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CATEGORY: CULTURE (5 MIN)
Many progressives attempt to keep up the appearance of respecting Christianity even as they oppose its tenets in the public square. After all, they preach tolerance, and they don’t want to be obviously hypocritical. But when the President of the United States issued a proclamation declaring one of Christians’ holiest days to instead honor a belief most Christians oppose, the façade dropped.
For The American Mind, Daniel J. Mahoney, winner of ISI’s 2023 Conservative Book of the Year Award, blasts President Biden for his Easter proclamation. Biden announced that March 31—Easter Sunday this year—would be a “Transgender Day of Visibility.” Mahoney calls this an example of “unprecedented social engineering of the most surreal kind.”
Mahoney reflects on just how much America has changed in a short timeframe. He refers to the transgender movement as the latest version of a different kind of “religion” which oppresses those who do not hold its tenets. And he contrasts Biden’s regular outward displays of Catholic piety with his actions that violate basic principles of the faith he claims.
Mahoney finally urges Americans to fight back against the ideology which convinces young people that they’re confused about their identity—an ideology which has taken hold of the highest parts of our government.
Read Mahoney’s entire article here.
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Weekly Poll
Did you have a nice Easter?
[A] Yes.
[B] No.
[C] It was okay
[D] Do not celebrate
RESULTS: 4/28/24
Should conservatives pursue a maximally free trade policy approach or should they consider protectionist policies for key American industries? Here are the results:
[A] Conservatives should adopt protectionist trade policies for certain American industries - 95.7%
[B] Conservatives should only pursue free trade policies. - 4.3%
[C] Unsure - 0%
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CATEGORY: ECONOMY (5 MIN)
Governments often hope to solve social problems through financial investment. That’s why programs like Social Security, welfare, Medicare, and more have proliferated. Yet each of these programs carries with it unique downsides. Some are more obvious, like economic harms through increased taxation and the difficulty of reducing spending once increased. Others take a little more digging.
Con Chapman, writing in The American Conservative, analyzes such potential harms in the context of affordable housing. He explains something called the “Bureaucratic Rule of Two,” which claims that moving an initiative from the private to the public sector doubles its cost of production.
Chapman then shows how this rule plays out in the day-to-day world of housing subsidies. He points out that developers who reject government money can construct housing at a much lower price than their public sector counterparts. In San Jose, for example, a government initiative built houses at more than triple the price of a private venture, eventually adding to homelessness rather than reducing it.
Chapman explains that this disparity comes from an excess of red tape, which includes a host of white-collar expenses and needless regulation. The result? Wealthier Americans profit more from subsidies, and those who really need help don’t get it.
See more of Chapman’s examples in his piece right here.
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CATEGORY: VIDEO
Join us for an insightful lecture by renowned historian and military strategist Victor Davis Hanson. In this captivating presentation, Hanson delves deep into the annals of history to elucidate the complexities of warfare and its enduring impact on civilizations.
Drawing from his extensive expertise in classical history and military affairs, Hanson provides a compelling analysis of the strategic, cultural, and geopolitical dimensions of modern conflict. With incisive commentary and historical parallels, he navigates through the intricate tapestry of global affairs, shedding light on the timeless truths and enduring challenges inherent in the pursuit of peace and security.
From the ancient battlefields of Greece and Rome to the contemporary theaters of conflict in the Middle East, Hanson offers a comprehensive perspective on the evolution of warfare and its implications for contemporary society. With meticulous scholarship and engaging storytelling, he unveils the enduring lessons that America has learned in its quest to confront terrorism and defend the values of freedom and democracy.
Don't miss this thought-provoking lecture that offers invaluable insights into the nature of war, the complexities of international relations, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Join us as we embark on a journey through history with Victor Davis Hanson as our guide.
Subscribe to our channel for more enlightening lectures and discussions on history, politics, and culture.
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An Evening with Brian Kilmeade on Teddy Roosevelt & Booker T. Washington
April 16th, 2024
Join ISI on Tuesday, April 16th at an exclusive evening with celebrated author Brian Kilmeade that promises to transport you back to the pivotal moments that shaped our nation. Kilmeade’s latest book, Teddy and Booker T.: How Two American Icons Blazed a Path for Racial Equality, offers a compelling look at the intertwined lives of Booker T. Washington and Teddy Roosevelt.
Visit ISI's historic 20-acre estate just two hours north of Washington, DC, in Delaware's Brandywine Valley. Sponsors will be invited to an exclusive VIP reception with Kilmeade and receive a signed copy of the book. Reserve your tickets and explore sponsorship opportunities at isi.org/kilmeade.
We look forward to seeing you at ISI this spring for an evening of historical discovery and intellectual delight!
Join us in Wilmington, DE >>>
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A Revival and Reinvention of the Traditional University
Ralston College is offering a one-year M.A. in Humanities, where students encounter transformative works of Western culture that have, for centuries, been central to humanistic learning.
The program begins with an immersive, two-month residency in Greece, which combines language study with instructive travel.
Then, on Ralston’s campus in Savannah, Georgia, students pursue an ambitious multidisciplinary curriculum, focusing on the greatest works of Western civilization from ancient times to the present.
Ralston College is keen to recruit the strongest possible students to its new cohort. To members of its incoming class, the college will award a number of fully funded fellowships, covering both tuition and room and board for the entirety of the program.
Join a community of scholars and teachers who value deep learning, free inquiry, the pursuit of truth, and the celebration of beauty.
Applications are now open >>>
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Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.
HLS Student Government Demands Harvard Divest from Israel via The Harvard Salient
“The Harvard Law School Student Government passed a resolution this morning urging the Harvard Management Company, which oversees the university’s endowment, and all organizations affiliated with Harvard to withdraw investments that facilitate the alleged ‘ongoing legal occupation of Palestine and the genocide of the Palestinians.’ The group, an elected body tasked with voicing student opinion and overseeing student life at HLS, approved the measure in an anonymous vote of twelve to three with four abstentions.”
Gaza protestors attempt to hijack pro-life display via The Collegiate Commons
“On Monday, two pro-life student organizations at IUPUI, Life Defenders and Law Students for Life, hosted an event they called ‘Cemetery of Innocents’ in Taylor Courtyard. The display was set up to cover the entire courtyard in the morning and consisted of 1000 pink flags, each of which represented 2.3 victims of abortion per day in the United States. However, protesters attempted to hijack the display to make it about the Israel-Hamas war.”
IOP Scandal: Director Heidi Heitkamp Once Again under Fire for Sex-Related Statement via The Chicago Thinker
“Democrat Heidi Heitkamp, the director of the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, alleged that Congressman Matt Rosendale (R., Montana) ‘impregnated a 20-year-old staff person.’ Now, he is planning legal action. According to Rosendale communications director Ron Kovach, Heitkamp’s accusation ‘is 100% false and defamatory and [she] will be hearing from our lawyers soon.’”
Proposed U-M Policy Defines Consequences for Disruptive Protests via The Michigan Review
“In the wake of a pro-Palestinian protest that halted the Honors Convocation on March 24, U-M released a draft policy outlining consequences for disrupting university operations and events. The proposed Disruptive Activity Policy, released March 27, prohibits all people ‘without legal authority’ from impeding university traffic, classes, and events.”
Will AI Make Us Rich or Kill Us All? via The W&L Spectator
“On March 12, The George Washington Forum for Civil Discourse and Debate hosted its inaugural event, entitled ‘AI: Will It Make Us Rich or Kill Us All?‘, which featured W&L’s own Professor Jeff Schatten and Samantha Radocchia, an author, futurist, and technologist also known as Sam Rad.” |
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CATEGORY: POLITICS (12 MIN)
Although much has changed in the past 50 years, much in America has also stayed the same. Many of the battles between conservatives and liberals which mark our national discourse have their roots in debates started decades ago. And the men and women who fought those intellectual battles have left a deep imprint on today’s society.
For this week’s article from the Modern Age website, Lee Edwards reviews the life of Paul Weyrich, a thinker, strategist, and prolific creator of conservative groups. Weyrich was a member of the “New Right” of the 1970s, which focused on many of the cultural issues which have become the forefront of discussion today.
Edwards lays out the connections between Weyrich, a devout Catholic, and the evangelical movement of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Weyrich ended up having a significant hand in the creation of the Moral Majority. Edwards also notes that Weyrich was disappointed the Reagan Revolution did not produce more populist results to solve practical problems for American workers.
Edwards concludes by describing Weyrich as “brilliant and blunt, a far-sighted political strategist who knew that the struggle for freedom and the search for a godly world are never-ending.”
Read Edwards’ ode to Weyrich here.
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Thought of the Day:
“You will achieve nothing in this world without courage.”
- Aristotle
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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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