American Experiment scores two of 2017’s top ten op-eds

The Star Tribune has released its list of the most-read op-eds of 2017, and the Center had two in the top ten. Katherine Kersten’s blockbuster piece on political indoctrination in the Edina public schools was number two, and my column on traffic congestion in the Twin Cities was number nine.

1. “No sympathy here for that airline passenger,” by Bob Gust, a lawyer living in Bloomington.

While the world rages against United Airlines, I am outraged by the selfishness of the passenger removed from a plane in the much-discussed incident — and by the lack of critical thinking among everyone else.

2. “Racial identity politics are ruining Edina’s fabled schools,” by Katherine Kersten, senior policy fellow, Center of the American Experiment.

In place of academic excellence for all, the district’s primary mission is now to ensure that students think correctly on social and political issues — most important, on race and “white privilege.”

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9. “The sad truth behind the congested mess on Twin Cities roads,” by John Hinderaker, president of the Center of the American Experiment.

The reality is that no matter how much money we spend on trains — an obsolete, 19th-century technology — they will never make more than a minor contribution toward the area’s transportation needs.

Congratulations, Kathy! I am going from memory, but I believe last year we had three out of the top 14.

What strikes me about the two op-eds that placed in the Strib’s top ten this year is that they were not mere musings on a current controversy. Rather, both were based on Center papers that embodied an enormous amount of research and analysis. The op-eds distilled down a much larger body of learning. Kathy’s op-ed was based on her own shocking cover story in the Fall issue of Thinking Minnesota, while my column was drawn from Randal O’Toole’s report titled “Twin Cities Traffic Congestion: It’s No Accident.” It’s the fact that we are a think tank that allows us to continue producing op-eds that ignite major controversies.