embrace Artificial Intelligence to revitalize low-productivity industries that have faced decades of stagnation and decline, or one in which we reject this technology and watch as resources, workers and prosperity move to other states."
Make Berkeley Pit Great Again
Make Berkeley Pit Great Again
"In 25 years, Montana energy companies could be installing wind turbines and solar panels built in Montana, with semiconductors and photonic technology manufactured in Montana, utilizing Rare Earth Elements extracted and processed in Montana, to export clean Montana-made energy to power the nation."
A New Path For Montana Education
A New Path For Montana Education
In his 2016 book, The End of Average, Todd Rose recounts a story from the 1950’s when the U.S. Air Force faced a major challenge. Pilots were struggling to control their planes leading to serious accidents and fatalities. Initial suspicions were that the jets were too advanced or that pilot training was insufficient, but the...
Humans Are Snowflakes
Humans Are Snowflakes
"We flourish to the extent we are each free to build on our uniqueness, to make our own choices, so long as we do no harm to the equal rights of others."
Montana Supreme Court: An Institution in Need of Reform
Montana Supreme Court: An Institution in Need of Reform
Key Points: Since 2012, the court’s opinions generally have become clearer and the rate of discarding its own case precedents has decreased. However, the court still uses unclear opinions, and the justices frequently disregard their own rules. This is particularly noticeable in how the justices waive standing requirements for favored plaintiffs, how they review...
From Compliance to Competence: A New Paradigm for Educational Accountability
From Compliance to Competence: A New Paradigm for Educational Accountability
"Simply following the rules should not absolve the system of its accountability for properly and fully educating students, and currently that is what we have: an upside-down reality of compliance to rules rather than performance outcomes for students."
Modern Mining, Outdated Permitting: Black Butte Copper Mine
Modern Mining, Outdated Permitting: Black Butte Copper Mine
"Despite the critical role copper plays in environmental progress and a proposal for the most responsible copper mine in Montana history, a small number of radical groups were able to hijack our permitting process and block Black Butte for years."
Leave Policy Making To Lawmakers
Leave Policy Making To Lawmakers
"It’s clear the proper place to address the multifarious issues raised by global climate change that concern the plaintiffs is within the democratic processes of our representative legislature — not the courts."