October 2013 Archives

October 07, 2013

The Devil and Antonin Scalia

In Stephen Vincent Benét’s 1937 short story, “The Devil and Daniel Webster“, the famous American statesman not only gets Jabez Stone, a farmer who sold his soul to the devil, out of the contract, he gets Mr. Continue Reading...

October 07, 2013

A Failure to Save

This first appeared in my newsletter, Economic Prospect, in late 2008. Looking back after five years I still like it. The American failure to save is matched by our insistence on spending to have it all. Continue Reading...

October 04, 2013

Catholic Chaplains Face Possible Arrest During Government Shutdown

There is a shortage of Catholic priests who serve members of the US military and their families, and it looks as if the government shutdown is going to make the situation worse. Continue Reading...

October 04, 2013

Surprise: ‘Segregation’ Does Not Undermine African American Well-Being

Every now and then I run across a series of studies that makes me wonder if white progressives are among the most narcissistic cohort of professionals in America. There seems to be this pervasive myth that simply being around white people adds value to the flourishing of blacks in America. Continue Reading...

October 04, 2013

Methodist Bishop Reminds us ‘We Get the Government We Deserve’

Mike Coyner, who is the Bishop of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church, penned a thoughtful essay reflecting on the dysfunction in our federal government. His main point: It’s our fault and our defective culture is the engineer of the political rot. Continue Reading...

October 04, 2013

George Gilder and the Inspiring Rhetoric of Entrepreneurial Activity

You may — alright, so you definitely will — need a tab with Google open to be able to look up all the big words he uses in his penetrating prose, but George Gilder is a masterful writer and inspiring advocate for entrepreneurial activity. Continue Reading...

October 03, 2013

2013 Calihan Lecture: ‘Second Thoughts on Newman: Newman, Constitutions, and Markets’

2013 Novak Award recipient David P. Deavel, Ph.D., will illuminate John Henry Cardinal Newman’s contributions to economic liberty in the upcoming 13th annual Calihan Lecture. The lecture will take place on October 30, 2013 at the University of St. Continue Reading...

October 03, 2013

U.S. Conference Of Catholic Bishops Weighs In On Budget, Shutdown

Acting on behalf of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines have issued a letter to the US House of Representatives. Continue Reading...

October 03, 2013

Property Rights, Rule of Law, and the Spark of the ‘Arab Spring’

Conversations about economic development often gravitate toward such topics as monetary policy, trade regulation, tax structures, infrastructure, etc. These are critical pieces of the puzzle indeed, but there exist even more primary components of prosperity that are often skipped over. Continue Reading...

October 03, 2013

Jim Wallis on the Shutdown: ‘It’s Unbiblical’

Christians are frequently accused of conflating politics and religion. And not surprisingly, Christians like me are often frustrated by such claims. Whenever I hear such slurs my first inclination is to push back by asking who exactly can rightfully be accused of such confusion. Continue Reading...