The University as a Civil(izing) Institution
My younger brother Dave having died unexpectedly on September 30 of this year, I found myself in New England in early Oc [...]
Thinking Beyond 2024
A decade ago, when the very idea of Donald Trump becoming president would have been greeted by most of us as some kind o [...]
Not for Sale
As the American colonists multiplied and elaborated their impassioned descriptions of 18th century British political cor [...]
Citizens Uniting, Missoula Style
I’m going to start with some ancient history to introduce a couple of the players in this story. In 1981, during my tenu [...]
Media and Democracy in an Era of Mistrust
Faithful to its stated belief “that enlightened discussion of public policy is the cornerstone of our democracy,” the Bu [...]
Our Bipolar Political Disease
Seeking to “increase the chances of issue and solution-oriented candidates to move on from the primary to the general el [...]
What Does Self-Determination Mean to You?
Most of us would probably agree that democracy has something to do with self-determination, although few of us might be [...]
Good Mayors: Better Citizens
Earlier this summer, Mike Kadas, who had succeeded me as mayor of Missoula back in 1996, asked me if I would join him an [...]
Landscapes of Democracy
Last week, while the U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol cont [...]
Democracy as Human(e) Being
As we so deeply mourn for those killed, injured, and bereaved by the violence in Ukraine, our grief goes hand in hand wi [...]
