“We’re seeing these kinds of debates and culture war issues becoming more pronounced on a daily basis, and the UW (for its part) just cannot seem to get out of its own way and recognize that it’s doing long-term damage to the legitimacy of the institution.”

Ryan Owens, 48, grew up in Kronenwetter, earned undergraduate and law degrees from UW-Madison and then practiced law for few years before earning a doctorate in political science from Washington University – St. Louis.

A Supreme Court scholar, he is currently a Professor of Political Science and Affiliate Faculty in the Law School at UW-Madison but is leaving this summer for Florida State, where he will direct a new Institute for Governance and Civics.

He talks here with Badger Institute President Mike Nichols.

Sociologist Brad Wilcox is modeling what he thinks more people with elevated platforms in American culture should do: He’s telling young people to marry because it will make them happier.

“There’s a big debate on whether marriage matters. Of course it does,” he told the Badger Institute in an interview. Marriage is a “transformative institution,” he said, with norms that tend to foster better behavior.

“But even more than that,” he said, “people who embrace the core values and virtues associated with marriage are more likely to flourish both in marriage and in life.”

Unless there is a change in presidential administration in November, expect taxpayer support for the entire electric vehicle industry to continue. The Biden administration this year issued new regulations in a drive to make half of new car and light-truck sales electric or hybrid by 2032. Those vehicles will need many more places to charge up.

It is clear from the dramatic slowdown in sales that at least some Americans are weighing the cost and the value of the current policies.

According to federal statistics, the marriage rate in the United States returned to prepandemic levels in 2022. While this may be true for the country, we wanted to look at the figures for Wisconsin and neighboring states.

Badger Institute’s Annual Dinner is set for Tuesday, October 1, 2024 — at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee, WI. The Institute is honored to welcome Rich Lowry, editor-in-chief of National Review, as the keynote speaker.

Registration information coming soon! Email Angela Smith for sponsorship opportunities.

From History.com:

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month.

“The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.”

The Badger Institute, formerly known as the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI), has long been at the forefront of the fight for school choice, right to work, welfare reform, tax restructuring, limited government, civil society and so much more. If you appreciate the Institute’s legacy and want to support free markets, opportunity and prosperity, please consider donating today. Your support will help the Institute continue to advocate for conservative principles now and in generations to come.

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