The National Center for Policy Analysis has a recent item briefly describing how federal land purchases are bad news for the deficit, economy, and lands.

For a broad perspective at the national and state levels about threats to property rights and the impact of taking land out of private hands nationally and in Montana, visit the PERC and Citizens for Balanced Use respectively. They each analyze and make great arguments supporting the idea that private stewardship and public access result in healthier, more sustainable land use.

MPI recently brought Lawrence Reed, president of the New York-based Foundation for Economic Education, to the state for a series of appearances to discuss economic issues. Read our report about his stop in Bozeman below.

MPI speaker compares Great Depression, current economy

Staff | 2010-08-26

BOZEMAN – At a stop in Bozeman on Wednesday afternoon the president of the New York-based Foundation for Economic Education spoke on “Great Myths of the Great Depression” and made comparisons with today’s economy. Read More ...

Health Care Reform and Global Warming Resources pages updated 9/8/10

New Urban Transit Study Released 7/15

We looked at the bus systems in Billings, Great Falls, Bozeman, and Missoula. Among the findings:

Costs and emissions, including C02, per passenger mile of public transit are over twice those of a light truck
Montana taxpayers subsidize public transit users to the tune of over $5 per trip
Public transit systems are siphoning funds from public roads
Fewer than 10% of Montanans use public transit, even though it's cheap or even "free" to the rider

Download the entire study or take a sneak peak of our guest editorial:

Latest Blog Posts

The War on Small Business

So we've got financial reform now. Boy we really stuck it to those big banks. Never mind that they were lobbying in favor of the bill that passed and gave tens of millions of dollars to the politicians who supported it. I'm sure we're sticking it to them. Read More...

The Power of an Idea

I was recently asked to answer the following question and thought it appropriate as we go into the weekend of our founding.

What do you think was the most important idea of the Founders?

The Founders' most important idea was to believe in the power of ideas. They knew that a nation had to be bigger than any single person or a place; that there had to be something to embody and to propel a people forward or they would lapse into tyranny or anarchy.

Even GE CEO Gets the Costs of Overregulation

According to an article I can't link to in the Financial Times because I'm not a subscriber, GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt said, among other things, the following:

"We are a pathetic exporter...We have to become an industrial powerhouse again but you don't do this when government and entrepreneurs are not in synch."

Cool Stuff

How Much Do You Owe?

$385 if you're in Montana. A CNNMoney.com chart showing per capita state debt.

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Where Does It Go? Where Does It Come From?

USGovernmentSpending.com

Everything you ever wanted to know about the federal budget.

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And...Here is who will run your health care: "$110 Billion in Erroneous Government Payments" from Forbes.com.

Mid-Term Debt Exceeds Government Expectations

Government jobs continue to gain while the private sector loses

Income From Government Transfers Increasing

This chart by the Mercatus Center examines the change in composition of personal income in the U.S. since 1929. It's no coincidence that proprietors' income goes down as government transfers go up. That's who's paying the bill.

Latest From www.MontanaWatchdog.org

Some fear EPA proposal could send biomass plans up in smoke

Phil Drake | 2010-09-07

A proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to categorize biomass as fossil fuel instead of carbon neutral could have a crippling impact on Montana’s growing biomass industry, a trade association official said. Read More ...

State takes ownership of $15.2 million Spotted Dog Ranch property

Phil Drake | 2010-09-03

HELENA – The state is now the new owner of the 27,616-acre Spotted Dog Ranch near Avon, a $15.2 million property that officials plan to make into a wilderness area. Read More ...

Top state retiree gets more than $100,000 in pension benefits

Phil Drake | 2010-08-27

HELENA – Montana’s top retiree gets $116,587 in annual benefits with 29 others receiving more than $70,000, according to a report prepared for a legislative committee reviewing pension costs for two state-sponsored retirement systems. Read More ...

Bipartisan Opposition Fails to Stop Government Healthcare Takeover - Most Americans Favor

"Repeal and Start Over"

Thirty Four Democrats joined Repbublicans to oppose the government's takeover of one-sixth of our economy, and polls consistently show that a large and growing majority of us want it repealed so we can start over with real reform.

We'll continue to use this space to keep you updated on the latest developments as this battle continues.

Free Market Health Care Resources - Latest Posts:

9/8/10: From Huffington Post: A Transpartisan Uprising Against the Individual Mandate.

9/8/10: Senator Baucus admitting he didn't "waste time" reading the bill.

9/8/10: Gracie-Marie Turner: Putting the Brakes on Obamacare.

9/8/10: A four-panel pamphlet on the impacts of Obamacare.

9/8/10: Sally Pipes of Pacific Research Institute: Massachusetts Shows the Ugly Future of Obamacare from the National Center for Policy Analysis.

A study by CATO's Michael Tanner that provides a definitive outline of the impacts of "reform."

Congressional Budget Office presentation outlining costs, presenting caveats, admitting current legislation is unsustainable.

A nifty calculator from the National Retail Federation to determine whether or not businesses will be hit by the employer mandate tax.

See more posts here. Latest posts are at the bottom.

Global Warming Resources Page.

We're compiling the best articles, opinions, research (including our own) on the science, policy, and politics of global warming. Call it the home page for skeptics.

Here's a sampling, but there's lots, lots more; and we'll continue to provide updates.

9/8/10: Japan Owns Up to Costs of Green Economy.

9/8/10: The Real Nuclear Option. It's out there.

9/8/10: EPA pressing ahead with greenhouse gas regulations.

9/8/10: Sierra Club spending big bucks to make energy more expensive. Coal is the target.

policy meets world.

The latest cutting edge media shots of issues that freedom lovers need to follow. Read More...