The Wall Street Journal reports today that the world’s elite, gathering in Davos this week, are amazed at how little they know about the economy. There is even talk about how capitalism itself is a failing business model. One participant, who is giving a business leadership seminar there, is quoted as saying:

The capitalist myth is lovely and youthful. It kicked off the industrial revolution, but maybe we need a new one.

Instead of looking for new government quick-fixes, business and government leaders need to discover (I wish I could say, rediscover) what is real capitalism–free-market capitalism–in theory and practice.

Today’s problems can be traced to the government side of the mixed economy, as well as a perverted capitalist ethic in the boardroom.…

Editor Note: Glen Lyons and Travis Fisher have expanded the public policy debate regarding electricity with Advocates for Consumer Regulated Electricity (CRE). Their advocacy program, Bring Your Own Power (BYOP), proposes privately funded, “islanded” off-grid utilities that bypass public-utility regulation. CRE’s last quarterly report focused on the practical case for reform; the latest report (below) goes from “concept to campaign.”

Recent Developments: The strongest activity came through original commentary, testimony, state bill filings, and practical arguments for letting large new loads bring their own power without shifting costs or reliability risks to existing customers. Core message: Let new large loads bring their own power. Let private capital carry the risk. Protect ratepayers. Keep growth on the table.

In the States

Texas became the leading BYOP battleground as data center growth collided with transmission, permitting, landowner, and reliability concerns.…

“My goal this year is to get my first dog. I have to fight for a better planet for my dog.” – Emily Atkin, below

Good intentions are not enough. Billions of people have chosen, are choosing, and will choose the best energies for their personal benefit.

These two points are worth remembering when reading an interview of Emily Atkin, founder and writer of the climate-alarm publication Heated, by Future Earth Catalog. Emily herself introduced the published interview, titled Emily Atkin is Not an Optimist,” as follows.

One of the most common questions I’m asked as a climate journalist is whether I’m “optimistic” or “hopeful” about the future. And after more than a decade of answering it, I think I’ve finally figured out my answer. Unfortunately, no—I’m not especially optimistic or full of glittery hope.

Sam Belfied in his essay, “Climate Activism: ‘It Made Me Feel Like a Good Person’” (August 19, 2026), has a number of interesting insights on the motivations of climate campaigners given the intellectual case that their cause is both futile and wasteful. And ecologically damaging (think wind and solar industrialization). Excerpts follow verbatim; footnotes can be found in the original.

The following commentary and research findings suggest that climate ideology and activism are psychological compensatory responses to painful, emotional, subjective, and even existential aspects of the self. Specifically, the material suggests a deeper and collective psychological malaise, of which anxiety and distress about climate change are an expression, not the root cause….

The climate movement involves guilt, self-loathing and seeking redemption

In discussing the emotions motivating climate activists, commentators have proposed ‘guilt,’ ‘self-flagellation,’ ‘sin,’ ‘self-loathing’ , ‘conscience’, and seeking ‘atonement’ and ‘redemption.’…