Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/category/opinion/)
I was planning to ride off into the sunset today, but if I may appropriate an observation by Benjamin Franklin, it looks as though I might be heading in the direction of the rising sun. In the week since I announced that Last Best News would cease publication today, I have heard so many expressions of interest in reviving it in some shape or form, with or without my continued involvement, that it appears likely that this independent online newspaper will live on. (more…) Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago, as I was discussing the state of the republic with my daughter, I said, “And I only have two more columns left to fix it.”
“They’d better be good,” she said. (more…) Continue Reading →
When I imagined writing this column just a few days ago, before announcing the impending shutdown of Last Best News, I saw myself in a calm, cool frame of mind, making a short and rational case for keeping independent journalism alive in Billings. Well. The past two days have been such a whirlwind of emotions and have seen the dawn of so many new possibilities that I hardly know where to begin. (more…) Continue Reading →
The proposed Republican budget for 2019 is being formulated and there are some serious cuts that should disturb many Americans. Slowly but surely, those government programs that help people in very real ways —Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security — are being decimated by Republicans running the country. (more…) Continue Reading →
I love talking with a wide range of folks about history and philosophy, government and law, politics and policy. I’m a Democrat, but many of my best discussion-mates are Republican friends who are willing to reasonably, rationally and civilly advance their political thoughts to me as I advance mine to them. (more…) Continue Reading →
Feeling flush, we decided to increase the monthly payment we were making on a credit card. Risky as it is, we pay bills online, and after rooting around on the credit card company’s website for a while, I found where automatic payments are set up. (more…) Continue Reading →
I first visited Montana, from my home in Scotland, in 1993, and it’s fair to say that I fell in love with the place. So much so that, over the next 21 years, I would return another five times. At one stage, I seriously considered crossing the Atlantic and living there permanently. My career presented no problems. I was a creator and writer of newspaper comic strips and, theoretically, could work from anywhere in the world. (more…) Continue Reading →
Over coffee after last week’s primary, we were debating how long it would take for the U.S. Senate race between state Auditor Matt Rosendale and incumbent Jon Tester to turn negative. The answer: It already had. (more…) Continue Reading →
Remember that quaint little notion called usury? If you’ve ever borrowed money or used a credit card, you might want to refresh your memory. (more…) Continue Reading →
I’m not too big a man to admit when I’m wrong. But I might be too small. (more…) Continue Reading →
