Editorial Staff

Pioneer Institute Looks Ahead to the Protection of Civil Liberties

/in , , , , , , /by Editorial Staff
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on
LinkedIn
+

The Institute Rolls Out a Web-Based Hotline for Reporting Rights Violations

BOSTON – Challenges to Americans’ civil liberties have increased in recent years.  History teaches us that during national emergencies governments are even more likely to overstep and violate constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. To address this concern, Pioneer Institute has created “Respect My Rights,” a web-based hotline to which citizens can submit complaints and descriptions of violations they have experienced.

“Pioneer recognizes that immediate responses to emergencies can be messy,” said Pioneer Executive Director Jim Stergios. “We also recognize that technology has made it possible to better chronicle violations of civil liberties — and even human life.  Our role in the community is to think ahead and create the opportunities to restore the liberties that distinguish and enrich American civic and economic life.”

Visit "Respect My Rights"

The purpose of the Respect My Rights (RMR) hotline is to gather in one place alleged violations in order to create the opportunity, when the pandemic has passed, for political and civic leadership to have a fact-based conversation about how we can best protect our liberties going forward.  Individuals who believe their rights have been violated should go to the RMR hotline at https://pioneerinstitute.org/rights/, where they can anonymously submit complaints and descriptions of their experience.

Pioneer will tabulate the data over the coming year and use it to inform elected officials and urge them to rein in government entities that have exceeded their constitutional powers.  As part of this effort, the Institute will push for the establishment of state legislative and congressional Civil Liberties Commissions.  We aim to provide the RMR data as a service that facilitates a fact-based conversation on types, trends and frequency of violations.

Pioneer will initially promote “Respect My Rights” in Massachusetts, and then across New England and the country in partnership with other organizations that seek to advance rational conversations about fundamental liberties during national and state emergencies.

“Since late February, Pioneer has turned all its attention to advancing practical solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Adam Portnoy, a member of the Institute’s Board of Directors.  “We have all learned a lot from pandemic responses across the country and around the world.  We also believe it is essential to engage our entire citizenry in thinking ahead and urging state and national leaders to ensure that the rights of citizens are not violated.”

About Pioneer

Mission

Pioneer Institute develops and communicates dynamic ideas that advance prosperity and a vibrant civic life in Massachusetts and beyond.

Vision

Success for Pioneer is when the citizens of our state and nation prosper and our society thrives because we enjoy world-class options in education, healthcare, transportation and economic opportunity, and when our government is limited, accountable and transparent.

Values

Pioneer believes that America is at its best when our citizenry is well-educated, committed to liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise, and both willing and able to test their beliefs based on facts and the free exchange of ideas.

Get Our COVID-19 News, Tips & Resources!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Posts

The Economic Development Bill Starting to Take Shape; It Makes Big Bets on Life Sciences, Clean Technology and Applied AI

The Massachusetts Senate debated S.2856, its version of the biennial…

Pulitzer Winner Kai Bird on Robert Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb

Mr. Bird focuses on the life and legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, “father of the atomic bomb.” He discusses Oppenheimer's impact on history, his early life and education, and his academic achievements in quantum physics. Bird covers Oppenheimer's political views, relationships, as well as his leadership in the Manhattan Project and his role in the Trinity test.

Candidate Selection Breakdown: Presidential Primary Primacy or Determined Delegate Detour

Joe Selvaggi talks with MIT Professor Charles Stewart III about the political party’s presidential candidate nomination process and what or who ultimately decides who is chosen.

Massachusetts is Losing Thousands of Taxpayers a Year. Where Are They Going?

Massachusetts is facing a net loss of taxpayers and AGI. Learn about where these taxpayers are migrating to, and potential reasons for that migration.

Do No Harm to the Health Policy Commission

With only weeks left in the Massachusetts legislative calendar,…

Is Free Community College What Massachusetts Needs?

The Massachusetts Senate proposed making community college tuition free for all residents of the Commonwealth as part of its FY2025 budget. Pioneer explores whether this program is what Massachusetts needs to prepare its residents for gainful employment and how it interacts with the state's extensive workforce development infrastructure.

Georgetown’s Dr. Marguerite Roza on Federal ESSER Funds & the Fiscal Cliff

Dr. Roza explores the complexities of education finance and its impact on American K-12 education. She outlines the three phases of school funding over the past 40 years and their effect on equity and student achievement. She highlights that only about half of the K-12 education dollars reach student instruction, with significant funds absorbed by the ever-expanding education bureaucracy.

Unemployment in Massachusetts by Race

Unemployment rates vary based on racial groups. Most minority groups face higher unemployment rates in Massachusetts than the majority White population.

Breaking Down Encampments: Court Finds no Right to Sleep Outdoors

Joe Selvaggi speaks with Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Dr. Stephen Eide about the Grants Pass v. Johnson Supreme Court decision and its impact on homeless encampments in Boston and across the country.

Harlow Giles Unger on Patrick Henry & American Liberty

 Mr. Unger delves into the life of Patrick Henry as the country celebrates the Fourth of July. He explores Henry's early life, his rise as a lawyer and political figure, and his fiery opposition to British policies. Mr. Unger highlights Henry's famous "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech and his influential role as governor of Virginia, underscoring his enduring legacy in helping forge American independence. In closing, he reads a passage from his book, Lion of Liberty: Patrick Henry and the Call to a New Nation. 

The Housing Crisis has a Hand in Massachusetts Out-migration Trends

Recently published IRS data shows that net out-migration from…

Underfunding Overdose Alternatives: Price Controls Hinder Search for Non-Addictive Opioids

Joe Selvaggi talks with Pioneer Institute's Director of Healthcare Initiatives, Dr. Bill Smith, about the challenges posed by new regulations and price controls for developing alternatives to addictive opioids.