discoveryinstitute--2020-09-18--The 2020 Election Asks: Do You Want the People Who Believe America is Racist in Charge?

Surveying the urban war zones , property destruction , and the shuttered businesses across so many American cities , many wonder , “ Just how did we get here , and will we ever regain normalcy ?
” Those two questions loom over the November election , but what ’ s really at stake is a choice between civilization and chaos .
Most people don ’ t realize there is a pernicious ideology behind the Black Lives Matter movement and the Democrat leadership that empowers it , and it ’ s called critical race theory .
Most importantly , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ strategy to establish a “ new normalcy ” in every institution , from public schools to all government agencies .
On the eve of Labor Day weekend , following the reporting of Christopher Rufo on Fox News ’ s “ Tucker Carlson Tonight ” that critical race theory had infiltrated many of the agencies of the Federal bureaucracy , President Trump issued a directive that all federal agencies cancel training programs based in the theory .
On Thursday , Trump announced a 1776 Commission to directly respond to CRT with accurate historical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race theory education and training programs were being promoted throughout various federal government agencies through the Office of Diversity and Inclusion , which came into existence from President Obama ’ s 2011 Executive Order 13583 .
His stated purpose was to “ Establish a Coordinated Government Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce.
” He amped that up in his last six months in office , perhaps to institutionalize his legacy .
In July 2016 , Obama rolled out the “ Inclusive Diversity Strategic Plan , ” calling on federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs , and systems that support inclusive diversity through increasingly focused , innovative , and accelerated communication and learning strategies.
” To make sense of all this , it ’ s important to recognize that diversity and inclusion were already well established in the federal government long before Obama ’ s 2011 executive order .
At that time , the percentage of blacks and minorities in the federal workforce was about 18 percent and 34 percent respectively , a disproportionately larger representation than in either the civilian population or the private-sector workforce .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the percentage of minority representation in the federal government was even higher .
Thus the 2016 initiative was probably less about expanding “ diversity ” and “ inclusion ” than it was about indoctrination — the “ focused , innovative , and accelerated communication and learning strategies ” for government personnel — which is where “ critical race theory ” comes in .
Critical race theory is a derivative of critical theory , which originally made its way into America courtesy of the leftwing intellectual immigrants of the “ Frankfurt School ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the mid-1930s .
Infamous members of the Frankfurt School included Herbert Marcuse , Theodor Adorno , Max Horkheimer , Eric Fromm , and Otto Kirchheimer , who set up shop at Columbia University and expanded to the University of California at Berkeley , Princeton University , Harvard University , New School for Social Research , and Brandeis College .
In the 1970s , Harvard Law School Professor Derrick Bell applied critical theory to legal theory , and his 1973 book , “ Race , Racism and American Law ” became the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving birth to the critical race theory movement .
Critical theory and its relative , critical race theory , are not like traditional theories that limit themselves to explaining and understanding certain precise areas of human motivation and behavior .
Rather , critical theory is activist-oriented and emphasizes political organizing .
Many of its advocates think of themselves as revolutionaries whose primary purpose is to critique and transform society as a whole .
In short , critical theory is a radical , emancipatory form of Marxist philosophy .
Advocates of critical race theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement and generally reject rights-based remedies , such as color blindness , role modeling , and the merit principle .
They attack the very foundations of the classical liberal legal order that includes equality theory , legal reasoning , rationalism , and neutral principles of constitutional law , and specifically opposing neutral rules , such as “ one-person , one-vote , ” or identification requirements for voting .
The law itself is not viewed as a neutral tool by proponents of critical race theory .
Rather , it is considered part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preserving a system they believe is steeped in white supremacy .
Before Trump ’ s recent directive , critical race theory seminars and training had been going on in at least half a dozen federal agencies .
The U.S. Treasury Department held a training session explicitly telling employees that “ virtually all White people contribute to racism , ” and that they needed to accept their “ unconscious bias , White privilege , and White fragility.
” The National Credit Union Administration held a session for 8,900 employees in which it was stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ built on the backs of people who were enslaved.
” Sandia National Labs , which produces our nuclear arsenal and is run by the Department of Energy ’ s National Nuclear Security Administration , held a three-day training for its white males , teaching them how to deconstruct their “ White male culture ” and requiring them to write letters of apology to women and people of color .
The Department of Homeland Security hosted a training on “ Microaggressions , Microinequities , and Microassaults ” where white employees were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into oppressor roles.
” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the government agency at the center of responding to the COVID-19 epidemic , was sponsoring a 13-week critical race theory training called , “ Naming , Measuring , and Addressing the Impacts of Racism on Health and Well-Being of the Nation and the World.
” Before Trump ’ s order stopped the CDC from continuing the training , sessions 10 and 11 were to have trainers teach CDC employees about “ the myth of meritocracy , ” the “ myth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supremacist ideology.
” The final two sessions were to have focused on teaching CDC employees how to become activists , and join an “ Anti-Racism Collaborative with eight Collective Action Teams , ” geared to focus on “ communications , ” making scientific publications “ anti-racist , ” and influencing “ policy and legislation.
” How many know of the weekly training seminar going on in the J. Edgar Hoover headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the critical race theory subcategory of “ Intersectional Theory ” ?
Intersectionality reduces people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gender , and sexual orientation identities that “ intersect ” in diverse ways that determine the degree to which one is allegedly an oppressor or is allegedly being oppressed .
With federal bureaucracies already out of control , failing in many of their basic missions , and wasting taxpayer resources , critical race theory training and influence turn agency management on its head and will invariably worsen an already problematic situation .
Cicero , one of the greatest defender of the Roman Republic , once said : In a free society , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do appear .
In the face of such extremism , one would hope that the American people and their government representatives would have sufficient judgment and ability to withstand and counter most contradictions and absurdities .
Thus , the November election represents a crucial internal test , the failure of which could prove the undoing of the United States as a constitutional republic .

Surveying the urban war zones, property destruction, and the shuttered businesses across so many American cities, many wonder, “Just how did we get here, and will we ever regain normalcy?” Those two questions loom over the November election, but what’s really at stake is a choice between civilization and chaos.
Most people don’t realize there is a pernicious ideology behind the Black Lives Matter movement and the Democrat leadership that empowers it, and it’s called critical race theory. Most importantly, this theory is an integral part of Democrats’ strategy to establish a “new normalcy” in every institution, from public schools to all government agencies.
On the eve of Labor Day weekend, following the reporting of Christopher Rufo on Fox News’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight” that critical race theory had infiltrated many of the agencies of the Federal bureaucracy, President Trump issued a directive that all federal agencies cancel training programs based in the theory. On Thursday, Trump announced a 1776 Commission to directly respond to CRT with accurate historical education.
Planting Seeds of Critical Race Theory
Unbeknownst to most, critical race theory education and training programs were being promoted throughout various federal government agencies through the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which came into existence from President Obama’s 2011 Executive Order 13583. His stated purpose was to “Establish a Coordinated Government Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce.” He amped that up in his last six months in office, perhaps to institutionalize his legacy.
In July 2016, Obama rolled out the “Inclusive Diversity Strategic Plan,” calling on federal agencies to “fully utilize policies, programs, and systems that support inclusive diversity through increasingly focused, innovative, and accelerated communication and learning strategies.”
To make sense of all this, it’s important to recognize that diversity and inclusion were already well established in the federal government long before Obama’s 2011 executive order. At that time, the percentage of blacks and minorities in the federal workforce was about 18 percent and 34 percent respectively, a disproportionately larger representation than in either the civilian population or the private-sector workforce.
By the end of the Obama administration, the percentage of minority representation in the federal government was even higher. Thus the 2016 initiative was probably less about expanding “diversity” and “inclusion” than it was about indoctrination — the “focused, innovative, and accelerated communication and learning strategies” for government personnel — which is where “critical race theory” comes in.
An Outgrowth With Radical Lineage
Critical race theory is a derivative of critical theory, which originally made its way into America courtesy of the leftwing intellectual immigrants of the “Frankfurt School” — neo-Marxists forced to flee Nazi Germany in the mid-1930s. Infamous members of the Frankfurt School included Herbert Marcuse, Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Eric Fromm, and Otto Kirchheimer, who set up shop at Columbia University and expanded to the University of California at Berkeley, Princeton University, Harvard University, New School for Social Research, and Brandeis College.
In the 1970s, Harvard Law School Professor Derrick Bell applied critical theory to legal theory, and his 1973 book, “Race, Racism and American Law” became the first primary text on critical race theory, giving birth to the critical race theory movement.
Critical theory and its relative, critical race theory, are not like traditional theories that limit themselves to explaining and understanding certain precise areas of human motivation and behavior. Rather, critical theory is activist-oriented and emphasizes political organizing. Many of its advocates think of themselves as revolutionaries whose primary purpose is to critique and transform society as a whole. In short, critical theory is a radical, emancipatory form of Marxist philosophy.
Advocates of critical race theory downplay the accomplishments of the civil rights movement and generally reject rights-based remedies, such as color blindness, role modeling, and the merit principle. They attack the very foundations of the classical liberal legal order that includes equality theory, legal reasoning, rationalism, and neutral principles of constitutional law, and specifically opposing neutral rules, such as “one-person, one-vote,” or identification requirements for voting.
The law itself is not viewed as a neutral tool by proponents of critical race theory. Rather, it is considered part of the problem, structured to oppress minorities while preserving a system they believe is steeped in white supremacy.
Institutionalized Racism Infiltrating the Government
Before Trump’s recent directive, critical race theory seminars and training had been going on in at least half a dozen federal agencies.
The U.S. Treasury Department held a training session explicitly telling employees that “virtually all White people contribute to racism,” and that they needed to accept their “unconscious bias, White privilege, and White fragility.” The National Credit Union Administration held a session for 8,900 employees in which it was stated that America was “founded on racism” and “built on the backs of people who were enslaved.”
Sandia National Labs, which produces our nuclear arsenal and is run by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, held a three-day training for its white males, teaching them how to deconstruct their “White male culture” and requiring them to write letters of apology to women and people of color.
The Department of Homeland Security hosted a training on “Microaggressions, Microinequities, and Microassaults” where white employees were told that they had been “socialized into oppressor roles.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the government agency at the center of responding to the COVID-19 epidemic, was sponsoring a 13-week critical race theory training called, “Naming, Measuring, and Addressing the Impacts of Racism on Health and Well-Being of the Nation and the World.”
Before Trump’s order stopped the CDC from continuing the training, sessions 10 and 11 were to have trainers teach CDC employees about “the myth of meritocracy,” the “myth of American exceptionalism,” and “White supremacist ideology.” The final two sessions were to have focused on teaching CDC employees how to become activists, and join an “Anti-Racism Collaborative with eight Collective Action Teams,” geared to focus on “communications,” making scientific publications “anti-racist,” and influencing “policy and legislation.”
How many know of the weekly training seminar going on in the J. Edgar Hoover headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the critical race theory subcategory of “Intersectional Theory”? Intersectionality reduces people to being part of a network of racial, gender, and sexual orientation identities that “intersect” in diverse ways that determine the degree to which one is allegedly an oppressor or is allegedly being oppressed.
‘Treason From Within’
With federal bureaucracies already out of control, failing in many of their basic missions, and wasting taxpayer resources, critical race theory training and influence turn agency management on its head and will invariably worsen an already problematic situation. Cicero, one of the greatest defender of the Roman Republic, once said:
A nation can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within … For the traitor appears no traitor; he speaks in the accents familiar to his victim … and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation … he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist.
In a free society, fringe groups and extreme ideologies can and do appear. In the face of such extremism, one would hope that the American people and their government representatives would have sufficient judgment and ability to withstand and counter most contradictions and absurdities. Thus, the November election represents a crucial internal test, the failure of which could prove the undoing of the United States as a constitutional republic.


discoveryinstitute--2020-09-19--Coronavirus Deadly Effect on K-12 Student Learning — Not Student Health

The United States spends more than $ 700 billion annually on K-12 education – more than any other country – with roughly 80 percent of the spending allocated to teacher and staff salaries and benefits .
That ’ s $ 560 billion that taxpayers spend each school year for public school personnel !
Yet with all we spend on K-12 education , schools were among the first to close their doors for COVID-19 last spring .
And while other industries have reopened , the vast majority of K-12 public schools across the U.S. deem themselves unable to do so safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ and students ’ lives at risk .
The chant , “ kids ’ lives matter ” by Orange County , California , teachers in mid-July was nothing short of a false narrative .
At the time , scientific data indicated the virus was having little effect on children , and research was revealing children were not high carriers nor spreaders of the virus .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , nationwide 30 children under the age of 15 died from COVID-19 as of mid-July as contrasted by 166 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from the flu during the 2019-2020 flu season .
At the time of the chanting and planning for school campuses to remain closed , the California Department of Public Health data revealed that among California ’ s 8.9 million K-12 students under the age of 18 , there was not one documented COVID-19 death .
Not one .
So why the “ kids ’ lives matter ” mantra ?
Fast forward to this past week .
As of September 9 , 2020 , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the 18,631 total deaths for those under the age of 18 since February 1 .
Many of these 88 children had underlying medical conditions .
Any childhood death is tragic but should the overwhelming majority of public schools across the nation remain closed when on average fewer than two children per state have died from COVID-19 to date , and COVID-19 has been attributed as a cause to only four-tenths of one percent of the deaths of children under the age of 18 over the past seven months ?
Historically , teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the lives of their students .
Teaching is a noble profession , for our nation ’ s future depends on students who are prepared to enter the workforce and contribute to society as productive , law-abiding citizens .
However , the resounding response , fueled by the powerful teacher unions , from teachers in a time of national crisis has been it ’ s not safe , it ’ s too dangerous , you can ’ t force us back into schools .
The teacher unions have turned these heroes into self-asserting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play puppet to the union ?
Without a doubt , because the union negotiates their contracts and demands more pay and better benefits on their behalf year after year .
As a result of this link to their purse strings , unions dictate teachers ’ collective response .
We must not forget public school teachers are ultimately government employees , as are military , firefighters , and police .
One may counter that potential danger is part of the job description for first-responders .
But during this pandemic , we have deemed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” — grocery store employees , truck drivers , information technology personnel , manufacturing workers , and more .
Aren ’ t K-12 teachers every bit as essential ?
Some jobs can not effectively be completed from home , and K-12 teaching in a traditional face-to-face classroom is one of them .
The quick , make-shift conversion to online learning last spring , and again for this fall , has not served the vast majority of students ’ learning needs well .
The lack of hands-on learning and social interaction implications can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not proficient with the skills of self-efficacy and autonomous learning necessary for online learning success .
Furthermore , schools moving only to provide distance learning has caused grave hardship for families who rely on supervision and school-provided meals for their students during the school day .
For five consecutive academic years , 2014-2019 , leading up to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic , public education has increased its spending per student according to the U.S. Census Bureau .
Spending figures per student range dramatically among states from approximately $ 7,000-23,000 , with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educational performance has remained poor as compared by other developed nations .
According to 2020 data from World Population Review , U.S. education falls 26th overall , with academic scores placing a pitiful 17th in reading , 23rd in science , and 31st in math despite leading the world in education spending .
The pandemic has exacerbated these education deficiencies .
The extent of the damage has not been fully assessed , since students are not back in classrooms and have not been tested .
But it is estimated that on average , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor private school students ) have lost half a year of learning , if not more .
This is attributed to several factors including some students not having a device or the needed internet access , others not logging in regularly to complete the schoolwork , lack of academic support for struggling students , and schools not providing robust , meaningful learning for the same duration of time that students receive in face-to-face classrooms .
In addition to learning loss , financial implications for our economy from school closures are astronomical and continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Economic Co-operation and Development released a report this month projecting the long-term U.S. economic loss upwards of $ 14.2 trillion over the next 80 years from school closures to-date .
Some parents are turning toward learning pods where an adult oversees the learning for a small group of children generally of similar ages for the needed student supervision and learning support while schools remain physically closed .
But most parents can not afford this alternative .
Furthermore , school district leaders have been fighting against their teachers serving families through these pod avenues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between affluent and poor students will widen as a result .
They have gone as far as to threaten teachers with termination should they take on a pod position , even if it is outside of their school day online teaching responsibilities .
Why not advocate and support any possible solution for teachers to serve families during this time ?
Yes , the achievement gap will widen for those without the needed finances for these expensive pod learning options , but should the option be taken away from those who can afford it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we need to foster creative means to get as many students as possible quality learning opportunities .
Instead of chanting , “ kids ’ lives matter , ” let ’ s demonstrate our passionate commitment to students by reopening our face-to-face classrooms in K-12 schools .
This must be a matter of urgency because the current status and future of our kids ’ lives matter .

We are pleased to announce the recent appointment of Dr. Keri D. Ingraham as a Discovery Institute Fellow and Director of our American Center for Transforming Education. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Ingraham. I invite you to read her article and view Dr. Ingraham’s Professional Biography. Steve Buri, President of Discovery Institute
The United States spends more than $700 billion annually on K-12 education – more than any other country – with roughly 80 percent of the spending allocated to teacher and staff salaries and benefits. That’s $560 billion that taxpayers spend each school year for public school personnel!
Yet with all we spend on K-12 education, schools were among the first to close their doors for COVID-19 last spring. And while other industries have reopened, the vast majority of K-12 public schools across the U.S. deem themselves unable to do so safely. They assert it would put teachers’ and students’ lives at risk. The chant, “kids’ lives matter” by Orange County, California, teachers in mid-July was nothing short of a false narrative. At the time, scientific data indicated the virus was having little effect on children, and research was revealing children were not high carriers nor spreaders of the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nationwide 30 children under the age of 15 died from COVID-19 as of mid-July as contrasted by 166 children under the age of 17 who died from the flu during the 2019-2020 flu season.
At the time of the chanting and planning for school campuses to remain closed, the California Department of Public Health data revealed that among California’s 8.9 million K-12 students under the age of 18, there was not one documented COVID-19 death. Not one. So why the “kids’ lives matter” mantra?
Fast forward to this past week. As of September 9, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate a total of 88 deaths linked to COVID-19 among the 18,631 total deaths for those under the age of 18 since February 1. Many of these 88 children had underlying medical conditions. Any childhood death is tragic but should the overwhelming majority of public schools across the nation remain closed when on average fewer than two children per state have died from COVID-19 to date, and COVID-19 has been attributed as a cause to only four-tenths of one percent of the deaths of children under the age of 18 over the past seven months?
Historically, teachers have been hailed as heroes, difference-makers in the lives of their students. Teaching is a noble profession, for our nation’s future depends on students who are prepared to enter the workforce and contribute to society as productive, law-abiding citizens. However, the resounding response, fueled by the powerful teacher unions, from teachers in a time of national crisis has been it’s not safe, it’s too dangerous, you can’t force us back into schools. The teacher unions have turned these heroes into self-asserting fearful victims.
Why would a teacher play puppet to the union? Without a doubt, because the union negotiates their contracts and demands more pay and better benefits on their behalf year after year. As a result of this link to their purse strings, unions dictate teachers’ collective response.
We must not forget public school teachers are ultimately government employees, as are military, firefighters, and police. One may counter that potential danger is part of the job description for first-responders. But during this pandemic, we have deemed a vast array of jobs as “essential” — grocery store employees, truck drivers, information technology personnel, manufacturing workers, and more. Aren’t K-12 teachers every bit as essential?
Some jobs cannot effectively be completed from home, and K-12 teaching in a traditional face-to-face classroom is one of them. The quick, make-shift conversion to online learning last spring, and again for this fall, has not served the vast majority of students’ learning needs well. The lack of hands-on learning and social interaction implications cannot be underestimated. Additionally, many students are not proficient with the skills of self-efficacy and autonomous learning necessary for online learning success. Furthermore, schools moving only to provide distance learning has caused grave hardship for families who rely on supervision and school-provided meals for their students during the school day.
For five consecutive academic years, 2014-2019, leading up to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, public education has increased its spending per student according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Spending figures per student range dramatically among states from approximately $7,000-23,000, with an average of $15,000. Yet U.S. educational performance has remained poor as compared by other developed nations. According to 2020 data from World Population Review, U.S. education falls 26th overall, with academic scores placing a pitiful 17th in reading, 23rd in science, and 31st in math despite leading the world in education spending.
The pandemic has exacerbated these education deficiencies. The extent of the damage has not been fully assessed, since students are not back in classrooms and have not been tested. But it is estimated that on average, traditional public school students (not charter nor private school students) have lost half a year of learning, if not more. This is attributed to several factors including some students not having a device or the needed internet access, others not logging in regularly to complete the schoolwork, lack of academic support for struggling students, and schools not providing robust, meaningful learning for the same duration of time that students receive in face-to-face classrooms.
In addition to learning loss, financial implications for our economy from school closures are astronomical and continue to climb daily. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development released a report this month projecting the long-term U.S. economic loss upwards of $14.2 trillion over the next 80 years from school closures to-date.
Some parents are turning toward learning pods where an adult oversees the learning for a small group of children generally of similar ages for the needed student supervision and learning support while schools remain physically closed. But most parents cannot afford this alternative. Furthermore, school district leaders have been fighting against their teachers serving families through these pod avenues — they assert that the achievement gap between affluent and poor students will widen as a result. They have gone as far as to threaten teachers with termination should they take on a pod position, even if it is outside of their school day online teaching responsibilities.
Why not advocate and support any possible solution for teachers to serve families during this time? Yes, the achievement gap will widen for those without the needed finances for these expensive pod learning options, but should the option be taken away from those who can afford it? If the goal is student learning, we need to foster creative means to get as many students as possible quality learning opportunities.
Instead of chanting, “kids’ lives matter,” let’s demonstrate our passionate commitment to students by reopening our face-to-face classrooms in K-12 schools. This must be a matter of urgency because the current status and future of our kids’ lives matter.


discoveryinstitute--2020-09-21--Defending American Values, and History

Defending American Values, and History

In a speech yesterday at the National Archives , President Trump elevated a formerly obscure academic discipline — critical race theory — into a major theme in his campaign for reelection .
In his 17-minute address , the president denounced critical race theory as a “ Marxist doctrine holding that America is a wicked and racist nation , ” and that , if left unchecked , “ will dissolve the bonds that tie us together [ and ] will destroy our country.
” After months of political instability , which began with the coronavirus lockdowns and accelerated into the George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settled on a rationale for his campaign : he has positioned himself as the defender of American history , values , and principles — while the radical Left , he argues , wants to burn them down .
He identifies critical race theory , which he described as an “ ideological poison , ” as the animating philosophy behind the “ left-wing mobs [ that ] have torn down statues of our founders , desecrated our memorials , and carried out a campaign of violence and anarchy.
” This is a shrewd framing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a straight line connects critical race theory to modern progressivism to the riots in the streets .
All are predicated on the idea that America was founded on racism and that all of our institutions — across government , law , culture , and society — are mere camouflage for racial domination and oppression .
Joe Biden , while culturally more closely aligned with the old working-class Democratic Party , has acceded to this new worldview .
He has absorbed the vocabulary of “ systemic racism ” and “ white supremacy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ The Squad , ” and refused to condemn nationwide street riots for three months .
The stakes could not be higher .
Critical race theorists , and their adherents in the new progressive movement , would replace the American system of individual rights , equality under the law , and meritocracy with a system of identity-based distribution of power .
In one of the discipline ’ s founding texts , Critical Race Theory : The Cutting Edge , author Richard Delgado explains that these ideas are “ marked by a deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil rights litigation and activist , faith in the legal system , and hope for progress.
” It is a profoundly nihilistic vision , which explains , in part , the character of recent street protests .
The rioters and looters in Portland , Seattle , and Chicago are not fighting for any positive value ; they are waging a war of simple negation .
President Trump has offered an alternative .
In response to the “ left-wing Cultural Revolution , ” he proposes a defense of the principles , values , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From Washington to Lincoln , from Jefferson to King , America has been home to some of the most incredible people who have ever lived , ” he declared .
“ The legacy of 1776 will never be erased .
Our heroes will never be forgotten .
Our youth will be taught to love America with all of their heart and all of their soul.
” In contrast to the critical race theorists who have expressed contempt for our constitutional order , Trump put it plainly : “ The Declaration of Independence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom the world has ever known.
” This could emerge as the key theme of the 2020 election .
Before the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent lockdowns , the president had clearly hoped to campaign on a strong economy and widespread prosperity .
After the economy spiraled into recession , however , he appeared unsteady , battered by the virus and the political fallout .
Now , with critical race theory as the conceptual frame and 100-plus days of riots as its primary expression , Trump seems to have rediscovered his footing — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the days ahead , Biden will doubtlessly respond .
But on the terms of the narrative that Trump has sketched out , Americans face a clear choice in November : preserve the American way of life or burn it down .

In a speech yesterday at the National Archives, President Trump elevated a formerly obscure academic discipline — critical race theory — into a major theme in his campaign for reelection. In his 17-minute address, the president denounced critical race theory as a “Marxist doctrine holding that America is a wicked and racist nation,” and that, if left unchecked, “will dissolve the bonds that tie us together [and] will destroy our country.”
After months of political instability, which began with the coronavirus lockdowns and accelerated into the George Floyd riots, the president has finally settled on a rationale for his campaign: he has positioned himself as the defender of American history, values, and principles — while the radical Left, he argues, wants to burn them down. He identifies critical race theory, which he described as an “ideological poison,” as the animating philosophy behind the “left-wing mobs [that] have torn down statues of our founders, desecrated our memorials, and carried out a campaign of violence and anarchy.”


discoveryinstitute--2020-09-22--The Miracle of the Cell

The Miracle of the Cell

The Miracle of the Cell provides compelling evidence that long before life emerged on our planet , the design of the carbon-based cell was foreshadowed in the order of nature , in the exquisite fitness of the laws of nature for this foundational unit of all life on Earth .
Nowhere is this fitness more apparent than in the properties of the key atomic constituents of the cell .
Each of the atoms of life — including carbon , hydrogen , oxygen , and nitrogen , as well as several metal elements — features a suite of unique properties fine-tuned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the cell .
Moreover , some of these properties are specifically fit for essential roles in the cells of advanced aerobic organisms like ourselves .
Author Michael Denton is a Senior Fellow with Discovery Institute ’ s Center for Science and Culture .
He holds an MD from Bristol University and a PhD in biochemistry from King ’ s College in London .
His previous books include Evolution : A Theory in Crisis and Nature ’ s Destiny : How the Laws of Biology Reveal Purpose in the Universe .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Genetics , BioSystems , Human Genetics , and Biology and Philosophy .
“ Michael Denton is the world ’ s most profound thinker about the fundamental physical and chemical requirements for the existence of a humanoid species such as ourselves .
By gathering and synthesizing facts from an enormous range of scientific observations , Denton shows with overwhelming force that the universe was made for intelligent , technology-using beings of roughly our size — beings whose very existence depends precariously on a myriad of physical details that the universe miraculously got right .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs of purpose needs to read The Miracle of the Cell .
Michael J. Behe , PhD , Lehigh University molecular biologist and author of Darwin ’ s Black Box , The Edge of Evolution , and Darwin Devolves .
“ In this seminal new book , distinguished biochemist Michael Denton takes the fine-tuning argument to a whole new level .
He shows that many of the chemical elements themselves and their properties are delicately fine-tuned for life , and the same holds for crucial compounds like water .
Denton also makes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine-tuning converge towards a primal blueprint that existed prior to the arrival of the first living cell .
Denton is at the forefront of assembling this evidence as a cumulative case for teleology in nature .
The Miracle of the Cell greatly advances the case in favor of intelligent causes in the natural sciences .
The growing body of evidence from modern science more and more calls for a shift away from the ruling but obsolete paradigm of materialism , which allows only for the blind action of natural laws and mere matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work will prove to be a milestone in this ongoing scientific revolution.
” “ Michael Denton has again sent the opponents of cosmic purpose scurrying .
True , I do not share his hope that one day we may discover natural laws that would “ save the day ” for a naturalistic origin of life .
We know — experimentally and conceptually — that the meaning of chemical bites such as CTA equals valine must be free of lawlike constraints for them to express the reams of life-essential information they do .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Denton ’ s new book .
The Miracle of the Cell is marvelous in vividly illuminating the evidence that the elements of life were selected and exquisitely fine-tuned by a master intellect , and had to be before the first cell could exist .
Here we are confronted with undeniable and definitive findings in favor of a powerful genius who foresaw and precisely orchestrated chemistry as a whole for life.
” Marcos Eberlin , PhD , member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences , founder of the Thomson Mass Spectrometry Laboratory , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , and former president of the International Mass Spectrometry Foundation

The Miracle of the Cell provides compelling evidence that long before life emerged on our planet, the design of the carbon-based cell was foreshadowed in the order of nature, in the exquisite fitness of the laws of nature for this foundational unit of all life on Earth. Nowhere is this fitness more apparent than in the properties of the key atomic constituents of the cell. Each of the atoms of life — including carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, as well as several metal elements — features a suite of unique properties fine-tuned to serve highly specific, indispensable roles in the cell. Moreover, some of these properties are specifically fit for essential roles in the cells of advanced aerobic organisms like ourselves. Author Michael Denton is a Senior Fellow with Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture. He holds an MD from Bristol University and a PhD in biochemistry from King’s College in London. His previous books include Evolution: A Theory in Crisis and Nature’s Destiny: How the Laws of Biology Reveal Purpose in the Universe. He has published his work in Nature, Nature Genetics, BioSystems, Human Genetics, and Biology and Philosophy.
Plaudits
“Michael Denton is the world’s most profound thinker about the fundamental physical and chemical requirements for the existence of a humanoid species such as ourselves. By gathering and synthesizing facts from an enormous range of scientific observations, Denton shows with overwhelming force that the universe was made for intelligent, technology-using beings of roughly our size — beings whose very existence depends precariously on a myriad of physical details that the universe miraculously got right. Anyone who wonders whether nature shows any signs of purpose needs to read The Miracle of the Cell. Michael J. Behe, PhD, Lehigh University molecular biologist and author of Darwin’s Black Box, The Edge of Evolution, and Darwin Devolves.
“In this seminal new book, distinguished biochemist Michael Denton takes the fine-tuning argument to a whole new level. He shows that many of the chemical elements themselves and their properties are delicately fine-tuned for life, and the same holds for crucial compounds like water. Denton also makes a convincing case that all these instances of fine-tuning converge towards a primal blueprint that existed prior to the arrival of the first living cell. Denton is at the forefront of assembling this evidence as a cumulative case for teleology in nature. The Miracle of the Cell greatly advances the case in favor of intelligent causes in the natural sciences. The growing body of evidence from modern science more and more calls for a shift away from the ruling but obsolete paradigm of materialism, which allows only for the blind action of natural laws and mere matter in motion. Michael Denton’s work will prove to be a milestone in this ongoing scientific revolution.” Günter Bechly, PhD, paleontologist


discoveryinstitute--2020-09-23--The Future of Commuting

The Future of Commuting

Our region ’ s economic recovery may be advancing in fits and starts but traffic volumes on our region ’ s motorways have rebounded to near normal and the congestion that plagues Puget Sound travelers has returned in all the usual locations .
Even as the hazards of the “ new normal ” have motivated thousands of commuters to abandon public transit , the people of this region need options that don ’ t involve endless hours lost to inadequate transportation infrastructure .
In the midst of adversity we see opportunity .
So what does the future of commuting look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will change how we learn , work , obtain medical care , and whether or not many choose to commute .
Digital infrastructure will also change how we choose to commute .
The equity outcomes of the digital revolution are promising as advancements in energy production and digital connectivity enable new technologies at a lower cost .
The inherent flexibility of on-demand mobility services indicates that they can adapt and even thrive in this changing landscape .
Legacy commuting models may give way to an entirely new shared-ride commuting experience that is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is equitable and sustainable .
Verizon and Teague are your hosts for this exciting journey forward in a new world of opportunity for everyone .

The Future of Commuting
Our region’s economic recovery may be advancing in fits and starts but traffic volumes on our region’s motorways have rebounded to near normal and the congestion that plagues Puget Sound travelers has returned in all the usual locations. Even as the hazards of the “new normal” have motivated thousands of commuters to abandon public transit, the people of this region need options that don’t involve endless hours lost to inadequate transportation infrastructure. In the midst of adversity we see opportunity.
So what does the future of commuting look like? Emerging trends in digital infrastructure will change how we learn, work, obtain medical care, and whether or not many choose to commute. Digital infrastructure will also change how we choose to commute. The equity outcomes of the digital revolution are promising as advancements in energy production and digital connectivity enable new technologies at a lower cost. The inherent flexibility of on-demand mobility services indicates that they can adapt and even thrive in this changing landscape. Legacy commuting models may give way to an entirely new shared-ride commuting experience that is at once as personal and private as it is equitable and sustainable.
Verizon and Teague are your hosts for this exciting journey forward in a new world of opportunity for everyone.
Agenda


discoveryinstitute--2020-09-26--Elon Musk Tweet Shows Why Many Doubt Origin of Life Studies

Many scientists who study origin of life and evolution bemoan public skepticism about their work .
They say , “ Look , we are making progress , we will get there eventually.
” The problem , as it currently stands , is that nobody knows how to make a living cell .
We actually don ’ t know all the requirements .
We tend to think that we know , but the progress of science in this field has largely been to show us all the new requirements we hadn ’ t been thinking about before .
But , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built from scratch , there is a bigger problem .
Life reproduces .
Life produces life .
We often view this as a mundane fact about organisms but it is actually quite profound .
A lot goes into the ability to replicate .
A living organism must distinguish self from non-self .
Otherwise , how would it know what to replicate ?
It must know what parts to replicate .
A part that is replicated needs sufficient means to reproduce everything else , including the reproduction mechanism .
That is , if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it isn ’ t enough to make an entire new living thing , then we haven ’ t gotten anywhere .
In other words , the whole system must be in place for anything to work at all .
It can ’ t “ evolve ” to this point , because , before this point , there is nothing that is capable of evolution .
This is the reason for much of the public skepticism of origin of life research .
This week , in a tweet , Elon Musk put his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the process of building a manufacturing plant , he said , Indeed , whatever the difficulty of creating life in the lab , making individual prototypes is not nearly as problematic as making “ the machine that makes the machine , ” which all reproducing living cells can do .
That is , the ability of an organism to reproduce is at least an order of magnitude harder that the ability of an organism to just live .
But , the fact is , organisms require both .
Without the ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be ephemeral , as the original can not persist in the environment indefinitely .
Interestingly , evolution faces a similar problem , which we learn from computer science rather than manufacturing .
In the Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics , a paper , “ The Search for a Search : Measuring the Cost of Higher Level Search , ” points out ( with rigorously documented proof ) that successful searches for searches are exponentially less likely to be productive than a search itself .
Similarly , we know from biology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we see are predisposed by the genome to occur .
That predisposition is sometimes called the implicit genome .
In other words , certain types of mutations are implicit in a genome configuration that is predisposed to them .
But what causes that predisposition ?
The “ Search for a Search ” paper shows that biologists are mistaken if they assume that the predisposition that makes beneficial mutations more probable does not require any explanation .
Just as Musk pointed out that building a machine to make the machine is at least an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the machine in the first place , “ Search for a Search ” shows that finding a process which finds the right predispositions for future changes is always going to be significantly harder than finding the right change directly .
Thus , the same type of bootstrapping problems that exist in origin of life research rear their heads in evolutionary research as well .
It may turn out that the public skepticism is wrong about either one or both of origin of life and evolution .
However , the skepticism shouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stance , but rather the product of a deep intuition that matches much that we know about complex systems and how they behave .
Note : “ The Search for a Search : Measuring the Information Cost of Higher Level Search ” , William A. Dembski and Robert J .
Marks II , Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics , Vol.14 No.5 , 2010 is open access .
You may also enjoy : Can computers evolve to program themselves without programmers ?
How much computing power would we need to evolve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evolution ?
Computer scientist Roman Yampolskiy explains why Darwinian evolution in computers wouldn ’ t likely produce an AI superintelligence .

Many scientists who study origin of life and evolution bemoan public skepticism about their work. They say, “Look, we are making progress, we will get there eventually.”
The problem, as it currently stands, is that nobody knows how to make a living cell. We actually don’t know all the requirements. We tend to think that we know, but the progress of science in this field has largely been to show us all the new requirements we hadn’t been thinking about before.
But, even assuming that a living thing could be built from scratch, there is a bigger problem. Life reproduces. Life produces life. We often view this as a mundane fact about organisms but it is actually quite profound. A lot goes into the ability to replicate. A living organism must distinguish self from non-self. Otherwise, how would it know what to replicate? It must know what parts to replicate. A part that is replicated needs sufficient means to reproduce everything else, including the reproduction mechanism. That is, if we get our living thing to reproduce something but it isn’t enough to make an entire new living thing, then we haven’t gotten anywhere.
Elon Musk
In other words, the whole system must be in place for anything to work at all. It can’t “evolve” to this point, because, before this point, there is nothing that is capable of evolution. This is the reason for much of the public skepticism of origin of life research.
This week, in a tweet, Elon Musk put his finger on the issue. When referring to the process of building a manufacturing plant, he said,
Indeed, whatever the difficulty of creating life in the lab, making individual prototypes is not nearly as problematic as making “the machine that makes the machine,” which all reproducing living cells can do. That is, the ability of an organism to reproduce is at least an order of magnitude harder that the ability of an organism to just live.
But, the fact is, organisms require both.
Without the ability to reproduce, any metabolism that develops will be ephemeral, as the original cannot persist in the environment indefinitely. Interestingly, evolution faces a similar problem, which we learn from computer science rather than manufacturing.
In the Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics, a paper, “The Search for a Search: Measuring the Cost of Higher Level Search,” points out (with rigorously documented proof) that successful searches for searches are exponentially less likely to be productive than a search itself. Similarly, we know from biology that many of the beneficial mutations that we see are predisposed by the genome to occur. That predisposition is sometimes called the implicit genome. In other words, certain types of mutations are implicit in a genome configuration that is predisposed to them. But what causes that predisposition?
The “Search for a Search” paper shows that biologists are mistaken if they assume that the predisposition that makes beneficial mutations more probable does not require any explanation. Just as Musk pointed out that building a machine to make the machine is at least an order of magnitude more difficult than building the machine in the first place, “Search for a Search” shows that finding a process which finds the right predispositions for future changes is always going to be significantly harder than finding the right change directly. Thus, the same type of bootstrapping problems that exist in origin of life research rear their heads in evolutionary research as well.
It may turn out that the public skepticism is wrong about either one or both of origin of life and evolution. However, the skepticism shouldn’t be viewed as a mere naive reactionary stance, but rather the product of a deep intuition that matches much that we know about complex systems and how they behave.
Note: “The Search for a Search: Measuring the Information Cost of Higher Level Search”, William A. Dembski and Robert J. Marks II, Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics, Vol.14 No.5, 2010 is open access.
You may also enjoy:
Can computers evolve to program themselves without programmers? How much computing power would we need to evolve the programmer’s intelligence via Darwinian evolution? Computer scientist Roman Yampolskiy explains why Darwinian evolution in computers wouldn’t likely produce an AI superintelligence.


discoveryinstitute--2020-09-29--Factory Model Education Ignores Varied Learning Readiness

Little progress has been made in closing the achievement gap despite endless initiatives among school districts across the country .
The achievement gap refers to the statistically significant difference between average test score data among students from differing socioeconomic or race/ethnic groups .
Instead of clinging to the antiquated notion that all students learn the same way at the same rate , educational leaders need to employ a personalized model to aid in student learning .
This model is especially essential for students identified by their test scores as experiencing lower academic achievement .
Students enter school with immense variations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to operate an educational system on the premise that providing all students equal learning hours and days , and the same curriculum level based solely on their age , will result in similar academic performance .
Instead , meeting students where they are in terms of learning readiness is paramount in moving them forward to increased learning .
As adults , we acknowledge that we do not all learn the same way or at the same pace .
Often our learning aptitude varies by subject matter .
Some are more inclined to quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workings , while others may learn the basics of a foreign language with less difficulty .
For example , take 25 adults the same age , from a range of different backgrounds , into an Apple Store and give them the same amount of time to learn a given device with the same directions .
Their unique individual experiences and prior knowledge impact learning .
Additionally , their confidence and motivation will be factors that dramatically diverge success rates of mastering the device .
Recognizing adult learning outcomes will vary seems obvious .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality for K-12 students ?
The basic principles of varied learning readiness need to be acknowledged and accounted for in our schools to cultivate student learning effectively .
While all students can learn , some students will need more time , instruction , practice , and support than others .
Other students need less — just like adults when we learn something new .
Teachers attribute high value to personalized learning for student achievement but become overwhelmed trying to differentiate instruction for roughly 25 students simultaneously .
They are simply not prepared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wide variety of needs in their classrooms .
In a large-scale national survey completed in late 2019 , Education Week reported 77 percent of teachers communicated they did not have the needed tools or consistent , effective professional development training to aid them in providing personalized learning for their students .
Twenty-one percent reported that any type of training which moved away from a one-size-fits-all approach in their classrooms was utterly nonexistent .
The time is ripe to close the achievement gap by scrapping the ineffective cookie-cutter learning model , designed initially more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operates on the misguided expectation that all students the same age will learn the same curriculum with the same level of support in the same length school day and year .
It is not consistently producing prepared , motivated , and confident students .
Instead , we need to move to increased levels of individualized instruction through an innovative education model — one that recognizes and responds to students based on their unique learning readiness .
Students deserve to exit the K-12 system , after thirteen years of seat time , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life and the increasingly competitive job market .

Little progress has been made in closing the achievement gap despite endless initiatives among school districts across the country. The achievement gap refers to the statistically significant difference between average test score data among students from differing socioeconomic or race/ethnic groups. Instead of clinging to the antiquated notion that all students learn the same way at the same rate, educational leaders need to employ a personalized model to aid in student learning. This model is especially essential for students identified by their test scores as experiencing lower academic achievement.
Students enter school with immense variations of learning readiness. It is illogical to operate an educational system on the premise that providing all students equal learning hours and days, and the same curriculum level based solely on their age, will result in similar academic performance. Instead, meeting students where they are in terms of learning readiness is paramount in moving them forward to increased learning.
As adults, we acknowledge that we do not all learn the same way or at the same pace. Often our learning aptitude varies by subject matter. Some are more inclined to quickly understand a car engine’s inner workings, while others may learn the basics of a foreign language with less difficulty. For example, take 25 adults the same age, from a range of different backgrounds, into an Apple Store and give them the same amount of time to learn a given device with the same directions. Their unique individual experiences and prior knowledge impact learning. Additionally, their confidence and motivation will be factors that dramatically diverge success rates of mastering the device.
Recognizing adult learning outcomes will vary seems obvious. However, why do we ignore this reality for K-12 students? The basic principles of varied learning readiness need to be acknowledged and accounted for in our schools to cultivate student learning effectively. While all students can learn, some students will need more time, instruction, practice, and support than others. Other students need less — just like adults when we learn something new.
Teachers attribute high value to personalized learning for student achievement but become overwhelmed trying to differentiate instruction for roughly 25 students simultaneously. They are simply not prepared to customize the learning experience to meet the wide variety of needs in their classrooms. In a large-scale national survey completed in late 2019, Education Week reported 77 percent of teachers communicated they did not have the needed tools or consistent, effective professional development training to aid them in providing personalized learning for their students. Twenty-one percent reported that any type of training which moved away from a one-size-fits-all approach in their classrooms was utterly nonexistent.
The time is ripe to close the achievement gap by scrapping the ineffective cookie-cutter learning model, designed initially more than 100 years ago. The model operates on the misguided expectation that all students the same age will learn the same curriculum with the same level of support in the same length school day and year. It is not consistently producing prepared, motivated, and confident students. Instead, we need to move to increased levels of individualized instruction through an innovative education model — one that recognizes and responds to students based on their unique learning readiness. Students deserve to exit the K-12 system, after thirteen years of seat time, with the needed knowledge and skills for success in life and the increasingly competitive job market.


discoveryinstitute--2020-09-23--What You Need To Know About Critical Race Theory

Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report talks to Christopher Rufo ( writer , filmmaker ) about his reporting on critical race theory and Donald Trump ’ s executive order banning government agencies from receiving training involving critical race theory .
Christopher gives a straightforward explanation to answer the question “ what is critical race theory ” , but also discusses its origins and toxic divisive effects .
This is an issue that is affecting more and more people as these diversity trainings become more common in everyday workplaces .
Christopher first started reporting on the critical race theory debate when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notified him of a racially segregated diversity training in Seattle that trained white employees to see their internalized racism and how to “ interrupt their whiteness and white privilege ” .
Since the Black Lives Matter protests erupted a few months ago , Christopher has received mounting evidence from whistleblowers around the country all reporting similar training in systemic racism .
These programs encourage people to see other not as individuals , but as defined by their racial group affiliation .
Christopher sees the spread of these ideas as dangerous .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acted on , like at CHAZ in Seattle that the activists had a form of racial segregation where there were spaces set up for only members of a certain racial group .
Christopher traces the origins back to Marxism and it ’ s worldview of only seeing the world as a conflict between the oppressor and the oppressed .
If we don ’ t do something to stop these ideas immediately , we risk turning our back on the ideas of Martin Luther King where we judge people as individuals and instead return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the color of their skin .
Christopher argues the urgency and importance of pushing back on these toxic ideas now .
• Learn more about The Rubin Report • Follow Chris Rufo and the Center for Wealth & Poverty

Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report talks to Christopher Rufo (writer, filmmaker) about his reporting on critical race theory and Donald Trump’s executive order banning government agencies from receiving training involving critical race theory. Christopher gives a straightforward explanation to answer the question “what is critical race theory”, but also discusses its origins and toxic divisive effects. This is an issue that is affecting more and more people as these diversity trainings become more common in everyday workplaces. Christopher first started reporting on the critical race theory debate when he received documents from a whistleblower who notified him of a racially segregated diversity training in Seattle that trained white employees to see their internalized racism and how to “interrupt their whiteness and white privilege”.
Since the Black Lives Matter protests erupted a few months ago, Christopher has received mounting evidence from whistleblowers around the country all reporting similar training in systemic racism. These programs encourage people to see other not as individuals, but as defined by their racial group affiliation. Christopher sees the spread of these ideas as dangerous. It is no surprise that when these ideas are acted on, like at CHAZ in Seattle that the activists had a form of racial segregation where there were spaces set up for only members of a certain racial group. Christopher traces the origins back to Marxism and it’s worldview of only seeing the world as a conflict between the oppressor and the oppressed. If we don’t do something to stop these ideas immediately, we risk turning our back on the ideas of Martin Luther King where we judge people as individuals and instead return to a past where we judge people on the color of their skin. Christopher argues the urgency and importance of pushing back on these toxic ideas now.


discoveryinstitute--2020-10-01--Dallas Conference on Science and Faith — 2021

We are pleased to announce that the 3rd annual Dallas Conference on Science and Faith is scheduled for February 20 @ @ @ @ @ Church in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex .
This year ’ s event will be @ @ @ @ @ the option to attend in-person or virtually .
We are in the process of confirming @ @ @ @ @ cost , but are excited to share that Stephen C. Meyer will be a part @ @ @ @ @ this hybrid event will make it possible for even more to join than in previous @ @ @ @ @ put the date on your calendar and look for more information in the coming weeks @

Important Update! The original in-person conference, scheduled for February 20th, was postponed due to the impact of severe winter weather across the state of Texas (and specifically, due to infrastructure damage at the Denton Bible Church venue). Rather than waiting indefinitely to find a new venue with suitable space for social distancing, we have decided to proceed with a livestreamed event on Saturday, March 13th. Speakers and topics will remain the same, and we are excited to extend this opportunity to attendees from all over the world. Local registrants are invited to attend a watch party and book signing event hosted by Discovery Institute at Zera Coffee in Denton, Texas. For those who registered for the conference before the postponement, please check your email for information regarding your tickets!
Does our universe point to God? Do molecules show evidence of foresight? Were humans produced through an unguided evolutionary process or by intelligent design? Explore these questions and more at the third annual Dallas Conference on Science & Faith, sponsored by Discovery Institute on March 13, 2021.
Speakers will include:
Stephen C. Meyer , best-selling author of Signature in the Cell, Darwin’s Doubt, and the forthcoming Return of the God Hypothesis (March 2021)
, best-selling author of Signature in the Cell, Darwin’s Doubt, and the forthcoming Return of the God Hypothesis (March 2021) Melissa Cain Travis , author of Science and the Mind of the Maker and Assistant Professor of Christian Apologetics at Houston Baptist University
, author of Science and the Mind of the Maker and Assistant Professor of Christian Apologetics at Houston Baptist University Marcos Eberlin , member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and author of Foresight: How the Chemistry of Life Reveals Planning and Purpose
, member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and author of Foresight: How the Chemistry of Life Reveals Planning and Purpose William Dembski , author of many path-breaking books on intelligent design, including The Design Revolution, The Design Inference, and Intelligent Design: The Bridge Between Science and Theology
, author of many path-breaking books on intelligent design, including The Design Revolution, The Design Inference, and Intelligent Design: The Bridge Between Science and Theology Casey Luskin, Associate Director of Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, co-author of Science and Human Origins, and co-author of the Discovering Intelligent Design curriculum
Click here for a tentative schedule.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the registration page.


discoveryinstitute--2020-10-01--Three Authors Discuss Their New Book: The Price of Panic — How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pande

Three Authors Discuss Their New Book: The Price of Panic — How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe

The Science & Culture Network Chapter in Southern California , with support from Chapters in Houston and Colorado , invites @ @ @ @ @ webinar and Q & A with Douglas Axe , William Briggs , and Jay Richards @ @ @ @ @ the forthcoming book The Price of Panic — How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a @ @ @ @ @ Regardless of what you ’ ve heard — or think you know — about the @ @ @ @ @ of Panic is sure to bring a fresh , new , and well-researched perspective to @ @ @ @ @ book is scheduled for release on October 13th , and we are privileged to have @ @ @ @ @ exclusive webinar to showcase its contents just days after release .
Mark your calendars for @ @ @ @ @ 6:00 pm PDT , then follow the links above to register for this free online @ @ @ @ @ local networks , and come prepared with your best questions for the authors .
You @ @ @ @ @ miss this exciting opportunity !

The Science & Culture Network Chapter in Southern California, with support from Chapters in Houston and Colorado, invites you to join this upcoming webinar and Q&A with Douglas Axe, William Briggs, and Jay Richards — the three authors of the forthcoming book The Price of Panic — How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe.
Regardless of what you’ve heard — or think you know — about the COVID-19 pandemic, The Price of Panic is sure to bring a fresh, new, and well-researched perspective to the table. The much-anticipated book is scheduled for release on October 13th, and we are privileged to have all three co-authors on this exclusive webinar to showcase its contents just days after release.
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 16, 6:00 pm PDT, then follow the links above to register for this free online event, share with your local networks, and come prepared with your best questions for the authors. You don’t want to miss this exciting opportunity!


discoveryinstitute--2020-10-01--Autonomy or Abandoning the Mentally Ill?

A U.K. woman with anorexia is in danger of starving to death and courts there will not allow force-feeding to save her life because she has decision-making capacity .
From the BioEdge story : At this stage the only way to save her life is naso-gastric tube feeding .
But AB finds this abhorrent .
She would have to be restrained or sedated during the procedure to keep her from ripping the tube out .
“ The only purpose of such an option would be to re-nourish AB ’ s body to the point where she is well enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” observes Mrs Justice Roberts in her decision .
Isn ’ t that what we should do for people with mental illnesses ?
Self-harming is a terrible affliction .
Shouldn ’ t true compassion mean we protect such people from themselves ?
I mean , if she were burning herself with a cigarette , would we hand her the lighter ?
If she wanted to commit suicide , would we just stand back and say , in effect , “ Have at it ” ?
I think that is precisely where we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s highest court recently conjured a right to commit suicide — which the court called “ self-determined death ” – for any reason whatever , and further , that anyone can assist as a concomitant constitutional right .
The court specifically ruled that society and family have no standing to question the reasons or the lethal action .
In Belgium and Netherlands , mentally ill people receive voluntary euthanasia , conjoined with organ harvesting .
In California , those involuntarily confined in mental hospitals are required to be provided access to assisted suicide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prescription .
By definition , such people have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt to be a threat to their own safety or that of others .
Oh , and by the way : September 10 was World Suicide Prevention Day .
Did you miss it ?
I am not surprised .
We don ’ t put much energy into saving people from themselves anymore , and indeed , are moving as a culture toward an ethic that believes we don ’ t have any right to keep people from harming or killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I call it abandonment .

Center on Human Exceptionalism
The mission of Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism is to affirm and uphold the intrinsic nature of human dignity, liberty, and equality. In resistance to a growing movement against unique human personhood, we aim to revitalize a commitment to the traditional Western view of human rights and human responsibilities — summed up by the term “human exceptionalism.” Read more


discoveryinstitute--2020-10-02--“Safe Injection Sites” Aren’t Safe, Effective or Wise. Just Ask Canadians

If you ’ ve never heard of “ safe injection sites ” —public facilities for drug users to consume heroin , fentanyl and methamphetamine under the supervision of medical staff—you probably will soon .
In cities such as Philadelphia , Denver and San Francisco , drug legalization activists have launched a campaign to create such sites .
When challenged , activists point to Canada , which they have long cited as a model of enlightened drug policies .
In their policy proposals and campaign literature , drug legalization advocates argue that safe injection sites in Canada—particularly the Insite facility in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and saved lives .
They should ask a few Canadians .
In cities throughout the Great White North , a group of insurgent leaders has begun to turn against safe injection sites—and they are winning with voters .
Since 2016 , anti-safe injection site candidates have won the premierships of Ontario , Alberta and Manitoba .
Their argument is simple : safe injection sites have not delivered on their promises and have caused a significant increase in trash , crime , and disorder .
Public health experts have built safe injection facilities with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-time residents .
As Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters : “ If I put ( a safe injection site ) beside your house , you ’ d be going ballistic.
” Activists—who never seem to live within shouting distance of these sites—often respond that “ privileged ” neighbors must shoulder the burden in pursuit of “ saving lives.
” But an emerging body of evidence suggests safe injection sites may cause more harm than good .
In Alberta , public health authorities released a bombshell report that showed the sites did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls .
And they led to an increase in crime , discarded needles and social disorder in surrounding neighborhoods .
Residents complained that they were not involved in the process and felt “ less safe than before.
” After the release of the report , Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced that the provincial government would consider closing or relocating some of the safe injection sites .
Politically , critics can not dismiss this major reversal as happening in conservative or backwater provinces .
Ontario , Alberta and Manitoba are three of the five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the progressive urban populations of Toronto , Calgary and Winnipeg .
Premiers Doug Ford , Jason Kenney and Brian Pallister all rose to power as political insurgents , challenging the ideology of “ harm reduction ” and channeling public frustration about safe injection sites .
Since taking office , Premier Ford cut funding for three safe injection sites , Premier Kenney froze funding for new safe injection facilities and Premier Pallister announced his intention to support law enforcement over harm reduction .
What does this mean for the United States ?
First , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saves lives without collateral costs— can not be maintained .
Safe injection sites have an extremely poor record of moving drug users into treatment and recovery , with some referral rates as low as 1 % .
As a result , neighborhoods that host safe injection sites , like the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver , often devolve into open-air drug markets , with hundreds of homeless addicts sleeping in the streets .
This , of course , only compounds the problem and externalizes the social costs onto neighbors and small businesses .
Second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injection sites are not as popular as activists had hoped .
To the contrary , safe injection sites are driving a backlash that has empowered conservative political parties in Canadian cities , suburbs and rural areas .
Although American harm reduction activists have firmly embedded themselves in the social service bureaucracy of major cities , there is no guarantee that their ideas will come to fruition .
Already , in some American cities that have come closest to implementing safe injection sites , there are echoes of the Canadian uprising .
In 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local ordinances banning safe injection sites ; U.S. Attorney Brian Mora warned Seattle lawmakers that any attempt to a create safe injection site would immediately be shut down by the federal government .
Earlier this year , Philadelphia announced it would open the nation ’ s first safe injection site , then quickly reversed course after working-class residents in South Philadelphia rebelled against the plan .
Moving forward , opponents of “ harm reduction ” in the United States must build on these successes and develop a coordinated strategy to prevent the establishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders can learn an important lesson from their Canadian counterparts : there is no such thing as safely using heroin , fentanyl and methamphetamine .
Voters have a greater understanding of this simple truth than harm reduction activists and ideologically committed public health officials .
It ’ s up to savvy political leaders to turn this key insight into political power .

If you've never heard of "safe injection sites" — public facilities for drug users to consume heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine under the supervision of medical staff — you probably will soon. In cities such as Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco, drug legalization activists have launched a campaign to create such sites.
When challenged, activists point to Canada, which they have long cited as a model of enlightened drug policies. In their policy proposals and campaign literature, drug legalization advocates argue that safe injection sites in Canada—particularly the Insite facility in Vancouver, British Columbia—have prevented overdose deaths and saved lives.
They should ask a few Canadians. In cities throughout the Great White North, a group of insurgent leaders has begun to turn against safe injection sites—and they are winning with voters. Since 2016, anti-safe injection site candidates have won the premierships of Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba.


discoveryinstitute--2020-10-02--The Future of Work is Coming — Will U.S. Graduates Be Ready?

Last week , McKinsey & Company published the results of a global survey polling 800 executives from a wide variety of industries , soliciting their projections for the future of work .
Four hundred respondents reside in the U.S. , with the remaining 400 from Australia , Canada , China , France , Germany , India , Spain , and the United Kingdom .
The responses suggest that a “ disruptive period of workplace changes lies ahead due to acceleration of automation , digitization , and other trends ” in the post-pandemic world .
Remote work has significant benefits for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the daily commute ( thereby saving time and money ) , and providing multitasking opportunities like throwing in a laundry load during a mid-morning walk to the kitchen for a coffee refill .
For some families , childcare costs are reduced since a parent is home to provide the necessary supervision .
However , remote work drawbacks can not be overlooked .
As parents attempt to play the dual role of remote employee and childcare provider , including academic coach with school campuses remaining closed , work productivity and focus suffer .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stick .
Conversely , there are advantages for the employer .
With employee proximity to the office no longer a key factor , employers can expand their recruitment and selection of quality candidates not limited by geographical location .
As a result , job competition increases .
Additional benefits for employers include cost savings through a reduction or even elimination of office space and associated furnishings , utilities , security , and receptionist staffing expenses .
Facing the need to reconfigure work areas to allow for social distancing or reduce the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a simple solution — whether full-time or in a hybrid rotation format .
However , according to the McKinsey & Company study , the U.S. job market currently demands at least 60 % of workers report on-site to effectively complete their jobs .
This percentage was much higher before the historic COVID-19 shutdown .
It will likely continue to decrease at unprecedented rates in the coming years due to technological advances that make remote work increasingly possible .
For many employees , remote work , the most prevalent COVID-19 workforce adaption , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this is not the only revolutionary relandscape taking place in the work environment .
According to the pool of international executives , acceleration of automation and digitization are the leading disruptors .
A remarkable 85 % of respondents have accelerated digitization within their company , while 67 % have accelerated automation and artificial intelligence due to the pandemic ’ s impact on their businesses .
What impact will this automation and artificial intelligence have on human capital ?
Consider the reality that robots don ’ t get sick , need breaks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workweek , don ’ t take paid vacations , and are not distracted by office politics .
From the 400 polled U.S. executives , 83 % acknowledged a rapid implementation of automation adoption due to COVID-19 .
For example , FedEx has increased robot use to sort packages to address the spike in their business , while also complying with social distancing guidelines for their employees .
The financial sector and information technology segment , which led the field in adopting these innovations before the pandemic , have picked up even more speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality of increased online shopping and digital banking , as well as limited in-person entertainment avenues such as movie theaters , ball games , and concerts , equates to a shift in demand from entry-level , service-oriented jobs to high-skilled workers with programming , coding , and other technical expertise .
Some fear that digitization , automation , and artificial intelligence will eliminate millions of jobs .
However , as Dr. Jay W. Richards argues , in The Human Advantage : The Future of American Work in an Age of Smart Machines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , the net effect of technological revolutions has always been more jobs , not fewer .
Furthermore , automation lowers the costs of goods for everyone .
It allows human workers to be more fruitful by freeing them up to pursue increasingly meaningful work that emphasizes their unique creativity and innovation capacity .
Role and Responsibility of U.S. Education But this begs the question : Will the U.S. education system adequately prepare graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary for the future of work ?
If the U.S. education system ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for success in the workforce , radical adjustments are warranted to what and how students are taught .
Imagine the implications for the duration of our upcoming generation ’ s adult life if not provided with an education that prepares them for the jobs of the future — which are now coming sooner than anticipated .
Imagine the implications for decades and even centuries for our country if U.S. education fails to equip students for future challenges .
With the rapid transformation in the workplace due to technological advancements , significantly accelerated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond urgently by reinventing education .
U.S. students must not be left behind .

Last week, McKinsey & Company published the results of a global survey polling 800 executives from a wide variety of industries, soliciting their projections for the future of work. Four hundred respondents reside in the U.S., with the remaining 400 from Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The responses suggest that a “disruptive period of workplace changes lies ahead due to acceleration of automation, digitization, and other trends” in the post-pandemic world.
Remote Work Implications
Remote work has significant benefits for the average employee, such as eliminating the daily commute (thereby saving time and money), and providing multitasking opportunities like throwing in a laundry load during a mid-morning walk to the kitchen for a coffee refill. For some families, childcare costs are reduced since a parent is home to provide the necessary supervision. However, remote work drawbacks cannot be overlooked. As parents attempt to play the dual role of remote employee and childcare provider, including academic coach with school campuses remaining closed, work productivity and focus suffer. The employer gets the short end of the stick.
Conversely, there are advantages for the employer. With employee proximity to the office no longer a key factor, employers can expand their recruitment and selection of quality candidates not limited by geographical location. As a result, job competition increases. Additional benefits for employers include cost savings through a reduction or even elimination of office space and associated furnishings, utilities, security, and receptionist staffing expenses. Facing the need to reconfigure work areas to allow for social distancing or reduce the number of staff on-site, companies see remote work as a simple solution — whether full-time or in a hybrid rotation format.
However, according to the McKinsey & Company study, the U.S. job market currently demands at least 60% of workers report on-site to effectively complete their jobs. This percentage was much higher before the historic COVID-19 shutdown. It will likely continue to decrease at unprecedented rates in the coming years due to technological advances that make remote work increasingly possible.
Automation and Digitization Acceleration
For many employees, remote work, the most prevalent COVID-19 workforce adaption, has become the new norm. However, this is not the only revolutionary relandscape taking place in the work environment. According to the pool of international executives, acceleration of automation and digitization are the leading disruptors. A remarkable 85% of respondents have accelerated digitization within their company, while 67% have accelerated automation and artificial intelligence due to the pandemic’s impact on their businesses.
What impact will this automation and artificial intelligence have on human capital? Consider the reality that robots don’t get sick, need breaks, aren’t capped at a 40-hour workweek, don’t take paid vacations, and are not distracted by office politics. From the 400 polled U.S. executives, 83% acknowledged a rapid implementation of automation adoption due to COVID-19. For example, FedEx has increased robot use to sort packages to address the spike in their business, while also complying with social distancing guidelines for their employees. The financial sector and information technology segment, which led the field in adopting these innovations before the pandemic, have picked up even more speed over the past several months.
The reality of increased online shopping and digital banking, as well as limited in-person entertainment avenues such as movie theaters, ball games, and concerts, equates to a shift in demand from entry-level, service-oriented jobs to high-skilled workers with programming, coding, and other technical expertise. Some fear that digitization, automation, and artificial intelligence will eliminate millions of jobs. However, as Dr. Jay W. Richards argues, in The Human Advantage: The Future of American Work in an Age of Smart Machines, although automation can cause short-term disruptions for workers, the net effect of technological revolutions has always been more jobs, not fewer. Furthermore, automation lowers the costs of goods for everyone. It allows human workers to be more fruitful by freeing them up to pursue increasingly meaningful work that emphasizes their unique creativity and innovation capacity.
Role and Responsibility of U.S. Education
But this begs the question: Will the U.S. education system adequately prepare graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary for the future of work? If the U.S. education system’s role and responsibility are to prepare students for success in the workforce, radical adjustments are warranted to what and how students are taught. Imagine the implications for the duration of our upcoming generation’s adult life if not provided with an education that prepares them for the jobs of the future — which are now coming sooner than anticipated. Imagine the implications for decades and even centuries for our country if U.S. education fails to equip students for future challenges. With the rapid transformation in the workplace due to technological advancements, significantly accelerated by the worldwide pandemic, the U.S. must respond urgently by reinventing education. U.S. students must not be left behind.


discoveryinstitute--2020-10-02--George Gilder, Wealth & Poverty 40 Years Later

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow Dr. Jay Richards inter-views George Gilder , Discovery Institute co-founder , author , and technology futurist @ @ @ @ @ , Wealth and Poverty , and how the principles of capitalism articulated in the book @ @ @ @ @ they have ever been .

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow Dr. Jay Richards interviews George Gilder, Discovery Institute co-founder, author, and technology futurist, regarding his ground-breaking best-seller, Wealth and Poverty, and how the principles of capitalism articulated in the book are as applicable today as they have ever been.