Published Articles

In “Who Will Raise the Republic?”, I draw on Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America to argue that the strength and survival of the American republic depend less on government institutions themselves than on the habits, character, and civic responsibility of its citizens. Tocqueville observed that American liberty was sustained by families, churches, schools, voluntary associations, local governments, and neighborhoods—institutions where people learned cooperation, responsibility, sacrifice, and self-government. I warn that modern Americans increasingly delegate those responsibilities to government or withdraw into private life, weakening the civic habits upon which constitutional government depends. Drawing on his own experience in local government, he describes how communities flourish when ordinary citizens volunteer, attend meetings, serve on boards, coach children, care for neighbors, and accept responsibility without seeking recognition. As America celebrates its semiquincentennial, I argue that preserving the Constitution requires more than celebrating the Founders or maintaining constitutional structures; each generation must deliberately cultivate the character necessary to sustain them. Ultimately, the article asks whether Americans are willing to “raise the republic” anew by forming responsible citizens—beginning in families and extending through the institutions of civil society—who understand that liberty is both an inheritance and an obligation.

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In this article, Dr. Troy Smith and I argue that Americans are increasingly frustrated not simply because of partisan disagreements, but because the constitutional structure of government has drifted away from its original design. We contend that power has become overly centralized in Washington, weakening federalism, reducing accountability, and turning every election into a high-stakes national battle while leaving citizens feeling disconnected from the decisions that affect their lives. We argue that the Founders intended states to serve as primary centers of governance for most domestic issues, with the federal government exercising only limited and defined powers. Using Utah's HB 488 and the National Federalism Initiative as examples, the article advocates restoring a healthier balance between state and federal authority, encouraging constitutional education for policymakers, and allowing states greater freedom to address local challenges. Ultimately, we suggest that America's growing political dysfunction stems less from which party is in power and more from a structural imbalance that has concentrated too much authority in Washington and weakened the federalist system designed to manage disagreement in a large and diverse republic.

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