Maggie Gallagher on David Blankenhorn

From First Thoughts

On Friday, I offered a question for David Blankenhorn in response to his dropping his opposition to same-sex marriage. Today in  Public Discourse , Maggie Gallagher, Blankenhorn’s friend (and former employee), writes a moving personal piece about the Blankenhorn’s decision and the . . . . Continue Reading »

A Question for David Blankenhorn

From First Thoughts

David Blankenhorn hasn’t changed his mind about marriage, but he has changed his stance. The best that one can say of the New York Times   op-ed in which he shifts his footing is that it is clearly heartfelt. But it raises many questions, not least being how Blankenhorn can . . . . Continue Reading »

The Cult of Consultant-Speak

From First Thoughts

Earlier this month, we learned that the University of Virginia’s board of visitors had forced out President Teresa Sullivan for lacking “strategic dynamism” due to her refusal to run the university like a business (including mothballing “obscure” academic programs like . . . . Continue Reading »

Screening out Domestic Violence

From First Thoughts

Maryland recently has seen a 40 percent drop in homicides related to domestic violence, a stunning change that Tim Stelloh, writing in  The New Republic , credits to a screen used for determining the risk faced by victims: The lethality screen has now been adopted by law enforcement . . . . Continue Reading »

In Defense of Leisure

From First Thoughts

In the Chronicle of Higher Education , Edward and Robert Skidelsky argue in defense of leisure—-and against an economy focused on growth: It will be said that, while a little leisure is pleasant, men would not know how to fill their days if they had only four hours of work out of the 24. . . . . Continue Reading »