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CATEGORY: CULTURE (6 MIN)
Many American families lives’ are structured around the work week—five days of work and two days of rest. But countless others don’t necessarily get the luxury of a true weekend. Numerous jobs demand attention for far more than 40 hours a week, and with the advent of smartphones, we’re at each other’s beck and call 24/7.
Jonathan Berry, writing in First Things, argues these phenomena must have a drastic effect on the human spirit. Berry connects modern developments with the way American businesses treat workers to highlight the problems of lost rest and respect in the workplace.
Berry’s overarching claim is that labor policy “must focus first on the human person rather than the systems in which work is performed.” He says that work is important for human fulfillment, but he also believes it can just as easily destroy fulfillment if misused. Berry gives examples of potential commonsense reforms, like simpler employee stock ownership plans, board representation, and “works councils” between laborers and bosses.
Berry then turns to the preservation of rest, where he notes that at this point, government intervention may be required to protect workers’ ability to create a rhythm of rest. He believes the lowest-paid workers in society often face the hardest time finding rest, and they need policies that will protect their personhood.
Read Berry’s piece here.
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Weekly Poll
Does America currently over-value or under-value work?
[A] Over-value
[B] Under-value
[C] Just right
[D] Not sure
RESULTS: 8/29/2024
Should Republicans discuss COVID lockdowns more in their national messaging?
[A] Yes - 54.2%
[B] No - 39%
[C] Not sure - 6.8%
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CATEGORY: CULTURE (17 MIN)
Despite the advent of technology that makes work more present than ever before, many Americans have also complained of a drop in diligence and industry in the workplace. Some workers post on social media about their 9-to-5 routines, routines that involve much relaxation and little actual time working. Sitcoms (and real conversations) often involve trying to get out of the hardest work in an office.
In The Imaginative Conservative, Mark Malvasi criticizes Americans for lampooning the value of hard work and instead praising lifestyles and occupations that seem to get around labor. Malvasi starts by pointing to 21st-century claims that we will soon enter the “post-work era.” Instead of celebrating such a feat, Malvasi calls on past philosophers who discussed the importance and moral value of hard work.
Malvasi proceeds in part by contrasting Adam Smith with Karl Marx. Malvasi says that both Smith and Marx saw problems with the treatment of contemporary workers, but Smith thought division of labor was necessary—Marx hoped for a workers’ utopia. But in some ways, Malvasi believes thinkers’ hopes for utopia have gotten even worse. Instead of picturing a world of perfect work, modern philosophers imagine a world without work.
Without striving to labor and properly recognizing its dignity, Malvasi says people will lose part of their humanity. Read his full article right here.
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CATEGORY: VIDEO
In this insightful video, Jay Richards, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, sits down with Johnny Burtka, a prominent conservative commentator, to tackle some of the most pressing economic issues facing America today. Together, they dive deep into the root causes of inflation and discuss whether skyrocketing housing prices can be brought under control.
The conversation also explores the ongoing debate about taxation—are lower taxes really better for the economy? And how does illegal immigration, especially low-skill immigration, impact the U.S. economy and the job market? Jay and Johnny bring their expert perspectives to these complex topics, offering viewers a balanced and informed analysis.
Whether you're concerned about rising costs, interested in the implications of tax policies, or curious about the economic effects of immigration, this video provides a thorough examination of the challenges and potential solutions facing the nation.
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ISI's Annual
Homecoming Weekend
Join ISI on September 20-21, 2024, for a garden party that’ll welcome students, professors, alumni, and friends of ISI from across the country.
Every year, we host ISI’s annual Homecoming festivities right on our 20-acre campus tucked away into a bucolic pocket of Wilmington, DE. Our Homecoming sets the tone for the new school year and is an opportunity to celebrate and network with our impressive community of students, teachers, alumni, and professionals from a variety of backgrounds.
Official Homecoming Schedule:
Friday, September 20 (6:30 pm – 11 pm)
Guests will gather at ISI’s campus for a reception, bonfire, and open house
Saturday, September 21
Guests will gather at ISI's Campus for an 8:00 am breakfast
9:00 – 10:00 am: Reagan and Nixon Revisited
10:30 am: The Democratization of American Christianity
Top 20 under 30 Awards Ceremony
12:00 – 1:15 pm: God and Man at Yale 2024
1:15 pm: Lunch and festivities begin
Reserve your ticket>>>
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Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.
UT Austin School of Civic Leadership to Launch a New Major in Civics via The Texas Horn
“Last year, the University of Texas announced the launch of its School of Civic Leadership. Starting this school year, the school will offer a minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and next school year, they will offer a new Civics major and minor. In the short period since its inception, it has provided, and continues to provide, rich opportunities for students. The School of Civic Leadership aims to “educate students in the values and principles of a free society and equip them to be the next generation of leadership for our state and nation.” and train civic leaders through its various programs to sustain free and flourishing societies in the future. The School of Civic Leadership has opened applications for students wishing to pursue a classical liberal education with an emphasis in the study of American history, law, economics, and political philosophy. The academic
programs available for students interested in these fields of study will include a major in Civics Honors, a minor in Civics, and a minor in PPE.”
Embroiled in Controversy, Chancellor Woodson Prepares for His Exit via The Free Pack
“Just two months ago it was announced that North Carolina State University’s (“NCSU”) Chancellor Randy Woodson would retire on June 30th, 2025. The announcement came several months after widespread news broke out about Poe Hall’s toxic PCB levels having allegedly caused cancer for some former students and faculty members that have allegedly studied and worked in the building.”
U.AW. Votes in Favor of Ending Strike via The Cornell Review
"“A super-majority of the Union voted in favor of a pay increase along with a limited cost of living adjustment (COLA) protection for the next 4 years. The UAW represents approximately 1,200 out of the 8,382 Ithaca campus non-academic staff. The skilled trade workers are represented by a different union, and the majority of Cornell’s staff are not unionized. The collective bargaining agreement with the Cornell trades expires on June 30, 2026. Cornell posts copies of all of its collective bargaining agreements, and the UAW settlement does not automatically reopen the other agreements.
Prior to the new UAW agreement, employees who were hired before 1997 were paid on a different wage scale than employees hired after that date. This agreement abolishes those tiers but provides for a series of transition payments to the employees impacted by combining the wage scales."
Welcome to Our Lady’s University via The Irish Rover
"Dear Notre Dame Class of 2028, I hope your first days on campus have been enjoyable, and that you have already become somewhat accustomed to the traditions of the university that will be your home for the next four years. In this welcome letter, I would like to highlight one of these traditions: the Alma Mater, in which we sing, “Love Thee, Notre Dame.” Certainly, during their time at the university, most students and alumni of Notre Dame grow to “love” the school. But what does it mean to truly love an institution? When we love people, we desire their good; we sacrifice for them. At its core, this genuine love necessitates a desire to help the other achieve joy and happiness, goals which are ultimately found only in God. Thus, in the context of our love of Notre Dame, we must bring the university—Our Lady’s University—closer to God."
The Spectator Presents: Michael Knowles via The W&L Spectator
"The W&L Spectator and College Republicans are proud to present conservative commentator Michael Knowles in Evans Hall at 7:00 PM on September 16, 2024. Knowles is best known for his Daily Wire podcast, The Michael Knowles Show. He joined the platform in 2016, beginning as a guest on The Andrew Klavan Show before starting his own podcast. He is a practicing Catholic, which significantly informs his views. In 2021, Knowles authored a book, Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds, which discussed the history of free speech policy and modern free speech advocacy. His speech, titled “Kamala Wants You Single,” will explore the tension between traditional and modern values surrounding families and dating. Tickets for the event may be found here." |
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CATEGORY: CULTURE (9 MIN)
One of the most important features of conservatism for the past century has been its openness to debate within its walls. Every major conservative thinker in the movement has at one point or another been willing to voice his or her disagreement with a like-minded individual. That criticism sharpens ideas. But if criticism is rude or aggressive, will anyone listen?
For this week’s article from the Modern Age website, Gregory M. Collins reviews a book on civility that hopes to recapture a better spirit for American life and discourse. The work is The Soul of Civility by Alexandra Hudson. Collins describes Hudson’s work as protecting “an instrumental and an inherent good” in civility.
Collins says Hudson’s work is rooted in a concept of human flourishing that sees civility as necessary for a virtuous civilization. It focuses on home life and small groups (ala Burke’s little platoons) as the keys to spreading civility across the nation.
Collins recommends Hudson’s book “not only for the polite yet opportunistic colleague but also for the caterwauling grenade-thrower on social media, who, precisely because he attacks his adversary ad hominem, relinquishes the opportunity for the type of robust debate that would entail mutual recognition of each other’s dignity.”
Read Collins’ review here on the Modern Age website.
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Thought of the Day:
“Repose, leisure, peace, belong among the elements of happiness. If we have not escaped from harried rush, from mad pursuit, from unrest, from the necessity of care, we are not happy.”
- Josef Pieper
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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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