Howell1

William D. (Bill) Howell is a retired former public administrator living in Hurricane, Utah.

What Was Missing at NatCon 2024

National Conservatives are a growing movement on the political right. They are largely united by their belief in the failings of liberalism, in protectionist trade policy, a halt to mass migration, and a more Christianized nation. The attendees of this year’s conference, hosted by the Edmund Burke Foundation, focused on many topics: free trade, their desire to decouple from China, weaponization of government, bureaucracy in government, and even the building of parallel institutions. But one topic, one that should be vitally important to anyone wishing to preserve a nation, was absent.

The 1866 civil rights revolution

The phrase “equality of opportunity” is expressed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a nondiscrimination principle. There has been much debate on whether the nondiscrimination principle is a formal right to equality before the law, reflecting the principle that everyone has a right not to be discriminated against, or whether it is a substantive right vested in specified groups (e.g., blacks or women) to give them special legal protection that members of other groups (e.g., whites or men) do not enjoy.

‘Net zero’ and Keynesian ‘stimulus’ are making us poorer

If you read the latest OECD publication, “Employment Outlook 2024: The Net Zero Transition and the Labour Market,” you would imagine that the world has not gone through the largest monetary and fiscal stimulus in decades.

The results are so poor, they are embarrassing. Furthermore, the report illustrates the impoverishment of citizens and subtly suggests that achieving the net zero goal will present an even greater challenge. Translation: You will be even poorer.

Jason Purcell

Jason is an associate in the capital markets division of a major non-bank financial institution.

A historical lesson in higher-education self-governance

American higher education is facing a crisis of ideological homogeneity. According to a recent survey, 72% of conservative faculty fear losing their jobs due to their speech. This alarming trend can partially be blamed on accreditation agencies. Since 2020, there has been a concerted effort to push diversity, equity, and inclusion policies into college accreditation, threatening the autonomy and values of heterodox institutions.