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December 18, 2018

John Bolton unveils new Trump Administration Africa policy; Joel Salatin on how past practices harmed Africa

On December 13, National Security Advisor John Bolton delivered an address at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. unveiling the Trump Administration’s new approach to relations with Africa. Part of the revised approach includes re-focusing US Aid efforts away from traditional government-to-government aid, and placing an increased focus on fostering private economic growth and governmental transparency. Continue Reading...
December 18, 2018

Sirico on Russell Kirk and populism

On November 15, Acton President and co-founder Rev. Robert Sirico participated in a panel conversation to not only honor the centenary of Russell Kirk’s birth but as well discuss the rise of populism in the United States and abroad. Continue Reading...
December 18, 2018

How hyperinflation can make you a trillionaire

Note: This is post #104 in a weekly video series on basic economics. Imagine having to pay $417.00 per sheet of toilet paper. That actually happened in Zimbabwe. As Alex Tabarrok notes, around 2000, Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, was in need of cash to bribe his enemies and reward his allies. Continue Reading...
December 17, 2018

Explainer: Christmas 2018 by the numbers

$75 – Average amount U.S. consumers spent on real Christmas trees in 2017. $107 – Average amount U.S. consumers spent on fake Christmas trees in 2017. 27,400,000 – Number of real Christmas trees sold in the U.S. Continue Reading...
December 14, 2018

Brazil rejoins the West

Since the 1960s, Brazilian foreign policy has an undistinguished history, and has gradually been reduced to the pursuit of ideological leftism. This was not always the case. During the imperial regime (1824-1889), Brazilian diplomacy policy was known for the high-quality of its members, for their ability to read politics, for negotiating talent and, above all, for their fidelity to the interests of Brazil.   Continue Reading...
December 14, 2018

Saving the entitlement state: Balancing ‘humanitarian policy’ with economic reality

When debating entitlement reform, any critic of the status quo will be quick to remember the infamous 2012 campaign commercial wherein Rep. Paul Ryan pushes his grandmother over a cliff. For some, the ad was typical political-hardball-turned-cultural-meme; for others, it remains a haunting reminder of the vilification one is bound to endure by asking even the tamest questions about frightening math. Continue Reading...