|
|
From the President's Desk...
Dear Friend of Freedom,
Some persnickety people out there might be wondering why you're getting an April newsletter in May. The culprit was a spring blizzard that brought three feet of snow to our humble abode in the Bangtail Mountains on April 28th and had your's truly shoveling, blowing, and plowing through the weekend. It's all part of the Montana charm.
This month I'd like to roll you off your heels and onto the balls of your feet in the fight for limited government and free markets. Many of us are reticent or disinclined to argue for these principles because we're afraid we might be taken as right wing kooks or improper company for caring and compassionate people everywhere. But that's just flat wrong, both philosophically and empirically.
The fact that it's empirically wrong was just demonstrated by a Pew Research poll which found that, among other things, fewer than 30% of Americans trust government to address their concerns. That means that those of us who want to depend more on ourselves and each other rather than the government are the mainstream. We're not to the right of it, we're it. We should be proud of the fact that 70% of Americans share our overall view of government's role in our lives, and we certainly should not be hesitant to bring our beliefs to our friends' and neighbors' attention.
And we're philosophically right because we believe that it's more fair to allow people to enjoy the fruits of their hard work and frugality than it is to reward irresponsibility and greed. Again, we're solidly in the mainstream in those beliefs and, rather than shrinking from confrontation, we should shout it from the rooftops secure in the knowledge that a solid majority of the people who hear us will agree: and do we really care what the rest of them think anyway?
We're on the right side, folks; and solidly in the mainstream. We're just stuck in a rut of going along to get along with a minority of takers and class warriors out there who are willing to be much more rude and spiteful than we are. We don't have to adopt their tactics, but we should at least make sure they know that their wailing is falling on increasingly deaf ears.
|
|
Major Project Updates
- Health Care Reform: We're continuing to update our health care reform resource page with analyses of the bill and news about initiatives across the country to oppose it. This bill must be repealed and replaced before it begins to create a new dependent class starting in 2014! There are parts to keep and better reforms to put in place, but this one has to go.
- Global Warming Resources Page: It looks like climate change legislation may be next on the agenda, and we're keeping you up to date with both the science and policy that will shape the course of future energy policy and Montana's energy potential.
- Montana Watchdog: MontanaWatchdog.org site up and running. We're populating it with stories and bringing up all the functional elements. Take a look and let us know what you think about it. Our goal is to report beyond the press release and provide all sides of the story, not just what the legacy media has the time or inclination to report.
- Budget Review: Montana's budget is going from a large surplus to a deficit for 2011. How does that happen? Some people say we're not collecting enough revenue, but we say the state's spending too much. That should be the mantra for all of us: It's not a revenue problem, it's a spending problem. So to help people make that argument we've got a study in the works that will clearly lay out how spending has increased over the past decade or so in a way that was clearly unsustainable over the long term. Look for it this summer.
- Performance-Based Budgeting: We're putting together a study that looks at our current "Last-year-plus" budget process and compares it to other states' systems that actually measure performance and allocate dollars based on objectives. It'll be ready for our Legislators' Issues Forum in November.
- Piglet Book: Ever been asked whether you really want to cut essential services, you meanie, rather than increase your taxes? We're going to give you a whole bunch of examples of pork that could be cut out tomorrow and leave what our government is supposed to do entirely intact. It'll be ready in the fall.
- Cap and Trade: MPI's Cap and Trade study was released in February and is gaining relevance as the Senate takes up its energy legislation. This study outlines the costs to Montana jobs, incomes, production, and state revenues if a Waxman/Markey type of bill were to pass. "Green" policies do have a price, and it's important that we inform that side of the debate. |
|
Latest Posts
MPI Investigates:
Go to www.MontanaWatchdog.org for all our latest stories and investigative reports.
MPI Guest Editorials
See all of our Op Ed's here.
MPI Blogs
See all of our blogs here.
Policy Meets World
Nick's found some great videos with common sense takes on current events here. If this page isn't a part of your weekly routine for humor with a message, you're really missing out on some classic entertainment and information. Warning: some of it's PG-13 so you may want to bring it up when the boss is in the other room. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
July 15: Garfield County Republican Women, Jordan. Let's save some gas and book Carl for your event in E. Montana that week!
November 16: Legislators' Issues Forum, Helena.
See our Google Calendar here for details and more events.. |
|
Need a Speaker?
What a coincidence! We like to speak.
Book Carl or let us help find the right person for your free market event.
Contact us here and let's put something together. |
|
About MPI
The Montana Policy Institute (MPI) is a free market think tank focused on Montana issues. We provide credible nonpartisan expertise and analysis to help Montanans advocate for policies that are based on a respect for freedom, an expectation of responsibility, and the idea that government intervention should be the last rather than first resort when addressing public policy challenges.
To find out more, visit us at: www.montanapolicy.org
|
Help advance freedom and limited government in Montana.
Introducing MPI's $10 in 2010 club - a vibrant, vigilant and sustainable support for the cause of liberty, through active membership. Your donation will create a sustainable funding source to ensure our continued efforts in policy analysis and proactive outreach and education.
Click here to join the $10 in 2010 club. Your credit card will be automatically billed every month for just $10. It's totally secure. You can cancel or change your commitment at any time. And we'll mail a receipt for your total contribution at the end of the year. That's all there is to it! | |
