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CATEGORY: ECONOMY (7 MIN)
In every society, something or someone eventually snatches the reins of power. Oftentimes, the citizens of that society resist, seeking to preserve their autonomy against a new overlord. But true danger arrives when citizens no longer fight back because they believe their comfort depends on this rising power.
In Plough, Jon Askonas reviews Sohrab Ahmari’s latest book, Tyranny, Inc., which reveals what Ahmari believes to be the greatest threat to American freedom: the dominant private sector. Ahmari contends that political forces for the past few decades have handed power over to huge corporations and private financial bigwigs who are in the process of destroying American liberty.
Askonas discusses Ahmari’s anecdotes and examples which support his main message, such as expensive and dangerously ineffective “private fire departments” and corporations’ neglect of thousands of cancer patients. Askonas agrees that the dangers Ahmari describes are real and present—he even argues that Ahmari’s examples are merely the tip of the iceberg.
Askonas concludes by arguing that the humanity of society is a goal worth fighting for. He says Ahmari’s book helps by urging people to join the fight.
Read Askonas’s full review right here.
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Weekly Poll
RESULTS: 8/10/23
Last week, we asked: Is populism good for America? 40.8% of respondents answered "no" and 34.7% answered "yes."
Is big government the only threat to liberty in America?
[A] Yes
[B] No
[C] Unsure
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CATEGORY: CULTURE (5 MIN)
Despite constant news about the decline of conservatism in American culture and the continued “wokening” of our nation, it isn’t all doom and gloom. Some Americans are joining the fight to put a stop to the previously intractable march of leftist thought.
Lou Aguilar, writing for The American Spectator, details recent victories against woke culture that should encourage those depressed about the state of society. He starts with the strong social media response to Rachel Zegler, the actress playing Snow White in Disney’s upcoming remake. Her open disdain for the original story led to massive blowback from people who are tired of Disney’s rejection of tradition—blowback that might destroy the forthcoming movie and finally wake up Disney execs.
In the realm of media, the Hallmark Channel’s CEO, Wonya Lucas, stepped down. Lucas had promoted gay and lesbian movies as replacements for classic cheesy fireside flicks, swapping family values and comfort for a focus on “diversity.”
And Oliver Anthony, the red-bearded guitar player and creator of the country song Rich Men North of Richmond, went viral this week, earning more than 15 million views for his song on YouTube. The piece captured many Americans’ intense frustration with the downward trajectory of the country’s culture, but was also criticized by some on the right at National Review as excessively pessimistic.
There are people fighting back, Aguilar says—and they have some momentum.
Read his article here.
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CATEGORY: PODCAST EPISODE
In this episode, Sohrab Ahmari, author and founder of Compact magazine, joins the podcast to discuss:
- his new book, Tyranny, Inc., about private coercion and its role in harming the American working class
- what we can learn from the political economy of Louis Brandeis and John Kenneth Galbraith
- how privatization opens the door to corporate tyranny against workers, and how to fix it
Texts Mentioned:
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ISI’s 70th Anniversary Gala &
Linda L. Bean Center Dedication
September 28th, 2023
This fall, join us at our 70th Anniversary Gala featuring Tucker Carlson, Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, and Linda Bean, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Together these are some of the most influential figures in America today.
We will also host a pre-event panel featuring longtime friends of ISI including Annette Kirk (Russell Kirk Center), Gene Meyer (The Federalist Society), Ed Feulner (The Heritage Foundation), and Dan McCarthy (ISI), discussing the 70th anniversary of three conservative classics: Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind, Leo Strauss’ Natural Right and History, and Robert Nisbet’s The Quest for Community.
We will have a lobster dinner in honor of Tucker and Linda’s mutual connection to the state of Maine, and seating will be limited to 150 guests. Our VIP ticket holders will have the chance to meet ISI trustees and event speakers in a private reception beforehand.
Reserve your tickets here!
Join us in Wilmington, DE >>>
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Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.
Who benefits from a centralized anti-racism center at Cornell? via The Cornell Review
“Under the proposed plan, to graduate from Cornell, one must demonstrate mastery of a woke ‘skillset’ centered around anti-racism.”
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CATEGORY: RELIGION (9 MIN)
Sohrab Ahmari’s journey to becoming a major influence in the conservative movement went through many twists and turns. Ahmari was a teenage immigrant who read Nietzsche and Marx—he even advocated for Communist revolution and joined a radical organization. Now, he stands as one of the most influential Christian thinkers in America.
In this week’s Intercollegiate Review archive, Philip Jenkins reviews Ahmari’s self-told conversion story: From Fire, by Water. This 2019 work describes Ahmari’s decision to join the Catholic Church after years of intellectual discovery. Ahmari points out the flaws in his firebrand younger self, even as he forecasts the very character traits that prepared him to believe in Christ.
Jenkins appreciates Ahmari’s candor and energy, noting that the book is very well-written. He takes small issue with the lack of discussion of modern Catholic debates, but acknowledges that as an autobiographical work, it’s primarily narrative and not analytical. Jenkins hopes for an eventual sequel to discuss Ahmari’s view on orthodoxy.
Jenkins writes, “The book’s epigraph is taken from 1 Samuel: ‘He brings down to Sheol, and raises up.’” In concluding, Jenkins compares this line to G.K. Chesterton’s description of conversion.
Discover this comparison and Jenkins’ full thoughts right here.
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Thought of the Day:
“Once the demands of necessity and propriety have been met, the rest that one owns belongs to the poor.”
- Pope Leo XIII
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Join ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club
It’s never been easier for you to support our mission—and stay part of our community—with ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club!
For just $19.53 a month, you can join the fight and “pay it forward” by educating the next generation for ordered liberty.
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