Articles written by J. P. Tangen
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By J. P. Tangen Opinion
Gray Lady serves Tesla a sucker punch
In 1951, Life Magazine (remember "Life"?) dubbed the New York Times the "Old Gray Lady" "by way of acknowledging its special marks: starch conservatism and circumspection." How things hav... — Updated 1/13/2022 Full story
Miners must thread the eye of a needle
If global warming and the associated risk of climate change is due, at least in part, to anthropomorphic causes, it stands to reason that there are too many anthropoids (specifically,... — Updated 12/16/2021 Full story
Our mining industry confronts threats
If there is one thing that most Americans can probably agree on, I think, it is that Joe Biden is the worst President we have had since Donald Trump. Since they both had a lot of things... — Updated 10/28/2021 Full story
Do we want a constitutional convention?
Decennially, the question of whether Alaska shall have a constitutional convention must appear on the ballot. Alaskans have voted on this issue five times since 1972 and defeated it... — Updated 10/28/2021 Full story
It is not often wise to set a president
Following the model set by other successful generals such as George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, and Dwight Eisenhower, after having essentially won the War in Europe,... — Updated 9/30/2021 Full story
Youth, Youth, for the honor of truth
Over the past quadrennial, there has been a great deal of conversation about "truth." Especially in the political arena. Ostensibly, the number of "lies" that have emanated from the... — Updated 7/29/2021 Full story
The COVID elephant has left the state
Although new cases of COVID-19 are still appearing throughout the nation in general and Alaska in particular, at the moment they are hovering at the 40-per-day level apparently. The vacci... — Updated 6/24/2021 Full story
For Alaskans, it is a wonderful world
I always tend to look at the world through the wrong end of the telescope. For instance, many people regard the so-called political divisions in our country as being a problem, but for... — Updated 5/27/2021 Full story
Reports contrast role of fishing, mining
In February, the Alaska Miners Association (AMA) released its annual report on the Economic Benefits of Alaska's Mining Industry. That report highlighted the fact that 4,700 direct and 9,... — Updated 4/1/2021 Full story
Wanted: A pandemic-era silver lining
Without a doubt, 2020 was somewhat less than a perfect year. If you didn't like the way it started out, with an impeachment and a pandemic dominating the news, you might not have liked... — Updated 2/25/2021 Full story
Why can't we placer mine tidal wetlands?
It has often been said that one should never watch sausages or laws being made. There are good reasons for saying that, especially in our quasi-democratic environment. For just cause we... — Updated 2/11/2021 Full story
Pandemic skews traditional calendar
The fourth quarter in any given year, actually the period between Columbus Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, is always an interesting period. Every eighth year (more frequently with... — Updated 11/25/2020 Full story
Appointment takes court over the hump
The successful appointment of Justice Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court has possibly put an end for the time being to the national drift to the political left. Without disparaging any... — Updated 10/29/2020 Full story
By J. P. Tangen Editorial
Quadrennial silly season starts again
Every four years Americans get the delicious treat of a Presidential campaign during which contenders for leadership of the free world get to stand before the electorate and pontificate... — Updated 8/27/2020 Full story
Modern mines must absorb social costs
Each July for the past four decades I have traveled to the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation's Annual Institute for the purpose of maintaining my credentials as a lawyer and to... — Updated 7/30/2020 Full story
The times keep getting more interesting
Political differences, public demonstrations, a mortal pandemic, climate evolution, economic rebalancing plus a flood of other disasters have welled up over the past score of years to... — Updated 7/10/2020 Full story
Alaska's miners need to go back to work
If I were to write a letter to the President of the United States, it would probably go something like this: Dear Mr. President – Notwithstanding the aggressive Executive Orders that... — Updated 5/28/2020 Full story
Mining is Alaska's workhorse industry
Since statehood at least and, to a certain extent, since the earliest territorial days, Alaska has depended on the development of its resources for its prosperity. Fishing and mining... — Updated 4/30/2020 Full story
The future of mining in a changing world
In the current environment, it is difficult to avoid discussing the elephant in the room. Essentially, we need to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect mining activities in... — Updated 3/26/2020 Full story
Alaska's Legislature moves mountains
It is the very nature of the legislative process for the participants to endure conflict and controversy. Generally, the confrontations endemic to law-making begin when a citizen files... — Updated 2/28/2020 Full story
Regulatory burden relief gains traction
A priority of the Trump administration in 2016 was the reduction of the regulatory burden on America's businesses. Three years ago, the President signed Executive Order 13771, "Reducing... — Updated 1/30/2020 Full story
Opposition to Alaska mining is shameful
This author, in this column and elsewhere, has often taken the position that Alaska, especially in remote locations, is the safest, most environmentally-sound and worker-friendly mining... — Updated 1/10/2020 Full story
Mining flourishes in interesting times
If you pay any attention to the popular press, it is difficult to avoid critical references to President Trump. He has become the effigy for everything from political division to global i... — Updated 11/27/2019
The elephants in Alaska are everywhere!
Alaska, like Canada to the east and Russia to the west, is well known for its elephantine mineral deposits. Recognition of those deposits surfaces regularly. Sometimes they are... — Updated 9/26/2019 Full story
Federal permitting delays are a scandal
It is no secret that much of the western United States was built on the back of natural resources found on federal land or within adjacent federal waters. Likewise, it is no secret that... — Updated 9/6/2019