Ripon Forum


Vol. 56, No. 2

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In this edition

The latest edition of The Ripon Forum examines “The Crime Crisis” in our country and the steps that should be taken to reduce violence and increase public safety.

“AMERICAN REBOOT”

In a conversation with the Forum, former Congressman, CIA officer, and cybersecurity executive Will Hurd discusses his new book and his vision for the country and the GOP in the coming years.

Fentanyl Makes an Already Dangerous Drug Market More Deadly than Ever

With drug overdoses now the leading cause of death for people aged 18 to 45, America will not be able to simply arrest, seize, or treat its way out of this crisis.

Young Americans Want Republicans to Support Climate Policy

The GOP has an opportunity to adopt a more balanced approach to climate policy, one focused on American innovation and job creation.

America’s Crime Crisis: It Doesn’t Have to be This Way

Across the country, families fear for their safety in the face of rising violence, and are becoming angry when they hear about criminals being released back onto the streets.

The Existential Challenge Facing Police Departments Today

Officer retirements and resignations have surged in the past two years and it’s become harder for many agencies to recruit quality candidates — or any at all.

Prosecutors Must Put Victims First

There are some locally elected prosecutors who are choosing not to prosecute groups of crimes, selectively choosing pieces of the law to enforce and pieces to ignore.

The Disappearance of Trial by Jury

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s 2021 Sourcebook, 98.3 percent of federal criminal convictions came from guilty pleas, and only two percent of cases went to trial.

Our Pretrial System Needs to be Torn Down and Rebuilt

Almost 75 percent of the U.S. jail population sits in jail unconvicted, awaiting a hearing or trial. The sole legal justification for their incarceration involves speculation about what they might do if released.

Third Time is Not the Charm for Failed Bail Reform Movement

When it comes to the right to bail, a thousand years of English common law and a settled system is more than capable of solving the ills that plague us if attorneys go to court and argue well.

Ripon Profile of Fred Upton

The Representative of Michigan’s 6th Congressional District reveals who inspired him as a child and what the GOP must do to reclaim its congressional majority in 2022.

Young Americans Want Republicans to Support Climate Policy

“Republicans don’t care about climate change.”  

This is the message young Americans have always heard from the kitchen tables to lecture halls, and all the way to national primetime television. To an extent, it’s been true in the past. It wasn’t that long ago when the head of the Republican Party and most prominent Republican said that climate change was a “Chinese hoax.”  

Time and time again we have seen that party leaders from both sides of the aisle put climate action on the back burner to focus on other issues that rile up the base like border security, the economy, and other social issues. It’s clear that climate change is one of the great threats facing the United States – and the world – in the 21st century. But just because young people may say that Republicans don’t care about climate change or the environment, they overwhelmingly agree that Republicans should care — 73% of them in fact!  

Young people are passionate about the environment. From marches, rallies, petitions, and advocacy, they are making it clear that climate action is a priority.  Unfortunately, many of them think only Democrats take climate change seriously, but they often end up disappointed. In 2020, it’s estimated that 60% of Americans under the age of 30 voted for Joe Biden. Yet, barely over one year into his presidency, 53% of them now believe that the country is on the wrong track. Why is that? Put simply, lack of tangible action. 

Time and time again we have seen that party leaders from both sides of the aisle put climate action on the back burner to focus on other issues that rile up the base.

According to my organization’s recent polling, more than half of young Democrats and Republicans want a balance between protecting the environment and growing the economy. Unfortunately, the Democrats currently in power are proposing we spend trillions while  expanding the size of government, not paying attention to the economic consequences of reckless spending. With the midterm election coming up later this year, Republicans have an incredible opportunity to campaign and win on a smarter and more balanced approach to climate policy focused on American innovation and job creation. 

Recently the United Nations released the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC climate report. In this report, we see that not only are significant effects caused by climate change “baked in,” as in irreversible, but also that the report notes with “very high confidence” that climate change has significantly affected our mental health. The frequent “doom and gloom” articles on our news feeds are taking a toll, and this climate alarmism is amplified by a lack of political action on both sides of the aisle. Climate alarmism isn’t going to get us anywhere. In fact, it just stresses people out. Instead, solutions-first approaches are crucial to fight climate change. 

Solutions-first approaches are exactly what Americans are hungry for, not regulatory restrictions or “red tape” hindering innovative growth. That’s a message Republicans can easily sell. Investing in emission-reducing practices doesn’t have to be at the expense of American jobs. In fact, if done right, it can create more jobs and spark innovation all while combating climate change. We’ve already seen how investment in clean energy has brought much-needed and significant revenue to rural communities in the past.

Republicans have an incredible opportunity to campaign and win on a smarter and more balanced approach to climate policy focused on American innovation and job creation.

Republicans should also campaign on a commitment to natural climate solutions like conservation of our forests and the restoration of eroded coastal habitats. Our polling also showed that a staggering 79% of young Americans say “planting more trees and restoring natural ecosystems would be effective in fighting climate change.” Scientists have also estimated that natural climate solutions can account for more than one-third of the emissions reductions desperately needed to meet our 2030 goals. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work when it comes to truly reducing emissions. Natural solutions are crucial to fighting climate change and Republicans can lead the charge.  

Transitioning to a clean future presents us with a myriad of opportunities to create jobs while protecting our lands. If Republicans can commit to this message and win at the ballot box, real climate action will follow. The time to act is now and the generation to do it is ours. 

Brian Martinez is the midwestern regional director for the American Conservation Coalition.