Since the vote to leave the European Union is done, and Great Britain is out, I suppose I will give my opinion about it.  This undoubtedly will not be shared by all.  First, let me say—again—that I strongly favor free trade among nations.  Having said that, the EU is very much more than an economic […]

As many of you know my Bereans colleague Mark Smith likes movies and likes to write movie reviews.  I am not so cool so I like books.  And on occasions I like to highlight some I like really well.  This time I have three.  And I apologize that you can’t go see the movie versions […]

“Are Students Really Learning to Be Critical Thinkers?” is the title of an article in BetterEd by Annie Holmquist (http://www.better-ed.org/blog/are-students-really-learning-be-critical-thinkers).  This question has been on my mind for some time as I have listened to and read educational leaders, teachers, professors and literature extol the virtues of “critical thinking.”  But what have they almost always […]

We have been hearing quite a bit lately about the state attorneys generals’ attempts to require information from corporations, non-profit think tanks, university research centers and even individuals regarding so-called “climate denial.”  The AGs have alleged that these entities have withheld information that acknowledges the reality and danger of climate change and thus have committed […]

I came across an interesting article in the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy out of North Carolina.  The title is “UNC Chapel Hill’s Economics Program Lacks Historical Perspective,” and it can be read here at http://www.popecenter.org/commentaries/article.html?id=3386 (sorry, I haven’t mastered the art of just a “here” to click on—primitive computer skills).  The upshot was […]

Not according to economist Ben Powell, and I’m with him (in the abstract).  Of course there are specific cases we should have outrage, but we can’t simply wish that all of the world was wealthy enough for no children to have to work.  Indeed, children working has been part of the human experience since the […]

Charlotte Allen had a very thought-provoking article in the latest First Things, entitled “Punching Down” (see it here http://www.firstthings.com/article/2016/06/punching-down).  The article begins with the saga of the all but forgotten Kim Davis, the hapless county clerk in Rowan County, Kentucky who refused to sign homosexual marriage licenses and also forbad her assistant from doing so.  […]

We have another podcast for you, this one on the 3rd party issues that seem so relevant right now. I hope you enjoy. If you have questions, feel free to leave them here (or find us on Twitter or our Facebook page) and we may address them in future podcasts.  

Today is Bernard Lewis’ 100th birthday, quite a milestone for anyone.  Lewis is a long-time (and I mean that literally) of Middle Eastern Islam and history and has gained a new hearing since 9/11 with his prescient work.  He is currently Emeritus Professor at Princeton.  His works are legion but many easily accessible to the […]

Well, has it come to this or am I reading something from The Onion?  I did verify its truth.  If you look here (http://theweek.com/speedreads/626361/oberlin-students-want-abolish-midterms-grades-below-c, it seems that at least 1,300 students at Oberlin College are demanding that no grade below a C be given and that mid-term examination be eliminated.  Why?  So the students will […]