National Affairs  Learning from James Q. Wilson  When James
Quinn Wilson passed away in March, he left a formidable legacy
for policymakers in need of guidance. But at least as notable
was his influence on a generation of scholars. He was not just
an exceptional thinker but an exceptional teacher as well.  As
one of his students — who became a colleague and friend — I
learned three lessons from him above all. And in classic Wilson
style, they were straightforward: First, be sure to get the
facts before opining. Second, be practical. Recognize that the
root causes of many problems in society are elusive, and that
public policy has to make do regardless. But third, be prudent
when proposing solutions — or "reforms" — for they can often
make matters worse.  These exhortations may now sound like
clichés to any self-respecting conservative, at least until we
recall that their force, and in some cases even their genesis,
lie in the teachings of James Q. Wilson. And our appreciation
for those teachings only grows wh