A robust debate is under way about the future of conservatism, and there are plenty of lessons to be learned from the 2012 election and current trends in American politics. Unfortunately, the conversation so far has largely consisted of calls for modifying basic conservative positions, especially on social policy, and for targeting government spending and programs to…

There was a time when President Obama felt the need to hide behind Ronald Reagan's view of the proper role of government. "I've never believed," he said repeatedly on the campaign trail in 2010, "that government has all the answers to our problems." Nor is it the government's role "to create jobs or prosperity." Rather, it is "the drive and ingenuity of our entrepreneurs"…

For most of American history, the average farmer, shop owner or entrepreneur could live an entire life without getting anything from the federal government except mail service. But those days have gone the way of the Pony Express. Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that 49% of the population lives in a household where at least one person gets some type of…

Throughout history, privilege belonged to the most powerful. Kings, barons and lords controlled property, keeping wealth in the hands of a few. Poverty was widespread and almost all were subjects to someone else. But 225 years ago this coming Monday, a group of political entrepreneurs charted a different course.   These revolutionaries proclaimed that all are…

Many political documents are nothing more than statements of a moment. They're outdated almost as quickly as a daily newspaper. Consider the ridiculous Post Huron statement, drafted 50 years ago by the far-left Students for a Democratic Society. "We are people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed now in universities, looking uncomfortably to the…

It's not often that a presidential administration admits it doesn't have the authority to do something it's doing. But that's what the Obama administration's immigration policy boils down to. "This memorandum confers no substantive right, immigration status or pathway to citizenship," a DHS memo issued last week says. "Only the Congress, acting through its…

A hundred years ago, the crew of Titanic learned just how difficult it can be to turn a great vessel. They spotted an iceberg and tried to turn the ship, but couldn't change course quickly enough to avoid a collision. A wonder of human engineering was doomed; not because of its design but because of the way it was handled. The 2012 elections could mark a similar…

A hundred years ago, the crew of Titanic learned just how difficult it can be to steer a great vessel. They spotted an iceberg and tried to turn the ship, but couldn’t change course quickly enough to avoid a collision. A wonder of human engineering was doomed; not because of its design, but because of the way it was handled. The 2012 elections could mark a…

“Economic fairness” was the topic of President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night. But while he spoke of this as a return to American values, his blueprint for getting us there runs counter not only to the core principles on which our nation was founded but also the very idea of the American Dream. America is exceptional because it is dedicated…