By Williamson M. Evers (The Wall Street Journal, 8/28/20)

Moving toward adoption next March, the Golden State’s new ethnic studies curriculum prefers victimization to minority achievement, and Marxism to liberal values. Following this curriculum, students would have no basis for understanding Frederick Douglass’s defense of the U.S. Constitution as “a glorious liberty document” and his celebration of the potential of a country based on natural and inalienable rights. READ MORE »
 

With David Theroux, Dr. Williamson Evers, and Dr. Graham Walker

Please join us for the third episode of our new round table conversation which will provide commentary on the most pressing news stories of the day. It will feature our Founder and President David Theroux, Senior Fellow Dr. Williamson Evers (Director of our Center on Educational Excellence), and Executive Director Dr. Graham Walker, as well as the occasional additional Independent Institute scholar. We hope you’ll participate with questions and learn more about our unique outlook—informed by principles of liberty and dignity, and our great respect for facts. We will discuss a variety of topics, including material published on our blog, and answer questions submitted through Thinkspot.

Click here to access the event live this Wednesday at 3:00 P.M. PDT or watch the live stream on our Facebook page or Twitter Feed.

By Angelo M. Codevilla (Claremont Review of Books, 6/21/20)

Ritual confession has long been used to promote spiritual cleanliness—and to energize mobs to wage wars against the great unwashed. Today’s “woke” self-purifiers, eager to confess past transgressions and flout their new virtue, are largely ignorant about this recurring role in history’s drama—and oblivious to the unintended consequences of their mass deployment on the battlefields of today’s culture wars. READ MORE »
 

By Art Carden (Forbes, 8/14/20)

A recent study finds that economic freedom mitigated some harms of the 1918 global flu pandemic. Economic freedom, the study demonstrates, gives people the flexibility needed to adapt to changing conditions. READ MORE »
 

By Tate Fegley (Mises Wire, 8/20/20)

Streets and highways are the leading places where people first come into contact with the police. By unbundling traffic enforcement from broader policing authority, road privatization could be a fruitful avenue for police reform. READ MORE »
 

By Richard K. Vedder (Forbes, 8/10/20)

Lower-wage workers have seen their pay growth in the marketplace lag that of their higher-wage counterparts. The most efficient way to raise their productivity and income may be to expand vocational training, which can lead to in-demand careers like welding, plumbing, and computer repair. READ MORE »