Issue Briefs

The Defense Implications of Rare Earth Shortages

Rare earth elements are used in everyday products: smart phones, hard disc drives, flat-screen televisions and advanced batteries. They are essential to such 'green' technologies as wind turbines, com…
Which Is Better for the Environment: Transit or Roads?

The main problem with rail transit is that, compared with driving, transit is slow, inconvenient and expensive. Although some rail lines may bypass congested roads, most people do not live and work ri…
A Healthcare Contract with America

Critics of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) need an alternative vision. What follows is a short explanation of the core ideas posted at the Congressional Health Care Caucus and developed in greater…
Disability versus Work

Entitlement reforms usually focus on changes in Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare. However, the disability component of Social Security is growing faster than retirement benefits and r…
Finding Sources of Rare Earths beyond China

The United States can create jobs, reduce reliance on foreign imports and improve national security by encouraging the domestic exploration and production of rare earth elements currently imported fro…
Restructuring Public Education for the 21st Century

America is losing its edge in producing highly intelligent, creative young adults equal to the tasks presenting themselves worldwide. American public education needs a complete restructuring in order…
The Job-Killing Medical Device Tax

Americans consume nearly $100 billion dollar's worth of medical devices annually. Medical devices include simple things, such as cotton swabs, as well as complex instruments, such as pacemakers and ar…
Minimum Wage Myths

The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour, but some states and cities have minimum wages that are significantly higher. Furthermore, eight states raised their minimum wage, effective Ja…