A review of The Great Degeneration: How Institutions Decay and Economies Die by Niall Ferguson, Allen Lane, London, 2012. Niall Ferguson’s The Great Degeneration: How Institutions Decay and Economies Die is intriguing since the title reflects what should be an obvious connection: Social institutions do affect economies. Free Book: Return to Order: From a Frenzied … Read more
There are those who confuse freedom with choice. They do not realize that freedom is the ability to choose the means to a determined end perceived as good and in accordance with our nature. It is not the choice itself. When a person makes a bad choice or chooses a bad end, the result is … Read more
We live in an age of self-interest where each looks after his own pleasure and gratification. Ours is a culture that glorifies comfort, safety and health. It exudes carefree optimism, giving us the mistaken impression that we can somehow have perfect material happiness in this valley of tears. In such a climate, the hero seems … Read more
Something is sacred when it separates that which belongs to God alone from the rest of the world. The sacred speaks of heavenly things and leaves below earthly concerns. The sacred is outside of time and place. It contains the mystery of all things infinite and ineffable. Indeed, the very word sacred comes from the … Read more
A good friend of mine was commenting on a local business luncheon with the town mayor that reveals something of the state of the economy and the nation. He reported: “There are no pre-determined topics. Attendees can discuss any issue they like concerning challenges to their business and/or governmental issues that they would like to … Read more
Those who want to opt out of serving at same-sex “marriage” functions often claim a right to religious liberty. Some say it is a matter of following one’s beliefs and conscience. Still others believe it involves freedom of speech and opinions. Such claims, while valid, are doomed to fail, because the center of the debate … Read more
On May 5, the TFP Southern California Regional Conference as held at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel in Buena Park. The event featured TFP speakers, John Horvat, Michael Whitcraft and Norman Fulkerson. On May 6, a similar conference was held in Sacramento, California at the city’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. The theme of the conferences was “Means … Read more
A Christian order presupposes that we believe in Christ and His law. As a result, Christians organize all society in function of this law, and from this comes order and peace. A Christian society also presupposes a fight against evil and all those threats that attack the good order of society. When a society upholds … Read more
A review of Nothing is Free: The Price Only Business Leaders Can Pay to Protect Free Markets by Dave Geenens (Atchison, Kans.: Inhance Press, 2013). * * * Modern economics tends to reduce what happens in business to numbers and formulas. The human element is taken out, and all is left dry and lifeless. It … Read more
The modern economy of frenetic intemperance often resembles a pendulum. There are periods of extreme productivity followed by crashes and collapse. A classic example of this was the “dot-com” bubble in the spring of 2001. Huge amounts of venture capital had entered the market creating an enormous amount of excitement and spectacular profits. When the … Read more
