By Donald H. Young – Laws are fundamental to the concept of society, and the principal differences among all societies are in the laws by which they function. By the 18th century, concepts of individual rights and laws to protect them were being developed. David Hume wrote A Treatise Of Human Nature in 1739, and John Locke in his Second Treatise On Government said that all men are endowed by a supreme being with natural rights which include life, liberty, and property and that governments are instituted for the purpose of protecting and advancing those rights Read More
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College has highly competent scholars teaching all the main academic subjects with particular emphasis on giving its students an honest understanding of American history and its founding principles and how they have influenced its development. Hillsdale has several initiatives in addition to providing an outstanding well-rounded undergraduate college education. They include very comprehensive selection of online courses in history, economics, political philosophy, etc., which can be found by accessing Hillsdale’s website. Hillsdale online courses have several million participants. Hillsdale has established the Kirby Center for Constitutional studies in Washington DC and the Hillsdale Graduate School of Government also at the Kirby Center. Hillsdale also has the Barney charter school initiative in classical education which initiates, provides limited funding for, extensive advice, and course materials for charter schools in well over a dozen American communities. Copied from thebestcolleges.org: “Hillsdale College is a private, non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college. It has a long tradition of patriotism. …Hillsdale College does not accept federal or state subsidies. The rigorous core curriculum is rooted in the enduring truths of the Western tradition. It is one of only two colleges in the nation to require all students, regardless of major, to take a class in the U.S. Constitution. In addition to the core, all students take classes on Western Heritage and American Heritage. As Hillsdale’s mission states, “Through education, the student rises to self-government…” Learn more at hillsdale.edu Read More
National Bureau of Economic Research – Independent
The National Bureau of Economic Research has been committed to “undertaking and disseminating unbiased economic research among public policymakers, business professional, and the academic community.” In fact, NBER is best known for accurately providing start and end dates for recessions in the United States. Not surprisingly, considering its success, an amazing 22 Nobel Prize–winners for economics have been a part of NBER, including Milton Friedman, Paul Krugman, and Joseph Stiglitz…. Website — National Bureau of Economic Research Read More
Brookings Institute – Liberal
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level. Learn more at brookings.edu Read More
Center for American Progress – Progressive
Founded in 2003, Center for American Progress (CAP) is one of the youngest—yet most influential—think tanks on this list. With the motto “Progressive ideas for a strong, just, and free America,” CAP deals in major domestic issues such as Economic Policy, Education, Health, Security and International Affairs, and Social Policy. CAP’s influence climaxed during the 2008 Presidential election, due in part to its campus outreach group, Generation Progress. In fact, referring to the program’s success, Time magazine said, “Not since the Heritage Foundation helped guide Ronald Reagan’s transition in 1981 has a single outside group held so much sway.” Website – Center for American Progress Read More