Civics Summit – Institute for Principle Studies (IPS)

Civics Summit 2024

Event Summary

In September, the Institute for Principle Studies hosted the 2024 Civics Summit, which focused on the state of healthcare in America. The conference was well attended and very educational. There was an excellent lineup of speakers covering a wide range of topics relating to healthcare in America. Daniel Mitchell gave a thorough presentation on the economic factors that influence our healthcare system, Greg Remke covered the impact that food choices have had on the health of Americans, and Max Nelson explored the relationship between healthcare workers and labor unions. In addition, Phil Olson shared his experience with healthcare sharing programs while Jonathan Wolfson was able to address many questions that attendees had about America’s complex healthcare system. Finally, as a direct care physician, Brian Lenzkes provided an inside perspective of the medical scene, and Mary Winther presented specific plan ideas that debaters can focus on for debate. Mary also covered the biblical principles relating to healthcare in America. All of the sessions were recorded and are now available for purchase.

The video recordings from the 2024 Civics Summit are now available for purchase.

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Conference Speakers

Daniel J. Mitchell

Daniel J. Mitchell is a co-founder of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity and the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation. Dr. Mitchell advocates supply-side tax cuts and fundamental tax reform, and is the nation’s leading opponent of tax harmonization schemes developed by the Brussels-based European Union, the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations.

Daniel J. Mitchell

Daniel J. Mitchell is a co-founder of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity and the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation. Dr. Mitchell advocates supply-side tax cuts and fundamental tax reform, and is the nation’s leading opponent of tax harmonization schemes developed by the Brussels-based European Union, the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations.

Jonathan Wolfson

Jonathan Wolfson is the Chief Legal Officer and Policy Director at the Cicero Institute. His research at Cicero focuses on healthcare, regulatory reform, and employment policies. He also oversees the Cicero Law & Policy Fellows program. Before joining Cicero, Jonathan led the Policy Office at the U.S. Department of Labor where he managed DOL's deregulatory efforts and oversaw DOL's internal policy development think tank. He previously was a litigator and regulatory attorney at an international law firm. Following law school, he served as a federal appellate law clerk. Before law school, Jonathan was a policy analyst at the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Gregory Rehmke

Gregory F. Rehmke is Program Director for Economic Thinking. He has directed educational programs for high school, homeschool, and college students, and published articles on energy, environment, entrepreneurship and technology related topics, as well as on development economics. Mr Rehmke directed educational programs at the Center for the American Idea, The Reason Foundation, and the Foundation for Economic Education. Since the 1990s Mr. Rehmke has published annual study guides and held workshops on the economics of annual high school and later homeschool debate topics.

Philip Olsson

Dr. Philip Olsson holds a Ph.D. in Religion from Claremont Graduate University, in addition to his M.A. and B.A. in History from California State University.

Dr. Philip Olsson is also the co-author of the book Wait Till It's Free: The Plague of Socialized Medicine and the Only Known Cure.

Philip Olsson

Dr. Philip Olsson holds a Ph.D. in Religion from Claremont Graduate University, in addition to his M.A. and B.A. in History from California State University.

Dr. Philip Olsson is also the co-author of the book Wait Till It's Free: The Plague of Socialized Medicine and the Only Known Cure.

Mary Winther

Mary Winther is the Director of Education at the Institute for Principle Studies and has degrees in political science and education. She has a rich background in the study of forensics. Mary was herself a speech & debate competitor in both high school and in college. She has coached high school debate for over 20 years. In addition to working directly with students, she has also been teaching debate coaches for the past two decades. Mary is also on the Stoa debate committee and on the IPS Board of Directors.

Maxford Nelson

As the Freedom Foundation’s Director of Research and Government Affairs, Maxford Nelsen leads the team working to advance the Freedom Foundation’s mission through strategic research, public policy advocacy, and labor relations.

Max regularly testifies on labor issues before legislative bodies and his research has formed the basis of several briefs submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Brian Lenzkes

Dr. Brian Lenzkes is an internal medicine doctor based in San Diego who has focused much of his attention on clinical nutrition. He owned his own medical practice with a group of physicians from 2004-2020 until transitioning into an independent membership-based practice, LowCarbMD San Diego. A professional speaker in the health and wellness sphere, Dr. Lenzkes also hosts the Life’s Best Medicine podcast and co-hosts the popular LowCarbMD podcast, which have a total of more than 5.3 million downloads.