Townhall Review | Commentaries

Why do public opinion surveys show discontent with President Trump’s handling of the economy at a time of record highs in the stock market and record lows in unemployment? The new Gallup Poll gives Trump his highest ratings on the economy, but still shows a clear majority of voters disapproving of his economic record despite the steady growth in the 10 months of his presidency.

This reflects a liberal tendency to put ideology above practical results, but it also reflects continued discomfort with aspects of Donald Trump’s polarizing public personality. The President should avoid public feuds and distracting Twitter storms while focusing on the jobs and growth agenda that got him elected in the first place. Meanwhile, his GOP colleagues in Congress must pass tax reform to keep the economy booming while giving the administration the credit it deserves for sweeping deregulation, and pro-business policies on taxes and energy that are producing real results for the American people.

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One reason to be concerned about the future of America is the reduced commitment of its young people to freedom, starting with free speech.

A recent survey from the Brookings Institution indicates that 44 percent of millennials do not believe hate speech is protected by the Constitution. Moreover, 51 percent believe it is appropriate to shout down a controversial speaker, with 19 percent saying it is ok to use violence for that purpose. Mistakenly, 62 percent say the First Amendment requires one controversial speaker to be balanced by another speaker.

Today’s college students are coddled by helicopter parents and seek safe spaces on campus, not freedom. And, with little or no civic education, students do not understand the First Amendment.

Founder Benjamin Franklin said that “whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.” Wake up, America, the message from our campuses is that free speech is on the decline and, ultimately, so is freedom itself.

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The nation of Australia recently voted by a wide margin to legalize same-sex marriage.

The question turns swiftly now to the issue of religious liberty. Already, the major bill is inadequate when it comes to protecting religious freedom.

The Attorney General of Australia, noting this fact, has suggested that the bill must “make it clear that nothing in the bill makes it unlawful for people to hold and to express the views of their own religion on the subject of marriage.” The sad fact is that the Attorney General even had to state this.

Jeremy Sammut, writing in the Australian version of the Spectator, got it exactly right when he wrote, “Any marriage equality law that does not include comprehensives protections for religious freedom will pave the way for anti-discrimination lawsuits that will single out and force Christians to act against their beliefs.”

We are now seeing that religious liberty is far too quickly sacrificed by those whose chief priority very clearly is this sexual revolution.

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Among holiday season releases, the splendid new film “Wonder” has earned spectacular success—finishing second in pre-Thanksgiving box office, with enthusiastic reviews and an impressive $27 million in ticket sales.

The story follows a 10-year-old with facial birth defects, braving his first year of school with support of his loving parents, Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson. Behind the scenes, “Wonder” involved surprising collaboration between conservatives and progressives in Hollywood. Participant Media produced Al Gore’s global warming films and other left-leaning message movies while Walden Media is best known for family-friendly fare that affirms traditional values, like the popular “Narnia” series.

Despite different histories, these two companies managed to work together backing this new film—a cinematic gem that’s completely apolitical, while celebrating strong families, kindness and every-day decency. If left and right in Hollywood can get together behind the fundamental virtues the nation needs most, shouldn’t our representatives in Washington make every effort to follow their example?

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In the year 1620, the brave souls known to us as the Pilgrims reached the shores of North America. They were fleeing persecution and seeking a land where they could worship God freely.

In the words of their chronicler, “they had now no friends to welcome them, no inns to entertain or refresh them, no houses, or much less towns… and they that know the winters of the country know them to be sharp and violent….”

For far too many Americans, the Pilgrims are something akin to cartoon characters, but they were flesh and blood human beings without whom we would not have the nation we enjoy today.

Despite all their dangers, they were a thankful people, and their thankfulness to God set the example that our nation has followed.

On behalf of the Salem Media Group, I’m Albert Mohler wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.

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As Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, it’s a good time to be reminded about the true history of the holiday.

Perhaps we should not be surprised that in an increasingly secular America, there’s confusion about the origins of Thanksgiving. Some kids are now taught that the Pilgrims held a feast to thank the Indians. Afraid of appearing too religious, some are now calling it “Turkey Day,” as if it all comes down to poultry.

The facts speak for themselves: In 1621, the Pilgrims celebrated “the goodness of God” as they feasted with local Indians. In 1789 President Washington declared the first national day of Thanksgiving—asking Americans to “unite in most humbly offering our prayer and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations.”

So much for a secular holiday. These Americans knew to whom they were praying.

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The Supreme Court recently announced that it will take a very important case.

A California law requires crisis pregnancy centers to inform women who come to the centers of the availability of abortion, even requiring the use of specific language. Several of these centers have challenged the constitutionality of this California legislation, arguing that the bill violates their religious liberty, and their free speech, requiring them to state speech to the women who come into those clinics that violates their own convictions.

It is indeed the case that if a crisis pregnancy center in California can be required by law to use government mandated language about abortion, then free speech really doesn't exist. If the government can mandate the use of language that violates the convictions of the very people who established and volunteer in these crisis pregnancy centers, then religious liberty doesn’t actually exist.

There is no greater moral issue faced by the generation of Americans now living than abortion, and the Supreme Court has decided to wade back into those waters.

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The stock market had a great run after the election of Donald J. Trump as president. This put egg on the face of many elite commentators who predicted that a Trump victory would be disastrous for the economy.

Indicators of economic optimism also improved, and some business activity indicators improved in response. But lately plans for tax reform have been splintering into competing versions.

Some GOP leaders seem willing to cave on key issues such as whether to cut rates for the highest bracket and whether to delay corporate tax reductions. In response markets have leveled off, and there are some signs that growth is sagging too.

It is imperative that tax cuts be passed now and implemented immediately. Republicans will get no credit from the electorate for bi-partisanship if they sail into the next election with a weak economy on the horizon. It doesn't need to be fancy. But it needs to be soon.

We're past the time for rhetoric: we need successful votes and tangible policy shifts, otherwise the famed 'trump trade' may well be over.

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In the wake of tragedy, we are accustomed to hearing calls for “thoughts and prayers.” We have heard them from prominent political figures, both Democrats and Republicans. But more recently, such calls have drawn harsh criticism from the Left.

What does it mean when a political leader says that the nation’s “thoughts and prayers” are with those who are in sorrow and grief? It could mean nothing. It could be a quick way of moving on without meaning to do anything.
Or it could be an expression of what is called “civil religion,” the common spiritual language of the American people. Robert Bellah, a sociologist at the University of California at Berkeley, famously argued that “every nation and every people come to some form of religious self-understanding whether the critics like it or not.”

Some critics clearly do not like it. Nevertheless, expressions of civil religion are necessary for a president of the United States — any president — who must lead the nation, sometimes as mourner in chief.

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This is Jerry Bowyer for Townhall.com.

500 years ago Martin Luther's started a debate by nailing a document with 95 theological assertions to the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral, triggering the Reformation. No matter which side of that theological debate you're on, you should be grateful for the ultimate effects of this action on Western liberty and prosperity.

Luther took existing strands of thought and weaved them together into a powerfully influential Biblical argument for freedom of conscience that ultimately laid the groundwork for our American 1st Amendment.

Many of these 95 assertions concerned economic exploitation. And Luther's doctrine of the Priesthood of all believers helped to create a culture which honors hard work and innovation.

In the lands influenced by the Reformation, living standards have increased 100 fold; ordinary people who used to routinely die in their 30s, now often live into their 80s, and child mortality has gone from tragically common to increasingly rare.

Luther wasn't perfect, but the good that he preached, is needed now as much as it was then.

I'm Jerry Bowyer.

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