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Articles by Eric Schansberg
Acting, Identity, and the Spiritual Disciplines
Acting, Identity, and Spiritual Discipline (as published in the Christian Standard) Eric Schansberg reflects on acting, identity, hypocrisy, and the spiritual disciplines. Through examples from Jessie Buckley, Jim Carrey, Heath Ledger, and C.S. Lewis, he considers when “pretending” can deform a person—and when it can help cultivate Christlike character. • Acting can shape identity in both harmful and fruitful ways. • Spiritual disciplines are means toward a godly life, not ends in themselves.
Guest column: Current housing market especially tough on first-time home buyers
The market for housing is unusual because of its lags (from permits through construction) — and recently, that homeowners were reluctant to sell because they had advantageous, low-interest loans. The investment aspects of houses make them more prone to price increases and price fluctuations. Most notably, as an investment, higher prices imply a positive rate-of-return for an investment and price fluctuations reflect the risks inherent in any investment. kAmq6J@?5 E9:D[ >F49 @7 E96 :?4C62D6 :?
Current housing market especially tough on first-time home buyers
The market for housing is unusual because of its lags (from permits through construction) — and recently, that homeowners were reluctant to sell because they had advantageous, low-interest loans. The investment aspects of houses make them more prone to price increases and price fluctuations. Most notably, as an investment, higher prices imply a positive rate-of-return for an investment and price fluctuations reflect the risks inherent in any investment. kAmq6J@?5 E9:D[ >F49 @7 E96 :?4C62D6 :?
Housing market especially tough on first-time home buyers
The market for housing is unusual because of its lags (from permits through construction) — and recently, that homeowners were reluctant to sell because they had advantageous, low-interest loans. The investment aspects of houses make them more prone to price increases and price fluctuations. Most notably, as an investment, higher prices imply a positive rate-of-return for an investment and price fluctuations reflect the risks inherent in any investment. kAmq6J@?5 E9:D[ >F49 @7 E96 :?4C62D6 :?
Guest column: Current housing market especially tough on first-time home buyers
The market for housing is unusual because of its lags (from permits through construction) — and recently, that homeowners were reluctant to sell because they had advantageous, low-interest loans. The investment aspects of houses make them more prone to price increases and price fluctuations. Most notably, as an investment, higher prices imply a positive rate-of-return for an investment and price fluctuations reflect the risks inherent in any investment. kAmq6J@?5 E9:D[ >F49 @7 E96 :?4C62D6 :?
Guest column: Current housing market especially tough on first-time home buyers
The market for housing is unusual because of its lags (from permits through construction) — and recently, that homeowners were reluctant to sell because they had advantageous, low-interest loans. The investment aspects of houses make them more prone to price increases and price fluctuations. Most notably, as an investment, higher prices imply a positive rate-of-return for an investment and price fluctuations reflect the risks inherent in any investment. kAmq6J@?5 E9:D[ >F49 @7 E96 :?4C62D6 :?
A Comparison: Trump, Cleveland and McKinley
In January, Donald Trump became the second U.S. president to serve non-consecutive terms in office. Grover Cleveland was the first, serving as our nation's 22nd and 24th president in 1885-1889 and 1893-1897. There are notable similarities and differences between the two. Cleveland was born into poverty; Trump into wealth. Cleveland could be a hard drinker; Trump is a teetotaler. Both had provocative social lives and had a quick ascent into politics.
A Comparison: Trump, Cleveland and McKinley
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A comparison: Trump, Cleveland and McKinley
By Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. Guest columnist In January, Donald Trump became the second U.S. president to serve non-consecutive terms in office. Grover Cleveland was the first, serving as our nation’s 22nd and 24th president in 1885-1889 and 1893-1897. There are notable similarities and differences between the two. Cleveland was born into poverty; Trump into wealth. Cleveland could be a hard drinker; Trump is a teetotaler. Both had provocative social lives and had a quick ascent into politics.
A Comparison: Trump, Cleveland and McKinley
In January, Donald Trump became the second U.S. president to serve non-consecutive terms in office. Grover Cleveland was the first, serving as our nation's 22nd and 24th president in 1885-1889 and 1893-1897. There are notable similarities and differences between the two. Cleveland was born into poverty; Trump into wealth. Cleveland could be a hard drinker; Trump is a teetotaler. Both had provocative social lives and had a quick ascent into politics.
Let's Limit Early Voting
One year ago, I wrote an essay called “I, Pothole” – about the surprising challenges in fixing potholes. It was written in the style of a classic article by Leonard Read called “I, Pencil”. Read describes the complexity of making something as simple as a mass-produced pencil. The reader contemplates the wonder of markets coordinating that activity, despite information being so scattered within the market and the motives of market participants being so mixed.
Calming Thoughts on Nov. 5
I’m not a fan of either Trump or Harris – and whoever won, I had big worries about the country’s future, especially on government spending and debt. But I was thankful for a decisive outcome on Tuesday. I prayed for a large enough victory to avoid inflaming at least one set of partisans – and to give a better opportunity for the losers to reconsider their approach in the future. To the GOP: Congratulations! You got what you wanted short-term.
Calming Thoughts on Nov. 5
I’m not a fan of either Trump or Harris – and whoever won, I had big worries about the country’s future, especially on government spending and debt. But I was thankful for a decisive outcome on Tuesday. I prayed for a large enough victory to avoid inflaming at least one set of partisans – and to give a better opportunity for the losers to reconsider their approach in the future. Did Trump get a “mandate” with his victory? The surprising win in the popular vote certainly points that direction.
Eric Schansberg: 'I pothole"
By Eric Schansberg Guest columnist I am a pothole — an ordinary road hazard and a bane to all who drive. Messing with you and your vehicles is my vocation; it’s what I do. My genealogy is compelling enough. I come from a common road-built with dirt, six to 12 inches of No. 2 gravel and No. 57 gravel with lime dust — which is compacted at each stage. Then, add an inch or two of asphalt base, before a layer of finishing asphalt to complete the work. But over time, roads wear out.
Aug. 18: AI and the demise of higher ed?
I teach an online Principles of Microeconomics course every summer. It is “asynchronous”: students work at their own pace (within my deadlines), using the text, a course-management system, short videos from me, and outside resources they find. In such courses, I interact with the students through “forums” to discuss articles; I give them feedback on assignments and tests; and they’re free to schedule Zoom appointments with me (although few do).
Eric Schansberg: AI and the demise of higher ed?
By Eric Schansberg Guest columnist I teach an online Principles of Microeconomics course every summer. It is “asynchronous”: Students work at their own pace (within my deadlines), using the text, a course-management system, short videos from me and outside resources they find. In such courses, I interact with the students through “forums” to discuss articles, I give them feedback on assignments and tests.and they’re free to schedule Zoom appointments with me (although few do).
Eric Schansberg: Coolidge: Overlooked but above average
By Eric Schansberg Guest columnist With the 100th anniversary of Calvin Coolidge’s inauguration as our 30th president today, I want to write about his noteworthy presidency. Why has Coolidge continued under the radar of history? In terms of public policy, he was opposed to the growth of government. He thought it was more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.
Eric Schansberg: Education: Analogies to real life
By Eric Schansberg The economist James Gwartney has a thought experiment which illustrates why a system which features socialism and monopoly power is not a good idea. Imagine that government decides to operate all restaurants. Further, your geography determines your restaurant; you will eat at the government (“public”) restaurant in your neighborhood.
A disastrous, immoral U.S. debt
It’s always more fun to spend money than to make it. And it can be tempting to borrow or steal money, instead of earning it. What’s true in our private lives is true with the government as well. Politicians are known for exaggerating the benefits and downplaying the costs of public policy. Spending and debt are great examples. Enjoy the benefits now; get the media to trumpet them in the news; and brag about them in the next election cycle. The costs?
A disastrous, immoral U.S. debt
Commentary By comet | on June 22, 2022 By Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. It’s always more fun to spend money than to make it. And it can be tempting to borrow or steal money, instead of earning it. What’s true in our private lives is true with the government as well. Politicians are known for exaggerating the benefits and downplaying the costs of public policy. Spending and debt are great examples. Enjoy the […]
Is the city of Louisville getting the message? Everybody wins when food trucks roll
Louisville food truck pioneer Troy King makes an amazing fried chicken sandwich, but city regulators did not appreciate his talent. For many years, they treated King and his Pollo brand as unfair competition to nearby brick-and-mortar restaurants. Yet a new nationwide study provides evidence that he did not deserve such treatment. “Food Truck Truth,” a first-of-its-kind analysis from the Institute for Justice, disproves the claim that food trucks unfairly threaten the existence of restaurants.
Five and Dime and Dollar and More
Dollar Tree was in the news last month, announcing that its standard price will increase from a $1 to $1.25. It’s a sign of the times that “dollar” stores (including Family Dollar and Dollar General) are moving beyond a mere dollar to higher prices. This isn’t a new phenomenon. Have you heard of “five-and-dime” stores? They were the “dollar stores” of their day, with common prices of a nickel and a dime.
Five and Dime and dollar and more
Commentary By comet | on March 09, 2022 By Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. Dollar Tree was in the news last month, announcing that its standard price will increase from a $1 to $1.25. It’s a sign of the times that “dollar” stores (including Family Dollar and Dollar General) are moving beyond a mere dollar to higher prices. This isn’t a new phenomenon. Have you heard of “five-and-dime” stores? They were the “dollar stores” […] An online subscription is required to view this content.
Casey Chalk
Casey Chalk is a senior contributor at The Federalist and an editor and columnist at The New Oxford Review. He has a bachelor’s in history and master’s in teaching from the University of Virginia and a master’s in theology from Christendom College. He is the author of The Persecuted: True Stories of Courageous Christians Living Their Faith in Muslim Lands.
Christopher Sandford
Christopher Sandford is a British-born writer who now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest. He's the author of many books, including Union Jack, a bestselling account of John F. Kennedy's special relationship with the United Kingdom.
Blake Scott Ball
Blake Scott Ball is assistant professor and chair of the Department of History and Political Science at Huntingdon College. He is the author of Charlie Brown’s America: The Popular Politics of Peanuts. His writing has also appeared in The Washington Post and The Bulwark. Posts by Blake Scott Ball February 22, 2022 Charles Schulz believed that life was hard and lonesome. That is why he believed that life was best experienced with others.
David Hein
David Hein is a senior fellow at the George C. Marshall Foundation, in Lexington, Va., and the author of more than 70 articles for "Modern Age," the "New Criterion," the "Journal of Military History," "Army" magazine, the "Intercollegiate Review," and other periodicals. Posts by David Hein February 21, 2022 Cancel—as in noisily toppling George Washington’s statue and striking his name off of buildings?
David Kummer
David Kummer received his BA degree in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology from the University of Colorado Boulder. He researched cancer immunotherapy in its early stages of development at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine. He then went on to earn a master of divinity degree and a master of sacred theology degree in 2004, from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He currently pastors Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wilmington, Del.
Doug Bandow
Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. A former special assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is the author of several books, including Foreign Follies: America’s New Global Empire. Posts by Doug Bandow January 05, 2022 Communism has spawned only one full-scale monarchy: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. On December 17, 2011, 70-year-old Dear Leader Kim Jong-il died.
Trey Dimsdale
Trey Dimsdale serves as counsel for First Liberty Institute (FLI) and executive director of the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy, an FLI initiative focused on education and cultural advocacy for freedom. Posts by Trey Dimsdale January 03, 2022 Earlier this month the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Carson v. Makin.
K-12 education: The ignored policy options
The recent statewide elections in Virginia have brought K-12 education back to the front burner. A former Democrat governor lost – in a state handily won by President Biden a year ago. The chief causes: declining popularity of Democrats on the national stage (compared with 2020) and trouble with K-12 on the campaign trail in Virginia. But, really, outside of a war on our soil, what public policy topic is more important than K-12? It’s important at a Macro level.
Under the thumb of the Professional Managerial Class
Catherine Liu is a bona fide “liberal.” She’s opposed to cronyism, intolerance and hypocrisy. She values free speech and robust inquiry. She’s passionate about the working poor and the middle class. All of this means that she can’t stand Democrat leadership and “the elites” on the Left. There are so few liberals (and conservatives) these days. We need many more people like her – principled, persuasive, aggressive and willing to call out others in their camps.
Government Grocery Stores
With the grocery store crisis in downtown Louisville, we should consider some out-of-the-box approaches. Recent closures have made this food “desert” increasingly bleak. Grocery stores in urban centers face difficult economic challenges. (Ironically, these include efforts to help the poor – e.g., free breakfast and lunch at school and charitable efforts to provide food and meals.) Often, they face political barriers as well. Let me propose an approach similar to one in another public policy.
To cancel or not; that is the question
Commentary By comet | on April 21, 2021 By Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. I wonder if I’ll get “canceled” someday. I could trip up and say something awkward or inappropriate — and get crushed for it. It could be a phrase in a Facebook post or a newspaper article like this. It could be a slip in the classroom that gets reported by a student. It doesn’t bother me a lot. I know […] An online subscription is required to view this content. Please login below or Subscribe today to access this story.
To cancel or not; that Is the question
I wonder if I’ll get “canceled” someday. I could trip up and say something awkward or inappropriate – and get crushed for it. It could be a phrase in a Facebook post or a newspaper article like this. It could be a slip in the classroom that gets reported by a student. It doesn’t bother me a lot. I know I’m not perfect in word, deed, motive, or thought. And I don’t worry much about what others think about me. But it’d be painful and would hurt those around me.
To cancel or not; that is the question
I wonder if I’ll get “canceled” someday. I could trip up and say something awkward or inappropriate — and get crushed for it. It could be a phrase in a Facebook post or a newspaper article like this. It could be a slip in the classroom that gets reported by a student. It doesn’t bother me a lot. I know I’m not perfect in word, deed, motive, or thought. And I don’t worry much about what others think about me. But it’d be painful and would hurt those around me.
The 'Militarization of Mayberry'
Radley Balko’s “Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Forces” is must reading for those interested in police reform. Balko is careful to say that his book is not anti-cop – but rather, anti-policy and anti-politician. When politicians pass policies that create strong incentives, you can blame individuals, but you should start with the system. Balko discusses “no-knock” warrants – like the one used in the Breonna Taylor case.
COMMENTARY: We're seeing the 'militarization of Mayberry'
Radley Balko’s “Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Forces” is must reading for those interested in police reform. Balko is careful to say that his book is not anti-cop — but rather, anti-policy and anti-politician. When politicians pass policies that create strong incentives, you can blame individuals, but you should start with the system. Balko discusses “no-knock” warrants — like the one used in the Breonna Taylor case.
Expanding our view of 'systemic' racism
‘It’s a black thing; you wouldn’t understand.” There’s a lot of truth to that statement. It’s difficult for any of us to understand each other – especially when we’re in different social classes, have different ethnicities or varying personal circumstances. At its best, the slogan is a call to learn and deepen relationships, to listen patiently and talk humbly. It’s worth the energy to read more liberally and diversify your friendships. How about this one?
Hobbits, wardrobes, wars
If you’re into C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, or the impact of the World Wars on society, religion and culture, I’d recommend Joe Loconte’s book, “A Hobbit, A Wardrobe and a Great War.” Loconte describes Lewis’ faith journey in detail.
Schansberg: COVID-19 and the U.S. Postal Service
You may have heard that the U.S. Postal Service is in the hospital with COVID-19. Part of the problem is that it has some pre-existing conditions. It enjoyed something of a sheltered and spoiled childhood. But that led it to becoming soft and flabby later in life. It has also endured capricious parenting — with regulations that have made its life more difficult. And it’s grown quite old, so it tends to be stuck on tradition and set in its ways.
Gratitude and the folks behind the beard
My wife and I have a friend who has worked at a large retail store as an elf with Santa. She has told us some great stories about the wide variety of Santas and customers she has experienced. She has nicknamed some of the Santas she encountered. I had heard of "Dirty Santa" before — one of the names for the gift-giving and gift-stealing game we like to play among adults.
Who are you, and what have you done with Elizabeth Warren?
Print Email Link Feedback Share November 26, 2019 | 02:34 PM When one of my sons does something unexpected, I like to joke: "Who are you and what have you done with my son?" After reading Elizabeth Warren's three books on politics, I have the same question about her. The first, "The Two-Income Trap" in 2003, is moderate or even conservative. Some of her arguments on public policy consequences are so well-reasoned that it brings a tear to an economist's eye.
Who are you, and what have you done with Elizabeth Warren?
November 27, 2019 The first, "The Two-Income Trap" in 2003, is moderate or even conservative. Some of her arguments on public policy consequences are so well-reasoned that it brings a tear to an economist's eye. But, really, the book is what you'd expect from an academic: thorough work, thoughtful analysis and careful conclusions.
The 'meatloaf test' for evaluating government
I’m not comparing government to dinner, but I could. Meatloaf the meal is a decent metaphor for government. It contains a mish-mash of ingredients. It can be pretty good, but only if it’s done just right. And like government, meatloaf is often mediocre and sometimes rough. Unlike government, meatloaf probably won’t kill you with a drone strike. It won’t take your money and give it to poor people or politically connected interest groups.
OPINION: Basic income beats welfare
Andrew Yang is one of many Democratic candidates for U.S. President in 2020. Unlike most of his competitors, Yang is intelligent and sounds like a policy wonk. He’s eloquent and brims with joy. He’s thoughtful about policy and worried about both people and society. But Yang is a mess on many issues, so why write about him? We should applaud candidates who talk about public policy in a thoughtful way.
1924: The high tide of Conservatism
The consensus on the 1924 presidential election is that it was a conventional campaign with dull candidates. But Garland Tucker brings both to life in “The High Tide of Conservatism: Davis, Coolidge, and the 1924 Election.” Everyone knows Calvin Coolidge because he won, but John W. Davis was a notable man in his own regard. And the race was noteworthy in that both parties chose conservatives who favored limited government.
The war 'To End All Wars'
November 11 (11/11) at 11 a.m. is the 100th anniversary of the armistice with Germany that ended World War I. At the time, it was considered “the war to end all wars.” It was soon replaced in the public imagination by an even larger war. Still, World War I was important both for what happened in the war and what came from it. Like most people, I know little about it.
Flashpoint: Income inequality: The cure may be worse than the disease
"An earthquake achieves what the law promises but does not in practice maintain — the equality of all men." — Ignazio SiloneThere has been tons of attention on income (and wealth) inequality in recent years — much of it driven by a nasty combination of ignorance and envy.For example, folks often conflate income inequality at a point in time with a lack of economic mobility over time.
You might be a partisan if . . .
Everyone seems to agree that partisanship is increasingly prevalent and toxic. But few people seem to see themselves as part of the problem. One aspect of partisanship can be a troubling lack of objectivity and empathy — and, even, blindness. So, how would we know if we’re partisans?We all know that, at least in principle, it’s challenging to be objective. Think of a referee’s call in a sporting event between rival teams. Fans of one team get upset, confident that their team has been ripped off.
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