Posts by Patrick Oetting

Seattle stinks

In a recent article at City Journal, Discovery Institute Fellow, Christopher Rufo says: Over the past few years, Seattle has become a dumping ground for millions of pounds of garbage, needles, feces, and biohazardous waste, largely emanating from the hundreds of homeless encampments that have sprouted across the city… Last year saw a 400 percent increase in HIV infections among mostly homeless addicts and prostitutes in the city’s northern corridor. Continue Reading...

Acton alumnus awarded highest civilian honor in Brazil

On the morning of May 3, Acton University alumnus, Marcel van Hattem, was awarded the Order of Rio Branco, the highest civilian award in Brazil, by President Jair Bolsonaro. The Order of Rio Branco award, established in February 1963, is named after the Brazilian diplomat, Barao do Rio Branco, and given to “stimulate the practice and deeds worthy of honorable mention,” to “distinguish meritorious services and civic virtues.” Continue Reading...

Venezuelans march for freedom

In 1982, Venezuela was the richest major economy in Latin America. Now, it’s the most dangerous country in the world, behind Afghanistan and war torn South Sudan. This is socialism. Continue Reading...

Reviving the spirit of free trade

The current support for tariffs in the United States has left me disappointed, frustrated, and in many unproductive debates. The French political philosopher, Frédéric Bastiat, best articulated my sentiments in an 1847 letter to Richard Cobden, “And I want not so much free trade itself as the spirit of free trade for my country. Continue Reading...