Ripon Forum


Vol. 47, No. 1

Winter 2013 Issue

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In this Edition

By LOU ZICKAR

The Estonian Example – Q&A with Toomas Hendrik Ilves

A conversation with the President of a country that, in just over two decades, has gone from being an oppressed Soviet state to the most technologically advanced democracy on Earth.

Bringing Our Analog Government into the Digital Age

The former high-tech entrepreneur and current Chairman of the House Government Oversight and Reform Committee discusses his efforts to modernize the federal bureaucracy.

Accelerating Democracy

With powerful computers now being used to predict the outcome of market decisions, this professor argues that same power can be used to predict the impact of policy decisions.

Innovation Brain Drain

Foreign born scientists and engineers have long been a source of new ideas for America. Yet because of restrictive U.S. immigration laws, they are taking their talents elsewhere.

The Citizenship Premium

As lawmakers debate how to reform the nation’s immigration reform system, a look at the benefits of citizenship and the economic implications of the debate.

Harnessing the Hispanic Impact

Much attention has been focused on the burden that illegal immigration places on our economy. Yet it is also important to remember the positive contributions made by those who enter legally.

Building the Infrastructure for Rural Prosperity

Community-based initiatives that foster citizen engagement and support workforce development are critical to the success of rural communities. An effort underway here in Alabama is a good example.

Ripon Profile of Brian Sandoval

The Governor of Nevada discusses the first political speech he ever gave, his first term in office, and what the Ripon Party needs to do it broaden its political base.