The Ripon Forum

Volume 53, No. 3

June 2019

In this edition

By on June 20, 2019
In this edition

by LOU ZICKAR

The Ripon Forum commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing with essays by some of the leading experts on space policy today, and a conversation with historian Douglas Brinkley about his new bestselling book.

Continue Reading »

Why City Hall is a Good Proving Ground for the White House

By on June 20, 2019
Why City Hall is a Good Proving Ground for the White House

by SCOTT SMITH

Who wouldn’t appreciate a leader who has developed a skill for solving problems, bringing people together, forging compromises, enhancing economic opportunities for all, and focusing on real issues as opposed to partisan rhetoric?

Continue Reading »

An Innovative Solution to the Rising Cost of College

By on June 20, 2019
An Innovative Solution to the Rising Cost of College

by JOHN BAILEY

With young Americans entering the workforce with a record amount of student debt, it is time for Congress to embrace a plan that could provide them with some relief from this financial burden.

Continue Reading »

William Barr and Congress’ Broken Contempt Power

By on June 20, 2019
William Barr and Congress’ Broken Contempt Power

by KEVIN KOSAR

Like so many aspects of the Legislative Branch, the ability of Congress to enforce a basic responsibility granted it by the Constitution is plagued by dysfunction.

Continue Reading »

Can We Still Do Great Things?

By on June 20, 2019
Can We Still Do Great Things?

A conversation with author & historian Douglas Brinkley about the early years of the space program and whether – in this age of debt and dysfunction – it is possible for such a momentous undertaking to happen in America again. 

Continue Reading »

Returning to the Moon: The First Step in a New Journey

By on June 20, 2019
Returning to the Moon: The First Step in a New Journey

by FRANK LUCAS

Going back to the Moon isn’t a symbolic effort: we need an American presence there to keep us at the forefront of technological development.

Continue Reading »

A New Vision for Space

By on June 20, 2019
A New Vision for Space

by ROBERT S. WALKER

NASA must restructure itself as a developer of new space technologies, but it must do so in conjunction with the entrepreneurial space businesses.

Continue Reading »

The Militarization of Space & the Path Forward for the U.S.

By on June 20, 2019
The Militarization of Space & the Path Forward for the U.S.

by DAVID A. DEPTULA

Space-based systems are now fundamental to the conduct of war, and the U.S. military cannot fight effectively without them.

Continue Reading »

Eisenhower’s Unheralded Legacy in Space

By on June 20, 2019
Eisenhower’s Unheralded Legacy in Space

by LOU ZICKAR

While JFK is rightly credited with kick-starting the space program with his bold challenge to land a man on the Moon, it was Eisenhower who started the space program and got things off the ground.

Continue Reading »

Millennials and the New Space Age

By on June 20, 2019
Millennials and the New Space Age

by Kyle Chance

Millennials differ from previous generations in seemingly every way, but to assume that space exploration has gone out of fashion with young Americans would be unjustified.

Continue Reading »

Top