Merrill Matthews
Merrill Matthews is a resident scholar with the Institute for Policy Innovation. He holds a PhD in the Humanities from the University of Texas. Readers may write him at IPI, Suite 820, 1320 Greenway Drive, Irving, TX, 75038.
Most Recent Articles by Merrill Matthews:
Only two states, Maine and Sanders’ home state of Vermont, allow felons to retain the right to vote from jail
According to the National Conference of State Legislators, 13 states plus the District of Columbia—all of which currently are blue—with a total of 184 electoral votes, have passed NPVC legislation
Warren stumbled in starting gate and shouldn’t recover
January 9, 2019
She seems to be chasing the progressive movement rather than leading it
The lesson from France is that working-class voters have a limit. Push people too far and we may see Paris-like riots in our own backyards.
Brown’s decision to test presidential waters makes hope spring eternal
November 21, 2018
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown may not be as radical as the party’s movers and shakers. Perhaps more importantly, he just seems like yesterday’s news
Addressing border security is one of President Trump’s biggest concerns. And the caravan is making his case for him
I believe Democrats have overplayed their hand and may pay a price at the polls in November
Brown’s dream of banning fossil fuels is a 21st century pipe dream!
September 23, 2018
A better solution would be for California to turn to “carbon capture” from natural gas
U.S. already has about 80 means-tested welfare programs
Thus the good news is that state-level Democrats can rattle the single-payer saber in the hope of attracting progressive voters, but they can’t do much about it. The bad news is that Democrats in Washington can
Pushback is coming from the left, especially politicians and rent-seeking groups that thrive on redistributing taxpayer dollars
Gasoline—not corn alcohol—belongs in our fuel tanks!
March 21, 2018
The president has taken an important step in freeing up the oil and gas industry to meet our energy needs. Gasoline, not corn, belongs in our tanks.
Energy independence for the U.S. alone is still years away—and may never arrive if we rely solely on renewables. But thanks to free trade, energy independence for North America is within our grasp
Car buyers lose big when big government tells them what to buy
November 23, 2017
Don’t let Washington do to our cars and trucks what they did to our health insurance!
The country needs policies that help it become more competitive, not less so. Lowering the tax burden, not raising it with a carbon tax, is the best way to achieve that goal.
Dissing Star-Spangled Banner insults vast majority of fans
October 10, 2016
If high-profile athletes want to make a difference, there are better and more meaningful responses than dissing the national anthem and turning a sporting event into a national soapbox
Those who gleefully support such power-grabs should remember that any government powerful enough to create new rights is powerful enough to take away all rights.
If past observed sea level trends continue, the ocean certainly could pose a significant threat to humans and property—in several hundred years
Obama entered the White House determined to prove that big government can do big things well. Instead, he has convinced increased Americans’ long-held skepticism about big government.
Assisted suicide laws lower the overall quality of American medicine
October 15, 2015
Physician-assisted suicide will slowly erode the medical culture and create red flags for the terminally ill and disabled.
Or as the President himself might say: “If you like your car or truck, you can keep it—as long as it meets my expectations rather than yours.”
The fact is that congressional smear-mongering is really a form of political bullying.
King vs. Burwell
Congress has supported CAFÉ standards in the past, but Obama bypassed it—yet again—to get what he wanted. Congress should roll back those mandates and stop forcing consumers to buy what the administration wants.