The Ripon Forum
Volume 50, No. 1
February 2016
In this edition
by LOU ZICKAR
Abraham Lincoln once called education the “most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.” In recent years, education has also been a subject that has fallen victim to partisan gridlock and political dysfunction. The recent enactment of a plan to rewrite the No Child Left Behind Act was a victory over this dysfunction.
The Challenge of Our Time
by ADAM KINZINGER
Make no mistake: ISIS has declared war on Western Civilization. In the wake of the Paris attacks, the downing of a Russian passenger jet, and the mass-shooting in San Bernardino, the world can no longer deny the very real global reach of ISIS and the imminent danger it poses to us all if it is not destroyed.
Ohio: A Sure Bet as Battleground and Bellwether
by BEN TOLL & BRYAN W. MARSHALL
Ohio is both a battleground and bellwether for presidential elections. It is highly competitive and carries a relatively large electoral vote prize for presidential aspirants. It is also a perennial predictor of presidential elections.
How to Say Goodbye
by EDWARD J. LARSON
“And then we’ll teach them how to say goodbye,” is how George Washington depicted the writing of his Farewell Address in the rap musical Hamilton. Of course, he already knew how to say goodbye. He’d mastered that act in 1783 when he’d retired as commander in chief following the American Revolution.
Bridging the Economic School Divide
by RICHARD D. KAHLENBERG
The flight of wealthy students from public to private schools is a constitutional right of families. But according to this education expert, it’s also a cause for concern.
Earning While You’re Learning Through Apprenticeships
by TIM SCOTT
Apprenticeships are a proven way to help people develop in-demand skills and to meet the needs of employers, yet they comprise just 0.2% of the nation’s workforce.
Jobs for America’s Graduates: Demonstrating Consistent Success for Highest-Risk Youth
by KEN SMITH
Here’s something every policymaker concerned about educating and boosting employment for the most at-risk youth should know: there is a program that works.
The Battle for the Middle Class: A Ripon Society National Survey
by ED GOEAS & BRIAN NIENABER
With the 2016 election upon us, The Ripon Society conducted a national survey to examine the political environment and views of a key part of the American electorate.