Latest Posts

February 07, 2008

Economists are people too

In any period of economic transition there are upheavals at various levels, and winners and losers (at least in the short term). We live in just such an age today in North America, as we move from an industrial to a post-industrial information and service economy, from isolationism to increased globalization. Continue Reading...
February 06, 2008

Question: Which blog is best?

Help Acton do well in the 2008 Blogger’s Choice Awards by submitting a vote or two for Acton. We’re nominated in the following categories (you may vote for Acton in each if you’d like or if you feel we deserve it): • Best Blog Design • Best Religion Blog • Best Charity Blog Voting for a blog does require registration, but it doesn’t take long to do. Continue Reading...
February 05, 2008

Global warming consensus alert: New, shocking data!

It’s been a while since we’ve had a GWCW update, so here are links to a couple of articles I just ran across at Watts Up With That: RSS Satellite data for Jan08: 2nd coldest January for the planet in 15 years Arctic sea ice back to its previous level, bears safe; film at 11 That second post is especially interesting considering the breathless media reports about endangered polar bears in danger of drowning as the ice melts from under their feet last year. Continue Reading...
February 05, 2008

February Acton Notes

A new Acton Notes is now available online. Acton Notes is a monthly newsletter published by the Acton Institute. This month’s issue features an article by Rev. Robert Sirico, president of the Acton Institute, about Socialism. Continue Reading...
February 05, 2008

Oh, what might have been!

From a review in the New Yorker magazine (HT) of David Levering Lewis, God’s Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570 to 1215, in which the author clearly regrets that the Arabs did not go on to conquer the rest of Europe. Continue Reading...
February 05, 2008

‘Casino capitalism’ or personal failure?

Two weeks ago, French bank Société Générale announced that off-balance sheet speculation by a single “rogue trader” had cost the company 4.9 billion Euros ($7.2 billion). The scandal had enormous repercussions in international markets leading some commentators to decry the rotten nature of global “casino” capitalism and to call for the reversal of financial liberalization. Continue Reading...
February 04, 2008

Campaigning for state involvement in education

I came across a troubling essay in this month’s issue of Grand Rapids Family Magazine. In her “Taking Notes” column, Associate Publisher/Editor Carole Valade takes up the question of “family values” in the context of the primary campaign season. Continue Reading...
February 01, 2008

Colorado Catholic Charities controversy III

An update on the battle between Archbishop Chaput and the Colorado legislature over an ostensibly anti-discrimination bill that in fact infringes on religious liberty. (Acton’s Joseph Kosten ably defined the argument in this week’s commentary; I initially raised it here.) Continue Reading...