Abortion: Are We Making The Right Argument? In reading “The World View in 5 Minutes”, I came across a headline saying “New Mexican Doctors Might Be Coerced into Killing Unborn Babies”. Naturally, I read the short news piece and at the end there was an appeal to sign a petition against the house bill in New Mexico promoting this evil. I followed the link because every small action helps. However, upon arriving at the linked website, I was not encouraged. Here is a snippet of the petition argument on the New Mexico Alliance for Life website: I want to make … Read More
Public Education: sit out or pull out?
California Family Council, a Fresno-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to “advance God’s design for life, family, and liberty through California’s church, community, capitol, and culture”, is helping to promote a statewide public school sit out next week on behalf of Informed Parents of California in protest of highly graphic, state-mandated sex education and gender identity lessons in public schools. The protest is titled “SeXXX Ed Sit Out” and is scheduled for Tuesday, February 19, 2019. While IPS supports and applauds this effort (as well as much of the work that the California Family Council performs), we would like to … Read More
The Workers in the Vineyard
THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD A parable takes a commonly-understood truth and uses it as a foundation (or a principle) to explain some other truth. In other words, it takes what the audience already understands and then uses this understanding to explain something the audience does not understand. In Matthew 20, the parable of the workers in the vineyard teaches some important spiritual truths. This parable teaches about God’s sovereignty, His justice, His faithfulness to His promises, His grace and mercy, and we cannot forget verse 16, “So the last will be first and the first will be last”. Volumes … Read More
Timeless Voter Guide
Voter guides abound, but how many actually focus on the principles of the issues? And how many are reusable year-after-year despite policy changes? To expand on the prior post, “To Vote or not to Vote?”, here is a timeless voter guide that will help you critically evaluate the upcoming local and statewide ballot initiatives. While this timeless voter guide is geared toward evaluating propositions, measures, statutes, etc., it can be applied to candidates by determining if their voting history fails or passes these tests. Timeless Voter Guide This list contains 14 critical tests that can be used to evaluate any proposal … Read More
To Vote or not to Vote?
With state and local midterm elections next month, it seemed appropriate to address the issue of voting and its biggest misconception. Vote? We frequently see public service messages telling people to “get out and vote”. It is not at all uncommon to hear radio talk show hosts tell us that the problems in our country are the result of voter apathy. Admonishing non-voters to vote sounds noble, but is it good policy? Do our nation’s problems really stem from electoral non-participation? Let’s start by identifying the ultimate goal of our electoral process. Is our ultimate goal to achieve broad participation … Read More
Is Harley-Davidson un-American?
Should a company be taxed extra just for not being “Made in USA”? President Donald Trump threatened the motorcycle company, Harley-Davidson, with unparalleled taxes should the company decide to move more of its production overseas. “A Harley-Davidson should never be built in another country—never! The aura will be gone and they will be taxed like never before!” tweeted the President. The question is: does Harley-Davidson (or any business) have the freedom to choose where they produce? And, if a company chooses to produce where its’ government doesn’t like, does the government have the proper authority to punish that company (whether … Read More
Hope vs. Discouragement
An IPS Commentary By Mike Winther, President of the Institute for Principle Studies Hope vs. Discouragement Are you discouraged by the current state of our nation? Are you frustrated by the direction of our government and political system? Are you discouraged by the condition of our culture? Very few Christians believe that there is any chance to positively transform our culture, our government or our world. If you are a Christian; if you favor small, limited government; if you believe that there is absolute truth; if you believe in free enterprise; and if you favor liberty over the nanny state, … Read More
The Myth of the Robber Barons by Burt Folsom
Looking for entertainment in a history book? You’ve found it! Watch the political charades unfold as entrepreneurs face off against one another in the industries of steamboats, railroads, iron, steel, and oil. However, not all entrepreneurs were the same… and this is where the myth of the robber barons is exposed. Political vs. Market Entrepreneurs In The Myth of the Robber Barons: A New Look at the Rise of Big Business in America by Burton W. Folsom, Jr., Folsom differentiates entrepreneurs into two categories during the 19th and early 20th centuries: political entrepreneurs (who lobby government for subsidies and monopoly … Read More
The Religion of Cake
Bakery Cakes, Religion and Slavery … In the summer of 2012 a Christian baker refused to provide a custom cake for a “gay” wedding. Almost six years later, the case has finally received a Supreme Court ruling. Many groups including some free speech advocates and religious liberty advocates have celebrated the bakery’s victory. Unfortunately, both the media and our nation’s highest court have ignored the fundamental issues that should have been litigated. In the Supreme Court decision, the majority opinion held that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission’s action violated the free exercise clause of the Constitution and that the baker … Read More
