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On April 14, 2014, IVN contributor Mac Vanandel presented a well-argued point about the free market of ideas and how it is inherently part of the free market of commerce. Some people have responded that the two cannot be conflated because they are different. In some ways, this is true. However, it is important to understand that how people perceive the world around them influences their activity as consumers, and the market does respond to public opinion. The issues of gay rights, the morality

To Kill a Mockingbird The National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD) is an organization committed to promoting a greater understanding of the views of others. Chaired by former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, the NICD’s board members include representatives from major news media, former secretaries of state, past and present members of Congress, governors, academic scholars, and public policy researchers. The NICD’s mission is to foster “an open exchange of ideas and expressi

Two House Democrats may face uphill re-election contests in Arizona come November as Republican strategists mount an offensive to take back control of Congress. The National Republican Congressional Committee prominently includes Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-01) and Ron Barber (D-02) on a list of 7 Democrats up for re-election this year that it bills as the most vulnerable astride conservative congressional districts. Publishing the list in May 2013, with a call to make sure “Nancy Pelosi will nev

A study that would explore the possible benefits of marijuana for those who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder got a huge green light from the federal government.The research project, headed by Dr. Suzanne Sisley of the University of Arizona, already had approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But, like a lot of studies involving pot, it hit a bottleneck in trying to obtain cannabis from the only legitimate place it could — the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) sol

Spoiler alert: That's one of the concluding remarks in former Senator Olympia Snowe's recent book, Fighting for Common Ground. Tired of government stalemate, congressional inaction, and the declining state of public discourse and civility in America? Snowe outlines a blueprint for change -- a way out of the seemingly hopeless situation the nation is in. But, the former senator is doing more than writing books. She is working both behind the scenes and in public toward the same ideals she held d

In my last column, I wrote of the Executive Branch's responsibility to enforce all laws passed by the legislature. Failure to do so means that the executive (whether governor or president) is not doing his or her job. However, I was at dinner the other night with a friend who studies constitutional law when she posed this question in response: If a law is passed by the legislature that is in clear violation of the U.S. Constitution (or even a state constitution), does the executive have a respon

On Tuesday, March 11, Michael Austin published a story examining the argument that the government should not be picking winners and losers. He said that he would vote this the "Most Obnoxious Talking Point in 2014." While it certainly can be considered in contention for the title, perhaps a more obnoxious talking point comes from politicians and political groups who claim to be bullied by anyone who would challenge their position or approach on an issue.It seems the go to strategy in contemporar

I broke my own rule this week and compared somebody to Hitler. It was only a little argumentum ad nazium. I suggested that Russian’s recent move to seize the largely Russian-speaking Crimean region of Ukraine had a lot of historical parallels to Hitler’s 1938 invasion of to annex the largely German-speaking Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. Apparently, Hillary Clinton has been thinking the same thing, and has taken the predictable fire that such comparison’s inevitably bring. There was onl

There are people in the world who have sincere religious objections to taking their clothes off in public places while total strangers stuff money in their underwear. These people should not become strippers. There are other people who have a sincere and constitutionally protected right not to engage in usury, or the lending of money at interest. These people should not own banks. And I personally know a number of people who object, on perfectly valid religious grounds, to killing or causing t

Recently, Bob Haran, chairman of the Constitution Party of Arizona, issued a press release announcing his support for the nonpartisan top-two primary. Haran said he appreciates the partisan argument that non-members of a party should not have a say on who represents the party in a general election. However, he pointed out that candidates selected in the primary are not only being selected to represent the party, but the constituents of their electoral district or state. "I believe the voter has