Marc Vander Maas

Posts by Marc Vander Maas

August 19, 2005

You get what you pay for

Remember that the next time you hear someone sing the praises of single-payer, government run health care programs. Canada’s system is often cited as an ideal model for the United States to emulate. Continue Reading...
August 19, 2005

Economic development = cancer

Today’s Wall Street Journal (subscription required) brings a reminder that Liberation Theology (or more accurately, Marxism) is alive and well in Central America. A Canadian firm has set up shop in Sipicapa, Guatemala, constructing a gold mine that is currently employing around 1,300 local residents and providing a much needed economic boost for the area: The Glamis gold mine has already given an economic lift to this town and more so to neighboring San Miguel Ixtahuacán. Continue Reading...
August 17, 2005

If at first you don’t succeed…

…You might be a Member of Congress: Members of Congress want to establish a new government-backed venture capital program… OK, but what’s the catch? …to replace one that’s being phased out because of sizable losses. Continue Reading...
August 10, 2005

Fourth place doesn’t get you a medal

Now that the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery is safely back on terra firma (along with the entire shuttle fleet, which has once again been grounded over safety concerns), arguments over the future viability of the Shuttle program have resumed in earnest. Continue Reading...
August 10, 2005

The backlash against Kelo vs. City of New London

Dr. Samuel Gregg appeared on Kresta in the Afternoon on Ave Maria Radio yesterday to discuss the public outrage over the recent Supreme Court decision that allowed the taking of private property through eminent domain for private economic development reasons. Continue Reading...
August 08, 2005

Faith and judging

In the weeks that have passed since the announcement of the nomination of John Roberts to serve as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, an old debate has moved into the forefront once again: can a person with deeply held religious beliefs (in Judge Roberts’ case, a devout Catholic) hold a high political or judicial office and still abide by the Constitution? Continue Reading...
August 03, 2005

Target: St. Peters?

Radical islamist terrorists have struck at the heart of New York City, Washington, London and Madrid (among other places). Could the Vatican be next? Kishore Jayabalan, director of Acton’s Rome office, appeared on Fox News yesterday as part of a report asking that question. Continue Reading...
July 29, 2005

The birth of space tourism

This has been a momentous week for manned space exploration. First, NASA returned to flight with Tuesday’s launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, which was almost immediately followed by a return to not flying, as safety concerns will be grounding the shuttle fleet once again. Continue Reading...
July 27, 2005

Seeing the trees, missing the forest

The United Nations has released a report on the ongoing upheavals in Zimbabwe, where tyrant Robert Mugabe has been punishing his political opponents under the guise of “cleaning up” the country’s cities. Continue Reading...