The desire to control other people’s ideas and behaviors, particularly when they challenge widely-held beliefs and customs, is one of human nature’s most nefarious tendencies. Socrates was sentenced to death for stepping out of line; Galileo almost was. But such extreme examples are outnumbered by the many more common, pernicious acts of trying to control…
For the past few years, and the last couple months especially, it is rare to hop onto social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or even Instagram without getting flashed by posts containing the #RedForEd movement. There are three common themes: better teacher pay, less standardized testing, and more money to schools. Why do we still…
Kids solving problems and getting out of predicaments on their own without the help of adults (indeed, often with their hindrance) is a common theme in children’s literature. But some books go even farther, diving straight into outright anti-authoritarianism. Good for them—if you’re going to impart moral lessons in children’s literature (not always a good…
My eight-year-old daughter Abby recently started reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It was prompted, in part, by watching the Little House on the Prairie television episodes with her great-aunt. Coincidentally, I have been reading more lately about some of the key women in history who promoted the ideals of…
Thanksgiving. The holiday we set aside each November to be grateful for our blessings throughout the year. Although the historic celebration between the Pilgrims and Native Americans was not the first day of Thanksgiving ever to be observed in America, this story from our history teaches a valuable lesson any freedom lover will treasure. The…
As Chicago teachers’ strike continues with no end in sight, 300,000 students spend another day outside of the public school classroom. Chicago’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot, says this is damaging to children. “We need to get our kids back in school,” the mayor said Thursday, CNN reports. “Every day we are out, that hurts our children.”…
Recently CNN and the Human Rights Campaign partnered to present an hours long forum with the Democratic presidential candidates on LGBT issues and the proposed Equality Bill. Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and the rest all endorsed the bill, which would, among other things, repress biblical teaching and remove tax-exempt status from churches holding traditional beliefs regarding…
From kindergarten to adults in college, students are beginning the daily grind of classes, attendance, and (God-forbid) group projects. Many of the Democrat presidential candidates have proposed plans for student-debt forgiveness and/or making college tuition free. This isn’t surprising, considering the campaign trail has become a string of constant promises of free stuff that was…
Quillette columnist Coleman Hughes, an American of African descent who has “only ever voted for democrats,” made news in June when he testified in front of a House Subcommittee against reparations for slavery. One lady applauded him on social media, saying “there are so many youth (sic) that want to speak out … but fear…
By Aaron Abel Libertarians. We’re a motley assembly, aren’t we? With such varying ideologies from myriad philosophies, it’s a challenge to define our common goals. But we undoubtedly have common roots. It would be arrogant of me to believe I can lay a foundation unifying all schools of thought to encompass the term ‘Libertarianism’. Far greater…