Amity Shlaes, the distinguished international political economist and author of the best-selling books "The Forgotten Man" and "Greedy Hand," clearly knows what comes around, goes around.

She will give the conference address at this year's Wyoming Forum, appropriately titled, "Stimulating Wyoming's Economic Vines." With state unemployment more than doubling and the loss of over 10,000 jobs, state (and local) budget cut backs, and stacked drilling rigs, these are trying times in Wyoming.

For survival, there are four essential fronts which Wyoming needs to confront and attack ...

complacency can't be the norm. The current and forecasted economic distress shakes Wyoming's core -- all topics of the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation's Nov. 19-20 forum in Casper.

Jobs. We're dead last in economic diversification and venture capital funding. The Hathaway Plan is a legacy; it will be a lasting legacy all the more if we have jobs for our youth and future generations. That's Wyoming's reality check. Bob Grady, the Carlyle Group in San Francisco, has an important message -- Wyoming, get moving before it's too late.

Health care. National mandates reform aside, in Wyoming it will come down to whether our citizens are better off. It is about realistic affordability, accessibility, and quality. What is the state's strategy to keep and recruit doctors and deal with tort reform? Understand why Ron Galloway of Georgia, with the Wal-mart competition story, has relevancy.

Energy. Low prices for natural gas dwarf the state's budget woes. Coal, with Wyoming as the nation's number one producer, is at severe risk with cap and trade. What can be done to safeguard Wyoming's leading market positions? We have been proactive, but we need to do more. Find out how and why, from Virginia's former governor and U.S. senator George Allen.

Water. Wyoming's essential lifeline to the future. It defines without question our ability to grow. Casper and Cheyenne city leaders know their towns will be constricted in just 20 years ... Does anyone think a new dam or trans-basin diversion project can be completed overnight? Don't ignore Las Vegas Water District's Patricia Mulroy and why they'd like our water.

These issues -- jobs, health care, energy and water -- are not just Wyoming defined. They

are regional and national in scope, which brings me back to Amity Shlaes.

Shlaes is a profound thinker. She'll compare the Wyoming scene to the national economic and financial crisis -- how a once producer nation is now dominated by Washington regulations, pork barrel spending, and free market meddling.

Shlaes' book, "The Forgotten Man," was released to rave reviews a year before the current financial shock waves. It's no wonder she's being recognized for her brilliance and astute foresight. Bloomberg, the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and many other national and international news pundits and outlets cite her work and invite her commentaries. She knows -- and increasingly America is realizing -- that concentrations in Washington and the federal government have chilling effects beyond the Beltway, including for Wyoming.

Don't miss this year's Wyoming Forum on Nov. 19-20 in Casper. Hear from not only Amity Shlaes, but also our Wyoming congressional delegation, and Rocky Mountain Power's President Rich Walje, plus as discussed earlier in this column, nationally recognized experts in job creation, health care, energy and water. Be a part of the solution for Wyoming.

For more information visit our Web site at www.wyomingbusinessalliance.org or call

(307) 577-8000.

Bill Schilling is president of the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation.