The Wisconsin Forum is pleased to announce the following line-up of speakers for the 2023-24 season.
Father Robert Sirico, President Emeritus and the co-founder of the Acton Institute.
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Morality and Markets – Father Sirico will present a moral defense of free markets as not only the best way to meet society’s material needs, but also the surest protection of human dignity against government encroachment, as well as timeless wisdom drawn from the Parables of the New Testament as presented in his book The Economics of the Parables.
Jennifer Huddleston, Technology Policy Research Fellow
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Would proposed legislation break the Internet or keep Americans safe? We have all heard about the potential concerns around social media company TikTok ties to China and popularity with American children. But what about the proposals under consideration to “ban” the popular app or otherwise regulate the Internet in the name of protecting the next generation mean for all internet users? I suspect you will be shocked at the potential liberties lost. The issue of keeping children and teens safe online is as unique as each individual child and family. The best answers for these concerns are not one-size-fits all, and thus will emerge from a variety of market and civil society forces that can respond to these unique needs. This presentation will help you talk to your family and friends about the danger in leaving this to Congress and state legislatures without a reminder of the concerns over proposed liberties lost.
Dan O’Donnell, News Anchor/Talk Show Host at iHeartMedia
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Election Integrity Ahead of the 2024 Election – In a Marquette University Law Poll conducted in August 2021, nearly a year after the election, more than 70% of Republicans and 26% of Independents reported a lack of confidence that “the votes for president were accurately cast and counted in the 2020 election.” When large numbers of voters question the authenticity of an election, their concerns, whether valid or not, need to be addressed. O’Donnell will discuss the state of election law in Wisconsin as the 2024 election cycle begins in earnest.
Dr. Lamont Colucci, Inaugural Director of Doctrine Development for the United States Space Force, Professor of Political Science at Concordia University
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Grand Strategy, Great Powers, and the Quest for Spacepower – In the future, space will be the geopolitical center of world politics, as such countries as the U.S., Russia, and China jockey for control of it. America must therefore set aside partisan politics to make space a top priority, as a failure to do so will leave the U.S. and its citizens in a dangerous and vulnerable position on the world stage. Colucci will discuss how the power that seizes the high ground of space will determine the future of national security and geopolitics on Earth for generations.
Karin Lips, Founder and President of the Network of enlightened Women (NeW)
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Debunking the Gender Wage Gap and other Feminist Myths – Do women earn 84% of what men earned? In 2021, full-time, year-round working women earned 84% of what their male counterparts earned, on average, according to the Census Bureau’s most recent analysis. Much of the gender pay gap has been explained by measurable factors such as educational attainment, occupational segregation, and work experience. Ms. Lips will debunk the favorite feminist refrain that “women make 84-cents for every dollar a man makes.” She will make the case that conservatives should try to win over young women through discussing Opportunity Feminism. Opportunity Feminists seek to maximize freedom for women to build the lives they want.