On July 4, 1776 sober Americans sought to conserve the rights of Englishmen; on July 14, 1789 French mobs attempted to tear down everything that went before, in the name of a new utopia that never arrived. This essay, written during our own Summer 2020 time of troubles, remains disturbingly relevant three years later. Time to choose: July 4 or July 14? READ MORE »

Crossroads for Liberty Recovering the Anti-Federalist Values of America’s First Constitution By William J. Watkins, Jr.

So-called “McJobs” aren’t just worth having. They’re vital. They make it easier for the people who have them to accumulate valuable skills and labor market experience, which demonstrably leads to higher future earnings. Enough with the scorn; let’s decriminalize low-wage starter work. READ MORE »

Choice Cooperation, Enterprise, and Human Action By Robert P. Murphy

John Steinbeck is known for his iconic anti-capitalist anger, at least in The Grapes of Wrath. But the more mature Steinbeck in Travels With Charley discovered that local small businessmen actually make the world tick...sounding a lot more like Friedrich Hayek than Karl Marx. READ MORE »

Is Social Justice Just? Edited by Robert M. Whaples et al.

Everybody knows it: higher education has become a very risky investment. Its cost has soared, while its perceived benefit has shrunk. The only way to avoid decline and fall is for colleges to regain the confidence of the public, by focusing once again on educational excellence...alone. READ MORE »

Restoring the Promise Higher Education in America By Richard K. Vedder