Better living through better policy.

Author: D. Dowd Muska

Report: No Loan for You!

How the war on specialized emergency loans has hurt New Mexicans.

Tags Bank of America, Credit, Lending, No Loan For You!, Specialized Emergency Loans, The Pew Charitable Trusts, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo

Data Economy Government Spending New Mexico Oklahoma Space Policy Texas Top Issues

Austin, We Have a Problem

Space is booming in Texas — it doesn’t ‘need’ corporate welfare

Tags Corporate Wellfare

Culture Political Thought

Hail to the American Southwest

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date February 20, 2023
2 Comments on Hail to the American Southwest

Air Force One, a VC-25A aircraft, lands at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 21, 2012. The VC-25A was a modified version of the Boeing 747 aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes/Released)

The presidency and our region

Tags American History, Presidents

Arizona Budget and Spending Data Economy Education Government Spending New Mexico Taxes

No. 47 Stumbled — No. 48 Soared

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date February 17, 2023
4 Comments on No. 47 Stumbled — No. 48 Soared

Why New Mexico has languished and Arizona has thrived

Tags Arizona, Economic Development, Economic Growth, New Mexico

Conservatism Domestic Policy Energy & Environment Government Regulation Infrastructure & Technology New Mexico Nuclear Energy Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Renewable Energy Texas Top Issues

Santa Fe New Mexican: Spent Nuclear Fuel Provides an Opportunity

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date February 12, 2023
No Comments on Santa Fe New Mexican: Spent Nuclear Fuel Provides an Opportunity

But standing in the way is the worst kind of NIMBY opportunism.

Tags Green Energy, Holtec International, Interim Storage Partners, NIMBY Opportunism, Nuclear Energy, Spent Nuclear Fuel

Economy Government Spending New Mexico Space Policy

Hope Is Not an Economic-Development Strategy

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date February 6, 2023
6 Comments on Hope Is Not an Economic-Development Strategy

Why is it so difficult to admit that Spaceport America is a complete bust?

Tags Corporate Welfare, Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic

Arizona Colorado Conservatism Debt Defense Domestic Policy Economy Firearms Government Regulation Legal and Judicial Oklahoma Political Thought Texas The Constitution Top Issues Utah

Draining the Swamp, from a Distance

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date February 1, 2023
No Comments on Draining the Swamp, from a Distance

What states are doing to combat D.C.’s dysfunction

Tags Federalism, Tenth Amendment

Arizona California Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Data Energy & Environment Energy Economics Nevada New Mexico Top Issues Utah

What About the ‘Megadrought’?

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date January 30, 2023
4 Comments on What About the ‘Megadrought’?

On the Arizona-California border, the Colorado River below the Palo Verde Dam is running at 110 percent of its median flow. Utah is “having an astounding winter,” and “in certain watersheds, it’s breaking records.” In New Mexico, the Pecos River near Lake Arthur is flowing at 108 percent of its median. Flagstaff’s “received 84.5 inches […]