Editorial
Cokie Roberts & Steven V. Roberts: Deadly triumph of statistics over women’s health
What were they thinking? A panel of scientists has issued guidelines for breast cancer screening that could undo years of education and advocacy that have saved tens of thousands of lives. In a report that smacks of health care rationing, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends…
Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Gazette opinion: Educator for a Day brings local leaders into public schools
The nearly 70 business people, state legislators and city officials who participated in Educator for a Day are commended for taking the time from their busy schedules to look inside our local public schools. They committed their time to gaining the insight that is vital to engaging the co…
Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Gazette opinion: Thanks to Copps for leading Billings schools
Superintendent Jack Copps was walking out an entrance to McKinley Elementary last week when he stopped to greet a teacher and students at the end of their recess. Grinning from ear to ear, Copps started shaking hands with children lined up on school steps. He was clearly thrilled to have …
Nov 20, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Gazette Opinion: Great Northern deal makes state coal bids timely
One of the biggest questions about the Otter Creek coal tracts has been answered. After years of pressure on Montana state officials to “go first” in leasing mineral rights without action by the private owner of adjoining coal tracts, this other owner has announced a lease deal.
Nov 19, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
E.J. Dionne: America would benefit from civilian ROTC
WASHINGTON — Imagine a time when government work was exciting, widely admired and much sought after.
Nov 19, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Gazette opinion: Let’s start fixing up Billings schools
In the past 13 years, Billings voters have approved only one school bond issue. That was for $10 million — an amount that expanded and tremendously upgraded Orchard Elementary and funded several projects at other elementary schools, including Highland, Meadowlark, Boulder and Ponderosa.…
Nov 18, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
David Broder: Obama should take general’s Afghanistan advice quickly
WASHINGTON — The more President Barack Obama examines our options in Afghanistan, the less he likes the choices he sees. But, as the old saying goes, to govern is to choose — and he has stretched the internal debate to the breaking point.
Nov 18, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Robert J. Samuelson: ‘Reform’ bills expand benefits without controlling costs
WASHINGTON — There is an air of absurdity to what is mistakenly called “health care reform.” Everyone knows that the United States faces massive governmental budget deficits as far as calculators can project, driven heavily by an aging population and uncontrolled health costs. Recov…
Nov 17, 2009 | 7:55 pm | Loading…
George Will: Historic war photo fabricated death scene
NEW YORK — The 20th century was 100 years of amplitude. It overflowed with barbarous fighting faiths, wars enveloping continents, and graphic journalism assaulting global audiences with scenes of shocking immediacy. The Spanish Civil War, although small in terms of the number of combata…
Nov 17, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Gazette opinion: Truth matters in news photographs
National columnist George Will, who usually writes about politics and occasionally about anything else under the sun, today comments on a controversy about the truthfulness of one of the first and most famous war photographs ever published. Many Gazette readers probably have previously se…
Nov 17, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Gazette opinion: Mr. secretary, the bison coin best represents Yellowstone
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has huge responsibilities trying to revive the housing market, stave off global financial crises and steer the American economy toward stability and renewed prosperity.
Nov 16, 2009 | 12:05 am | Loading…
Gazette opinion: Keep kids covered in health reform plans
The goal of health care reform is supposed to be fixing what’s broken: covering Americans who are uninsured, making health care affordable and accessible and improving quality of patient care.
Nov 15, 2009 | 12:10 am | Loading…
The buck stops nowhere in Washington
The good news: Both parties finally agree on an important element of public policy.
Nov 15, 2009 | 12:05 am | Loading…
Gazette opinion: Ups & DownsG
Ups and Downs gives a quick take on news of the week.
Nov 15, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Gazette opinion: Billings center helps struggling veterans change their lives
Saluting U.S. military personnel in a commentary for Veterans Day, Eric K. Shinseki, secretary of Veterans Affairs, also wrote about serious problems that have befallen many of these Americans as they make the transition to civilian life: homelessness and mental illnesses.
Nov 13, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
E.J. Dionne: Don’t let abortion destroy health care reform
WASHINGTON — For some years, Democrats have denounced parodies casting their party as utterly closed to the views of those who oppose abortion. Last weekend, Democrats proved conclusively that they are, indeed, a big tent — and many in the ranks are furious.
Nov 13, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Ellen Goodman: Setting up the false choice on health reform
BOSTON — It was one of those small shocks that come unexpectedly in the wake of a death. Just days after the country had buried Ted Kennedy, Cardinal Sean O’Malley took to his blog to defend himself from critics attacking him for presiding over the funeral of a pro-choice senator.
Nov 13, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Gazette opinion: Get involved with city’s cell phone safety committee
The popularity of cell phones has tremendously increased driver distractions nationwide. Whether a driver is text-messaging, dialing, answering a call or just chatting, using the phone takes the driver’s attention away from from the task of driving. Inattentive driving causes accidents.
Nov 12, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Nat Hentoff: Who needs trials? Kill terror suspects!
In October, during an interactive session with students in Pakistan, a female medical student praised Hillary Clinton for inspiring women, but then the same admirer asked the secretary of state how the United States justifies using those CIA remote-controlled Predator drone planes without…
Nov 12, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
Gazette opinion: A holiday for telling stories of heroes we know
On this Veterans Day, Americans have more than 23.2 million fellow citizens to salute. The nation’s veterans include 1.8 million women and 160,000 Native Ameri-cans/Alaska Natives, according to 2008 figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. Montana is home to about 105,000 veterans, includin…
Nov 11, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…
