The Soviet Union not long ago was relegated to the “ash heap of history,” but the command-and-control economic policies that served as a hallmark of the regime – and which also helped hasten its demise – remain alive and well, and surprisingly popular, in a country that ought to know better. From economics to agriculture to energy policy, central planning is not in
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In yet another act of sequester sadism, Uncle Scam is shorting Colorado $8.4 million in energy royalties that are owed to the state. It’s our share of $110 million Washington is withholding, as a means of maximizing pain in the ongoing game of sequester chicken. But these aren’t like other sequester-related cuts in some important ways, which ought to raise loud and persistent objections from our governor, senators
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The green-leaning “mainstream media” has largely ignored it, because the crusading regulators at the Environmental Protection Agency can do no wrong in the eyes of equally-crusading reporters, but Forbes contributor Larry Bell has a must-read write-up on the emerging sue-and-settle probe at the agency. What’s alleged is that agency insiders have a wink-and-nod arrangement with outside green groups: the ladder sue and the former happily settle, resulting in a mutually-desired expansion with the
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The kids at Harrison High School in Colorado Springs undoubtedly were pretty grossed-out by the recent discovery of mealworms in the turkey noodle soup. But before long, if climate cultists and nutrition nannies get their way, it might be a regular item on the menu, whether school kids like it or not. Maybe you missed it, but yummy, scrumptious, highly-nutritious and low-fat mealworms recently were being touted
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Some ”controversial” proposed energy leases were pulled from a pending auction by the Bureau of Land Management this week, delivering another blow to Colorado’s economy and jobs situation. But that’s become routine news across the West, since almost any drilling proposal generates “controversy” with the army of professional activists who roam the land, looking for opportunities to protest. The not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) element was also a factor in this case, no doubt. But it’s
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A looming “green energy” trade war with China highlights U.S. hypocrisy on energy subsidies, according to this insightful piece in Forbes.  Before we accuse other countries of subsidizing and protecting certain favored industries, via command-and-control economic policies, maybe we ought to take a long look in the mirror and adopt a few “free market reforms” of our own.

Like millions of Americans, I rated this Superbowl ad, extolling the virtues of America’s farmers, as among the best that aired yesterday. But I also couldn’t help wondering why farmers seem like the only resource workers to get such affection and recognition, while other, equally-worthy and important members of America’s producer class — ranchers, miners, loggers, commercial fishers, drillers, to name just a few — are treated by so many
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Gang Green is brandishing briefcases again, this time threatening legal action to derail a recent federal decision approving expansion of a coal mine in Gunnison County, Colorado. I know, I know, environmentalists opposing coal mines isn’t exactly news. It happens nearly every week. But what makes the West Elk mine case a little different – what really drives anti-coal crusaders nuts about this mine – is that the expansion may occur despite the mine being located in a designated “roadless area,” which
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Fascinating new research theorizes that early humans adapted and evolved in response to rapid climate fluctuations occurring 2 million years ago, suggesting that 1.) rapid climate fluctuations repeatedly have taken place during Earth’s long history and 2.) our species has shown a remarkable ability to survive and even thrive despite — and maybe even because of – the societal and environmental challenges such fluctuations brought: “UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A series of rapid
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I shared the bullet points below today with a number of people here in Colorado Springs, which suddenly finds itself serving as Ground Zero in the Sierra Club’s war on coal. I thought it might be worth posting here as well, as a follow-up to my longer take on the situation. I offer these points as an outsider to this process, based on
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