Culture/Values

ArchiveSeptember 22, 2010

Some Republicans on track to repeat past mistakes: Our present crisis is not merely economic and political, but moral in nature

By John Biver

Republicans are riding high in the polls right now – things are clearly going their way. However, superficial Republicans are again seeking to dumb down the work ahead by narrowing their focus and ignoring the tenets of their excellent platform.
It’s easy to understand the desire to ignore things such as serious foreign policy issues. The Republican Party is still failing to effectively communicate a coherent foreign policy message post 9/11/01. The new reality brought about by a successful attack on our homeland by adherents of Islamic jihad is not difficult to comprehend (click here to learn more). But God forbid the GOP get its act together – it’s much easier to toss the issue aside.

ArchiveSeptember 21, 2010

Excerpts: Mike Pence’s remarks at the Values Voter Summit

By John Biver

In case you missed it, Indiana Congressman Mike Pence won the “straw poll” at the Values Voter Summit last week in Washington, D.C. Here are a few excerpts from the speech he delivered. Congressman…

ArchiveAugust 27, 2010

Is Glenn Beck blind to the cultural issues ‘Overton Window’?

By John Biver

From coast to coast, platform-supporting Republicans have reacted to Glenn Beck’s weak-kneed cave-in regarding the issue of homosexual “marriage.” He’s quoted as telling Fox News Network’s Bill O’Reilly,

“I believe that Thomas Jefferson said, ‘If it neither breaks my leg, nor picks my pocket, what difference is it to me.'”

Some people are even calling for a “moratorium” on the political discussion of the cultural issues. That idea is foolish, as we’ve addressed on links found here. Try as you might, you can’t separate economics from culture.

ArchiveAugust 11, 2010

It’s time for a moratorium on the economic issues

By John Biver

I’m kidding with the headline. It’s intended as a poke at Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, who not long ago suggested that we can all behave as we want to without consequence except when it comes to the realm of economics.

ArchiveAugust 4, 2010

I’m so glad that Pat Quinn cares about transgendered issues

By John Biver

In the 1970s the late Mike Royko used to call California Governor Jerry Brown “Governor Moonbeam” in his newspaper column. Pat Quinn is clearly our “Governor Moonbeam.” Like Brown, Quinn has always seemed to be…

ArchiveJuly 27, 2010

Dog Days I: If Greece can, Illinois can; Taxpayer pension debt; NEA Drag Queens

By John Biver

A few news items of interest during these dog days of summer. News from the other side of the pond is that the country of Greece is going to follow Ireland’s lead in attempting…

ArchiveJuly 21, 2010

You can’t separate economics from morality (Part 2)

By John Biver

Arthur C. Brooks’ new book “The Battle” divides the two main aspects of the “culture war” into new and old, the economic and the social. Brooks seems to prefer that the culture war concentrate on economics and ignore the “old” battle over abortion and so-called homosexual rights.

ArchiveJuly 20, 2010

You can’t separate economics from morality (Part 1)

By John Biver

I recently read through Arthur C. Brooks’ new book “The Battle: How the Fight between Free Enterprise and Big Government will shape America’s Future”; I mostly agree with the fine reviews it’s getting. Unfortunately Mr. Brooks reveals some confusion in the opening sentences when he acts as if the economic debate between socialism and capitalism is a new facet of the culture war…

ArchiveJuly 19, 2010

Why Marriage Matters — the evidence is abundant

By John Biver

From the Heritage Foundation’s “The Foundry” blog today is a post titled “Marriage under Assault in Federal Courts: Why It Matters.” Writer Chuck Donovan summed up the “why” perfectly and linked to some of the evidence.

Dispatches UniversityJuly 16, 2010

America’s Ruling Class — and the Perils of Revolution

By The Editor

By Angela M. Codevilla: Who are these rulers, and by what right do they rule? What sets our ruling class apart from the rest of us?

ArchiveJuly 8, 2010

Glenn Beck on the State of Religion in America

By John Biver

If you’re not watching Glenn Beck’s TV show, you need to start. Last Thursday’s show was a good example of why. He had a panel of pastors and religious leaders on to discuss religion in America – its history, and its necessary role for returning this country to its founding principles.

ArchiveJune 18, 2010

Founders Fridays: It’s Mitch Daniels v. The Founders

By John Biver

If you’re not watching Glenn Beck’s TV show on Fox News you need to start. Beck continues to do the work much of the big media refuses to when it comes to outlining the relationships and policy aims of the Obama Administration.

Another fantastic weekly contribution from Beck is his “Founders Fridays,” where he dedicates the hour to covering information that you need to know about members of our country’s founding generation.

Dispatches UniversityMay 31, 2010

The ‘Trojan Couch’: How the Mental Health Associations Misrepresent Science

By The Editor

By Jeffrey B. Satinover, M.D., Ph.D.

ArchiveMay 3, 2010

Generation Zero: Current economic crisis is a failure of culture

By John Biver

Citizens United Productions has an excellent new film out titled “Generation Zero“. It’s well worth ninety minutes of your time.

ArchiveMay 1, 2010

Balanced reporting is lacking about crimes against children

By John Biver

A friend sent me a note with a couple of links: “While perverse homosexual/pedophile Catholic priests are the media’s favorite target these days, and as a Catholic I find the cover-up of these crimes against children profoundly despicable, the Church is only one of many institutions plagued with these scandals in our darkened world.”