CATEGORY: POLICY (6 min)

The fight for the family

It’s long been said that families are the building blocks of a healthy society. And we now see the results when culture turns against those building blocks… woke gender ideology… rudderless children… and moral decay.

How can we practically fight back against this collapse?

Jon Schweppe, in First Things, says it’s time to incentivize Americans to create strong families.

Schweppe believes that the biggest obstacle to a strong family is financial. He says it’s nearly impossible to support a family on one income—or even two.

So Schweppe overviews several Republican politicians’ plans to give families a monetary leg up. Tax credits to parents, school supply vouchers, and paid family leave are all on the table, and some are even results of bipartisan efforts.

But in the end, Schweppe argues, “we need a shift in perspective—a reimagining of means, and a realignment of ends.”

Discover what that shift entails—and how it could boost Republicans’ midterm chances—right here.

CATEGORY: AMERICAN CULTURE (7 min)

Taking our identity to take control

The bureaucracy, the “deep state,” the unelected elite… no matter what you call them, they control our largest businesses, executive agencies, and media outlets. And they always seem to move in unison.

What did this incompetent “managerial class” do to take control?

Writing for The American Mind, Auron MacIntyre details their strategy: remove what makes each person unique and you get a homogenized, easy-to-manage population.

“A person with an identity tied to nothing, not even their own biology, can be led to believe almost anything,” MacIntyre writes.

This plan, MacIntyre says, has led to the near-complete destruction of our societal and cultural bonds. But he thinks there’s a solution, and because it’s based in the truth of human nature, he’s hopeful it must eventually win out. We must go back to our roots and rediscover “what makes us human.”

Read MacIntyre’s thoughtful response to our bureaucratic overlords here.

Gala for Western Civilization 

October 13 will be a night to remember.

At ISI’s sixteenth annual Gala for Western Civilization in Washington, D.C., you and hundreds of other ISI friends and supporters will partake in an evening that will be unforgettable.

This year ISI will be showcasing top academic talent across three disciplines: political theory, economics, and history. We want to provide our alumni and supporters with an opportunity to experience some of the greatest conservative minds of our generation. The evening’s speakers include:

• Chair of the Department of History at the University of Dallas, Susan Hanssen, who will give the keynote address
• The William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Government, Harvey C. Mansfield, who will receive ISI’s Charles H. Hoeflich Lifetime Achievement Award
• Merton P. Stoltz Professor of Economics at Brown University, Glenn Loury, who will receive ISI’s Faculty Award

It should be a wonderful evening full of great conversation.

Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.
 

CATEGORY: MOVIE REVIEW (9 min)

Return to the Gilded Age

Gaudy opera houses… luxurious ballroom dances… and the lordly families of New York City—they’re the relics of an era long gone by. But director Martin Scorcese captures them all in his 1993 film The Age of Innocence, based on the 1920 novel of the same name by Edith Wharton.

Why should we care about the fictional social affairs of wealthy New York denizens from more than 150 years ago? Lauren Weiner, in the Fall 2018 issue of Modern Age, argues the movie reveals the sacrifice required to have a strong moral fiber.

The film chronicles the love triangle among a sophisticated young lawyer, his fiancée, and a countess who has returned from Europe to escape her abusive husband. Weiner highlights the moral dilemmas that face the three main characters and praises the beautifully shot backdrop to their story.

She believes the film is one of the “best literary adaptations Hollywood has ever produced.” Do you agree? Read her review here and decide for yourself!

Who We Are, What We Do

Too many college students feel isolated or attacked for questioning the ever-narrowing range of debate on campus.

We introduce you to the American tradition of liberty and to a vibrant community of students and scholars so that you get the collegiate experience you hunger for.