Restoring Social Justice

01.29.10 - The Exception to the Rule:

At the State of the Union, one of the coveted seats in the First Lady’s Box was occupied by Clay Armstrong, a recent graduate of Ballou High School, part of the D.C. public school system. The Washington Post reports: “Armstrong does not shy away from describing his life at Ballou as difficult, stressful and disadvantaged. ‘It was tough, but I handled it pretty well,’ he says. ‘There were fights every day and people have gotten stabbed. People have gotten shot.’” Fortunately, as Mr. Armstrong puts it, “I was big on self-motivation.” While Armstrong’s personal achievements were impressive enough to earn him a seat in the First Lady’s Box, unfortunately, he is the exception that proves the rule. Should students like Clay Armstrong be expected to excel in failing schools? Click here to find out more.

01.29.10 - The “Engine” of the Greatest Human Goods:

Chuck Donovan of The Heritage Foundation makes a case for the integral role that marriage plays in civil society in his latest paper, Marriage, Parentage, and the Constitution of the Family. As Mr. Donovan explains, when society discounts marriage or undermines the permanency of such union, the population suffers in conjunction with the individuals directly involved. However, when a society defends marriage, it is essentially protecting the population’s health, life longevity, and the well-being of children.

01.25.10 - Why is Haiti so Vulnerable?:

Wall Street Journal Columnist Mary O’Grady explains how the problems Haiti has faced for centuries deeply affect the nation’s ability to recover in the earthquake’s aftermath. Because Haiti has relied so heavily on foreign aid in the past, the government has not had much of an incentive to “do good” with the money it receives. Grady notes that the country’s lack of investments, capital, property rights and security all negatively contribute to the nation’s ability to develop. Grady suggests that bolstering security, the rule of law, and investments is the key to creating the profits and jobs needed for a more developed and prosperous nation. Watch more here.

01.20.10 - A “Mostly Free” America is Bad News for Those Most in Need:

For the first time in 15 years of tracking, the 2010 Index of Economic Freedom reports the U.S. has dropped from the “free” category to “mostly free”. Out of the world’s 20 largest economies, the U.S. has suffered the largest drop in economic freedom. What does this mean for those struggling to provide for their families? According to the Index, “uncertainties caused by ongoing regulatory changes and politically influenced stimulus spending have discouraged entrepreneurship and job creation, slowing recovery.” To read more on how economic freedom impacts human flourishing, click here.

01.15.10 - The Tragedy before the Disaster:

The earthquake that destroyed the city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti and its devastating aftermath points to a far greater tragedy facing the people of Haiti. According to Ray Walser, “this latest tragedy struck the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, a nation with substandard construction and almost nonexistent hospitals and emergency services—factors that will mean greater loss of life. Damaged, often corrupt, government agencies will fail to cope with the magnitude of the disaster.” The greatest advance that any country can take in preparing for such catastrophic disasters is “to build better individual-based programs, a culture of preparedness, and resilient and self-reliant communities,” and Haiti falls overwhelmingly short of meeting any such measure. Read more on how a country’s social institutions should prepare and respond for such disasters here.

01.13.10 - Family is an Issue for Taxpayers:

Research from the Centre for Social Justice in the UK has found that “if you are not brought up in a two-parent family you are: 75% more likely to fail at school; 70% more likely to be a drug addict; 50% more likely to have an alcohol problem; 40% more likely to have serious debt problems; and 35% more likely to experience unemployment/welfare dependency”. From this, Tim Montgomerie makes the point that “family breakdown is not just a private matter but one of Britain’s biggest social problems”. Read more of his observations on proposed Tory policy here.

01.13.10 - Time to Turn Bad Policy Around:

Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP discusses how current UK government “has got it badly wrong time and again” in areas such as welfare reform, family and children, criminal justice and the voluntary sector. Find out what’s lacking on these four key measures here.

01.13.10 - Using Free Markets to Free People from Poverty:

Philip Vassiliou of the Legatum Institute encourages the international aid community to rethink its approach to poverty reduction. He writes, “it’s become evident that traditional “top-down” development, in which large amounts of aid are distributed to governments in the developing world, is ineffective… For centuries, free markets and free people have proved to be the best remedy for poverty.” Vassiliou goes on to provide an example of successful enterprise in India that could be replicated in Africa. Read more here.

01.6.10 - Pastor Freddie’s Legacy:

The October 2009 passing of Pastor Freddie Garcia, a former heroin addict who helped thousands escape addiction, isn’t the end of his story. “Social entrepreneurship like Freddie Garcia’s is exactly what we need to stem the tide of social breakdown in America,” says Jennifer Marshall of The Heritage Foundation. “Stopping social breakdown means restoring personal responsibility through efforts that help break the cycle of addiction.” To learn more about the remarkable life of Freddie Garcia and the Victory Fellowship, click here.

01.6.10 - California’s Broken Welfare System:

“Instead of serving as a temporary assistance and retraining program that leads its recipients to new work and financial self-sufficiency, CalWORKs has itself become a way of life for many,” laments California State Insurance Commissioner, Steve Poizner. In a recent article, Poizner argues “a welfare system that doesn’t sufficiently prepare or encourage recipients to re-enter the workforce does a disservice to everyone.” Read more from his proposal to reform this broken welfare state here.