An IPS Commentary By Mike Winther, President of the Institute for Principle Studies What Happened to Separation of Powers? Much of the news over the past six weeks has focused on the efforts of our governors and our President to contain the impact and the spread of the novel coronavirus. There is considerable debate about whether the anti-virus measures are too restrictive, too lenient, too early, or too late. There is very little discussion, however, about whether it is appropriate for these executive branch officials to bypass their legislatures to make law. This necessitates a long overdue discussion of law-making … Read More
Crisis, Economics and the Compromise of Principle
An IPS Commentary By Mike Winther, President of the Institute for Principle Studies Crisis, Economics and the Compromise of Principle As I write this, the world is in the middle of the Covid-19 epidemic and Congress has just passed an economic relief bill with an advertised price tag of about 2.2 trillion dollars. This is an amount roughly equal to 10% of our 22 trillion dollar federal debt. This debt took 185 years to accumulate and now we are increasing it by 10% in one nearly unanimous congressional vote. In addition, the Federal Reserve is pumping vast amounts of liquidity … Read More
Modern American Bond-Servants
By Michael R. Winther, President of the Institute for Principle Studies As we go to the polls on this “Super Tuesday”, many of our ballots will include one or more bond measures. As we ponder our votes, it is good to remember that bond measures are deficit spending. All too often, Americans condemn debt and deficits, but then vote for bonds. We should consider that many of those who vote for these bonds will die before they are paid off. Still worse, Americans who are not yet old enough to vote will be paying these debts (and the interest) for … Read More
2019 Annual Report
This annual report highlights just a few of our efforts during the past year to clearly present the biblical case for the proper role of government. To all who contributed to our work, thank you! We hope you are encouraged by the fruit of our labor. We believe and expect that we are igniting the candles whose flames will, over the coming decades, enlighten the world.
Abortion and Presumption
By Michael R. Winther, President of the Institute for Principle Studies Earlier this week, Alabama governor, Kay Ivey signed the Alabama Human Life Protection Act. This law is a bold statement in the defense of human life. A landslide of voices will attack and condemn the law–and those who supported it. Much of this criticism will be based on phrases like: “reproductive rights” and “equal rights for women”. The heart of the issue, however, comes down to how we view the fetus. (For the record, I should note that the origin of the word fetus reflects a meaning that is … Read More
Unknowingly Entrapping Ourselves
Unknowingly Entrapping Ourselves: Is there a danger in receiving government funding? PLEASE NOTE: I want to make very clear from the outset that my goal in covering this topic is not to beat up on any particular ministry. Instead, I simply want to showcase a real life example of what can happen—and the predicament you can get yourself into—when government and its dangers are not properly understood. A South Carolina Protestant foster care ministry recently faced the loss of federal funding and licensing because they only work with families who share their Christian beliefs. The CEO of the nonprofit, which … Read More
2018 Annual Report
This annual report highlights just a few of our efforts during the past year to clearly present the biblical case for the proper role of government. To all who contributed to our work, thank you! We hope you are encouraged by the fruit of our labor. We believe and expect that we are igniting the candles whose flames will, over the coming decades, enlighten the world.